Prairie vegetation monitoring protocol for the North Coast and Cascades Network
Rochefort RM, Bivin M, Boetsch JR, Grace L, Howlin S, Acker SA, Copass Thompson C, Whiteaker L. 2012. Prairie vegetation monitoring protocol for the North Coast and Cascades Network. Natural Resource Report. NPS/NCCN/NRR—2012/538. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Prairies and Garry oak woodlands were once extensive in the lowlands of Washington and Oregon. Today, it is estimated that less than 3% of these areas still exist and many are severely degraded. The goal of the prairie monitoring project is to detect and describe changes in the extent and quality of prairie (herbaceous) communities in San Juan Island National Historical Park. The extent and distribution of prairies, oak woodlands, and forests are important attributes of the park’s cultural landscape. There are four primary objectives addressed in this protocol: 1. Detect change in the extent of physiognomic cover types within American Camp and English Camp. 2. Detect change in the proportion of areas dominated by exotic and native species within American Camp and English Camp. 3. Detect change in the quality of herbaceous cover types within American Camp and English Camp. 4. Detect changes in composition and diversity of herbaceous cover types within American Camp and English Camp. Prairie monitoring follows a two-stage sampling design; the first stage is designed to detect changes in physiognomic cover classes and the second stage focuses on composition of herbaceous communities. Sampling is conducted along parallel transects drawn at random using a general random tessellation stratified sample (GRTS). Physiognomic cover types and origin of predominant species (i.e. exotic or native) are recorded along transects. Species composition, of herbaceous cover types, is monitored within 1 m2 quadrats located systematically along transects. Status and trends of cover types are assessed through changes in dominance of native versus exotic species origin of predominant species, species richness, average Coefficient of Conservatism the floristic quality index (FQI), and changes in species composition. Ecological integrity of cover types is classified as good, caution, or significant concern based on status of the cover types. Trends in cover of predominant species, floristic quality, and extent of cover types are used to describe whether the status of the cover type is stable, improving, or declining.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Rochefort, Regina; Bivin, Mignonne; Boetsch, John; Grace, Lise; Howlin, Shay; Acker, Steven; Copass Thompson, Catherine; Whiteaker, Lou
- Date of Issue
- 2012-06
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- IMDP , NRSS , SAJH
- Keywords
- American Camp, coefficient of conservatism, common mustard, English Camp, floristic quality index, Garry oak woodland, golden paintbrush, herbaceous, island marble butterfly, Menzies’ pepperweed, Monitoring, NCCN Monitoring Protocol, physiognomic, Prairie, prairie vegetation monitoring, Rabbit, Roemer’s fescue, San Juan Island National Historical Park, Status, tall tumble mustard, Transect, Trends, Velvet Grass, Young Hill
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Invasive Species | Invasive/Exotic plants , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Sparsely Vegetated Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Grassland/Herbaceous Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Shrubland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | At-risk Biota | T&E Species and Communities