Accuracy and efficiency evaluation of point-centered quarter method variations for vegetation sampling in an araucaria forest

In order to verify Point-Centered Quarter Method (PCQM) accuracy and efficiency, using different numbers of individuals by per sampled area, in 28 quarter points in an Araucaria forest, southern Paraná, Brazil. Three variations of the PCQM were used for comparison associated to the number of sampled...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Volpato, Graziele Hernandes, Martins, Sebastião Venâncio, Carvalho, Joema, Anjos, Luiz dos
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2010
Country:Brasil
Institution:Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)
Repository:LOCUS Repositório Institucional da UFV
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:locus.ufv.br:123456789/15764
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-67622010000300015
http://www.locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/15764
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Sampling methods
Phytosociology and mixed ombrophylous forest
Description
Summary:In order to verify Point-Centered Quarter Method (PCQM) accuracy and efficiency, using different numbers of individuals by per sampled area, in 28 quarter points in an Araucaria forest, southern Paraná, Brazil. Three variations of the PCQM were used for comparison associated to the number of sampled individual trees: standard PCQM (SD-PCQM), with four sampled individuals by point (one in each quarter), second measured (VAR1-PCQM), with eight sampled individuals by point (two in each quarter), and third measuring (VAR2-PCQM), with 16 sampled individuals by points (four in each quarter). Thirty-one species of trees were recorded by the SD-PCQM method, 48 by VAR1-PCQM and 60 by VAR2-PCQM. The level of exhaustiveness of the vegetation census and diversity index showed an increasing number of individuals considered by quadrant, indicating that VAR2-PCQM was the most accurate and efficient method when compared with VAR1-PCQM and SD-PCQM.