Belt transect method

Knowledge graph centered on Belt transect method with 76 nodes and 256 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Two-form Bumble Bee, Bumble Bees, Buff-tailed Bumble Bee.

Method synopsis

Belt transect method for censusing lupine populations and collecting inflorescences for morphological analysis across sympatric and allopatric sites. Combines population surveying with systematic floral trait measurement.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 48 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Community context mediates effects of pollinator loss on seed production (2023), Ecosphere. The protocol was originally introduced by The effect of hermaphrodite density and frequency at three spatial scales on the polen receipt and seed set of gynodioecious Geranium richardsonii (Geraniaceae) (2001). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Floral community surveys
   Surveyed species identity and number of flowers for each plant in bloom along two 1×20-m transects to assess composition of floral community around focal D. barbeyi individuals.
   Quantities: Two 1×20-m transects per sampling eventDuration: Conducted during each sampling eventConditions: During flowering period
   Equipment: measuring tape, data sheets
2. Morphological similarity calculations
   Calculated proportion of floral community overlapping with D. barbeyi on two morphological characteristics: color (blue/violet) and corolla length (10-18 mm range matching D. barbeyi nectar spurs). These characteristics selected as expected to influence bumble bee visitation rates compared with other plants at each site.
   Quantities: Two morphological traits assessed: color and corolla lengthDuration: Post-hoc analysis of floral survey dataConditions: Analysis of survey data
   Equipment: measurement tools for corolla length, color identification guides

Typical Equipment

• GPS
• tape for marking
• measuring tools for morphological measurements

Output Measurements

• population census data
• inflorescence density
• floral volume
• banner-to-wing gap angle
• flower width
• claw-to-wing length
• banner-to-wing height

Papers Using This Protocol (48)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used