Question

Give an example where percentage cover is a more meaningful measure of the population size.

Answer 1

An example where percentage cover is a more meaningful measure of population size is when many small herbs/shrubs grow alongside a single huge tree with a large canopy. The population density of the tree appears low compared to the herbs/shrubs, thus underestimating its ecological role. Here, the percentage better reflects the population size because it accounts for the area occupied, not just the number of individuals.