Kite Diagrams

Kite diagrams are a visual picture of the population density of a species across a

horizontal landscape.

1. Calculate population density per metre2 for the chosen organisms. 50cm2 quadrats were used.

How to draw a kite diagram

Quadrat Number

Barnacle Density (number/m2)

Mussel Density (number/m2)

Chiton Density (number/m2)

2m 0 0 0

4m 0 16 1

6m 4 17 2

8m 6 8 6

10m 20 4 7

12m 26 0 2

14m 18 0 0

1. Calculate population density per metre2 for the chosen organisms. 50cm2 quadrats were used.

How to draw a kite diagram

Quadrat Number

Barnacle Density (number/m2)

Mussel Density (number/m2)

Chiton Density (number/m2)

2m 0 0 0 0 0 0

4m 0 0 16 64 1 4

6m 4 16 17 68 2 8

8m 6 24 8 32 6 24

10m 20 80 4 16 7 28

12m 26 104 0 0 2 8

14m 18 72 0 0 0 0

1) You will need to use a whole page of graph paper and turn it horizontally

2) Write a suitable title and include date and site at the top of your page.

3) x-axis (horizontal) = sample sites distances from high tide

y-axis (vertical) = species names

4) Divide the y-axis into three equal parts. Draw a line through the middle of each,

parallel to the horizontal axis. These will be the baselines (equal to 0)

Instructions for constructing a kite diagram…

5)Scan your data to find the highest density value. Divide this in half.

6) Make a scale on your y-axis above and below each baseline that will cover this value.

7) Divide the rest of the data in half and plot points above and below the baseline with an x. Mark O’s on the baseline with an x. Join the points above and below each baseline with a ruler and the same underneath. Shade each ‘kite’.

Continued…

A bad kite diagram – what is wrong?

Does not give distances from start point or units of distance

Some of the kites are open

ended – should be closed off at

end.

Title does not contain much detail. No mention of where site is or date

samples are taken.