Transcript SRS FIA Phase 3 Vegetation Diversity and Structure in the

SRS - FIA Phase 3
Measuring Vegetation
Diversity and Structure in
the Southern Region
Sharon King
Dept. of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries,
University of TN
in Cooperation with the USDA, Forest Service,
Southern Research Station
(Cooperative Agreement # SRS-02-CR-11330145-055)
Measuring Vegetation Diversity and
Structure in the Southern Region
This presentation was given at the 2002 State FIA
Coordinators Meeting held in St. Augustine, FL
October 9 and 10, 2002.
This presentation is intended to introduce the State
Coordinators to the P3 Vegetation Diversity and
Structure indicator program. Results presented
here are PRELIMINARY and only based on
subsets of data gathered in the SC pilot study.
For updated information, please contact Sharon
King at 865-862-2044 or [email protected]
This work is funded by USFS Cooperative
Agreement number SRS-02-CR-11330145-055.
What Is the P3 Vegetation Diversity
and Structure Indicator?
The measurement of species
composition and vegetation
structure of vascular plants on
Phase 3 subplots
Includes all trees, shrubs, herbs,
grasses, ferns, and fern allies
(horsetails and club mosses)
Objectives of the Program
 To assess forest health in terms of
structure, diversity, abundance and rates
of change of vascular plant species
 Particular interest in the following
contexts:
native vs. non-native species
wildlife values
wildland and prescribed fires
South Carolina P3 Vegetation Indicator
Pilot Study
 Objective: To evaluate the effort and costs
associated with collecting all vegetation
indicator variables on P3 plots for the
state of SC
 South Carolina had 32 P3 plots evaluated
 Methods were those described in the
March 2002 National Field Manual
Questions We Hoped to Answer From
the SC Pilot Study
 What kind of effort (botanist hours) is
required to collect the data in the field
using the outlined methods?
 What is the best configuration for data
sheets?
 How much information is gained by each
successive quadrat and subplot?
More Questions...
 Are the variable measures sound and
repeatable?
 What kind of effort is required to
document and identify unknown species?
 What kind of effort is required to manage
the data?
 How does the Southern Region fit into the
national program?
Pilot Study Timeline
 April: Training in Macon, GA with Beth
Schulz, National Indicator Advisor
 May/June: Started the field season with 3
trips to SC; collected data from 4 plots
– First plot done together
– Other plots blind checked
 June 18: Botanist started solo work with
State P3 crew
 September 17: Field work completed
 October 1: Data turned into SC on 21 plots,
11 still being processed
Vegetation Indicator Field Methods
 Every plot
contains four
P3 subplots
ft
270o
15
Q3
6.8’ radius
microplot
o
150
 Every subplot
contains
three 1-m2
quadrats at
30o, 150o and
270o
Q1
N
30 o
 Subplot = 24
ft radius
circle
1 m2 quadrat
Q2
24’ radius
subplot boundary
Quadrat Measures (1m2 frame)
 Cover of
ground
variables in
quadrats to
1%
 Cover of all
species in, or
overhanging
quadrat (up
to 6 ft) to 1%
6 ft.
This quadrat contained 9 species
Subplot Measures (24 ft. radius circle)
 Identify all additional species on subplot
and estimate cover to 1%
Plot Center
This subplot contained 33 additional species, 46 total
More Subplot Measures
 For every species, layer
of greatest foliage
cover is recorded
 For all four layer
classes, total cover (of
all species combined)
is estimated to 1%
Layer Classes
0-2 ft.
2-6 ft.
6-16 ft.
16+ ft.
Example
Vaccineum tenellum :
Quadrat 3: 37% Subplot: 10% Layer: 1 (0-2 ft.)
Total Cover (all spp.) in layer 1 (0-2 ft): 64%
16+ ft.
6-16 ft.
2-6 ft.
0-2 ft.
Dealing With Unknown Species
 Species not known in
the field are collected,
tagged and bagged
 All unknowns are
assigned a number
 Specimens are keyed,
or logged and pressed
 Protocol states that
pressed unknowns are
sent in to a herbarium
for identification
Preliminary Study Results (Logistical)
 Collected data on 32 Plots across
state
 Completed 72 out of 128 subplots
(56%)
 115 hours spent on plot
(Based on a subset of the data, does not
include travel, locating plots, set-up, or any
follow-up work off plot)
Preliminary Study Results (Biological)
(From analysis of 10 plots, 26 subplots)
 Total number of “species”: 353
 Ave. species per quadrat: 7 [3-15]
 Ave. species per subplot: 38 [14-78]
 Average unknowns/subplot: 9 [0-35]
 Completed plots: 1 unknown/subplot
 Estimate 75-130 unknowns for season
once processed
Time in the Field (per subplot)
(From analysis of 9 plots, 21 subplots)
Time on Task
15%
25%
4%
Time to complete subplot
~ 1:36
 Quadrats: 24 min.
 SP Search, T&B: 33 min.
22%
 Cover & Layer: 21 min.
34%
Quadrats
SP Search, tag & bag
Spp. Cover & Layer
Overall Layer
Misc.
 Overall Layers: 4 min.
 Miscellaneous: 14 min.
** Numbers do not reflect
time to find or mark off plot
Note: Analysis not complete!
Actual Time Spent on All Tasks
(Projected from analysis of a subset of data)
Time to complete pilot
5%
37%
29%
~ 398 hours
 Field time = 115 hrs
 Plot set up = 32 hrs
 Travel = 114 hrs
29%
Total In Field
Travel
Specimens/Clean-up
Data Entry
 Specimens/data sheet
clean-up = 115 hrs
 Entry into NaTally = 22
hrs
Note: Analysis not complete!
Summary
 ~ 398 hours to complete 56% of subplots
in state
 Estimate ~ 616 hrs to complete all subplots
(15.5 wks @ 40hrs/wk)
 Practically equal amounts of time needed
for travel, data collection, and data
management
 To implement region-wide we will need
qualified botanists with specialized skills
 May need to be creative with funding and
logistics on a state by state basis
What’s Next From Here?
 Compile complete data set from pilot and
determine resource needs for region-wide
implementation
 Communicate with other regions to compare
our experiences and share information
 Evaluate goals, study methods, personnel
and funding resources/needs to plan for
implementation of the Vegetation Diversity
and Structure Indicator program for all states
in our region
Acknowledgements
Byron Rominger
Cindy Aulbach
Beth Schulz
SRS - FIA
Univ. of TN, FWF