Sandbanks Draft Veg Mgmt Plan - Ontario Parks

APPENDIX F – Woodlands Monitoring Protocol
Land Classification, Environment Canada’s Ecological Monitoring and Assessment
Network (EMAN), and the SE Zone’s Interior Campsite Impacts protocols.
• The number of pieces of DWD is counted within a 1 m wide area centred on the 10 m
transect (ie: a 10 m 2 plot).
• DWD is recorded according to size class: 2.5 – 10 cm, 10 – 40 cm, and > 40 cm in
diameter, where diameter is estimated based on the expected original size of the stick
or log, and is its largest diameter within the transect.
• DWD is also recorded according to one of three decay classes, modified from the
standard MNR decay classes (see table below).
• In order to count as being within the transect, the DWD must have a diameter of at
least 2.5 cm within the transect area.
• DWD must be at least 30 cm long.
• DWD that is caught in low branches or lying at an angle should be counted only if it
can easily be dropped to the ground (ie: would have been lying on the ground if it
weren’t for branches holding it up).
Decay Class Intact Partially Decayed Decayed
MNR Decay Class 1 and 2 3 4 and 5
Bark Intact Trace or Damaged Absent
Twigs Present or absent Absent Absent
Shape Round Round Round to Oval
Structure Intact Intact Decaying
Colour of Wood Original colour Faded Faded
Portion of log on
ground
elevated on
support points
sagging
all on ground
Analysis
Data can be summarized by park staff if time permits; analysis can be completed by
zone office staff. Both Vegetation and Downed Woody Debris can be analyzed using an
ANOVA (Analysis of Variance), as they involve quantitative data. The experimental
treatments that we are looking for differences among are the distances from the
campsites: 10, 25, and 75m. There are 10 repetitions of each experimental treatment.
The response variables that we will conduct the analyses on are:
• Vegetation: Total # Native Plants, Total # Non-native Plants, Total # Shrubs/Saplings;
Totals by species
• Downed Woody Debris: Total # DWD (can break into decay classes and size classes
to see what type of debris is contributing most to differences)
The null hypothesis that we are testing is: There is no difference in the number of
(indicator species or pieces of DWD) among distances (10, 25, 75m) from the campsite.
Fauna
Amphibians, particularly salamanders and newts, are sensitive to forest understorey
condition and are easy to monitor. A general salamander survey has been initiated in
the park, including four plots in the woodlands campground. A detailed salamander
monitoring protocol has been developed by EMAN.
A preliminary survey of the monitoring sites has revealed little habitat available to
salamanders. However, if it is decided to initiate a more structured salamander
monitoring program in the Woodlands Campground, the EMAN protocol can be adopted.
Sandbanks Vegetation Management Plan A-21
Ontario Parks, SE Zone
2009