Sampling Activities

To date we have been introduced to four different sampling techniques. We were sent into the field with appropriate equipment for about an hour to complete each exercise. On July 1, 2015 our seven student group completed the point quarter transect and the regular transect on two separate expeditions.  The point quarter transect involved choosing and marking ten points two meters apart from one another. After the points had been flagged, photos were to be taken in four quadrants around each point one meter from the flag. In the regular transect at least five points were to be marked one meter apart in a straight line. In both transect exercises photos were taken of the points and students were to identify the species of coral in the area. The data was later transferred to an excel spread sheet and the percent coverage of coral was analyzed. On July 4, 2015 we worked on another type of sampling called grid sampling. This time we were to flag off a 5 meter by 5 meter square in the same location we did the transect. We were to visualize this sectioned off square as a grid with 1 meter by 1 meter sections. To start the sampling we were to pick three coordinates and take a photo in each of the sections. Our group chose (1,1), (3,3) and (5,5). This information was transferred to an excel spread sheet and the percent coverage of coral was analyzed. On July 5, 2015 we conducted focal area and focal animal sampling. Our three person group worked on the focal area sampling first. In this type of sampling researchers are to watch a single area 1 meter by 1 meter and observe the organisms that come in and out of the area. The species name, movement, and behavior was recorded for later analysis. To conduct the focal animal sampling a single animal is monitored and its behavior is recorded. Both samplings were conducted for a predetermined period of ten minutes. The information observed was used to create a poster that will be presented later on today.