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Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems

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Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems etation Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems y methods and interpr by Jeffrey E. Herrick, Justin W. Van Zee, Kris M. Havstad, Laura M. Burkett and Walter G. Whitford with contributions from Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Alicia Melgoza C., Mike Pellant, David A. Pyke, Marta D. Remmenga, Patrick L. Shaver, Amrita G. de Soyza, Arlene J. Tugel and Robert S. Unnasch Design, supplementar Volume II: Volume Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems Volume II: Design, supplementary methods and interpretation by Jeffrey E. Herrick, Justin W. Van Zee, Kris M. Havstad, Laura M. Burkett and Walter G. Whitford with contributions from Brandon T. Bestelmeyer, Alicia Melgoza C., Mike Pellant, David A. Pyke, Marta D. Remmenga, Patrick L. Shaver, Amrita G. de Soyza, Arlene J. Tugel and Robert S. Unnasch USDA - ARS Jornada Experimental Range Las Cruces, New Mexico Printed 2005 Publisher: USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3JER, NMSU Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-8003 http://usda-ars.nmsu.edu ISBN 0-9755552-0-0 Distributed by: The University of Arizona Press Tucson, Arizona, USA 800-426-3797 www.uapress.arizona.edu Cover: RB Design & Printing Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001 Cover illustration: Collecting Line-point intercept data in a south-central New Mexico desert grassland. ii Table of contents Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 Section I: Monitoring program development in six easy steps .............................................. 5 Chapter 1 Step 1: Define management and monitoring objectives ........................... 9 Chapter 2 Step 2: Stratify land into monitoring units ............................................. 13 Chapter 3 Step 3: Assess current status................................................................ 18 Chapter 4 Step 4: Select indicators and number of measurements ......................... 21 Chapter 5 Step 5: Select monitoring plot locations ................................................ 27 Chapter 6 Step 6: Establish monitoring plots ........................................................ 30 Section II: Supplementary methods................................................................................... 37 Chapter 7 Compaction test ................................................................................. 38 Chapter 8 Single-ring infiltrometer ...................................................................... 44 Chapter 9 Plant production ................................................................................. 51 Chapter 10 Plant species richness ......................................................................... 57 Chapter 11 Vegetation structure ............................................................................ 61 Chapter 12 Tree density ....................................................................................... 65 Chapter 13 Riparian channel vegetation survey ..................................................... 69 Chapter 14 Riparian channel and gully profile ....................................................... 74 Chapter 15 Density, frequency and Line-point intercept alternative methods ............. 79 Section III: Indicator calculation and interpretation ............................................................ 83 Chapter 16 Calculate indicators ........................................................................... 84 Chapter 17 Interpret results ................................................................................. 86 Section IV: Special Topics ............................................................................................... 107 Chapter 18 Riparian .......................................................................................... 109 Chapter 19 Livestock production ......................................................................... 111 Chapter 20 Wildlife habitat ................................................................................ 113 Chapter 21 Off-road vehicle use and other recreational land uses ......................... 115 Chapter 22 Fire ................................................................................................. 117 Chapter 23 Invasive species ............................................................................... 120 Chapter 24 State and transition models: an introduction ....................................... 122 Chapter 25 Remote sensing ................................................................................ 125 Chapter 26 Soil carbon ...................................................................................... 128 Appendices Appendix A Monitoring tools ............................................................................... 131 Appendix B Conversion factors ........................................................................... 141 Appendix C How many measurements? .................................................................. 142 Appendix D Soil Quality Information Sheets ......................................................... 172 Appendix E Soil texture chart .............................................................................. 173 iii Glossary ....................................................................................................................... 174 References and Additional Resources ............................................................................. 189 Authors and Contributors............................................................................................... 200 Data forms Monitoring Program Design Checklist........................................................................ 8 Monitoring Program Design Form I ......................................................................... 12 Monitoring Program Design Form II ........................................................................ 26 Monitoring Plot Description Form ....................................................................... 35-36 Soil Compaction – Impact Penetrometer Data Form .................................................. 43 Single-ring Infiltrometer Data Form ......................................................................... 50 Plant Production Data Form .................................................................................... 56 Plant Species Richness Data Form ........................................................................... 60 Vegetation Structure Data Form .............................................................................. 64 Tree Density and Size Data Form ............................................................................ 68 Riparian Channel Vegetation Survey Data Form....................................................... 73 Riparian Channel Profile Data Form ........................................................................ 78 Line-point Intercept with Height Data Form .............................................................. 82 iv Introduction to Volume II he Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Do I have to read the whole thing? Shrubland and Savanna Ecosystems is divided No. Begin by completing the checklist on the first into two volumes: Quick Start (Vol. I) and T page of Quick Start (Vol. I). This will help identify Volume II. This two-volume document is intended the chapters that are relevant to you. In many to assist a wide range of users, including cases, you will not need to read Volume II at all. technicians (data collectors), field crew leaders, However, we do recommend that you familiarize ranchers and landowners, land managers, yourself with Section I (to improve the quality of rangeland professionals, and researchers. the monitoring program design) and Section III (to Quick Start (Vol. I) includes basic methods and help with interpretation) of this volume. instructions for establishing photo points and completing four basic measurements. Volume II provides more detailed guidance on monitoring Are these manuals all I need? program design, data analysis and interpretation. Possibly. Depending on your background, It also includes a number of supplementary experience and monitoring objectives, Volumes I methods. and II may provide enough guidance to design and implement a monitoring program. However, we Section I describes how to design a monitoring strongly recommend consulting with other program in six steps. information sources and local experts to design a monitoring program that best suits your needs. A Section II includes eight supplementary number of excellent references are included in the “References and Additional Resources” section at monitoring methods and alternatives to the Line- the end of this volume. point intercept method. Section III describes how to organize, analyze Electronic data forms and interpret monitoring data. Additional information and electronic data forms can be downloaded from the following website: Section IV provides specific recommendations http://usda-ars.nmsu.edu. We are committed to for designing monitoring programs to address the continuously improving this document and will following issues: periodically provide online updates. - Riparian - Livestock production Monitoring for management - Wildlife habitat Monitoring is part of a broader process in which - Off-road vehicle use and other recreational we use data to test and refine management land uses decisions. Monitoring data allow the collective - Fire
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