Method of the study and procedures

To study the floral and vegetation diversity, we chose the QUADRATE STUDY method.

A quadrate is a small plot used in ecology and geography to isolate a standard unit of area for study of the distribution of an item over a large area. While originally rectangular, modern quadrates can be rectangular, circular, irregular, etc.,. The quadrate is suitable for sampling plants, slow-moving animals (such as millipedes and insects), and some aquatic organisms.

When an ecologist wants to know how many organisms there are in a particular habitat, it would not be feasible to count them all. Instead, he or she would be forced to count a smaller representative part of the population, called a sample. Sampling of plants or animals that do not move much (such as snails), can be done using a sampling square called a quadrate. A suitable size of a quadrate depends on the size of the organisms being sampled. For example, to count plants growing on a school field, one could use a quadrate with sides 0.5 or 1 meter in length.

Quadrates are typically areas of dimensions ranging from 1×1 ft to 4×4 ft and to the maximum 5×5 ft.

Procedure

The fixed point is first determined by a stone throwing by our coordinator.
It is then made prominent with a branch in the form of a stick and placed accordingly.
Now areas are formed of 1×1 ft to 4×4 ft by extending the other point i.e. the boundaries but keeping the fixed point as it is.
The various plants falling under the quadrates are then noted down.

A TYPICAL DIAGRAM OF QUADRATE STUDY

Remark :- It is to reminded that when a 4×4 dimension is reached and if no new species intrusion takes place then that is considered as the least quadrate .5×5 dimension is created just to check saturation and confirmation of no new species intrusion.

For avifaunal study we have used Line Transect Method.

A transect line can be made using a nylon rope marked and numbered at 0.5m, or 1m intervals, all the way along its length. This is laid across the area you wish to study. The position of the transect line is very important and it depends on the direction of the environmental gradient you wish to study. It should be thought about carefully before it is placed. You may otherwise end up without clear results because the line has been wrongly placed. For example, if the source of the pollutant was wrongly identified in the example given above, it is likely that the transect line would be laid in the wrong area and the results would be very confusing. Time is usually money, so it is worth while thinking about it before starting.

A line transect is carried out by unrolling the transect line along the gradient identified. The species touching the line may be recorded along the whole length of the line (continuous sampling). Alternatively, the presence, or absence of species at each marked point is recorded (systematic sampling). If the slope along the transect line is measured as well, the results can then be inserted onto this profile.

For crab study we have been arranged in a line few distance away from the crab habitant so that we can easily spot the crabs without disturbing them.

OBSERVATIONS

A total of 3 types of quadrate sets were made and then studied/analyzed.

TYPE 1 – COASTLINE AREA

TYPE 2 –MID COASTLINE AREA

TYPE 3 –ESTUARINE AREA

OF THE FOLLOWING QUADRATES [Q=QUADRATES]

Q1 TO Q4 LIES IN COASTLINE AREA

Q5 TO Q8 LIES IN MID COASTLINE AREA

Q9 TO Q12 LIES IN ESTUARINE AREA

SPECIES Serial no.	Q 1	Q 2	Q 3	Q 4	Q 5	Q 6	Q 7	Q 8	Q 9	Q 10	Q 11	Q 12	DENSITY [total no. of individuals of the species in all quadrates ÷no. of quadrates in which that surveyed]	Abundance =( total no. of individuals in all quadrates) ÷( no. of quadrates in which the particular species is found]	Frequency (in %) = (no. of quadrates in which species occurred ) divided by (the total no. of quadrates studied ) x 100
1 CASUARINA SP	1	0	0	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2.333	3.5	66.66
2 OPUNTIA SP	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	2	3	66.66
3 CALOTROPIS SP	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.33	1	33.33
4 AZADIRACHTA INDICA	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.33	1	33.33
5 SUEDA MARITIMA	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0.33	1	33.33
6 SPINIFEX LITTOREUS	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	1	3	33.33
7 GRASS	4	5	5	4	5	3	2	9	0	0	0	0	12.33	18.5	66.66
8 OTU 1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.33	1	33.33
9 OTU2	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.33	1	33.33
10 OTU3	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.66	2	33.33
11 OTU4	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0.33	1	33.33
12 OTU5	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.66	2	33.33
13 OTU6	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0.66	1	66.66
14 OTU7	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	33.33
15 OTU8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0.66	2	33.33