EXERCISE 2

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE
Determining the Profile Diagram of a Pine Forest Community
Forests are habitats in which the trees are the dominant form of vegetation. They occur
in many regions and climates around the globethe tropical rainforests of the Amazon basin,
the temperate forests of eastern North America, and the boreal forests of northern Europe are
just a few examples.
Different types of forests may vary in species composition but they share the same
characteristic physiognomy and vegetation structure. They are characterized by high species
richness and biodiversity both in terms of plant and animal species that they support. The plant
species in the tropical forest exhibit various types of growth and life forms. Lianas or woody
vines and other epiphytes are common which are noticeably absent in other types of forest
formation. These plant communities have the most complex type if vegetation structure. Plant
and animal species exhibit vertical as well as horizontal layering. These characteristics of forest
communities are the result of the interaction between the organisms and the physical and biotic
environments. Pine forests are less diverse relative to a mossy forest however, it also display
unique characteristics and dynamics.
The profile diagram method was devised by Ecologists to study the vegetation structure
of forest communities. This method involves drawing to a scale the different life forms in the
community. It also shows the spatial distribution of the different species present. The profile
diagram was used by Beard (1946) as cited by Mueller-Dombois 1876).
Materials: tape measure, Haga meter, pencil, transect line (about 40 m long, calibrated every
10 m), compass or gps, ruler, meter stick, graphing paper or field notebook
Procedure:
1. Select an area that is representative of the forest community
2. By means of the transect lines, lay out a 40 (width) by 30 (length) quadrat. Divide the
quadrat into 5 equal strips or belts.
3. Record the elevation, latitude and longitude of the quadrat by taking several readings
from your GPS.
4. Identify all the individual trees present in the quadrat ( collect samples and document
your specimens by getting photos). Consider only those trees with a height of 1 meter
and above. Each strip or belt will be assigned for each group to work with.
5. Measure the distances between individuals and the location of the individual trees
relative to each other.
6. Measure total height, height of the first branch and depth of the crown of each tree. You
can determine the height of tall trees by estimating.
7. Measure also the canopy cover at all sides, let one of your groupmates stay at the
center of the tree trunk and measure the distance of the spread of the crown to your right
and left. Measure also the basal diameter and the diameter at breast height (dbh) of
each individual tree.
8. Note and record the presence of epiphytes (including lichens, mosses, and orchids) or
lianas on the trunk of the trees and other life forms in the area.
9. Note also what are found on the forest floor. Record.

10. Note down also the contour of the land where the trees are growing.
11. After collecting all the data (the data is a class data so you should be sharing this with
the entire class), continue the work in the laboratory/classroom. Using an appropriate
scale, map the location of each tree/plant on the graphing paper.
12. Illustrate the growth habit of the plants using the data you have gathered.
13. Make also a horizontal distribution pattern of the canopy of the plants in a separate
sheet of graphing paper.
14. Record all data on the table provided. Include all the data gathered in your final paper
such as edaphic factors-soil ph, soil moisture, etc.
Guide Questions:
1. Explain fully the reasons why the profile diagram is the most common method used in
vegetation analysis of a forest community.
2. Enumerate the disadvantage/s or limitations of this method of vegetation analysis.
3. Describe other methods of vegetation analysis of forest community. Give the
advantages/disadvantages of each of the methods that you have described.
References
Golley, F.B. (ed.) 1983. Ecosystems of the World. Vol. 14. A Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems.
Amsterdam: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co. (Esp. Chapters 3 & 4).
Mueller Dombois, D. and H. Ellanberg. 1974. Aims and Methods of Vegetation
Ecology. New York: John-Wiley &Sons.
Whitmore, T. 1993. The Tropical Rain Forests of the Far East. Oxford: Clarendon Press.

Notes:
Submit your paper after 2 to 3 weeks from performing the exercise.
Submit your group data immediately after the field work.
Share your group data with the other groups so that you can come up with a
class data to complete the overall data.

DATA SHEET FOR EXERCISE 3

Name of the group________________________________Belt Transect Number
__________________
Elevation________________Latitude___________Longitude_____________Date____________
_______
Ambient Temperature__________________________ Soil
Temperature__________________________
Table 3.1 Sample Table for the Profile Diagram of a Pine Forest Community
SPECIES/
INDVIDUAL
PLANT (use
number
codes and
then
identify
later)
1

Distanc
e

2 to 3, 2
to 4, etc

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

e.g. 1 to
2, 1 to
3, etc

Basal
diamet
er

DBH

Height
(Total)

Height
at 1st
branch

Depth of
canopy
from 1st
branch to
tip of tree

Length
of
canopy
to the
left

Length of
canopy
to the
right

15
You can add rows/columns to your table if needed.
Sample Output: Top view of the profile diagram

Sample Output: Right angle view of the profile diagram