Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

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. During summer 2005, field crews collected vegetation samples for plant community characterization. We entered the sampling data into the National Park Service (NPS) PLOTS Database (NatureServe 2005b) and performed analyses the following winter. The analyses provided detailed ecological information to affirm plant communities at the Lakeshore and document them with local descriptors. The vegetation classification was later modified with additional field reconnaissance data of INDU, vegetation samples from other ongoing park units within the Great Lakes Network (GLKN), and accuracy assessment (AA) site data of INDU. Plots were placed to represent an entire stand of vegetation as well as possible. Plots were usually located at least 15 m from the boundary of another vegetation type to reduce the variability associated with the transition from one vegetation type to another. This was not always possible in the case of small or linear vegetation stands. It was sometimes difficult to determine what constituted a unique vegetation type given the degree to which the vegetation in the project area had been disturbed. Former residential, industrial, and agricultural activity had affected nearly all of the project area to some degree. This sometimes resulted in combinations of species being dominant that were not well reflected in a regional-level classification like the NVC. In all, a total of 38 plant communities (associations) are identified for the Lakeshore. Another four types rest at the alliance level having no association assignment. In addition, six more types rest at the formation level having no floristic level assignment. Thus, 48 vegetation types are identified. The vegetation types (associations, alliances, and formations) identified at the Lakeshore and includes the number of times each type was identified with a vegetation plot or an AA site. It is worth noting, there were over twice as many AA sites sampled than vegetation plots (484 vs. 190), so most of the field observations were from AA sites.

Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

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