Standard Operating Procedure #5: Plot Establishment and Qualitative Assessments, Version 20170725
Swan M and Decoster J. 2017. Standard Operating Procedure #5: Plot Establishment and Qualitative Assessments, Version 20170725. Southern Colorado Plateau Network
This standard operating procedure (SOP) provides instructions for establishing an integrated upland monitoring plot. It includes instructions for laying out and marking the endpoints and midpoints of the 3 transects that comprise a permanent monitoring plot during the initial visit, as well as guidance for laying out transect tapes during revisits. It also includes procedures for qualitative assessments, including taking photopoints, evaluating site disturbance, and assessing burn severity. Equipment needed for this procedure is listed in SOP #1, Table 1-1. For some ecological sites we use existing fire effects plots in collaboration with park fire ecology programs. See Appendix G. A Plot Visit Datasheet is filled out on each visit. Photopoints are collected during each plot visit. Site disturbance and burn severity data are collected on the first visit following a disturbance or fire. Five datasheets are associated with this SOP: Plot Establishment Datasheet, Plot Visit Datasheet, Photopoint Datasheet, Site Disturbance Datasheet, and Burn Severity Datasheet.
- Type
- Standard Operating Procedure
- Authors
- Swan, Megan; Decoster, Jim
- Date of Issue
- 2017-07
- Publisher
- Southern Colorado Plateau Network
- Units
- AZRU , BAND , CACH , CHCU , ELMA , ELMO , GLCA , GRCA , HUTR , MEVE , NAVA , PEFO , PETR , RABR , SAPU , SCPN , SUCR , WACA , WUPA , YUHO
- Keywords
- burn severity, disturbance, Long-term monitoring, photo points, plot assessment, upland vegetation
- Subjects
- 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
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