Vegetation mapping and classification of Pea Ridge National Military Park
Diamond DD, Elliott LF, Debacker MD, James KM, Pursell DL, Struckhoff A. 2013. Vegetation mapping and classification of Pea Ridge National Military Park. Natural Resource Report. NPS/PERI/NRR—2013/649. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Pea Ridge National Military Park (PERI) is situated in northwestern Arkansas, about five miles northeast of Rogers, AR. The site commemorates the critical March 1862 Civil War Battle of Pea Ridge. The border between the flatter Springfield Plains and the more hilly Dissected Springfield Plateau-Elk River Hills ecoregions bisects the park from east to west. Plant communities are therefore relatively diverse, reflecting the variety of landforms and abiotic habitats as well as past and current human use. A vegetation classification and mapping project was initiated in 2010 and completed in 2012. Protocols and products were produced following National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program guidelines. Classification was based on 47 quantitative field plots and an additional 96 observation points. Plots were placed across PERI in a stratified random manner based on qualitative field observation points and viewing of air photos. Mapping was based on photo-interpretation of both leaf-on and leaf-off air photos. Accuracy assessment points obtained during 2012 verified that the map is 93.9% accurate. Natural and semi-natural vegetation covers 4,209.6 acres (1,703.6 ha), or >98% of the park. Of that area, 76% is in woodland or forest and 23% is herbaceous vegetation. Two-thirds of the grasslands are mowed more than once annually and are dominated primarily by the non-native tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix). Dry and typic upland oak-hickory woodland and forest together comprise 2,481 acres (1,004 ha), or 59% of the natural and semi-natural vegetation of the park. A total of nine non-developed types were mapped, with an overall accuracy across all types of 93.1%.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Diamond, David; Elliott, Lee; Debacker, Michael; James, Kevin; Pursell, Dyanna; Struckhoff, Alicia
- Date of Issue
- 2013-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- HTLN , NRSS , PERI
- Keywords
- Pea Ridge National Military Park, Plant Communities, Vegetation Classification, Vegetation Map
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex