Biodiv Sci ›› 2010, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (1): 44-49.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2010.044

• Original Papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A comparison of line transect and point count surveys: a case study of spring saltmarsh birds at Chongming Dongtan

Yinting Cai, Xiaojing Gan, Zhijun Ma*()   

  1. Coastal Ecosystems Research Station of Yangtze River Estuary, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Biodiversity Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433
  • Received:2009-06-18 Accepted:2009-11-11 Online:2010-01-20 Published:2010-01-20
  • Contact: Zhijun Ma

Abstract:

We compared fixed-distance line transect and fixed-radius point count surveys for estimating saltmarsh bird richness and abundance at Chongming Dongtan. A total of 24 bird species were recorded during five surveys in spring 2008, 19 during line transects and 21 during point counts. The average number of species detected per survey did not differ between the two methods. Density estimates of individual species from the two methods were correlated, suggesting that the two methods consistently estimate relative abundance. However, density of individual species and of all species combined as estimated by point count surveys were higher than those by line transect surveys. Our results indicate that it is important to account for different survey methods when comparing temporal and spatial differences in bird species richness and abundance.

Key words: bird surveys, line transects, point counts, saltmarsh, Chongming Dongtan