3 VEGETATION

Vegetation Form
Field Procedure
Guidelines for Describing Vegetation
	Vegetation Layers
	Species Lists
	Unknown Species
	Plants Growing on Subdominant Substrates
	Estimating Percent Cover
	Recording Percent Cover
	Blank Columns on the Form
Completing the Form
	Species List Percent Cover by Layer Surveyor Plot Number Page __ of __ Trees Shrubs Herb Layer Moss, Lichen, and Seedling Layer Additional Species Notes
Appendix
	3.1 Coding For Additional Information
		Arboreal Lichen Loading Available Forage Distribution Codes Utilization Ratings Coding for Vigour Phenology Codes: Vegetative Stages Phenology Codes: Generative Stages
Tables
	3.1 List of low woody species and species of uncertain life form assigned to the herb layer
	3.2 Codes for subdominant substrates
	3.3 Dimensions of various areas in a 400 m² plot
Figures
	3.1 Stratification of forest stands, shrubs, and trees
	3.2 Comparison charts for visual estimation of foliage cover
	3.3 An example of percent coverages in a plot, viewed from above

Vegetation Description Form

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Field Procedures

Getting Started

1.	Locate plot boundaries.
2.	Assemble description forms, collection bags, and implements (e.g., a knife, small shovel).

Record and Estimate

1.	Photograph the plot, if required.
2.	Enter the plot number and surveyors' names.
3.	Standing at one point in the plot, list all species observed in each layer.
4.	Traverse the entire plot (or one quadrant at a time) in an increasing spiral or zig-zag pattern, noting each new species.
5.	Collect unknown species, recording each by a temporary name and plot collection number on the form (e.g., moss 01, hairy grass 02, herb 03, etc.). Mark sample bags and pressing sheets with plot and collection numbers.
6.	When the list seems complete, begin estimating percent cover. For each layer:
	estimate total layer cover and enter at top of form; estimate individual species covers for the entire layer and sub- layers, if present (i.e., first A, then A1, A2, A3); add up species covers and compare to total species cover and total layer cover; reconcile any discrepancies, remembering that overlap can occur between species and layers.
7.	Check that all required fields have been completed on the form.

Guidelines for Describing Vegetation

Throughout the process of describing vegetation, observe the following guidelines.

Vegetation Layers

All vegetation is assigned to one of the following layers. Criteria for A and B layers and sub-layers are depicted in Figure 3.1.

A.	The *tree layer* includes all woody plants greater than 10 m tall. Three sub-layers are recognized:
	A1	Dominant trees - includes the dominant (tallest) trees of the main canopy, which may be veterans of one or more fires (previously classed as A0), or the tallest trees of the same age class as the main canopy; usually a minor portion of the stand composition.
	A2	Main tree canopy (codominant trees) - the main layer of tree cover, composed of trees whose crowns form the upper layer of foliage; typically the major portion of the stand composition.
	A3	Sub-canopy trees - includes trees greater than 10 m high that do not reach the main canopy; may form a distinct secondary canopy; often a mixture of trees of various heights younger than those in the main canopy or may be suppressed trees of the same age; includes "intermediate" and "overtopped" trees (terminology of MOF Resources Inventory Branch).
B.	The *shrub layer* includes all woody plants less than 10 m tall, except low (usually < 15 cm tall) woody or trailing plants which are considered part of the herb layer (see Table 3.1). Established tree regeneration more than two years of age and less than 10 m in height is considered part of the shrub layer. Two sub-layers are recognized:
	B1	Tall shrub layer - includes all woody plants 2-10 m tall, including shrubs and advance tree regeneration and trees in poorly growing stands where the canopy is less than 10 m high.
	B2	Low shrub layer - includes all woody plants less than 2 m high, except low (< 15 cm) woody or trailing plants (see Table 3.1); includes shrubs and established tree regeneration more than two years old and dwarfed or immature specimens of species normally considered in the shrub category (e.g., young Vaccinium membranaceum, or dwarf alpine forms of normally taller shrubs).
C.	The *herb layer* includes all herbaceous species, regardless of height, and some low woody plants less than 15 cm tall (see Table 3.1).
D.	The moss, lichen, liverwort and seedling layer includes all bryophytes, terrestrial lichens, and liverworts, and tree seedlings less than two years old.
E.	The epiphyte layer includes all species which grow on other living plants.

FIGURE 3.1. Stratification of forest stands, shrubs and trees.

veg6.jpg (33221 bytes)

*some exceptions for very low growing stands

Record the species of all vegetation by layer, either by entering the names in full, or using the 4-3-1 (genus-species-subspecies or variety) code from British Columbia Plant Species Codes and Selected Attributes (Meidinger et al. 1998). At a minimum, record all those species growing on the dominant substrate, which will most often be organic matter but on some sites may be rock, decaying wood, or mineral soil.

Certain projects may require only a listing of indicator plants or dominant species growing on the main substrate. In such cases, it is important to indicate that only a partial listing has been made, by checking the appropriate box (PART.) at the top of the form.

Unknown Species

Collect specimens of unknown species for verification, numbering them sequentially within each plot and recording the plot number, temporary name, and collection number on collection bags and pressing sheets. Record percent cover for unknowns on the form using the temporary name and collection number in lieu of species name (e.g., moss 03). These procedures are extremely important if several persons are collecting data, or if a significant time lag occurs between field collection and office verification and coding.

TABLE 3.1. List of low woody species and species of uncertain life form assigned to the herb layer

Latin Name Latin Name

Andromeda polifolia*
Anemone multifida
Apocynum androsaemifolium
Apocynum cannabinum
Apocynum medium
Apocynum sibiricum
Arctostaphylos alpina*
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi*
Aruncus dioicus
Asclepias ovalifolia
Asclepias speciosa
Cassiope lycopodioides*
Cassiope mertensiana*
Cassiope stelleriana*
Cassiope tetragona*
Chamaerhodos erecta
Chimaphila menziesii*
Chimaphila umbellata*
Cornus canadensis
Cornus suecica
Draba spp.
Dryas drummondii*
Dryas integrifolia*
Dryas octopetala*
Empetrum nigrum*
Eriogonum androsaceum
Eriogonum flavum
Eriogonum heracleoides
Eriogonum niveum
Eriogonum ovalifolium
Eriogonum pauciflorum
Eriogonum umbellatum
Frageria chiloensis
Fragaria vesca
Fragaria virginiana
Galium boreale
Gaultheria hispidula*
Gaultheria humifusa*
Gaultheria ovatifolia*
Geocaulon lividum Kalmia microphylla*
Linnaea borealis*
Lithospermum incisum
Lithospermum ruderale
Loiseleuria procumbens*
Luetkea pectinata*
Orthilia secunda
Oxycoccus oxycoccos*
Penstemon davidsonii*
Penstemon ellipticus*
Phlox caespitosa
Phyllodoce empetriformis*
Phyllodoce glanduliflora*
Polygonum cuspidatum
Polygonum paronychia
Polygonum polystachyum
Polygonum sachalinense
Rhododendron lapponicum*
Rubus arcticus
Rubus chamaemorus
Rubus lasiococcus
Rubus nivalis*
Rubus pedatus
Rubus pubescens
Rubus ursinus*
Salix arctica*
Salix cascadensis*
Salix polaris*
Salix reticulata*
Salix stolonifera*
Saxifraga bronchialis
Saxifraga cespitosa
Saxifraga flagellaris
Saxifraga oppositifolia
Saxifraga tricuspidata
Sibbaldia procumbens
Vaccinium caespitosum*
Vaccinium scoparium*
Vaccinium vitis-idaea*
Vaccinium myrtillus*

* low woody species

Plants Growing on Subdominant Substrates

Where the objectives of a study or the features of a particular site warrant collecting data for plants growing on substrates other than the dominant substrate, list these under "Additional Species" on the form. Identify the layer to which the plant belongs (A-E) and the type of substrate using the codes in Table 3.2. Label the top of the blank column used to record the type of substrate as "SS" (subdominant substrate).

TABLE 3.2. Codes for subdominant substrates

Code Description

A Aquatic; where water is the subdominant substrate

L Cobbles, stones, or bedrock outcrops (epiliths)

O Organic matter (e.g., plants growing on patches of organic matter on a talus slope where the dominant substrate is rock)

S Bare soil (episols)

X Dead wood (epixyles)

Estimating Percent Cover

In most surveys, only those species growing on the dominant substrate are included in estimates. Percent cover is estimated as the percentage of the ground surface covered when the crowns are projected vertically. Follow the outside perimeter of the projected crown. For the tree layer, distinct holes in the canopy should be subtracted from the estimate. For other layers, small gaps that are not fully covered can be ignored.

Viewing the layer obliquely, rather than vertically, can result in an over-estimation.

Avoid biasing estimates because of crown density.

For species with high cover values, mentally move the plants to a corner of the plot to estimate if they represent one-quarter, one-third, or one-half, or more of the plot.

For species that almost cover the plot, mentally move them together and estimate how much of the area is not covered by the plants.

For species with low cover, try making estimates for subsections in each quarter of the plot.

Equating percent cover with equivalent dimensions relative to plot area can be very helpful (Table 3.3). For several small scattered areas of coverage, think about the area covered by 1% (2 x 2 m in a 400 m2 plot), or 0.1% (63 x 63 cm), and add up the total number of areas of cover that are roughly equivalent to these dimensions.

Comparison charts (Figure 3.2) and the example percentage coverage diagram shown in Figure 3.3 are other useful aids.

FIGURE 3.2. Comparison charts for visual estimation of foliage cover.

FIGURE 3.3. An example of percent coverages in a plot, viewed from above.

Recording Percent Cover

Percent cover may be entered in whole numbers (1-100), tenths of a percent (0.1-0.9), hundredths of a percent (recorded as 1H-9H), and thousandths of a percent (recorded as 1T- 9T). Table 3.3 gives examples of the relationship of dimensional area to percentage area, for a 20 x 20 m (400 m²) plot, and coding.

TABLE 3.3. Dimensions of various areas in a 400 m² plot

Dimensions Area (m²) % cover Coding

10 x 10 m 100.0 25.0 25

5 x 8 m 40.0 10.0 10

2 x 2 m 4.0 1.0 1

63 x 63 cm 0.4 0.1 0.1

20 x 20 cm 0.04 0.01 1H

6.3 x 6.3 cm 0.004 0.001 1T

Blank Columns on the Form

Within the main body of the form, immediately to the left of the columns provided for recording percent cover, two blank columns have been provided for recording additional information. Suggested items that may be recorded here include subdominant substrates (SS), distribution codes (DC), plant vigour ratings (VI), phenology (PV or PG), utilization (UT), estimates of available forage (AF), and arboreal lichen loading (LL). Codes for these items are provided in Appendix 3.1. Enter a two-letter abbreviation for the type of data at the top of each column used. For types of data other than those listed here, explain under Item 11, "Notes."

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Information Disclaimer and Copyright Notice

Latin Name	Latin Name
Andromeda polifolia* Anemone multifida Apocynum androsaemifolium Apocynum cannabinum Apocynum medium Apocynum sibiricum Arctostaphylos alpina* Arctostaphylos uva-ursi* Aruncus dioicus Asclepias ovalifolia Asclepias speciosa Cassiope lycopodioides* Cassiope mertensiana* Cassiope stelleriana* Cassiope tetragona* Chamaerhodos erecta Chimaphila menziesii* Chimaphila umbellata* Cornus canadensis Cornus suecica Draba spp. Dryas drummondii* Dryas integrifolia* Dryas octopetala* Empetrum nigrum* Eriogonum androsaceum Eriogonum flavum Eriogonum heracleoides Eriogonum niveum Eriogonum ovalifolium Eriogonum pauciflorum Eriogonum umbellatum Frageria chiloensis Fragaria vesca Fragaria virginiana Galium boreale Gaultheria hispidula* Gaultheria humifusa* Gaultheria ovatifolia* Geocaulon lividum	Kalmia microphylla* Linnaea borealis* Lithospermum incisum Lithospermum ruderale Loiseleuria procumbens* Luetkea pectinata* Orthilia secunda Oxycoccus oxycoccos* Penstemon davidsonii* Penstemon ellipticus* Phlox caespitosa Phyllodoce empetriformis* Phyllodoce glanduliflora* Polygonum cuspidatum Polygonum paronychia Polygonum polystachyum Polygonum sachalinense Rhododendron lapponicum* Rubus arcticus Rubus chamaemorus Rubus lasiococcus Rubus nivalis* Rubus pedatus Rubus pubescens Rubus ursinus* Salix arctica* Salix cascadensis* Salix polaris* Salix reticulata* Salix stolonifera* Saxifraga bronchialis Saxifraga cespitosa Saxifraga flagellaris Saxifraga oppositifolia Saxifraga tricuspidata Sibbaldia procumbens Vaccinium caespitosum* Vaccinium scoparium* Vaccinium vitis-idaea* Vaccinium myrtillus*
* low woody species

Code	Description
A	Aquatic; where water is the subdominant substrate
L	Cobbles, stones, or bedrock outcrops (epiliths)
O	Organic matter (e.g., plants growing on patches of organic matter on a talus slope where the dominant substrate is rock)
S	Bare soil (episols)
X	Dead wood (epixyles)

Dimensions	Area (m²)	% cover	Coding
10 x 10 m	100.0	25.0	25
5 x 8 m	40.0	10.0	10
2 x 2 m	4.0	1.0	1
63 x 63 cm	0.4	0.1	0.1
20 x 20 cm	0.04	0.01	1H
6.3 x 6.3 cm	0.004	0.001	1T

3 VEGETATION

Contents

Getting Started

Record and Estimate

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