belt transect
Belt transects are used in biology, more specifically in biostatistics, to estimate the distribution of organisms in relation to a certain area, such as the seashore or a meadow.{{cite book |first=David Arnold |last=Hill |author2=Matthew Fasham |author3=Graham Tucker |author4=Michael Shewry |author5=Philip Shaw |title=Handbook of biodiversity methods: survey, evaluation and monitoring |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |year=2005 |pages=[https://books.google.com/books?id=9Jspmhkyex4C&pg=PA219 219–222] |isbn=0-521-82368-4 |oclc=61439712}}{{Cite journal |last1=Fan |first1=Jihui |last2=Liu |first2=Tianyuan |last3=Liao |first3=Ying |last4=Li |first4=Yiying |last5=Yan |first5=Yan |last6=Lu |first6=Xuyang |date=2021 |title=Distinguishing Stoichiometric Homeostasis of Soil Microbial Biomass in Alpine Grassland Ecosystems: Evidence From 5,000 km Belt Transect Across Qinghai–Tibet Plateau |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |volume=12 |page=781695 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2021.781695 |pmid=34925425 |pmc=8675581 |issn=1664-462X|doi-access=free }}
The belt transect method is similar to the line transect method but gives information on abundance as well as presence, or absence of species.[http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/what_method.htm Ecological Sampling Methods][http://geographyfieldwork.com/urban_sampling.htm Urban Sampling Methods] - Barcelona Field Study Center
Method
The method involves laying out a transect line and then placing quadrats over the line, starting the quadrat at the first marked point of the line.{{Cite web |title=How to carry out ecological sampling page 4. |url=http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/4howto.htm |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=www.countrysideinfo.co.uk}} Any consistent measurement size for the quadrat and length of the line can be chosen, depending on the species. With the quadrats applied, all the individuals of a species can be counted, and the species abundance can be estimated. The method is also suitable for long-term observations with a permanent installation.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-17 |title=Difference Between Belt and Line Transect |url=https://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-belt-and-line-transect/ |access-date=2022-11-03 |website=Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms |language=en-US}}