Research methods in ecologyClements, Frederic E. (Frederic Edward)
Science
Research methods in ecology
Clements, Frederic E. (Frederic Edward)
Plant ecology; Plant ecology -- Methodology
=227. Location and method.= The size of the migration circle is largely
controlled by the density of the vegetation, and in some degree by the
height of the species also, since this determines the trajectory of the
disseminule. In close formations, a circle of 1–, rarely of 5–meter
radius can best be used, but in the more open initial stages of
succession a radius of 5, 10, or, in exceptional cases such as open
woodland, even 25 meters, affords the best results. The location should
always be made with a plant or group of plants of the species to be
studied as a center. This migration circle differs from the quadrat in
that it is used to show the movement of one, rarely two or three
species, and not the position of all the plants within it. The center is
permanently fixed by driving a labeled stake with the number of the
circle and the data. Two tapes the length of the radius are used for
recording. These are provided with the usual eyelets, 5 decimeters
apart, and are fastened on a peg in the top of the central stake so that
they move readily. At the outer ends they are staked 5 decimeters apart
by a tape of this length when the radius is 1 meter, and 1 meter when
the radius is 5 or 10 meters. The record forms must be especially
prepared on blank sheets about 9 inches square. The scale is 10:1 for
circles of 1 meter, and 100:1 for those of 5– and 10–meter radius. In
the former, concentric circles are drawn about the center at intervals
of 5 decimeters, and radii are drawn to the circumference at the same
interval. In the larger circles, the intervals are 1 meter. Each segment
of the circle is read by means of the two tapes, and the position
indicated with reference to the concentric lines and radii. When but one
species is read, a tiny circle is used to denote the position of each
plant. If more than one is used, the symbols are those already indicated
for the quadrat. One tape is left in place and the other with the
segment tape is shifted to a new position, and the resulting segment is
read as before. The exact position of the base radius is fixed by a
label stake, in order that the segments of successive years may exactly
correspond. The record sheet is labeled, dated, and filed. By folding at
one edge, it may be filed in the regular field book.
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