Evaluation of the point‐centred‐quarter method of sampling Kaffrarian Succulent Thicket

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the efficiency and repeatability of the point‐centred‐quarter method. The parameter which was most efficiently sampled was species composition (relative density) with 90% replicate similarity being achieved with 100 point‐centred‐quarters. However, this technique cannot be recommended, even for research purposes, because: (1) the technique is extremely time‐consuming (i.e. it takes c. 14.2 man hours to record 100 samples); (2) it is difficult to identify individual plants because of the multi‐stemmed nature of the vegetation; and (3) there are mathematical constraints with determining density from distance‐based methods.