Standard Operating Procedure #7: Trees, Version 20150709

Swan M and DeCoster J. 2015. Standard Operating Procedure #7: Trees, Version 20150709. Southern Colorado Plateau Network

This standard operating procedure (SOP) provides instructions for collecting data for overstory trees, saplings, canopy closure and tree canopy cover. This SOP is generally used in forests and woodlands, but is also used in grassland and shrubland sites where trees have become established. Due to their shrubby, multi-stemmed growth form, individuals of Juniperus spp. are measured using diameter at root crown (DRC), as opposed to diameter at breast height (DBH). DBH is used for all other tree species. In areas where trees are sparse, the tree plot is sometimes expanded to include the entire area between the transects, and the Expanded Tree Map Datasheet is used. There are 2 ways to measure canopy in this SOP: canopy closure and canopy cover. Canopy closure is used in forests, while canopy cover is used in woodlands. On the first visit of the revisit cycle, overstory trees are measured, and saplings are tallied. On the second visit of the revisit cycle, overstory trees are assessed only for mortality and are not remeasured. Canopy measurements are collected every visit in the revisit cycle. Portions of this SOP were modified from the NPS Fire Monitoring Handbook (USDI National Park Service 2003) and from the US Forest Service Forest Monitoring Health protocols (Forest Inventory and Analysis National Core Field Guide, Volume 1: Field Data Collection Procedures for Phase 2 Plots, Version 4.0, 2007). Equipment required for this procedure are listed in SOP #1, Table 1-1. Six datasheets are associated with this SOP: Tree Datasheet, Standard Tree Map Datasheet, Expanded Tree Map Datasheet, Tree Revisit Datasheet, Canopy Closure Datasheet, and Tree Canopy Cover Datasheet. The Tree Revisit Datasheet is exported from the database with space for data from the previous visit, and spaces for new data to be recorded.

Type
Standard Operating Procedure
Authors
Swan, Megan; DeCoster, James
Date of Issue
2015-07-09
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
datasheets, Forests, Long-term monitoring, monitoring plots, Trees, Woodlands
Subjects
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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