Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Buck Island Reef National Monument

This reference is an assemblage of field data collected as part the baseline vegetation inventory for the park unit. Typical files here are vegetation plot data, accuracy assessment data, field photos, PDF showing locations of vegetation plots and accuracy assessment data, and other data for this type. All vegetation plots were reached via hiking, often traversing steep slopes amongst thorny/poisonous vegetation. Data was collected from vegetation plots that were both preselected (potential) and non-preselected. Preselected plots were selected using ESRI ArcMap prior to field work (see Phase 4). A Garmin GPSMap 60CSx Handheld GPS Navigator was used to navigate to preselected plots. Upon arriving at the plot, a new GPS coordinate was taken and allowed to average for at least 120 seconds. Standing at the center of the plot, the primary observer visually evaluated a circular area with an average radius of 10 meters from the center of the plot, representing approximately an area of 300m2. Some polygons were too narrow and the area evaluated was adjusted accordingly. The primary observer dictated the items in the field data sheet which was filled out by an assistant observer and photos were taken that visually represented to the plot. Additional photos were taken while traveling between plots. Plant species that were unable to be identified in the field were bagged and later keyed out by SFCN botanist R. B. Shamblin using the Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Additional, non-preselected plots were sometimes recorded in areas of interest as determined in the field when reaching the selected point was not feasible or an area of vegetation visited had no other field points but was clearly different. These plots were treated in the same manner as preselected plots aside from not being preselected prior to field work.

Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Buck Island Reef National Monument

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