LIMPETS: Long-term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students

Student Scientists on our Sanctuary Shores

Rocky Intertidal Monitoring Equipment

Before you start a LiMPETS monitoring program at your school or organization, you will need equipment. To borrow equipment, contact your local LiMPETS coordinator. Otherwise, you can build or purchase your own. A complete set of monitoring equipment costs approximately $250 to assemble.

To get started:

  1. Find out which sampling methods are used at your monitoring site of interest.
  2. Use the equipment checklist on this page to find out what equipment is needed.
  3. Quadrats are used at almost every LiMPETS site. Learn how to build your own.

Monitoring Equipment

Vertical Transect Random Quadrats Total Counts Size Measure. Notes
Quadrats (1/4 m2) Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: no Size Measurement: no Build your own! $50 to purchase materials to make 10 quadrats.
50m tape measure (open reel fiberglass) Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: no Size Measurement: no Available at cspoutdoors.com: $36
Clipboards (with large rubber bands to secure datasheets) Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes Available at any office supply store
Pencils Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes  
Traffic cones (or tape measures) Vertical Transect: no Random Quadrats: no Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes Used to mark area perimeter. Quantity needed = 4
Flexible metric rulers Vertical Transect: no Random Quadrats: no Total Counts: no Size Measurement: yes Available at any office supply store
Tide book Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes Download from Tides Online. Tide books available at Tidelog.com
Backpack, buckets, or large plastic bin Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes Used to carry equipment
Laminated Invertebrate and Algae Photo ID sheets Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: no Size Measurement: no Download from Datasheets & Forms
Datasheets and field log Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes Download from Datasheets & Forms
Monitoring protocols Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes Download from Datasheets & Forms
Random numbers Vertical Transect: no Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: no Size Measurement: no Download from Datasheets & Forms
Kneeling cushions (optional) Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: no Size Measurement: no Available at Amazon.com; $2.25 each
GPS (optional) Vertical Transect: yes Random Quadrats: yes Total Counts: yes Size Measurement: yes Available at Garmin.com; $270 and up