Question

Write the best method to measure the population density of a single Banyan tree in comparison to Partlzenium weeds in a forest by an ecologist. Explain and justify your answer.

Answer 1

In an area, if there are 200 carrot grass (Parthenium hysterophorus) plants but only a single huge banyan tree with a large canopy, stating that the population density of banyan is low relative to that of carrot grass amounts to underestimating the enormous role of the Banyan in that community. In such cases, the percent cover or biomass is a more meaningful measure of the population size.