FIELD METHODS

Strategy for Monitoring Post-fire Rehabilitation Treatments

Troy Wirth and David PykeTroy Wirth and David PykeUSGS – Biological Resources DivisionUSGS – Biological Resources DivisionForest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science CenterForest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science CenterCorvallis, OregonCorvallis, Oregon

U.S. Department of InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Supported by USGS - BLM Interagency Agreement #HAI040045

Field MethodsField Methods

Photo pointsPhoto points Line Point Intercept (Cover)Line Point Intercept (Cover) Basal GapBasal Gap Density Density

Belt TransectBelt Transect QuadratsQuadrats

Paper data sheets or Paper data sheets or rangeland monitoring databaserangeland monitoring database

Plot design: Three transects radiating from a central point. Plot design: Three transects radiating from a central point. Measurements made along each transect and averaged for a Measurements made along each transect and averaged for a plot total.plot total.

Photo PointsPhoto Points

Photos taken from center stake at Photos taken from center stake at standard height (1.5 m) standard height (1.5 m)

Qualitative documentation of site Qualitative documentation of site conditionsconditions

May show change that is indicated by May show change that is indicated by quantitative dataquantitative data

Plot establishmentPlot establishment

General InformationGeneral Information GPS Location InformationGPS Location Information Soil / ecological site VerificationSoil / ecological site Verification Disturbance/Management historyDisturbance/Management history Species ListsSpecies Lists Additional Plot InformationAdditional Plot Information

Vertical and Horizontal slope shape descriptions

Plot EstablishmentPlot EstablishmentPage 2Page 2

Recent weatherRecent weather Recent disturbanceRecent disturbance Wildlife useWildlife use Management historyManagement history MapMap

Additional Plot InformationAdditional Plot InformationCommentsComments

Species present but not encountered Species present but not encountered during quantitative techniquesduring quantitative techniques

Search for rare species if a concern in the Search for rare species if a concern in the areaarea

Evidence of drill rowsEvidence of drill rows General impression of the site (lots of General impression of the site (lots of

seedlings, few seedlings etc.)seedlings, few seedlings etc.) Other information that would help Other information that would help

interpretation of seeding success.interpretation of seeding success.

Line-Point InterceptLine-Point Intercept

Measures canopy, basal, and bare ground Measures canopy, basal, and bare ground covercover

Total cover (vegetation + surface cover) Total cover (vegetation + surface cover) positively correlated with soil and site positively correlated with soil and site stability and hydrologic function stability and hydrologic function

Basal and canopy cover are sensitive Basal and canopy cover are sensitive indicators of biotic integrityindicators of biotic integrity

Rangeland Health IndicatorsRangeland Health Indicators

Line-Point InterceptLine-Point Intercept

1.1. Drop a pin flag at a 90° angle at the specified Drop a pin flag at a 90° angle at the specified meter markmeter mark

2.2. Record the first species that intercepts the pin Record the first species that intercepts the pin in the top canopy column (If no plant is in the top canopy column (If no plant is intercepted, record “NONE” in top canopy)intercepted, record “NONE” in top canopy)

3.3. Record additional species that intercept the pin Record additional species that intercept the pin (record each species only once)(record each species only once)

4.4. Record litter (L or W)Record litter (L or W)5.5. Record perennial plant bases or soil surface in Record perennial plant bases or soil surface in

soil surface column.soil surface column.

Line-Point InterceptLine-Point Intercept

Perennial plant bases are important Perennial plant bases are important because they hold the soil surface because they hold the soil surface throughout the year.throughout the year.

Soil surface codes: Rock (R), Bedrock Soil surface codes: Rock (R), Bedrock (BR), Duff (D), Moss (M), LC (Lichen (BR), Duff (D), Moss (M), LC (Lichen Crust), and Soil (S)Crust), and Soil (S)

Standing dead is recorded as that species Standing dead is recorded as that species – dead material must be on soil surface to – dead material must be on soil surface to be litterbe litter

Line-Point InterceptLine-Point Intercept

Number of points taken per transect can Number of points taken per transect can be adjusted depending on the variability of be adjusted depending on the variability of the community (minimum of 50)the community (minimum of 50)

The line-point intercept procedure is The line-point intercept procedure is designed to estimate the cover of designed to estimate the cover of dominant species, not species diversity or dominant species, not species diversity or richnessrichness

Richness is combination of species on LPI Richness is combination of species on LPI and searching for additional speciesand searching for additional species

Line – Point Intercept Data Form

Basal Gap InterceptBasal Gap Intercept

Measurement of gaps >20 cm between Measurement of gaps >20 cm between perennial plant bases along a transect (typically perennial plant bases along a transect (typically 50 m) 50 m)

1.1. Look straight down at the tape and use a stiff Look straight down at the tape and use a stiff pin to project a line vertically to the ground.pin to project a line vertically to the ground.

2.2. Record the beginning and end of each gap Record the beginning and end of each gap between perennial plant bases longer than 20 between perennial plant bases longer than 20 cm.cm.

3.3. Count only live plant basesCount only live plant bases

Basal Gap InterceptBasal Gap Intercept

Correlated with soil and site stability, hydrologic Correlated with soil and site stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrityfunction, and biotic integrity

Large gaps increase the potential for erosionLarge gaps increase the potential for erosion Detects increasing/decreasing number of large Detects increasing/decreasing number of large

gapsgaps Sensitive to spatial pattern (aggregation or Sensitive to spatial pattern (aggregation or

patches) of vegetationpatches) of vegetation Successful seedings should show decreasing Successful seedings should show decreasing

percentage of large gapspercentage of large gaps

Basal Gap InterceptBasal Gap Intercept

From Herrick et al. 2005a

Basal Gap InterceptBasal Gap Intercept

Basal Gap Basal Gap InterceptIntercept

FormForm

Plant DensityPlant DensityBelt TransectBelt Transect

Walk along transect with a PVC pipe and Walk along transect with a PVC pipe and record plants occurring underneathrecord plants occurring underneath

Use for larger, less abundant plantsUse for larger, less abundant plants

Belt TransectBelt Transect

Measures density of larger and less Measures density of larger and less common plants (Class B and C shrubs)common plants (Class B and C shrubs)

Adjustable belt width to increase sampling Adjustable belt width to increase sampling efficiency dependent on the number of efficiency dependent on the number of plantsplants

From Herrick et al. 2005a, based on Tazik et al. 1992

Plant DensityPlant DensityQuadratsQuadrats

Place quadrats at specified intervals along each Place quadrats at specified intervals along each transect to estimate density of seedlings and transect to estimate density of seedlings and common herbaceous species (generally 1x1 common herbaceous species (generally 1x1 meter quadrats)meter quadrats)

Track size classes of individuals (A, B, C)Track size classes of individuals (A, B, C) Separate into seeded and non-seeded plants if Separate into seeded and non-seeded plants if

possiblepossible Define rules for dealing with rhizomatous Define rules for dealing with rhizomatous

species or other species that are difficult to species or other species that are difficult to countcount

Plant DensityPlant Density Quadrats Quadrats

• Count number of individuals of all seeded species and other species of interest

• Count stems of rhizomatous species

• Questionable situations - follow a consistent set of guidelines

Cheatgrass follows the drill rows, search here for seedlings

Shrink-swell breaks plants apart - difficult to locate drill rows

Rhizomatous plants and seeded plants present. How do you decide which is which?

Plant DensityPlant DensityAnalysisAnalysis

Analyze data to isolate the effect of the Analyze data to isolate the effect of the seeding depending on your situationseeding depending on your situation Comparing parameter to quantitative objectiveComparing parameter to quantitative objective Treatment vs. control (direct)Treatment vs. control (direct) Treatment vs. control (change)Treatment vs. control (change) Seeded vs. unseeded or group if unable to tell Seeded vs. unseeded or group if unable to tell

the differencethe difference Group lifeforms (seeded perennial grasses) Group lifeforms (seeded perennial grasses)

etc.etc.

Plant DensityPlant DensityAnalysisAnalysis

Treatment Density N = 5 X = 5.3 plants/m2

S = 1.8 plants/m2

ControlControl DensityDensity N = 5N = 5 X = 2.5 plants/mX = 2.5 plants/m22

S = 0.7 plants/mS = 0.7 plants/m22

Objective is difference of 2 plants/m2 (alpha = 0.1)

Reporting