Vermont Forest Health Monitoring Protocol

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Vermont Forest Health Monitoring Protocol Vermont Forest Health Monitoring Protocol Contributing Authors: Sandra Wilmot, James Duncan, Jennifer Pontius, David Gudex - Cross, Christine Sandbach Last Updated: 5/23/2017. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Contents About the Vermont Forest Health Monitoring Program ............................................................................................... 1 Plot Establishment ......................................................................................................................................................... 3 Subplot Establishment .............................................................................................................................................. 3 Microplot Establishment ........................................................................................................................................... 4 Annular Ring Area ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 Plot Metrics Overview ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Overview of Subplot Measurements......................................................................................................................... 5 Tree Location and Structure ................................................................................................................................. 5 Tree Health ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 Subplot-Level Metrics ........................................................................................................................................... 5 Overview of Microplot Measurements ..................................................................................................................... 6 Regeneration......................................................................................................................................................... 6 Hemispherical photos ........................................................................................................................................... 6 Details of Measurements .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Tree Location and Structure Measurements ............................................................................................................ 6 Diameter Measurements ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Height and Live Crown Ratio Measurements ....................................................................................................... 8 Tree Health Measurements .................................................................................................................................... 10 Canopy Position (Crown Class)............................................................................................................................ 10 Tree Vigor ............................................................................................................................................................ 11 Crown Fine Twig Dieback .................................................................................................................................... 13 Foliage Transparency .......................................................................................................................................... 15 Defoliation .......................................................................................................................................................... 17 Foliage Discoloration........................................................................................................................................... 18 Special Damages ................................................................................................................................................. 19 Additional Subplot-Level Metrics ............................................................................................................................ 20 Invasive Species .................................................................................................................................................. 20 Browse ................................................................................................................................................................ 21 Basal Area ........................................................................................................................................................... 22 Microplot Measurements ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Regeneration Measurements ............................................................................................................................. 23 Ground Cover Measurements ............................................................................................................................ 23 Photography Methods ............................................................................................................................................ 24 Transparency Photos .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Hemispherical Photos ......................................................................................................................................... 26 Data Management ....................................................................................................................................................... 28 References ................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Appendix A. Sample Data Sheets ................................................................................................................................. 29 Appendix B. Trimble GeoExplorer Field Data Collection Workflow ............................................................................. 33 Initial Setup ............................................................................................................................................................. 33 Creating a New Data File (Point) and Logging Location .......................................................................................... 33 Shutting Down the Trimble ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Exporting from the Unit .......................................................................................................................................... 34 Data Correction ....................................................................................................................................................... 34 Appendix C. Using the Haglof Hypsometer ................................................................................................................. 36 Required Settings .................................................................................................................................................... 36 Calibration ............................................................................................................................................................... 36 Measuring Distance ................................................................................................................................................. 36 Measuring Heights .................................................................................................................................................. 36 Appendix D. Common VT Tree Species Codes ............................................................................................................. 37 Appendix E. Special Damages ...................................................................................................................................... 38 Special Damages Table ............................................................................................................................................ 38 Special Damages Supplement ................................................................................................................................. 39 Animal Damage ................................................................................................................................................... 39 Borers and Insects ............................................................................................................................................... 41 Cankers, Conks and Diseases .............................................................................................................................. 44 Human-Related and Weather-Related ............................................................................................................... 47 Appendix F. Invasive
Recommended publications
  • Common Stand Exam Field Guide V
    Southwest Idaho Common Stand Exam Field Guide Version 1.6 Field Season 2004 Table of Contents Section 1: Data Collection Procedures 2 Setting 4 Sample Design 10 Plot Data 13 Tree Data 18 Vegetation Composition 28 Ground Surface Cover 32 Down Woody Material 35 Appendices E Existing Vegetation Composition Types G Potential Vegetation Codes H List of Species J Fixed Radius Plot K Variable Radius Plot L Measuring Diameter M Point of Measurement for DBH and DRC N Radial and Height Growth O Measuring Age P Measuring Height Q Measuring Crowns R Damage Categories, Agents, Severity Ratings and Tree Parts S Down Woody 1 Section 1: Data Collection Procedures The following fields are "required" regardless of examination level. Setting Project Name Region Proclaimed Forest Number District Location Stand Number Date Exam Level Precision Protocol Design Selection Method Expansion Factor Selection Criteria Number Plot Plot Number Surface Plot Number Down Woody Plot Number Quick Plot – A quick plot exam may group trees by species, diameter, heights and/or damage classes on both large and small plots. These exams collect stand structual data in an efficient manner. Measurement tolerances are relaxed to allow for occular estimation of many parameters. Diameters of live trees are estimated by DBH class and standing dead tree heights are recorded in 10 foot classes. Limited tree defect information is collected, growth data is not collected, and small tree measurements are not made other than a percentage of the understory vegetation. Cost is minimized by limiting the information gathered and reducing measurement accuracy standards. Extensive - An extensive exam collects accurate tree measurements to tolerance standards tighter than a quick plot, but not as tight as an intensive exam.
    [Show full text]
  • How Stand Productivity Results from Size- and Competition-Dependent Growth and Mortality
    How Stand Productivity Results from Size- and Competition-Dependent Growth and Mortality John P. Caspersen1*, Mark C. Vanderwel2, William G. Cole3, Drew W. Purves2 1 Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada, 2 Computational Ecology and Environmental Science Group, Microsoft Research, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 3 Ontario Forest Research Institute, Sault Ste. Marie, Canada Abstract Background: A better understanding of the relationship between stand structure and productivity is required for the development of: a) scalable models that can accurately predict growth and yield dynamics for the world’s forests; and b) stand management regimes that maximize wood and/or timber yield, while maintaining structural and species diversity. Methods: We develop a cohort-based canopy competition model (‘‘CAIN’’), parameterized with inventory data from Ontario, Canada, to examine the relationship between stand structure and productivity. Tree growth, mortality and recruitment are quantified as functions of diameter and asymmetric competition, using a competition index (CAIh) defined as the total projected area of tree crowns at a given tree’s mid-crown height. Stand growth, mortality, and yield are simulated for inventoried stands, and also for hypothetical stands differing in total volume and tree size distribution. Results: For a given diameter, tree growth decreases as CAIh increases, whereas the probability of mortality increases. For a given CAIh, diameter growth exhibits a humped pattern with respect to diameter, whereas mortality exhibits a U-shaped pattern reflecting senescence of large trees. For a fixed size distribution, stand growth increases asymptotically with total density, whereas mortality increases monotonically. Thus, net productivity peaks at an intermediate volume of 100–150 m3/ ha, and approaches zero at 250 m3/ha.
    [Show full text]
  • Forest Inventory Classification Using Aerial Image Texture in the New Brunswick Acadian Forest Region
    University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 1999 Forest inventory classification using aerial image texture in the New Brunswick Acadian forest region Maudie, Alan John Maudie, A. J. (1999). Forest inventory classification using aerial image texture in the New Brunswick Acadian forest region (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/11450 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/25178 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Forest Inventory Classification using Aerial Image Texture in the New Brunswick Acadian Forest Region b!J Alan John Maudie A THESIS SUBMITTED TO TKE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIRElMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY CALGARY. ALBERTA JUNE. 1999 Q Alan John Maudie 1999 National Library Bibliothbque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Sewices services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington OthwaON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON K1AW Canada Canada Your M. Vmrs rib- Our - Nolre roMrma, The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive pernettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, preter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats.
    [Show full text]
  • Forest-Trees-Of-Wisconsin---How-To-Know-Them
    Forest Trees of Wisconsin How to Know Them Published by the Department of Natural Resources Madison, Wisconsin Division of Forestry PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER Dedicated to the memory of F.G. Wilson The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audiotape etc.) upon request. Please call 608/267-7494 for more information. Table of Contents Forward Introduction Conifers (soft woods) Cedar, northern white (arbor vitae) ....Thuja occidentalis ...................... 1 Cedar, red (juniper) .......................... Juniperus virginiana ................. 2 Fir, balsam ....................................... Abies balsamea ........................ 3 Hemlock ........................................... Tsuga canadensis ..................... 4 Pine, jack.......................................... Pinus banksiana ...................... 5 Pine, red (norway pine)..................... Pinus resinosa .......................... 6 Pine, white........................................ Pinus strobus ........................... 7 Spruce, black .................................... Picea mariana ......................... 8 Spruce, white .................................... Picea glauca ............................. 9 Tamarack (American larch) .............. Larix
    [Show full text]
  • (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in Mangrove Forest
    Estimating Aboveground Biomass/Carbon Stock and Carbon Sequestration using UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in Mangrove Forest, Mahakam Delta, Indonesia EKO KUSTIYANTO February 2019 SUPERVISORS: Dr. Yousif A. Hussin Dr. Iris C. van Duren ADVISOR: Dr. Y. Budi Sulistioadi University of Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia Estimating Aboveground Biomass/Carbon Stock and Carbon Sequestration using UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in Mangrove Forest, Mahakam Delta, Indonesia Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation. Specialization: Natural Resources Management SUPERVISORS: Dr. Yousif A. Hussin Dr. Iris C. van Duren ADVISOR: Dr. Y. Budi Sulistioadi University of Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia THESIS ASSESSMENT BOARD: Dr. Ir. C. A. de Bie (Chair) Prof. Dr. T.L.U. Kauranne (External Examiner, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland DISCLAIMER This document describes work undertaken as part of a programme of study at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of the University of Twente. All views and opinions expressed therein remain the sole responsibility of the author, and do not necessarily represent those of the Faculty. ABSTRACT Mangrove forest which provides ecosystem services plays a pivotal rule to storage a large amount of carbon than any other tropical forest. However, the existing mangrove forests are threatened by deforestation and forest degradation. Mahakam Delta mangrove forest, East Kalimantan, Indonesia is one of the most extensive mangrove forests in Southeast Asia which has lost a massive part of its area due to conversion into aquaculture, agriculture, mining, oil exploration and settlement.
    [Show full text]
  • A Work Flow and Evaluation of Using Unmanned Aerial Systems for Deriving Forest Stand Characteristics in Mixed Hardwoods of West Virginia
    Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2017 A Work Flow and Evaluation of Using Unmanned Aerial Systems for Deriving Forest Stand Characteristics in Mixed Hardwoods of West Virginia Henry Liebermann Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Liebermann, Henry, "A Work Flow and Evaluation of Using Unmanned Aerial Systems for Deriving Forest Stand Characteristics in Mixed Hardwoods of West Virginia" (2017). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 6083. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/6083 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A work flow and evaluation of using unmanned aerial systems for deriving forest stand characteristics in mixed hardwoods of West Virginia Henry Liebermann Thesis submitted to the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design at West Virginia University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Forest Resources Management Jamie Schuler, Ph.D., Chair Michael Strager, Ph.D.
    [Show full text]
  • Tree Crown Measurement  5 Limb Length Nt  6 Canopy Mapping
    eNTS: The Magazine of the Native Tree Society – Volume 3, Number 04, April 2013 Tree crown measurement 5 Limb Length http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tree_crown_measureme nt 6 Canopy Mapping From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 7 References The crown of a tree consists of the mass of foliage Largest Recorded Crown Spreads and branches growing outward from the trunk of the tree. The average crown spread is the average Data on greatest crown spread is somewhat limited as horizontal width of the crown, taken from dripline to this parameter is not measured as frequently as are dripline as one moves around the crown. Some tree height and trunk girth. The largest recorded is the listings will also list the maximum crown spread "Monkira Monster" (Eucalyptus microtheca) located which represents the greatest width from dripline to at the Neuragully Waterhole in southwestern dripline across the crown.[1][2][3] Other crown Queensland, Australia which measured 239 feet in [8] measurements that are commonly taken include limb 1954. A Raintree (Samanea saman) in Venezuela length, crown volume, and foliage density. Canopy was measured to have a crown spread of 207 feet in [8] mapping surveys the position and size of all of the 1857. It reportedly is still living, but in poor health. [9] limbs down to a certain size in the crown of the tree A University of Connecticut site suggests that in and is commonly used when measuring the overall the wild they may have crown spreads up to 80 wood volume of a tree. meters. Robert Van Pelt measured a crown spread of 201 feet of a Kapok Tree (Ceiba pentandra) at Barro Average crown spread is one of the parameters Colorado Island, Panama in 2003.[8] commonly measured as part of various champion tree programs and documentation efforts.
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix 6+N. Glossary “Two-Inch Rule” – Take the Current DBH
    Appendix 6+N. Glossary “Two-inch Rule” – Take the current DBH minus two-inches on a poletimber size tree. This calculated diameter is used to determine the potential Top DOB of the future sawlog length when the tree becomes sawtimber-size. Once the potential Top DOB is determined, the tree must maintain this diameter for at least the length of a potential sawlog to receive a TREE CLASS 2, Growing Stock. Accessible Forest Land – Land that is within the population of interest, is accessible, is on a subplot that can be occupied at subplot center, can safely be visited, and meets the following criteria: (a) Forest Land has at least 10 percent canopy cover of live tally tree species of any size or has had at least 10 percent canopy cover of live tally species in the past, based on the presence of stumps, snags, or other evidence. Additionally, the condition is not subject to nonforest use(s) that prevent normal tree regeneration and succession, such as regular mowing, intensive grazing, or recreation activities. b) In contrast to regular mowing, chaining treatments are recognized as long-term periodic or one- time treatments. Although the intent of chaining may be permanent removal of trees, reoccupation is common in the absence of additional treatments and sometimes the treatment does not remove enough to reduce canopy cover below the threshold of forest land. As a result, only live canopy cover should be considered in areas that have been chained; missing (dead or removed) canopy cover is not considered in the forest land call c) In the cases of land on which either forest is encroaching on adjacent nonforest land, or the land that was previously under a nonforest land use (e.g., agriculture or mining) is reverting to forest naturally, only the live cover criterion applies.
    [Show full text]
  • Branch Growth and Crown Dynamics in Northern Hardwood Forests
    Branch Growth and Crown Dynamics in Northern Hardwood Forests By Shaik Md. Yousuf Hossain A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Forestry University of Toronto © Copyright by Shaik Md. Yousuf Hossain 2015 i Branch Growth and Crown Dynamics in Northern Hardwood Forests Shaik Md. Yousuf Hossain Doctor of Philosophy Faculty of Forestry University of Toronto 2015 Abstract The canopy is one of the last frontiers of forest research, due to the difficulty of gaining direct access to tree crowns, and the difficulty of identifying and measuring individual tree crowns from a distance. These challenges have limited our understanding of both tree growth and stand dynamics. This thesis examines ontogenetic trends in the diameter growth of tree trunks and radial growth of tree crowns, using a combination of ground- based inventory data and in-situ measurements taken from a mobile canopy lift. The main goal was to determine whether and why growth declines once trees reach the canopy. The inventory data revealed that both diameter and crown growth rates follow a hump-shaped trend, and that the crown area of many large trees shrank over time, suggesting that the decline in expansion rates is the net effect of declining growth and increasing dieback. The in-situ measurements confirmed that dieback increases with tree size, suggesting that tree sway increases as trees grow larger, resulting in more frequent collisions between neighboring crowns. Indeed, dieback was higher in tree crowns located within 3 m of another crown, confirming that dieback is in part the result of inter-crown collisions.
    [Show full text]
  • AVI Multilayer Forest Classification Using Airborne Image Texture
    University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies Legacy Theses 1999 AVI multilayer forest classification using airborne image texture Moskal, Ludmila Monika Moskal, L. M. (1999). AVI multilayer forest classification using airborne image texture (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/19218 http://hdl.handle.net/1880/25205 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca THE UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY AVI Multilayer Forest Classification Using Airborne Image Texture Ludmila Monika Moskal A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTTAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEPARmOF GEOGRAPHY CALGARY, ALBERTA DECEMBER, 1999 QLudmila Monika Moskal 1999 National Library Biblioth&quenationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. ~e Wellington OttawaON K1AW O(tawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive pennettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distri'bute or sell reproduire, prster, distri'buer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfiche/film de reproduction sur papier ou sur format electronique.
    [Show full text]
  • Spatial Dependence Clusters in the Estimation of Forest Structural Parameters
    Spatial Dependence Clusters in the Estimation of Forest Structural Parameters Michael Albert Wulder A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 1998 O Michael Albert Wulder 1 998 National Library Bibliotheque nationale 191 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 OttawaON KtAON4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reOrenw Our tile Notre rei6rencs The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant a la National Library of Canada to Bibliotheque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, peter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette these sous paper or electronic formats. la fome de microfichelfilm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format Bectronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriete du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protege cette these. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la these ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent &re imprimes reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autonsation. Borrower's Page The University of Waterloo requires the signatures of all persons using or photocopying this thesis. Please sign below, and give address and date. ABSTRACT In this thesis we provide a summary of the methods by which remote sensing may be applied in forestry, while also acknowledging the various limitations which are faced.
    [Show full text]
  • Crown Measurement Protocol. 2020
    MEASURING CROWN DIMENSIONS FOR TROPICAL FOREST TREES A FIELD MANUAL Authors Grace J. Loubota Panzou & Ted R. Feldpausch [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6466-1508 [email protected], https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6631-7962 Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter Laver Building, North Park Road EX4 4QE, Exeter, UK July 2020 Measuring crown dimensions for tropical forest trees – a field manual by G.J. Loubota-Panzou & T.R. Feldpausch Introduction The term “tree crown” refers to the shape, size and placement of tree structures in three- dimensional space and to the constructional organisation of the branching system (Godin, Costes, & Sinoquet, 1999). Tree crowns form the boundary between the terrestrial biosphere and the atmosphere and determine light interception and gas exchange of carbon and water through photosynthesis and evapotranspiration (Santiago et al., 2004; Strigul et al., 2008). Crowns are one of the most physiologically and ecologically active component of trees. As such, understanding tree crown structure is important for a range of applications, including for scaling biogeochemical fluxes, modelling vegetation dynamics, and developing remote sensing methods that are seen as crucial tools for the monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems. Tree crowns vary substantially across global tropical biomes and between forest and savanna trees (Loubota Panzou et al. in review) spanning the large pantropical variation in biomass (Feldpausch et al., 2012), forest dynamics and carbon sink (Brienen et al., 2015, Hubau et al. 2020), tree height (Feldpausch et al., 2011, Banin et al. 2012), and environment (Loubota Panzou et al. in review).
    [Show full text]