Vegetation community monitoring at Fort Pulaski National Monument, 2010
Byrne MW, Corbett SL, DeVivo JC. 2012. Vegetation community monitoring at Fort Pulaski National Monument, 2010. Natural Resource Data Series. NPS/SECN/NRDS—2012/252. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
In 2009, the National Park Service (NPS) Southeast Coast Network (SECN) Inventory and Monitoring Network began collecting vegetation community data as part the NPS Vital Signs monitoring program. Information collected under this Vital Sign will be used to help managers make better informed decisions by understanding trends and variability related to plant species, frequency of occurrence, percent cover, diversity, and distribution in the groundcover, shrub, and canopy strata. Data were collected at four spatially-balanced random locations at the Monument. Sampling activities occurred at the Monument from 6/8/2010 to 6/10/2010. Monitoring efforts resulted in the addition of six species, subspecies, or varieties to the park’s species list. Absolute canopy cover across the park was approximately 22%. Non-native Chinaberry (Melia azederach) had the largest average diameter-at-breast-height of any canopy species at the park. Bushy seaside tansy had the highest absolute cover in the shrub stratum. Yaupon holly (Ilex vomitoria) had the highest relative cover in the shrub stratum. Non-native Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) and an unidentified grass were the most frequently occurring species in the groundcover stratum.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Byrne, Michael; Corbett, Sarah; DeVivo, Joe
- Date of Issue
- 2012-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- FOPU , NRSS , SECN
- Keywords
- absolute cover, Community, diameter at breast height, groundcover, Monitoring, nativity, relative cover, shrub, Tree, Vegetation, Vegetation Monitoring