ABSTRACT
Ocular estimation
in plots, line intercept, and point-intercept are all common methods for
determination of plant cover percent. By their nature, each has strengths
and weaknesses which should be matched to applications in which the strengths
are important and the weaknesses are not. Ocular estimation in 
quadrats
produces information on relative abundance of all species present, but
absolute cover values may be variable among observers. Point-intercept
sampling, in the opposite manner produces absolute cover values that can
be expected to be the most repeatable among observers, but point data
emphasize the major species. Ocular estimation in plots is best suited
to descriptive plant ecological purposes where complete information on
species is important but confidence in absolute cover values and repeatability
is not. Point-intercept methods are best suited to applications such as
mine permite baselines and testing for revegetation success, where maximum
confidence in absolute cover and repeatability is paramount and information
on the full range of individual species' cover values is not.
"Make
everything as simple as possible, but not simpler."
- Albert Einstein
Technical Features
- high resolution optics including microscope crosshairs
- very low parallax (stable point projection
- downward or upward projection
- lightweight, rugged construction
- mounts on standard photographic tripods