Rangeland Inventory and Monitoring

Question 1

Explain landscape classification?

Answer 1

rangeland inventory and monitoring projects start with classifying the landscape and providing a detailed site description. The influence of each & interaction along with atmospheric conditions, parent material and topography describe the taxonomic system; providing descriptions at different levels of scale.

Question 2

what is the natural region classification taxonomy?

Answer 2

6 in alberta

based on vegetation, soils & physio graphic features

Question 3

what is the subregion classification taxonomy?

Answer 3

20

based on vegetation, soils, climate, elevation, latitude, physio graphic differences

Question 4

what is the plant community classification taxonomy?

Answer 4

typically describes 2-3 dormant spp. suggests moisture regime & historical disturbance pattern

Question 5

what is the ecological site classification taxonomy?

Answer 5

based on plant spp. topography, soil & respective production values (Kg/ha)

Question 6

what are the 4 grassland subregions?

Answer 6

1. mixed grass
2. dry mixed grass
3. northern fescue
4. foothills fescue

Question 7

what are 5 example mixedgrass prairie plant communities?

Answer 7

1. stipa/ agropyron
2. agropyron/ koeleria
3. stipa/ bouteloua/ agropyron
4. stipa/ bouteloua
5. bouteloua/ agropyron

Question 8

what are the 4 measurable forms of vegetation?

Answer 8

1. browse: production of woody plants which are available and acceptable to browsing animals
2. forage: production of woody and herbaceous plants which are acceptable and available to grazing animals
3. herbage: above ground biomass of herbaceous plants regardless of grazing preference
4. standing crop: total above ground plant biomass regardless of grazing preference

Question 9

what are 5 attributes of vegetation can be measured?

Answer 9

1. frequency
2. biomass
3. density
4. cover
5. species composition: not a vegetative attribute; but it is a valuable measure of habitat that is commonly extracted from three or four vegetative attributes. is produced and based on biomass, density, cover data. frequency doesn’t allow for the development of species composition.

Question 10

explain inventory versus monitoring?

Answer 10

an inventory is an assessment of vegetation resources at one point in time, whereas, monitoring involves multiple inventories over time. Monitoring includes more involved data analysis and interpretation which provides important trend information

Question 11

define sampling unit?

Answer 11

represents transects or quadrats; it is all dependent on how the study samples are set-up or designed. equals the level of design where there is a loss of randomness. once this occurs all further sampling is considered sub-plots within the sampling unit.

Question 12

what are 3 simple rules that must apply to the sampling unit?

Answer 12

1. it must be distinct and non-over lapping
2. summed together they must constitute the entire sample population
3. must be able to randomly select one

Question 13

define precision?

Answer 13

the extent to which observations are scattered around the mean. it is measured statistically by the standard deviation, standard error or confidence intervals.

Question 14

define accuracy?

Answer 14

the ability of a sample estimate to reflect the true value.

Question 15

side note, just read.

Answer 15

statistics provides you with a measure of precision; it does not tell you if the data is accurate. when you interpret data you can only infer the data is accurate if the data is statistically precise and you have ground trued the data.

Question 16

what are the 5 factors that affect precision? *

Answer 16

1. homogeneity of the study site
2. methodology
3. sample error
4. sample size relative to site diversity
5. permanent sample plots @ relative to monitoring

Question 17

define bias?

Answer 17

is a lack of accuracy. it reflects the difference between the true value and the sample value

Question 18

what are 2 methods available to reduce sample bias?

Answer 18

1. large sample size

2. incorporation of randomness & independence

Question 19

what are the 4 things you need for a study sample design?

Answer 19

1. site selection
2. site stratification
3. sample plot location
4. sample plot orientation

Question 20

what is key area and critical area in site selection?

Answer 20

key area: reflects the entire area and is sensitive to changes in management
critical area: may not be extensive nor reflect the management as a whole, but is important because of its exceptional resource value or unusual susceptibility to change

Question 21

what should you do in site stratification?

Answer 21

consider differences within the key/critical areas that could influence results; differing ecological sites.
examples: species composition, soils, moisture regime, seral stage and topography

Question 22

explain sample plot location?

Answer 22

considers how the plots/transects are allocated over the study area.
Random: chance occurance
Systematic: regual spacing according to predetermined grid, transect or quadrat
Subjective: selection to meet study or management objectives

Question 23

explain sample plot orientation?

Answer 23

run transects parallel to the environmental gradient.
this will increase the variability of the data obtained from the site; greater likelihood to reflect the population as a whole.

Question 24

how do you deal with transect obstacles?

Answer 24

1. if it is a plant species composition related study document and move your quadrat ahead or behind one meter to avoid the obstacle; the boulder comprising the quadrat serves no value to composition data.
2. if it is a ground cover study such as soil stabilization record the data as found; the obstacle is integral to the objectives of the study.

Question 25

explain rare plant surveys?

Answer 25

subjectively select sample plot locations based on microsites including harsh habitats, inaccessible sites, ephemeral areas, ecotones, and unusual landscape features.