Transect Instructions for Plant Abundance and Diversity
Where there are two or more fieldworkers, you will need to designate one person as
the ‘flower visitor observer’ and the others as ‘insect collector for the rest of the data
collection – the observer must be the same person so estimations of relative visitor
abundance are consistent
a. The flower observer will do a trial run of the transect to:
b. Use a quadrat (approx. 0.5 m2) to learn approximate size of sample area of
flowers to observe
Practise going around the transect making observations – if you cannot finish
observing all your plants in 1½ hours, note how long it took and check with your
trainer for which plants to drop
The ‘Near-Instantaneous Count’ method for observations is as follows:
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Wear dull-coloured clothes, avoid perfume, and stay out of the insects’ flight-path
to reduce the
effect of your presence
First count birds/butterflies over the entire plant
Pick sample area of blossoms on the plant that is in sun and has lots of visitors (=
maximum data)
Approach the sample area quietly, slowly, and do not let your shadow fall on the
sample area
Count the visitors actually on the flowers, then move closer to count small insects
inside flowers
If no visitors are present, mark this in the ‘Nil flower visitors’ column
Record sun and rain data and any comments using a black pen or dark pencil
Move on to next plant as soon as the count is finished and data recorded
Count blossom/flower numbers for each plant at some stage each day (use the
flower count datasheet)
Set up a transect with your trainer on the chosen site with good sun
a. Your transect should contain 25–45 plants. Loop the finish back to where
you started
b. The plants need to be close together (more time counting – less time
walking)
c. Flowers/blossoms need to be at eye level or lower, or no more than 2 steps
up on a stepladder
d. Choose flowering plants that are accessible and in sun for at least part of
the day
e. Tag all plants clearly with a unique ID number made up of your initials
and a number, starting at one, e.g. ‘ZW01’ – DO NOT CHANGE THESE
– EVER! (See Phase Three for how to add or ‘remove’ plants from a
transect as they come in or out of flowering) – if the same plant has been
observed before, you need to use the same ID number assigned by the first
observer
f. If you know the plant’s botanical name you can use it or use an
abbreviation such as NVS code – if not, then give the plant a ‘tag’ name
that will allow you to find and identify it easily