Forest vegetation monitoring protocol for the Cumberland Piedmont Network: Protocol Narrative—Version 2.1
White R, Nordman C, Smart L, Leibfreid T, Moore B, Smyth R, Govus T. 2024. Forest vegetation monitoring protocol for the Cumberland Piedmont Network: Protocol Narrative—Version 2.1. Natural Resource Report. NPS/CUPN/NRR—2024/2642. National Park Service. https://doi.org/10.36967/2302353
In 2003, “vegetation communities” were selected as one of the highest priority vital signs of importance across the Cumberland Piedmont Network (CUPN) parks (Leibfreid et al. 2005). The protocol described in this document will address all aspects of monitoring this vital sign. The primary monitoring goal is to assess status and trends of ecological health for park forest vegetation communities, including key communities of management concern where possible. By assessing status and trends for key metrics, we can obtain a more complete picture of the status of forest vegetation communities in the parks and the trends in ecological health for these communities. For instance, by repeatedly measuring one key metric of plant species composition within the same plots over the years, we can determine how quickly and profoundly invasive plant species are affecting the native vegetation and whether specific species are appearing or disappearing from plots. This information can be critical in helping land managers detect trends before they are visible qualitatively and setup more specific studies to determine the root causes of such trends. This protocol is intended for use by the Cumberland Piedmont Network and was designed to efficiently collect, analyze, and disseminate scientifically credible information to help park managers and researchers understand how the forest vegetation communities of the parks are changing. To fully implement this protocol, read the entire document and all appendices, as well as the standard operating procedures (SOPs; published separately). The appendices and SOPs contain detailed information on implementation not provided in the main body of the document. Datasheets have been designed so data collection is sequential starting with SOP 3: Site Selection and Plot Establishment—Version 1.48 (CUPN 2023a) and ending with SOP 10: Soil Measurements—Version 1.1 (CUPN 2023b). The SOPs are intended to serve as a reference for field teams implementing this protocol. It is anticipated field teams will be knowledgeable of their content and maintain a copy for reference as part of the required field equipment.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- White, Rickie; Nordman, Carl; Smart, Lindsey; Leibfreid, Teresa; Moore, Bill; Smyth, Regan; Govus, Tom
- Date of Issue
- 2024-04
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/2302353
- Units
- ABLI , CARL , CHCH , COWP , CUGA , CUPN , FODO , GUCO , IMDP , KIMO , LIRI , MACA , NISI , NRSS , RUCA , SHIL , STRI
- Keywords
- Basal area, Biodiversity, Forest, Forest Health, Forest Monitoring, Monitoring, Plant Communities, plant composition, plant cover, Plant diversity, Protocol, shrub, Species Composition, Trees, US National Vegetation Classification, USNVC, Vegetation, vegetation community, Vegetation cover, Vegetation diversity, vegetation index (NDVI), Vegetation Monitoring Reports, Vegetation Protocols, Woodland communities
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Vegetation Complex