A transect is usually used to investigate a gradual change in a habitat rather than to simply estimate the number of organisms within it.

When would you want to use a transect when carrying out field work?

The belt transect method is used when there is a gradual change from one side of a habitat to another, like the change in light between the outer edges of a forest to the centre.

What are the pros of transect sampling?

It is less time consuming than other information gathering tools as many different interventions can be identified using the one tool. Communities, some for the first time, can analyse the linkages, patterns and inter-relationships of land use.