Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping

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SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 3.0 DESCRIBING VEGETATION NRETA Land and Vegetation employ a physiognomic-floristic approach to vegetation description and classification. The approach is based on a standard methodology initially developed for the Vegetation Survey of the NT (Wilson et al., 1990) and expanded in accordance with national standards. The physiognomy refers to the broad structural features of the vegetation including cover and height values, growth forms and stratum. The floristic component refers to the species composition at a site. 3.1 Species Species composition is a fundamental component of a vegetation community. A species list is an essential element of a vegetation survey and defining floristic assemblages is a major step in the analysis of site data. The analysis of site data using statistical packages is influenced by the number of species at a site. All species occurring at a site should be recorded if possible. The occurrence of species at any one time is dependent on seasonality, stages of community succession and degree of disturbance. Depending on the purpose of a survey, sites may need revisiting to record full floristic information. Reference should be made on the site sheet as to the adequacy of the species list at the time of sampling. Unrecognised species should be collected for identification in the NT Herbarium. Flora of Conservation Significance Flora of conservation significance or species meeting a range of criteria (i.e. Data Deficient) as per the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List Categories (IUCN, 2001) should be collected to voucher in the NT Herbarium and consequently recorded on the Holtze taxonomic specimen database. IUCN categories are listed in Appendix 11. For a list of NT threatened species refer to: http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/wildlife/threatened/index.html Weeds Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) and NT Declared Weeds should be recorded. Weed data collected should be made available to the Weed Management Branch of NRETA for updating the NT weeds database. Core attributes and supplementary data collection sheets have recently been developed for recording weed data in the NT (refer to Appendix 12 for directions & Appendix 13 for weeds field sheet). For a list of WoNS refer to: http://www.weeds.org.au/natsig.htm For a list of NT Declared Weeds refer to: http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/naturalresources/weeds/ntweeds/declared.html 3.2 Vegetation Profiles: Stratum Concept Users find vegetation information easier to understand when vegetation communities are portrayed with simple structural and floristic descriptors. While no one classification system will satisfy all purposes, consensus on describing and mapping vegetation favours a system based on: • structural formation, (eg. growth form: tree, grass etc.); • height (growth form measured in metres), and • cover (percent cover of each growth form). Northern Territory Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping 31
SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY These are provided for each stratum (layers of vegetation) and are complemented by floristic information (McKenzie et al., 2006). The vertical profile of vegetation is categorised by stratum, which in theory correspond to natural ‘clusters’ of plant material (Figure 4). These ‘clusters’ obviously have overlap and thus strict depiction in terms of height and cover can be subjective making delineation difficult or arbitrary. Vegetation survey in the NT has traditionally recognised three strata, if they exist (i.e. upper, mid & lower/ground). As some vegetation structures can be complex (more so in southern regions), national guidelines were implemented to recognise a possible eight strata/sub strata (Table 11). This has been incorporated in field sheets used by NRETA Land and Vegetation. The number of strata/sub strata existing or recognisable at a site can vary depending on vegetation complexity and observer perception. Distinct layering in some instances may not occur (eg. rainforest) where the vegetation profile is continuous from the canopy downwards. Table 11. Traditional stratum codes and NVIS sub stratum codes and descriptions. Traditional Stratum Code (Walker & Hopkins, 1990) NVIS Sub- Stratum Code Description Traditional Stratum Name Growth Forms* Height Classes* Not allowed U U1 Tallest tree substratum. For forests and woodlands this will generally be the dominant stratum. For a continuum (eg. no distinct or discernible layering in the vegetation) the tallest stratum becomes the defining substratum. Upper, tree Overstorey/Canopy (If only one tree layer occurs it is coded U1). Trees, tree mallees, palms, vines (mallee shrubs) Also: epiphytes, lichens. 8,7,6 (5). Grasses, shrubs & low mallee shrubs. U2 Sub-canopy layer, second tree layer. U3 Sub-canopy layer, third tree layer. M M1 M2 M3 Tallest shrub layer. Second shrub layer. Third shrub layer. Mid, shrub (if only one mid layer occurs it is coded M1). Shrubs, low trees, mallee shrubs, vines, (low shrubs, tall grasses, tall forbs, tall sedges) grass-trees, tree-ferns, cycads, palms. (6) 5,4,3. Mid & low grasses, sedges, rushes & forbs. Mid & tall trees/ palms. Northern Territory Guidelines and Field Methodology for Vegetation Survey and Mapping 32
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 and 44: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 1.0 IN
Page 45: SECTION B: FIELD METHODOLOGY 2.2 Si
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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