Upper Columbia Basin Network Aspen Monitoring Protocol: Narrative and Standard Operating Procedures (Appendix A to Narrative) Version 1.0
Strand EK, Bunting SC, Steinhorst RK, Garrett LK, Dicus GH. 2009. Upper Columbia Basin Network Aspen Monitoring Protocol: Narrative and Standard Operating Procedures (Appendix A to Narrative) Version 1.0. Natural Resource Report. Natural Resource Report NPS/UCBN/NRR—2009/147. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
This protocol details the why, where, how, and when of the UCBN’s aspen monitoring program. As recommended by Oakley et al. (2003), it consists of a protocol narrative and a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs), which detail the steps required to collect, manage, and disseminate the data representing the status and trend of aspen regeneration and density within the NPS UCBN parks. The protocol is a “living” document in the sense that it is continually updated as the monitoring techniques and sampling design evolve. Changes to the protocol are carefully documented in a revision history log. The intent of the protocol is to ensure that a seamless and scientifically credible story about the aspen populations within the parks, their supporting habitat and environmental conditions can be told to park visitors and park managers alike. The next few years of monitoring results will enable us to establish baseline data to find answers to questions related to temporal variability in suckering, recruitment, mature aspen stem density, number of dead stems and conifer density. Initially we will continue to refine the power analysis to optimize the number of samples necessary for detecting trend with statistical confidence while minimizing the sampling efforts and costs. For future years, the focus will shift toward trend analysis, in which biologically meaningful declines or increases within the park units as well as within individual stands will be detected, providing ecological decision support information and enabling development of appropriate management strategies.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Strand, Eva; Bunting, Stephen; Steinhorst, R; Garrett, Lisa; Dicus, Gordon
- Date of Issue
- 2009-09-14
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CIRO , CRMO , IMDP , NRSS , UCBN
- Keywords
- Aspen, Aspen Protocol, Upper Columbia Basin Network, Vegetation
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Forest/Woodland Communities