A Permanent Plot Method for Monitoring Indigenous Forests - Expanded Manual Version 4 J.M. Hurst and R.B. Allen A Permanent Plot Method for Monitoring Indigenous Forests œ Expanded Manual Version 4 J.M. Hurst and R.B. Allen Landcare Research PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640 New Zealand Landcare Research Contract Report LC0708/028 DATE: September 2007 Contents 1 Introduction..........................................................................................................6 1.1 Why monitor New Zealand‘s indigenous forests?.........................................6 1.2 Why use permanent plots to monitor indigenous forests?.............................7 1.3 Further examples of use of permanent plots..................................................8 1.3.1 Assessment of introduced animal impacts on forest structure and composition............................................................................................8 1.3.2 Monitoring species invasion ..................................................................9 1.3.3 Monitoring canopy dieback in tree species............................................9 1.3.4 Developing models of forest dynamics..................................................9 1.3.5 Measuring carbon stored in indigenous forests .....................................9 1.3.6 Modelling the distributions of plant species or communities ................9 1.4 Existing data from permanent plots .............................................................10 1.5 Why have a permanent-plot manual? ..........................................................10 1.6 What is the purpose of this manual?............................................................11 2 Sampling .............................................................................................................15 2.1 General guidelines and principles of sampling............................................15 2.1.1 Arrangement of sample plots...............................................................15 2.1.2 How to obtain a representative sample of a study area........................17 2.1.3 Plot size and shape...............................................................................19 2.1.4 Number of sample plots.......................................................................19 3 Pre-fieldwork planning......................................................................................22 4 Location and layout of new permanent plots ..................................................24 4.1 Locating plots at systematic or random sample points ................................24 4.2 Locating plots along transects......................................................................24 4.3 Procedure for laying out plot tapes ..............................................................25 4.3.1 Checking that plot size and shape are correct......................................26 4.4 Permanently marking the plot......................................................................27 5 Measurement of permanent plots.....................................................................27 5.1 Order of data collection and division of labour ...........................................28 5.2 Plant species nomenclature and coding system ...........................................28 5.2.1 Checking that species codes used are correct ......................................30 5.2.2 Documentation of plant species recorded in metadata ........................30 5.3 Recce description.........................................................................................31 5.3.1 Plot identification information and location ........................................31 5.3.2 Site description.....................................................................................34 5.3.3 Vegetation parameters .........................................................................36 5.3.4 Additional biological information........................................................38 5.3.5 Recce vegetation description ...............................................................39 5.4 Stem diameter measurements ......................................................................44 3 5.4.1 Stem diameter measurement protocol..................................................45 5.4.2 Procedure for tagging and measuring ..................................................48 5.4.3 How to record stem diameter data .......................................................49 5.5 Optional data on tree fern size and growth ..................................................50 5.5.1 How to measure tree fern stem length .................................................51 5.6 Sapling counts..............................................................................................52 5.7 Understorey subplots ...................................................................................53 5.7.1 Understorey subplot measurement.......................................................53 6 Remeasuring permanent plots..........................................................................55 6.1 Pre-survey planning .....................................................................................55 6.2 Plot remeasurement procedure.....................................................................56 6.2.1 Plot re-location and layout...................................................................56 6.2.2 Potential differences in plot layout ......................................................57 6.2.3 Recce description.................................................................................59 6.2.4 Stem diameters.....................................................................................59 6.2.5 Sapling counts......................................................................................63 6.2.6 Understorey subplots ...........................................................................63 7 Collecting and recording unknown plants.......................................................64 7.1 Collection of unknown plant specimens......................................................65 7.2 Storage of unknown plant specimens ..........................................................65 7.3 Identification of unknown plants and correction of field-sheets .................66 8 Quality control procedures for permanent-plot surveys................................67 8.1 Routine quality control procedures..............................................................67 9 Data management and storage using the National Vegetation Survey Databank ............................................................................................................68 9.1 Benefits of the NVS Databank for data providers and users .......................68 9.2 Deposit of data into the NVS Databank.......................................................69 9.2.1 Hardcopies of data-sheets ....................................................................69 9.2.2 Data in electronic form ........................................................................69 9.2.3 Metadata...............................................................................................69 9.3 Retrieval of data from the NVS Databank...................................................70 10 Ancillary data.....................................................................................................71 10.1 Biotic attributes............................................................................................71 10.1.1 Other biota ...........................................................................................71 10.1.2 Vegetation function..............................................................................72 10.2 Environmental variables ..............................................................................73 10.2.1 Point data from plots............................................................................74 10.2.2 Geospatial data.....................................................................................75 11 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................76 12 References...........................................................................................................77 13 Appendices..........................................................................................................86 4 Summary New Zealand‘s remaining indigenous forests cover about 23% of the land area and are an important feature of the landscape. Their management and protection require techniques for monitoring forest structure and composition, and permanent sample plots are recognised as a robust approach for this purpose. This manual updates and standardises the methodology for the use of permanent plots for forest monitoring throughout New Zealand. Random, systematic, and subjective sampling systems are considered for the location of plots, the choice of which will depend on the specific objectives of the monitoring programme. Each plot is a permanently marked quadrat of 20þ20-m on which a reconnaissance (Recce) description is undertaken that records plot location, site data, and detailed data on vegetation composition. On each plot trees are tagged, their diameters measured, and their species recorded. All saplings are counted. Each plot has 24 understorey subplots (circular, 49-cm radius) within which species are recorded in height classes. This manual provides guidelines on planning a permanent-plot