UST College of Science Department of Biological Sciences

1 Determination of Dominance among plant species in UST football field and Benavidez
2 part using Terrestrial Sampling Techniques
3
4 Franchesca Isabel A. Tolosa1, Normin Gem U. Tubaon1, John Christian W. Uy1, John Jerald
5 B. Villamanca1, & Alicia Monique C. Yamamoto1
6
1
7 Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, University of Santo Tomas, Manila
8
9
10 ABSTRACT
11
12 Terrestrial sampling is a strategy to determine species abundance and density. Qualitative
13 and quantitative data gathered through various methods are useful parameters in supporting
14 ecological level of characterization of processes and conditions such as biodiversity and
15 ecosystem productivity. Three methods are commonly used in terrestrial sampling: transect
16 method, quadrat method and point - quarter method. Obtaining unbiased samples in the
17 terrestrial are always a challenge due to varied life forms especially with the presence of
18 invertebrates. The activity conducted emphasizes on the different methods and field
19 collecting techniques to acquire unwanted variability in sample collection, this procedure
20 infers about the biomass factors with regards to its relationship with the environment.
21
22 Keywords: biomass, biodiversity, ecosystem, terrestrial, sampling
23

24 INTRODUCTION
25
26 In terms of research, a sample is a representative taken from a population for measurement.
27 Sampling, the selection of a number of study units from a defined study population, is
28 necessary in understanding populations of individuals inhabiting ecosystems such as the
29 terrestrial environment. Measuring whole populations is usually not practical because of their
30 large size, inaccessibility, and inaccuracy, thus, sampling enables researchers to determine
31 a population’s characteristics by directly observing only a sample of the population. Different
32 techniques such as the quadrat method, line transect method, and point-quarter method, are
33 used in sampling non-mobile organisms such as trees in terrestrial ecosystems.
34
35 Quadrat sampling is one of the oldest techniques of data collecting (Silva et al., 2017). A
36 quadrat, commonly called as a “plot”, is a square frame that may either be just a single
37 sample unit or may also be further subdivided into subplots. It is used in estimating several
38 vegetation attributes such as density, biomass, cover, and frequency. Depending on the
39 nature of vegetation, this tool may vary in size which may affect the results. On the other
40 hand, the line transect method is used in illustrating the changes in a plant community along
41 a gradient or linear pattern (Barker, 2001). This method requires a tightly pulled and fixed
42 line, usually a nylon rope, laid along the gradient of the study area. Species within the entire
43 length or at each marked point at the line transect are recorded. Lastly, the point-quarter
44 method is one of the most useful plot-less methods of studying forest structure parameters.
45 According to Mitchell (2007), measuring the distances for a random sample of trees, typically
46 along a transect, and recording the characteristics of interest for this sample, are involved in
47 plot-less methods. An advantage of plot-less methods like the point-quarter method over
48 plot-based techniques like the quadrat method is its efficiency with less required time,
 UST College of Science Department of Biological Sciences

49 equipment, and workers for its execution. Nevertheless, all aforementioned sampling
50 techniques have long been used and were effective in data collection for terrestrial samples.
51
52 METHODS
53
54 Determining the population distribution, size, and changes in abundance are some of the
55 key information in terrestrial sampling. There are three methods used in sampling non-mobile
56 organisms in terrestrial habitats and this includes:Transect method, Quadrat method and
57 Point - quarter method. These methods were utilized in tree identification of the sampling
58 sites respectively.
59
60 Transect Method. This technique is based on a 20-m line across a section of the area to be
61 sampled (UST Football Field and Plaza Mayor). Each transect is considered a sample unit,
62 it is one dimensional and useful for sampling shrubs, trees and objectively determines
63 ground cover, basal cover, canopy cover, and species composition of the sampling site. Leaf
64 area index was determined by recording all layers of the vegetation that hits the line. Every
65 living tree whose crown overhangs the line was identified, tallied, and relative density was
66 computed and recorded.
67 .
68 Quadrat Method. Quadrat sampling has been the main technique used in terrestrial
69 sampling. A quadrat, which is typically a square frame constructed from pvc pipe was placed
70 directly on top of the vegetation. It allows collection of standardized data at locations
71 separated by vast distances, and then compares the sites and determines whether the
72 abundance or diversity of organisms varies at locations along a north-south gradient. From
73 the established point, perpendicular to the baseline of the transect line, all living trees above
74 head height whose trunks are in, or partially in the quadrat were identified and recorded.
75
76 Point - quarter Method. This is a plotless method that is useful in sampling which is primarily
77 for estimating density. In this method set of points positioned along the transect line was
78 initially selected.The area around each point is divided into four 90° quadrants. A compass
79 was used to establish north - south and east - west axes. The point at the end line served
80 as the origin of Cartesian coordinates establishing 4 quadrants with Y - axis coinciding north
81 - south axes, and east - west axes for the X - axis.
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83 Collated data from the sampling sites were used to solve for species identification and
84 relative density, thus the calculated values reflect the variability across the distribution of the
85 vegetation within the sampling sites.
86

87 Results and Discussion

88
89 Sampling for terrestrial organisms can be done using several methods. However, for this
90 activity, the group has utilized Line Transect Method, Quadrat Method, and Point-Quarter
91 Method in determining the number of species of organisms that were present in their area.
92 In addition, the relative density or the density of one species as a percent of total plant density
93 of the sampled organisms was also calculated. The group established their sampling sites
94 at the UST Football Field (14°36′30.85″N 120°59′18.92″E) and UST Benavides Park
95 (14°36′33.13″N 120°59′22.46″E).
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96
97

Total individuals species A

98 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 = 𝑥 100
Total individuals of all species
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111 Figure 1. Photographs of a) UST Football field and b) UST Benavides Park.
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113 In the established line transect at the UST football field, it was observed that Kamagong
114 Tree (Diospyros discolor) was more dominant than the Pongame Tree (Pongamia pinnata).
115 The relative densities of the said species in that area were 85.71% and 14.29%, respectively
116 (shown in Table 1). In comparison, the group has successfully sampled and identified five
117 species in the UST Benavides Park. Philippine Tung Tree (Reutealis trisperma) is the most
118 dominant species in terms of quantity, having a relative density of 40% (shown in Table 1).
119 However, the present Carabao Grass (Paspalum conjugatum) in the area was
120 unquantifiable.
121
SPECIES NUMBER RELATIVE DENSITY
UST Football Field
Diospyros discolor (Kamagong 6 85.71%
Pongamia pinnata (Pongame oiltree) 1 14.29%
 UST College of Science Department of Biological Sciences

UST Benavides Park

Pterocarpus indicus (Narra) 2 20%
Gmelina arborea (Yemane) 1 10%
Dalbergia odorifera (Chinese Rosewood) 3 30%
Reutealis trisperma (Philippine Tung) 4 40%
Paspalum conjugatum (Carabao Grass) x N/A
122
123 Table 1. Summary of the identified species and their relative density at a)UST Football field
124 and b) UST Benavides Park using the Line Transect Method. ( x - too many to count;
125 unquantifiable)
126
127 For the quadrat method, the group established one quadrat which allowed the user to define
128 a fixed area, called a plot; within which species characters are measured. It is observed that
129 a random area in the UST football field was only inhabited with the Kamagong Tree. Thus,
130 the relative density of the said species is 100% (shown in Table 2). The quadrat established
131 on the UST Benavides Park, on the other hand, was observed to be dominated by the Narra
132 Tree (Pterocarpus indicus) having a relative density of 66.67% (shown in Table 2). Similar
133 in the area where the line transect was established, the carabao grass in this area is
134 unquantifiable.
135
SPECIES NUMBER RELATIVE DENSITY
UST Football Field
Diospyros discolor (Kamagong) 2 100%
UST Benavides Park
Pterocarpus indicus (Narra) 2 66.67%
Gmelina arborea (Yemane) 1 33.37%
Paspalum conjugatum (Carabao Grass) x N/A
136
137 Table 2. Summary of the identified species and their relative density at a)UST Football field
138 and b) UST Benavides Park using the Quadrat Method. ( x - too many to count;
139 unquantifiable)
140
 UST College of Science Department of Biological Sciences

141 Lastly, utilizing the point-quarter method within a 2-meter radius, an area in the UST football
142 field has been observed to be dominated by Kamagong Tree for Quarter 2, and Pongame
143 Oiltree for Quarter 3. No individual organisms were observed in the quarters 1 and 4 of the
144 area. The relative densities of the mentioned species are 28.57% and 71.43%, respectively.
145 On the other hand, the Quarter 2 of the UST Benavides park is dominated with Fire Tree
146 (Delonix regia), whereas its Quarter 4 is dominated with Narra Tree. All of the quarters are
147 covered with carabao grasses which is unquantifiable. The relative densities of the Fire Tree
148 and Narra Tree are both 50%.
149
NUMBER
SPECIES RELATIVE DENSITY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
UST Football Field
Diospyros discolor (Kamagong) 0 2 0 0 28.57%
Pongamia pinnata (Pongame oiltree) 0 0 5 0 71.43%,
UST Benavides Park
Delonix regia (Fire Tree) 0 1 0 0 50%
Pterocarpus indicus (Narra) 0 0 0 1 50%
Paspalum conjugatum (Carabao Grass) x x x x N/A
150
151 Table 3. Summary of the identified species and their relative density at a)UST Football field
152 and b) UST Benavides Park using the Point-quarter Method. ( x - too many to count;
153 unquantifiable)
154
155 Due to the unquantifiable amount of Carabao grass, the group determined and compared
156 the grass coverage of the sampling sites using a 1x1 quadrat plot with 25 subplots. The
157 group observed that the grass coverage in UST football field is 0/25 (0%), whereas the grass
158 coverage in the UST Benavides park is 25/25 (100%). Grass coverages are important
159 because it inhibits soil erosion and sediment transportation (Dong, 2015). The effects of
160 these factors lead to the loss of fertile land that we can cultivate on, due to nutrient
161 degradation (Cornell University, 2006).
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163 Photographs of the sampled species were attached in the Appendix A.
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 UST College of Science Department of Biological Sciences

165 CONCLUSION
166
167 The unnaturally low density of the tree species was considered difficult to randomly select
168 the plot, bearing in mind the gap of one species to another. Nonetheless, it was still feasible
169 to assess the species composition of the two sample area with the help of the Line Transect
170 Method, Quadrat Method, and Point-quarter Method. Out of all the three methods, the most
171 useful sampling method was the Line Transect Method, which was utilized in the
172 identification of 5 different species in the UST Benavides Park, with the Philippine Tung Tree
173 being the most abundant. On the other hand, in the UST Field, there were 2 identified species
174 available, in which the Kamagong trees were more numerous.
175
176 With the use of the three sampling methods, the carabao grass abundance to both areas
177 were observed. Grass coverage are important for they can inhibit soil erosion which can lead
178 to nutrient degradation. Probably, the reason behind the absence of grasses in the UST
179 Football field is due to the activities that were done in there. It is where people usually walk
180 because that part of the field is parallel to the sidewalks.The presence of Buenaventura
181 Garcia Paredes, O.P. (BGPOP) Building could be another factor to look into. The building
182 may have been a cause for the scarcity of sunlight during the day, which in turn became
183 unsuitable for the species on the ground-level.
184

185 APPENDIX A
186 DOCUMENTATIONS
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192
193 Figure 1. Photographs of the Kamagong Trees (Diospyros discolor) located at UST Football
194 field.
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201 Figure 2. Photograph of the Pongame oiltree (Pongamia pinnata) located at UST Football
202 field.
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211 Figure 3. Photograph of the Narra Trees (Pterocarpus indicus) located at UST Benavides
212 Park.
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220
221 Figure 3. Photograph of the Yemane tree (Gmelina arborea) located at UST Benavides
222 Park.
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231
232 Figure 3. Photograph of the Philippine Tung Tree (Reutealis trisperma) located at UST
233 Benavides Park.
 UST College of Science Department of Biological Sciences

234
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241
242 Figure 3. Photograph of the Chinese Rosewood (Dalbergia odorifera) located at UST
243 Benavides Park.
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252 Figure 3. Photograph of the Fire Tree (Delonix regia) located at UST Benavides Park.
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260 Figure 3. Determining the coverage of Carabao Grass (Paspalum conjugatum) at the UST
261 Benavides Park.
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 UST College of Science Department of Biological Sciences

264 References:
265
266 Barker, P. (2001). A Technical Manual for Vegetation Monitoring. Hobart, Tasmania:
267 Resource Management and Conservation, Department of Primary Industries, Water
268 and Environment.
269
270 Census Of Marine Life. (2009). Quadrat Sampling . Retrieved 2019, from Investigating
271 Marine Life : http://www.coml.org/investigating/observing/quadrat_sampling.html
272
273 Global Rangelands. (2019). Point-Centered Quarter Method. Retrieved October 4, 2019,
274 from Global Rangelands.org:
275 https://globalrangelands.org/inventorymonitoring/pointcentered
276
277 Mitchell, K. (2007). Quantitative Analysis by the Point-Centered Quarter Method. Retrieved
278 from http://faculty.wwu.edu/wallin/envr442/pdf_files/PCQM.pdf
279
280 Silva, L., Alves, M., Elias, R., & Silva, L. (2017). Comparison of -Square, Point Centered
281 Quarter, and -Tree Sampling Methods in Pittosporum undulatum Invaded
282 Woodlands. International Journal of Forestry Research. doi:
283 https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2818132
284
285 University Of Idaho. (2009). Principles of Vegetation Measurement & Assessment.
286 Retrieved October 4, 2019, from Plot-based or Quadrat
287 Techniques: https://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/veg_measur