SAMPLING VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES - New Mexico NRCS - US ...

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INTRODUCTION C. Guidelines The techniques described here are guides for establishing and sampling vegetation attributes. They are not standards. Vegetation sampling techniques and standards need to be based on management objectives. Techniques can be modified or adjusted to fit specific resource situations or management objectives as long as the principles of the technique are maintained. Before a modified technique is used, it should be reviewed by agency monitoring coordinators, cooperators, and other qualified individuals. A modified technique should be clearly identified and labeled as “MODIFIED.” All modifications such as changes in quadrat size or transect layout should be clearly documented each time the method is used. D. Location of Study Sites Proper selection of study sites is critical to the success of a monitoring program. Errors in making these selections can result in irrelevant data and inappropriate management decisions. The site selection process used should be documented. Documentation should include the management objectives, the criteria used for selecting the sites, and the kinds of comparisons or interpretations expected to be made from them. Common locations for studies include critical areas and key areas. Some of the site characteristics and other information that may be considered in the selection of study sites are: • Soil • Vegetation (kinds and distribution of plants) • Ecological sites • Seral stage • Topography • Location of water, fences, and natural barriers • Size of pasture • Kind and/or class of forage animals—livestock, wildlife, wild horses, and wild burros • Habits of the animals, including foraging • Areas of animal concentration • Location and extent of critical areas • Erosion conditions • Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species—both plant and animal • Periods of animal use • Grazing history • Location of salt, mineral, and protein supplements • Location of livestock, wildlife, wild horse, and/or wild burro trails 1. Critical Area Critical areas are areas that should be evaluated separately from the remainder of a management unit because they contain special or unique values. Critical areas could include fragile watersheds, sage grouse nesting grounds, riparian areas, areas of critical environmental concern, etc. 2. Key Areas Key areas are indicator areas that are able to reflect what is happening on a larger area as a result of on-the-ground management actions. A key area should be a representative sample of a large stratum, such as a pasture, grazing allotment, wildlife habitat area, herd management area, watershed area, etc., depending on the management objectives being addressed by the study. Key areas 3
4 INTRODUCTION represent the “pulse” of the rangeland. Proper selection of key areas requires appropriate stratification. Statistical inference can only be applied to the stratification unit. a Selecting Key Areas The most important factors to consider when selecting key areas are the management objectives found in land use plans, coordinated resource management plans, and/or activity plans. An interdisciplinary team should be used to select these areas. In addition, permittees, lessees, and other interested publics should be invited to participate, as appropriate, in selecting key areas. Poor information resulting from improper selection of key areas leads to misguided decisions and improper management. b Criteria for Selecting Key Areas The following are some criteria that should be considered in selecting key areas. A key area: • Should be representative of the stratum in which it is located. • Should be located within a single ecological site and plant community. • Should contain the key species where the key species concept is used. • Should be capable of and likely to show a response to management actions. This response should be indicative of the response that is occurring on the stratum. c Number of Key Areas The number of key areas selected to represent a stratum ideally depends on the size of the stratum and on data needs. However, the number of areas may ultimately be limited by funding and personnel constraints. d Objectives Objectives should be developed so that they are specific to the key area. Monitoring studies can then be designed to determine if these objectives are being met. e Mapping Key Areas Key areas should be accurately delineated on aerial photos and/or maps. Mapping of key areas will provide a permanent record of their location. E. Key Species Key species are generally an important component of a plant community. Key species serve as indicators of change and may or may not be forage species. More than one key species may be selected for a stratum, depending on objectives and data needs. In some cases, problem plants (poisonous, etc.) may be selected as key species. Key species may change from season to season. The process used to select key species should be documented. Documentation should include the management objectives, the criteria used for selecting species, and the kinds of comparisons or interpretations expected to be made from them. a Selecting Key Species Selection of key species should be tied directly to objectives in land-use plans, coordinated resource management plans, and activity plans. This selection depends upon the plant species in the present plant community, the present ecological status, and the potential natural communities for the specific sites. An interdisciplinary team should be used in
Page 1 and 2: SAMPLING VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES INTE
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS SAMPLING VEGETATI
Page 5 and 6: TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page 7 and 8: I. PREFACE PREFACE The intent of th
Page 9: 2 INTRODUCTION values when individu
Page 13 and 14: 6 INTRODUCTION G. Coordination Moni
Page 15 and 16: 8 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS A. Plan
Page 17 and 18: 10 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS Macrop
Page 19 and 20: 12 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS Becaus
Page 21 and 22: 14 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS d From
Page 23 and 24: 16 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS b Cove
Page 25 and 26: 18 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS sideoa
Page 27 and 28: 4 3.5 3 2.5 20 5 STUDY DESIGN AND A
Page 29 and 30: 22 STUDY DESIGN AND ANALYSIS C. Oth
Page 31 and 32: 24 ATTRIBUTES Frequency is the numb
Page 33 and 34: 26 ATTRIBUTES 2. Advantages and Lim
Page 35 and 36: 28 ATTRIBUTES b Standing crop and p
Page 37 and 38: 30 ATTRIBUTES
Page 39 and 40: 32 METHODS—Photographs c Angle ir
Page 41 and 42: METHODS—Photographs Hinge Rod sta
Page 43 and 44: METHODS—Photographs angle iron st
Page 45 and 46: 38 METHODS—Frequency • One tran
Page 47 and 48: 40 METHODS—Frequency transected,
Page 49 and 50: 42 METHODS—Frequency (3) Total fr
Page 51: Page of Frequency 44 Study Number D
Page 55 and 56: METHODS—Frequency The frame is ma
Page 57 and 58: 50 METHODS—Dry Weight Rank C. Dry
Page 59 and 60: 52 METHODS—Dry Weight Rank After
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D. Daubenmire Method METHODS—Daub
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METHODS—Daubenmire b Ten Cover Cl
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Page of Daubenmire Study Number Dat
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50 cm Six Cover Class Frame 20 cm R
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METHODS—Line Intercept b Pilot St
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METHODS—Line Intercept Hanley, Th
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70 METHODS—Step Point F. Step-Poi
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72 METHODS—Step Point the boot an
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74 METHODS—Step Point measures AN
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78 METHODS—Point Intercept G. Poi
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80 METHODS—Point Intercept 8. Sam
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82 METHODS—Point Intercept b Tran
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METHODS—Point Intercept Examples
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86 METHODS—Cover Board H. Cover B
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88 METHODS—Cover Board g Study Do
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Page of Cover Board Method Profile
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94 METHODS—Density I. Density Met
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96 METHODS—Density (often very mu
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98 METHODS—Density able to make s
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Page of Density Study Number Date E
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• Herbage Yield Tables for Trees
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METHODS—Double Weight Sampling (4
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METHODS—Double Weight Sampling d
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Page of Production Study Number Dat
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112 METHODS—Harvest K. Harvest Me
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114 METHODS—Harvest 7. Taking Pho
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116 METHODS—Comparative Yield L.
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118 METHODS—Comparative Yield (1)
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120 METHODS—Comparative Yield Tab
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M. Visual Obstruction Method - Robe
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METHODS—Visual Obstruction—Robe
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Sampling Interval Study Location 1
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130 METHODS—Other N. Other Method
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132 GLOSSARY browse: (1) the part o
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134 GLOSSARY grazable woodland: for
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136 GLOSSARY sample: a set of sampl
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138 GLOSSARY
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140 REFERENCES Crocker, R.L. and N.
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142 REFERENCES Hironaka, M. 1985. F
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144 REFERENCES Nie, Norman H., C. H
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146 REFERENCES Society for Range Ma
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148 REFERENCES Whitman, W.C. and E.
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Location 150 APPENDIX A Study Locat
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APPENDIX B APPENDIX B—STUDY AND P
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APPENDIX B 3. Label 3 A placard on
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APPENDIX C Photo Identification Lab
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160 APPENDIX C
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162 APPENDIX D The formula for usin
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Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Pub
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SAMPLING VEGETATION ATTRIBUTES - New Mexico NRCS - US ...

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