Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping

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SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 2.0 SAMPLE SITES 2.1 Site Types and Dimensions Three types of sites are used to assess vegetation. Each type varies in level of detail and purpose: Full Characterisation Sites Full characterisation sites are assessed for newly mapped regions. Sites are commonly 20x20 metres with the collection of full floristic and structural information. However, in vegetation communities such as lineal riparian communities, quadrat size may need to change (eg. 10X50 metres). The 20x20 metre quadrat is deemed a sufficient size to recognise the majority of ground and mid strata/sub strata species, provided adequate sites are sampled for a particular map unit. A basal sweep using a basal wedge (bitterlich gauge) is used to determine dominance of woody species in forests and woodlands. The basal sweep extends beyond the quadrat boundaries to provide a better representation of the overstorey stratum (refer to Chapter 3.5). Site data ideally includes a complete species list with associated cover and height values, growth forms, structural composition by strata, environmental attributes, disturbance and location information. The completeness of a species list is dependant on the observers’ familiarity with flora and the time available to survey a site. Recent surveys collect field data enabling sub-association (NVIS level VI) attribution providing the scale of mapping is appropriate. Previous survey data was collected at both association and sub-association levels (NVIS level V & IV respectively). When deemed appropriate site survey may include a 100m transect to determine foliage projective cover according to methodologies in Mapping the Forest Cover of the Northern Territory (NORFOR) (Meakin et al., 2002; refer to Chapter 3.6). Check Sites Check sites are less detailed and used to characterise vegetation once a sufficient number of full characterisation sites have been recorded for a particular vegetation community. A basal sweep is undertaken to determine species dominance. Cover and height values are estimated or measured for two to three dominant species in either the dominant or all strata/sub strata. Location information is also recorded. Check sites can also be used to validate mapping prior to full characterisation site sampling. Road notes Road notes are useful to substantiate mapping patterns recorded from a vehicle whilst in motion. Cover and height estimates for two to three dominant species in either the dominant or all strata/sub strata are recorded. Northern Territory Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping 29
SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 2.2 Site Selection and Sampling Intensity Sample sites are selected and located to cover the geographic range and variation of each map unit within a survey area. Various sample design strategies are used for vegetation survey including the placement of sites on a random basis, stratified random, grid or purposive. The purposive approach is used for the majority of surveys conducted by NRETA Land and Vegetation where a preliminary map is generated to assist in site selection. Protocols have been formulated and published in the Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook: Guidelines for Conducting Surveys – Blue Book (Gunn et al., 988) for the number of sites required at a particular scale of mapping (Table 10). Table 10. Recommended sampling intensity for various scales of mapping. Scale of Published Map Area in Hectares represented by 1cm 2 on map Recommended Sampling Density 1km 2 Example: Mapping 1000 km 2 No. of Sites 1:5 000 0.25 100 100 000 1:10 000 1 25 25 000 1:25 000 6.25 4 4 000 1:50 000 25 1 1 000 1:100 000 100 0.25 250 1:250 000 625 0.04 40 1:1 000 000 10 000 0.003 3 Source: Gunn et al. (1988) In the NT, the recommended number of sites required for a particular scale of mapping may not always be possible as areas are vast and access difficult. The use of preliminary mapping to target areas can reduce site number requirements. As a general rule, when few new species are being identified in a vegetation community across a survey area, sampling intensity can be considered adequate. Sites can be selected prior to field work from preliminary mapping or during field survey. The geographic ranges of each discrete map unit should be assessed by sampling adequate sites. Edge effects resulting from disturbance such as development (i.e. roads) or natural phenomena (i.e. fire) should also be considered during site placement. As field survey proceeds and the character of a map unit becomes clear and remains consistent, sites are assessed in new patterns. The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies in recent years has improved the ability of locating predetermined sites and provides fairly accurate geo-referencing of sampled sites. GPS can also assist general navigation within a survey area and combined with computer based GIS, allow the viewing of preliminary mapping and/or interpretive data in real time. For more detail on sample design, intensity and adequacy refer to Chapter 5 of the Australian Soil and Land Survey Handbook: Guidelines for Conducting Surveys ‘Blue Book’ (Gunn et al., 1988); Neldner and Butler (in prep); Neldner et al. (1995) and Neldner et al. (in press). Northern Territory Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping 30
Page 1: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES,ENV
Page 4 and 5: PREFACE This document describes the
Page 6 and 7: CONTENTS PREFACE ..................
Page 8 and 9: GLOSSARY...........................
Page 10 and 11: ACRONYMS ANZLIC BRS DEH DEM DVT ERI
Page 13 and 14: SECTION A: GUIDELINES 1.0 INTRODUCT
Page 15 and 16: SECTION A: GUIDELINES 3.0 PRINCIPLE
Page 17 and 18: SECTION A: GUIDELINES Currently, th
Page 19 and 20: SECTION A: GUIDELINES 4.0 MAPPING P
Page 21 and 22: SECTION A: GUIDELINES Table 3. Data
Page 23 and 24: SECTION A: GUIDELINES Table 4. The
Page 25 and 26: SECTION A: GUIDELINES S Y Z C U Shr
Page 27 and 28: SECTION A: GUIDELINES The structura
Page 29 and 30: SECTION A: GUIDELINES Vegetation si
Page 31 and 32: SECTION A: GUIDELINES Resource Asse
Page 33 and 34: SECTION A: GUIDELINES DATA ENTRY Ma
Page 35 and 36: SECTION A: GUIDELINES 9.0 FUTURE DE
Page 37 and 38: SECTION A: GUIDELINES Satellite pla
Page 39: SECTION A: GUIDELINES 9.5 Web Serve
Page 43: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 1.0 IN
Page 47 and 48: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY These
Page 49 and 50: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 3.3 Co
Page 51 and 52: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY Top ht
Page 53 and 54: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY Under
Page 55 and 56: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY For la
Page 57 and 58: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 5.0 FI
Page 59 and 60: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 5.1 Ha
Page 61 and 62: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY Soil d
Page 63 and 64: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY Last f
Page 65 and 66: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY Broad
Page 67 and 68: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 5.3 Fo
Page 69 and 70: GLOSSARY CSR Datum Distribution Div
Page 71 and 72: GLOSSARY Overstorey Physiognomy Pla
Page 73 and 74: REFERENCES REFERENCES Abed, T. & St
Page 75 and 76: REFERENCES Meagher, D. (1991) The M
Page 77: APPENDICES
Page 80 and 81: APPENDICES APPENDIX 2: Overview of
Page 82 and 83: APPENDICES APPENDIX 4: Height Class
Page 84 and 85: APPENDICES TUSSOCK GRASS Closed Tus
Page 86 and 87: APPENDICES APPENDIX 6 (continued) D
Page 88 and 89: APPENDICES APPENDIX 6 (continued) G
Page 90 and 91: APPENDICES APPENDIX 8: Preliminary
Page 92 and 93: APPENDICES APPENDIX 10: Definitive
Page 94 and 95:
Disturbance, Succession, adjoining
Page 96 and 97:
APPENDICES APPENDIX 11: IUCN Red Li
Page 98 and 99:
APPENDICES APPENDIX 13: NT Weeds Da
Page 100 and 101:
APPENDICES APPENDIX 14 (continued)
Page 102 and 103:
APPENDICES APPENDIX 16: Field Data
Page 104 and 105:
APPENDICES APPENDIX 17: Field Data
Page 106 and 107:
APPENDICES APPENDIX 17 (continued)
Page 108 and 109:
APPENDICES APPENDIX 19: NT Site Pro
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