Sampling biodiversity in the Tropics

Question 1

Problems of sampling in the tropics?

Answer 1

Difficult to see and hear, many species simultaneously, hard to identify, overcounting individuals, distance is hard to estimate

Question 2

How to design a point count study?

Answer 2

Sample at least two widely spaced sample landscapes. How many points sampled within a site? How far apart should each point count be? Need to make sure effective sample zone samples unique community. What time of day? Early for birds and mammals. Change order that you visit a set of counts.

Question 3

Distance between sample sites for birds?

Answer 3

200 to 300 metres, with a 100m radius for sample site

Question 4

How did we make our graph?

Answer 4

Cumulative number of individuals (x axis) and cumulative number of species (y axis)

Question 5

Sign of effective sampling?

Answer 5

Curve reaches an asymptote

Question 6

Positives and negatives of using species richness?

Answer 6

Good at showing big differences in numbers of species between groups or habitats. Does not show how abundance changes within a species. Does not show whether species present are same or different. Sampling effort may not be equal between group. Should be used in conjunction with species composition.