Estimation of vegetation foliage cover (no boles or woody stems) by layer and aerial canopy cover of each growth habit

Phase 2 Vegetation ProfileSummary

Canopy cover is estimated for each sampled accessible forestland condition on the subplot

Not collected on accessible nonforest land conditions

Plot Level Variables - filled in for you

SAMPLING STATUS

0 - Veg not sampled (no further veg data required)1 - Veg sampled on accessible forest land conditions

LEVEL OF DETAIL

1- Collect data for Vegetation Structure onlyLevels 2 & 3 deal with species specific cover estimates which SRS-FIA may or may not go to in the future.

Subplot Level VariablesSUBPLOT NUMBER

P2 VEG SUBPLOT SAMPLE STATUS1- Subplot sampled for P2 Vegetation2- Subplot not sampled for P2 Vegetation

VEGETATION NONSAMPLED REASON

10- Other (for example, snow or water covering vegetation that is supposed to be sampled)

Subplot Level Variables Cont.

CONDITION CLASS NUMBERRecord the number for the sampled accessible forested condition in which the vegetation is found. If multiple forested conditions occur on the same subplot, veg cover will be collected for each condition.

VEGETATION SUBPLOT NOTESUse this field to record notes pertaining to the subplot, and any unusual conditions encountered.

Growth Habits(TT) Tally tree spp - on SRS tree species code list (P2 field manual Appendix 3)

(NT) Non-tally tree spp - not on SRS tree species code list (P2 field manual Appendix 3)

(SH) Shrub & Woody Vine - any size; woody, multi-stemmed; woody vines; sub-shrubs, cacti

(FB) Forb - herbs, non-woody vines, ferns

(GR) Graminoid - grasses and grass-like plants

Tree spp Growth Habits include seedlings, saplings and mature trees – NO MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT

Questionable Growth HabitsBamboo and Cane = Grasses

Cacti, Yucca and other Agave = Shrubs

Spanish moss and other bromeliads = Forb/Herb

Herbaceous vines like Philodendron = Forb/Herb

Blackberries, Raspberries = Shrubs

*Mistletoe = Shrub

Clubmoss aka Groundpine = Shrub

Indian Pipe and Squaw Root = Forb

Questionable Growth Habits continued

For a woody species that is not on the SRS-FIA tally list and exhibits both tree and shrub growth forms:

- Single dominant stem and will grow >13’ tall = non-tally tree (NT).

- No single dominant stem = shrub growth habit (SH).

Be consistent throughout the subplot-condition.

The growth habit of these tree/shrub species could be different on separate subplot-conditions.

Layer 4 Greater than 16.0 feet

Layer 3 6.1 to 16.0 feet

Layer 2 2.1 to 6.0 feet

Layer 1 0 to 2.0 feet

4 Layers and Aerial View

* Within each layer and aerial view - Examine each Growth Habit individually as if the other Growth Habits do not exist

Aerial View

The layers are parallel to the slope of the ground.

To determine the layer of a plant, measure the height of the foliage from the ground directly underneath the foliage.

For example: If the plant is rooted on top of a boulder – layers begin at the ground underneath the boulder.

Estimating Canopy Cover

Aerial View Coverage

The total aerial canopy cover for a growth habit must be equal to or greater than the highest canopy cover recorded for an individual layer in that growth habit, but cannot be greater than the sum of all canopy covers recorded for all layers in that growth habit

For example:

Vegetation Structure

Growth Habit

Layer 1(0-2.0’)

Layer 2(2.1’-6.0’)

Layer 3(6.1’-16.0’)

Layer 4(>16.0’)

 Aerial

  Percent canopy cover  Tally tree sp (TT) 005 005 005 005 005Non-tally tree sp (NT)

000 000 000 000 000 

Shrub/Subshrub/Woody Vine (SH)

005 005 005 005 020

Forb (FB) 002 000 000 000 002  Graminoid (GR) 003 000 000 000 003  

Hypothetical 5% perfect column of tree foliage cover

Hypothetical 5% shrub cover without any overlap

In this example the aerial cover for TT or SH cannot be less than 5% or greater than 20%

Estimating Canopy Cover

Plant foliage is included in the condition it is hanging over, even if the plant is rooted in a different condition.

P2 Veg cover estimates end at 24 feet (like a cylinder).

Canopy cover is estimated by drawing an outline around the outer edges of the foliage (include gaps)

If multiple sampled accessible conditions occur on a subplot, treat the condition boundary as a vertical wall on the plot.

Canopy Cover• The maximum possible canopy cover is the

percentage of the subplot area within the accessible condition

C1=70%

C2=30%For example: if Condition 2 is 30% then maximum cover is 30% (NOT 100%)

Canopy Cover

• Foliage that is OR WAS alive during the current growing season is included in the cover estimates, unless stem is completely detached.

• Include broken stems if still attached.• Record cover to the nearest percent (trace

amounts are recorded as 1%)

Canopy cover by layer and growth habit

Layer 4 (>16.1’)

1% 0% (aerial)

2%

12%

Layer 1 (0-2.0’)

Layer 2 (2.1-6.0’)

Layer 3 (6.1-16.0’)

7%

FEAR2 3%

FRVI 2%

1% cover, 0% (aerial)

POTR5

POTR5 POTR5

POTR5

ABCO

ABCO

ABCO

1%

6%

*Do not include stems and boles into the cover estimate.