Plot sampling is an ecological and environmental survey method in which discrete, usually regularly or systematically arranged, spatial units (plots or quadrats) of defined size and shape are selected to estimate properties of populations, communities, or habitats. Within each plot, variables such as species presence, abundance, biomass, or structural attributes are measured and then extrapolated to larger areas under assumptions about spatial homogeneity and representativeness. Plot sampling designs may be random, systematic, or stratified, and are chosen to control sampling error, minimize bias, and enable statistically robust estimation of parameters such as density, cover, diversity, or productivity.
The summer of 2026 has brought one of the UK's most severe wildfire seasons in recent years, fueled by extreme heat and exceptionally dry conditions. More than 500 fires were recorded across the country in July alone, affecting ...
Environment
Sep 3, 2026
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Abandoned farmland can be transformed into wildflower-rich grassland habitat without the need for expensive and labor-intensive seeding, a new study by UCL researchers finds.
Plants & Animals
Jul 2, 2026
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221
How many insects and spiders live in 1 square meter (11 square feet) of meadow? What impact do humans have on this biodiversity in mowed meadows, lawns and roadside verges? A new online tool answers these questions: the Insect ...
Ecology
Jun 29, 2026
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15
For generations, agronomic knowledge has been produced on research stations like AU Flakkebjerg, where fields are designed to answer specific scientific questions. This is where agriculture became measurable, comparable and ...
Agriculture
Jun 10, 2026
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6
Mature and old-growth forests are vital for biodiversity, carbon storage, cultural traditions and economic activity. But in Alaska and British Columbia, these rich resources have not been reliably mapped, leaving much unknown ...
Ecology
Jun 9, 2026
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10
An analysis of Quebec's forest inventory data developed by Concordia researchers reveals that the conifer population is on the rebound after decades of decline.
Plants & Animals
Jun 2, 2026
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30
In his office at Michigan State University, forestry professor David Carter shows off an image of a virtual forest on his laptop. It's not just any forest. It's a computerized replica, or "digital twin," of a loblolly pine ...
Ecology
May 4, 2026
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14
Farmers have long debated which practices do the most to keep their soil healthy. Now, after pulling data from 21 long-term field trials scattered across the United States, a multi-state research team has found cover crop ...
Agriculture
Mar 30, 2026
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20
Highly detailed 3D scans of dense tropical rain forest plots are enabling precise estimates of tree structure, volume and stored carbon, as part of a first-of-its-kind pilot initiative, led by UCL researchers. Published in ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 24, 2026
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24
Air-polluting microplastics have been found in rural environments in greater quantities than in urban locations, researchers say. Scientists led by the University of Leeds detected up to 500 microscopic particles of plastic ...
Environment
Jan 12, 2026
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