Data Recorded

Having placed a quadrat on the ground, all the plant species present are identified and listed.  Very small samples of unidentifiable plants were taken for later examination and identification.  A careful record had to be kept of which quadrat any unidentified plant was growing in.

A 1m quadrat square in position on the ground.  Note that the distortion of the square's sides is an optical effect of the lens!

A visual estimate was made of the percentage area covered by each species within the quadrat, so for example a species covering half the area of ground within a quadrat the percentage area covered was recorded as 50%.

The maximum vertical height reached by the species within the quadrat was also recorded (for all species except mosses which generally grow no higher than a few centimetres).

A brief note was also made of the conditions in and immediately surrounding the quadrat, such as dry or wet ground, and whether stony or soil rich.   Below is an example of a field recording sheet.

Above: Field recording sheet for ground flora survey.  Note that it was sufficient to identify a species using only one name while in the field.   The scientific names could be established later while collating the survey results.