Standard Operating Procedure #7: Trees, Version 20160708

Swan M and DeCoster J. 2016. Standard Operating Procedure #7: Trees, Version 20160708. Southern Colorado Plateau Network

This standard operating procedure (SOP) provides instructions for collecting data for overstory trees, saplings, canopy This standard operating procedure (SOP) provides instructions for collecting data on size and status of overstory trees and saplings, canopy closure and tree canopy cover. 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). This SOP applies to forests and woodland ecosystems, but is also used in grassland and shrubland sites where trees are present. Two ways to measure canopy are included in this SOP: canopy closure and canopy cover. Canopy closure is measured in forests, while tree canopy cover measurements are taken in woodlands and any grassland shrubland sites where trees are present. 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 status and are not remeasured and saplings are not assessed. Canopy closure or cover measurements are collected every visit in the revisit cycle. Sampling protocols also differ for Juniperus spp. as outlined in Section 1.2.2. Equipment required for this procedure is listed in SOP #1, Table 1-1. Six datasheets are associated with this SOP: Tree Datasheet, Tree Map Datasheet (also called Standard Tree Map Datasheet), Tree Revisit Datasheet, Canopy Closure Datasheet, and Tree Canopy Cover Datasheet. The Tree Revisit Datasheet is exported from the database and contains data from previous sampling visits. In this SOP we provide instructions for filling out paper datasheets.

Type
Standard Operating Procedure
Authors
Swan, Megan; DeCoster, James
Date of Issue
2016-07-08
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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