We have this:
- Herb layer quadrat data (presence and % cover data)
- Resolution: 25x25 cm2 nested into a 2x1 m2 double quadrat
- This 2x1 m2 is laid down 20 times, = a 20m long transect
- Transect has three distinct zone: dominant > mix > mono dominant plants
#total 6 transects = six study sites
:: suggestions were with PRIMER, CA, or VEGAN in R, S plot analysis also
We are OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS and COLLABORATIONS (start with PRIMER and Splot analysis).
If there are any other suggestions, please guide us.
You could use ordination (CA) or correlation techniques. See my paper Plant succession and dune dynamics on actively prograding dunes, Whatipu Beach, northern New Zealand, New Zealand Journal of Botany 43(1):223-244 · March 2005 on this site :-)
Hi Krishan.
What is it exactly that you are trying to achieve using MS Access?
As noted, define your question are studying species richness, a time series for change, cover, density, etc.? For community structure analysis, the PRIMER (Plymouth Routines in Ecological Research) package as much to offer.
Thanks a lot Andrew for the direction, and ..yes Walter we are studying the similar concept involving the herb layer dynamics i.e. how x sp. is gonna affect the original sp. pool in herb layer.
Eddy ..we are trying to make a database of all the quadrat data so that later can ask queries and further analysis.
Hi Krishan
Creating a database is relatively easy. However, it really does depend on the type of data you have collected and how you have collected it. More importantly, you need to have a broad understanding of just what information you wish to extract from the database.
I have created many MS Access databases for my work in fauna biodiversity surveys so I could assist if you like. If you wish to take up the offer, we can discuss what information I would require to assist you and your colleagues to design the database.
Data management is the first step: you can use various tools to do this (Filemaker, access, SQL, whatever...). The analysis of the data is probably the more interesting part. I can recommend Primer (which is based mostly on non parametric analysis based on similarities or distances between samples, including the very powerful PERMANOVA analysis. There are several R packages specially designed for multivariate vegetation analysis (Vegan is one of the them). If only relatively simple analysis is required, the free software PAST is quite complete.
It might be useful to look at this: Rapid Botanic Survey (RBS) is primarily a field survey methodology for assessing species-rich plant communities, but it is associated with a range of non-field activities, analyses and outputs that can be considered part of RBS in a broad sense. This document is about the full range of typical RBS activities, from field to herbarium to database to output. RBS outputs are used for mapping vegetation and prioritising areas for different management purposes, including conservation. RBS activities integrate species and community level assessments. RBS is particularly appropriate in species-rich, incompletely explored vegetation, but could be used in any plant community. RBS data are used to determine the main patterns of floristic variation in plant communities across a landscape. RBS is also used, even in well-known vegetation, for measuring bioquality ‘temperature’: the degree to which a sample is a biodiversity hotspot. RBS can be applied at any scale; it has been used to plan national and regional conservation strategies, as well as local Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
http://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/Content/Projects/oxford/resources/Rapid_Botanic_Survey_manual_2016.pdf
thanks to all of you for your generous answers. I found PAST as it is popular here in this university. But felt surprised and confused at the same time for the beginner like us it is very complex to step in any of these. hope there will be a few standard and versatile package in future. ...regards K
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