Ecology Field Methods: Quadrats, Mark-Recapture & Population Estimates
Density and frequency from quadrats, percent cover scales, population estimates with a t confidence interval, Lincoln-Petersen and Chapman, Schnabel multiple recaptures, line-transect density, a species accumulation curve and Jaccard and Sørensen similarity: 8 graded labs on synthetic field data from one fictional reserve.
The first lesson is free — no account needed.
About this course
An ecology field methods course that turns synthetic field data from one fictional nature reserve into population estimates in a spreadsheet, for biology and ecology students, field technicians, conservation volunteers and teachers who run fieldwork. You turn quadrat counts into density per m², frequency and relative density, convert cover-class codes into percent cover with a lookup, scale a mean quadrat count up to a whole meadow with a 95% confidence interval from STDEV.S and T.INV.2T, estimate newt populations with the Lincoln-Petersen index and the Chapman correction, follow six trapping nights with the Schnabel method, estimate skylark density from line-transect sightings, chart a species accumulation curve, and compare three meadows with the Jaccard and Sørensen indices and Whittaker's beta diversity. The first lab is free.
Lessons
- Quadrat Sampling: Density, Frequency & Relative DensityFree
- Percent Cover & Abundance Scales Pro
- Population Size from Quadrats with a 95 % Confidence Interval Pro
- Mark-Recapture: Lincoln-Petersen & the Chapman Correction Pro
- Schnabel Estimate from Multiple Recaptures Pro
- Line Transects: Perpendicular Distance & Density (Simplified) Pro
- Species Accumulation Curve (Chart) Pro
- Comparing Sites: Jaccard & Sørensen Similarity Pro