quadrat A basic sampling unit of vegetation surveys. Traditionally 1 m² quadrats were used to sample short, non-woody communities such as grasslands and heathlands. More recently circular and rectangular quadrats have been used, as well as squares of all sizes, depending on the purpose of the survey (e.g. 10 m² and 20 m² quadrats are commonly used in woodland studies).

quadrat A basic sampling unit of vegetation surveys. Traditionally, 1 m² quadrats were used to sample short, nonwoody communities such as grasslands and heathlands. More recently circular and rectangular quadrats have been used, as well as squares of all sizes, depending on the purpose of the survey; e.g., 10 m² and 20 m² quadrats are commonly used in woodland studies.

quadrat An ecological sampling unit consisting of a small square area of ground within which all species of interest are noted or measurements taken. Quadrats may be spaced over a larger area to form an overall view when a total survey would be impracticable, or they may be used to sample along a transect.

quadrat †square XIV; (typogr.) small block of metal used for spacing XVII. — L. quadrātum (or the deriv. F. quadrat), sb. use of n. of quadrātus, pp. of quadrāre square (cf. quadrum sb., square); see QUADRI-.
So quadrate adj. XIV, vb. XVI.

quadrat A measured area, of any shape and size, that is used as a sample area in a biological survey, particularly a survey of plants or of sessile and sedentary animals.