If you are doing a vegetation study, then you will probably be measuring parameters such as:
| Measurement | Equipment | Units | Chart and Graphs |
| Percentage of different species present in quadrat | Quadrat (50cm x 50cm) | % | Vegetation Identification Sheet |
| Vegetation height | Clinometer | cm or metres | |
| Number of different species present in quadrat | Quadrat (50cm x 50cm) | actual number! | Vegetation Identification Sheet |
| Canopy Cover - if in woodland | Quadrat (50cm x 50cm) | % |
|
| Light Intensity | Light Meter | Lux |
|
| Soil pH | Soil pH Kit |
pH |
|
| Soil Moisture | Balance - petri dishes |
% moisture content |
|
| Vegetation might measured in conjunction with some assessment of the Microclimate |
|
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| Data collection is usually taken systematically along a transect line. | Tape measure |
metres (usual measurement in between each site |
All of the equipment may be borrowed from the Earth Studies Department - ask your teacher
You are likely to be measuring the vegetation in a woodland or a grassland or even how vegetation may alter as you go up a hill / mountain.
Make sure you understand the Geographical Theory behind your investigation - read the text book written by Greg O'Hare. There is also some good information in Waugh.The basic theories are:
1. It is possible one of the key theories you may be investigating is plant succession. This will involve taking your measurements from a grassland into a woodland and looking at the change in vegetation.
2. Plant succession could also be anaylsed from its hydrosere state going into its climax vegetation.
3. Some good projects investigate how the vegetation can influence the microclimate. e.g. woodlands generally reduce wind speed, but in summer often result in increased humidity levels.
4. An assessment of how vegetation alters with altitude - this is where limiting factors such as temperature may come into play.