Daubenmire Versus Line-Point Intercept: A Response to Thacker et al. (2015)

Trace E. Martyn, Christopher W. Beltz, Kyle A. Palmquist, Victoria E. Pennington, Caitlin M. Rottler, William K. Lauenroth

Abstract


On the Ground
• Thacker et al. compared two common techniques
for assessing greater sage-grouse habitat: Daubenmire
quadrats and line-point intercept sampling.
• Sampling only 16 Daubenmire quadrats may not
have been adequate to support Thacker et al.’s
assertion that line-point sampling yields higher
cover values and that the two methods are not
comparable.
• Using data from sagebrush ecosystems in Montana,
we show that mean percent cover changes
depending on the number of Daubenmire quadrats
sampled and that 16 Daubenmire quadrats may not
be sufficient to accurately characterize sagebrush
vegetation.
• Assessing the appropriate sampling effort for the
method and study is a crucial part of designing
sampling protocols and has implications for greater
sage-grouse management and conservation.

Keywords: Artemisia tridentata, Daubenmire quadrats,
habitat assessment, line-point intercept, greater
sage-grouse, sampling methodology.


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