Field data for the Vegetation Mapping Inventory Project of Tuzigoot 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. First, a reconnaissance of TNM was conducted to characterize the vegetation across important environmental gradients and to identify its relationship to previous vegetation classifications. The gradients recognized were moisture, topography, and site disturbance. During the reconnaissance, twenty preliminary vegetation types, based on plant species dominance and composition, were recognized. The initial list of types included four vegetation types identified in the 1995 Western Regional Vegetation Classification.The second stage of the sampling strategy was to delineate polygons of relatively homogeneous vegetation within the project area by examining infrared aerial photographs. Preliminary vegetation types were coarsely delineated by photo interpretation of canopy cover and vegetative structure. Thirty-five homogenous vegetation polygons were recognized after inspecting the aerial photographs. The final stage of the sampling strategy was to locate plots within the thirty-five polygons that encompassed the range of vegetation types on the Monument. Plots were subjectively located to represent the variation of the vegetation within the polygon. All vegetative cover descriptions at Tuzigoot National Monument were developed using data collected from square and rectangular plots. Plots varied in size from 5m x 20m, for primarily herbaceous vegetation, to as large as 20m x 20m, for primarily arborescent and shrubby woodland vegetation. Each plot was placed to encompass the variability of vegetation in the polygon and to contain the typical and representative vegetation for the sample unit.