Some remarks on the methods of assessing the population density of higher plants in cases of aggregated spatial structure

Abstract

This paper presents a comparative analysis of the methods used for. assessing the density of higher plants. The analysis was carried out on natural population (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) characterized by aggregated spatial structure. Attention has been paid to the surface methods with high (0.25 m²) and low <0.01 m²) basal unit, as also to the non-surface methods: the closest individual, the nearest neighbour, and the wandering quarter. Studies have shown that these 'methods do not give comparable results. The discussion points out' which methods can be used for the assessment of the density of aggregated populations, and what conditions must be fulfilled in order to obtain reliable results.