The method I'm going to describe now is establishing transects. The transect is a line on the ground along which sample points are established for collecting vegetation and soil data. The first step to establishing transects is to find the zero point, in this case 330 degrees out from the center of the plot. Michelle will walk out to the starting point. After she reaches the start of the transect she'll roll the tape back up.
Then she's going to plant the zero end of the transect at the start and start walking out in the direction that I tell her while I'm keeping a sight on her direction. She's staying to the right of the transect with the left arm outstretched so that she doesn't walk on the transect itself. Michelle reaches the end of the transect. She'll turn around, face me, and I'll direct her into the correct orientation.
A little to your left, Michelle. Looks good. She's pulling the tape as tightly as she can, and at the same time sticking it firmly to the ground. Looks good.
After finishing setting the end of the transect, Michelle will come back to the center of the plots, staying well to the right of the transect. In areas where woody vegetation makes pulling transects difficult, we have another method for pulling out transects. I'm sending Michelle to the start of the transect again, lining her up with a compass.
She's going to put the stake in the ground, roll up the tape, And then she's going to pace out to the end of the transect the approximate number of paces it'll take to get there. Staying well right at the transect while she does so. As Michelle approaches the end of the line, I'll line her up. It looks good. Michelle will place the tape on the ground, stake it to the ground through the handle.
with the real side up and then attach the end of the tape to the PVC pipe using a ring clip. Then she'll proceed walking towards the zero end of the transect with my guidance. As Michelle approaches the mesquite shrub she's going to keep the PVC pipe low to the ground and keeping it underneath any of the woody vegetation. at the same time avoiding any litter or digging up any soil. And she's going to walk around the shrub and pull the pipe through from the other side.
And the whole time I'm keeping her in line with the direction of the transect. Michelle's going to make her way down to the zero end of the transect using the pin as the guide. Unhook the tape from the PVC pipe. and then attach the tape to the ground with the stake. Then she's going to walk back out to the end of the transect staying well to the right of the transect and tension the tape.
When Michelle reaches the end of the line she's going to pull the stake out, pull the tape tight keeping it low to the ground, locking the handle down, and restaking it to the ground.