Kite
Diagrams
Kite diagrams are a visual picture of the
population density of a species across a
horizontal landscape.
How to draw a kite diagram
1. Calculate population density per metre2
for the chosen organisms. 50cm2
quadrats were used.
Quadrat Barnacle
Number
Density
(numbe
r/m2)
Mussel
Density
(numbe
r/m2)
Chiton
2m
0
0
0
4m
0
16
1
6m
4
17
2
8m
6
8
6
10m
20
4
7
12m
26
0
2
14m
18
0
0
Density
(numbe
r/m2)
How to draw a kite diagram
1. Calculate population density per metre2
for the chosen organisms. 50cm2
quadrats were used.
Quadrat Barnacle
Number
Density
(numbe
r/m2)
Mussel
Density
(numbe
r/m2)
Chiton
Density
(numbe
r/m2)
2m
0
0
0
0
0
0
4m
0
0
16
64
1
4
6m
4
16
17
68
2
8
8m
6
24
8
32
6
24
10m
20
80
4
16
7
28
12m
26
104
0
0
2
8
14m
18
72
0
0
0
0
Instructions for constructing a
kite diagram…
1) You will need to use a whole page of graph
paper and turn it horizontally
2) Write a suitable title and include date and
site at the top of your page.
3) x-axis (horizontal) = sample sites distances
from high tide
y-axis (vertical) = species names
4) Divide the y-axis into three equal parts. Draw
a line through the middle of each,
parallel to the horizontal axis. These will be the
baselines (equal to 0)
Continued…
5)Scan your data to find the highest density
value. Divide this in half.
6) Make a scale on your y-axis above and
below each baseline that will cover this
value.
7) Divide the rest of the data in half and plot
points above and below the baseline with an
x. Mark O’s on the baseline with an x. Join
the points above and below each baseline
with a ruler and the same underneath.
Shade each ‘kite’.
A bad kite diagram – what is
wrong?
Title does not contain
much detail. No mention
of where site is or date
samples are taken.
Some of the
kites are open
ended – should
be closed off at
end.
Does not give distances from
start point or units of distance