Tracing portions of figures to applique
 

Is there any easy way to figure out how to break down parts of a figure to trace when the designer of the pattern has not done it already on a separate sheet? For example, recently I started a quilt of bears and fish. The fish are different colored fabrics in parts of the body; The bears are broken up because they're climbing, so rumps become separate from bodies, etc. The bears are intact on the pattern sheet, so I'm having to figure out how to separate the body parts to trace and place on the fabric.

nstitchs just posted a pic of finished quilt with bears and fish

By registration marks, do you mean dots or x's? I am not familiar with this term. Thanks, Tartan!

Registration marks are where you draw a line that goes from the inside edge of one piece directly through to the inside edge of the piece that the first needs to line up. When they're cut apart, then you can know how/where they need to line up correctly again.

and you need to consider overlapping possibly. If you try to exactly match, once you cut (and possibly turn) the pieces you will not be able to match back exactly. Might be okay if you plan to satin stitch, but if you are doing raw edge or other stitching, you may be able to see some background. You can always cut some of the overlap away afterwards if they aren't fused together.

What is the name of the pattern? Are there other quilts already made using this pattern? Could you follow one of their fabric placement and changing?

Sounds like you are using the placement guide. Usually the individual pieces are separate and backwards for fusing. Some of the pieces go under while others go over.

Could the designer have intended for you to leave the bear intact and place the tree on top of the bear?

If it is the Java House quilt, I am just finishing the quilting on mine.
What I did was trace around the shapes and use registration marks to help when putting them together. I also labelled the parts. I still managed to have to to remake some of the smaller bits because they got lost among my worktable clutter so I will also say to keep those little pieces in a bag or container until you need them.
I made one bear into a pillow with edge turned applique and like it better than the quilt which I have made with fusible applique. I would if doing the fusible again add a bit of an overlap(1/8 inch or less) just to give me some wiggle room in placement.