Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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Introduction ● Metadata for each spatial dataset follows the FGDC metadata standard. ● Spatial data is provided with a horizontal positional accuracy that meets National Map Accuracy Standards at the 1:24,000 scale; each well-defined object within the spatial database is within 1/50 of an inch display scale or 12.2 meters (40 ft) of its actual location. ● All plant names used in the classification are consistent with the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). ● Each vegetated map class will meet or exceed 80% accuracy at the 90% confidence level. ● The minimum mapping unit (MMU) is 0.5 ha (1.24 ac). 1.4 The National Vegetation Classification Standard Patterns of vegetation vary continuously over landscapes. Classification systems attempt to categorize those patterns by identifying and describing assemblages of plants that repeat in similar habitats. The NVCS provides a classification framework that is the standard for all NPS vegetation mapping projects (Comer et al. 2003, The Nature Conservancy, and Environmental Systems Research Institute 1994a). In 1997, the FGDC formally adopted the NVCS Version 1 (Federal Geographic Data Committee 1997). During the course of the project, Version 2 of the NVCS (Federal Geographic Data Committee 2008) was approved, but it was not used in this project as the vegetation classification units were still under development. Not to be confused with the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) described below, the NVCS refers to the framework and rules of classification and evolved from vegetation classification work conducted over more than two decades by The Nature Conservancy (TNC), NatureServe, and the Natural Heritage Program network (Grossman et al. 1998). It derives in part from earlier vegetation classification schemes produced by the United Nations Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) (UNESCO 1973, Driscoll et al. 1984). Use of this standardized classification system helps ensure data compatibility throughout the National Park Service and other agencies. The NVCS is a hierarchical system that allows vegetation classification to occur at multiple scales. In Version 1, there are seven levels: the upper five are based on the physiognomic characteristics of vegetation, and the lower two are based on the floristic characteristics of the plant community. Version 2 (Federal Geographic Data Committee 2008) has eight levels (table 2). The upper three levels (which are a reorganization of the five upper physiognomic levels from Version 1) indicate physiognomic characteristics that reflect geographically widespread (global) topographic and edaphic factors. The middle three levels, which are new to the NVCS hierarchy, focus on largely biogeographic and habitat factors along very broad regional-to-continental topographic, edaphic, and disturbance gradients. The lower two levels—alliance and association—are used in the park mapping project and are the same in both Version 1 and Version 2, with some changes to Version 2 alliances expected. Because the Group level in NVCS, Version 2 was still under development, NatureServe Ecological Systems were used to approximate the group level for the PEFO group map classes. The NVCS provides a framework for levels of classification, but it does not provide descriptions of the vegetation types at all levels. The classification maintained by NatureServe and used by many federal agencies (including the NPS) is the NVC. The NVC includes the plant communities (associations and alliances) identified and described in the United States. Work conducted primarily by TNC through 1999 provided initial definitions of plant communities at each level. NatureServe 3
Vegetation Classification and Distribution Mapping Report: Petrified Forest National Park Table 2. The National Vegetation Classification System, Version 2, with definitions and examples. 1 Level Level name Primary basis for classification Example Upper Level 1 Upper Level 2 Upper Level 3 Mid Level 4 Mid Level 5 Mid Level 6 Lower Level 7 Lower Level 8 Formation Class Formation Subclass Formation Division Macrogroup Group Alliance Association 1 Adopted from Federal Geographic Data Committee (2008) Defined by broad combinations of dominant general growth forms adapted to basic moisture, temperature, and/or substrate or aquatic conditions. Defined by combinations of general dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect global macroclimatic factors driven primarily by latitude and continental position, or that reflect overriding substrate or aquatic conditions. Defined by combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms that reflect global macroclimatic conditions as modified by altitude, seasonality of precipitation, substrates, and hydrologic conditions. Defined by combinations of dominant and diagnostic growth forms and a broad set of diagnostic plant taxa that reflect biogeographic differences in composition and continental differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes. Defined by combinations of moderate sets of diagnostic plant species and diagnostic growth forms that reflect biogeographic differences in composition and sub-continental to regional differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes. Defined by combinations of relatively narrow sets of diagnostic plant species (including dominants and co-dominants), broadly similar composition, and diagnostic growth forms that reflect biogeographic differences in mesoclimate, geology, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes. Defined by characteristic range of species composition, habitat conditions, physiognomy, and diagnostic species, typically at least one of which is found in the uppermost or dominant stratum of the vegetation. They reflect regional to subregional climate, substrates, hydrology, moisture/nutrient factors, and disturbance regimes. Defined on the basis of a characteristic range of species composition, diagnostic species occurrence, habitat conditions and physiognomy. They reflect topoedaphic climate, substrates, hydrology, and disturbance regimes. Shrubland and grassland Temperate and boreal shrubland and grassland Temperate shrubland and grassland North American great plains grassland and shrubland Great Plains tall grassland and shrubland Great Plains mesic tallgrass prairie Wet-mesic tallgrass prairie Central wet-mesic tallgrass prairie 4 inherited that documentation when it branched from TNC. NatureServe manages and continues to develop the database of NVC plant community entities. Their online database, NatureServe Explorer (http://www.natureserve.org/ explorer/), provides public access to regularly updated versions of the NVC plant community listings and descriptions. NatureServe’s documentation of alliances and associations is the most accessible listing currently available. However, the plant community listings within the NVC are not complete, and projects such as the one described in this report constantly add to the documentation and listing of NVC types. 1.4.1. Alliances and Associations Alliances and associations are based on both the co-dominant (greatest-canopycover) species in the upper strata of a stand and on diagnostic species—those consistently found in some land-cover types, but not others. Associations are the most specific classification and are hierarchically subsumed in alliances. Typically, each association is included in only one alliance, while each alliance may include many associations. Alliance names are generally based on the dominant/ diagnostic species in the uppermost stratum of the vegetation, though up to four species may be used, if necessary, to define the type. Associations define distinct plant compositions that repeat across the landscape and are generally named using both the dominant species in
Page 1 and 2: National Park Service U.S. Departme
Page 3 and 4: Vegetation Classification and Distr
Page 5 and 6: The National Park Service, Natural
Page 10 and 11: Acronyms and Abbreviations AA ac AP
Page 12 and 13: Executive Summary The classificatio
Page 14: Acknowledgments Behind the authors
Page 17: Vegetation Classification and Distr
Page 31 and 32: Axis 3 Axis 2 Vegetation Classifica
Page 35 and 36: 20 Table 5. continued Plant communi
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Vegetation Classification and Distr
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56 Table 22. Summary statistics for
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Literature Cited ties: Terrestrial
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B2 Appendix B Plant Community 2003
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B4 Appendix B .continued Plant Comm
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Appendix C: Global and local plant
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Appendix C: Global and Local Plant
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Appendix D Plant species list The s
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D3 Appendix D continued Scientific
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Appendix E Plant community and map
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Appendix E: Plant community and map
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Appendix F Plant community and map
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F3 Appendix F continued Plant commu
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Appendix F continued Plant communit
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G4 B1 Cottonwood / Rubber Rabbitbru
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G6 B3 Blue Sage Dwarf-Shrubland Fig
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G8 B5 Copperweed - Alkali Sacaton S
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G10 B7 Drummond Goldenweed - Gallet
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G12 B9 Greasewood / New Mexico Salt
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G14 B11 Iodine Bush Shrubland Figur
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G16 B13 Sandsage Colorado Plateau S
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G18 B15 Tamarisk Shrubland Figure.G
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G20 B17 Winter-fat / Blue Grama Dwa
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G22 B19 Alkali Sacaton - Blue Grama
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G24 B21 Blue Grama Herbaceous Veget
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G26 B23 Galleta - Alkali Sacaton He
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G28 B25 New Mexico Saltbush / Alkal
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G30 B27 Russian Thistle Sand Dune V
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G32 B29 Arizona Siltbush Sparse Veg
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G34 B31 Slender Buckwheat Sparse Ve
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G36 B33 Airstrip Figure.G65..Photos
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G38 B35 Barren Wash Figure.G68..Gro
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G40 B37 Park Sites Figure.G71..Phot
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G42 B39 Residences Figure.G73..Phot
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G44 B41 Run-off Control Feature Fig
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G46 B43 Stock Ponds Figure.G77..Pho
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G48 B45 Vegetated Wash Complex Figu
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Appendix H: Accuracy Assessment Dat
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Table H-4. Contingency table: Manag
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The Department of the Interior prot
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Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS

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