The Carolina Vegetation Survey Robert K. Peet Univ. North Carolina at Chapel Hill In collaboration with Thomas Wentworth (NCSU), Alan Weakley (NCBG), Mike Schafale (NC Heritage Program)

Carolina Vegetation Survey Multi-institutional collaborative study to document and understand the natural vegetation of the Carolinas. High-quality, quantitative records of natural vegetation

Why CVS? Description, classification, and analysis of the natural vegetation of the CarolinasDescription, classification, and analysis of the natural vegetation of the Carolinas Determine attributes of individual taxaDetermine attributes of individual taxa InventoryInventory Targets for restorationTargets for restoration Long-term monitoring – both natural and modified landsLong-term monitoring – both natural and modified lands It’s funIt’s fun

Data collection and analysis - an on-going activity

The NCVS Protocol Consistent methodologyConsistent methodology Appropriate for most vegetation typesAppropriate for most vegetation types FGDC compliantFGDC compliant Scale transgressiveScale transgressive Flexible in intensity of use and commitment of time (Levels 1-5)Flexible in intensity of use and commitment of time (Levels 1-5) Easily resampleableEasily resampleable Total floristicsTotal floristics Tree population structureTree population structure Major site variables, including soil attributesMajor site variables, including soil attributes

Plots contain multiple modules recorded at multiple scales

The Pulse Approach Based on community collaborationBased on community collaboration Provides training & experienceProvides training & experience Intense regional focus for one weekIntense regional focus for one week –“Bootcamp for botanists” –“Botanical Woodstock” –“Extreme botany”

NCVS Report Card Pulses events: 19 years (1-2/yr)Pulses events: 19 years (1-2/yr) Numerous affiliated projectsNumerous affiliated projects Volunteer participants: > 600Volunteer participants: > 600 Total plots: > 6000Total plots: > 6000 Total species: > 3000Total species: > 3000 Total vegetation types: > 200Total vegetation types: > 200

Results: Species frequencies 2628 of 4073 species, 4956 plots, occurrences

Top 5 species in 4955 plots 63% Acer rubrum (Red Maple)63% Acer rubrum (Red Maple) 39%Smilax glauca (Whiteleaf Greenbrier)39%Smilax glauca (Whiteleaf Greenbrier) 38% Smilax rotundifolia (Common Greenbrier)38% Smilax rotundifolia (Common Greenbrier) 36%Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum)36%Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum) 36%Quercus rubra (Red Oak)36%Quercus rubra (Red Oak)

Top 7 species: 652 Coastal Plain forest plots 48% Toxicodendron radicans (Poison-ivy)48% Toxicodendron radicans (Poison-ivy) 44% Acer rubrum (Red Maple)44% Acer rubrum (Red Maple) 44% Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia-creeper)44% Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia-creeper) 41% Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine)41% Vitis rotundifolia (Muscadine) 41% Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum)41% Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum) 35% Smilax rotundifolia (Common Greenbrier)35% Smilax rotundifolia (Common Greenbrier) 34% Smilax bona-nox (Catbrier)34% Smilax bona-nox (Catbrier) (15 of the top 50 are vines)

Who is missing? Rare speciesRare species Weeds of fields and waste placesWeeds of fields and waste places Plants of marshes and wetlandsPlants of marshes and wetlands Plants of special habitatsPlants of special habitats

Occurrences of Carolina Milkweeds **=rare, *=uncommon (Weakley 2006) 31Asclepias amplexicaulis1**Asclepias perennis 9**Asclepias cinerea0**Asclepias purpurascens 1**Asclepias connivens13Asclepias quadrifolia 58Asclepias exaltata3*Asclepias rubra 18Asclepias humistrata0Asclepias syriaca 4Asclepias incarnata6*Asclepias tomentosa 3*Asclepias lanceolata28Asclepias tuberosa 27*Asclepias longifolia14Asclepias variegata 13*Asclepias michauxii24*Asclepias verticillata 1**Asclepias obovata2*Asclepias viridiflora 9**Asclepias pedicellata0**Asclepias viridis

Longleaf Pine vegetation

Xeric barrens & Subxeric uplands: Longleaf – turkey oak woodlands on entisols 9 Types 13 Types

Flatwoods: Longleaf woodlands of spodosols 5 types

Silty uplands: Longleaf woodlands on well-drained ultisols 12 types

Savannas and seeps: Longleaf woodlands on moist alfisols 13 types

Ecological Groups Mountain Vegetation Montane upland forests Montane open upland vegetation Montane alluvial wetland vegetation Montane nonalluvial wetland vegetation Piedmont Vegetation Piedmont upland forests Piedmont open upland vegetation Piedmont alluvial wetland vegetation Piedmont nonalluvial wetland vegetation Coastal Plain Vegetation Coastal Plain upland forests Coastal Plain upland open & woodland vegetation Coastal Plain alluvial wetland vegetation Coastal Plain nonalluvial wetland vegetation Coastal Fringe Vegetation Maritime upland forests & shrublands Maritime open upland vegetation Maritime nontidal wetland vegetation Tidal wetland vegetation

Targets for ecological restoration

Classic Restoration strategy Document reference conditions Document reference conditions Derive restoration targets Derive restoration targets Design site-specific restoration plan Design site-specific restoration plan Implement the plan Implement the plan Monitor change and assess success Monitor change and assess success Employ adaptive management Employ adaptive management

“The EEP mission is to restore, enhance, preserve and protect the functions associated with wetlands, streams, and riparian areas, including … restoration, maintenance and protection of water quality and riparian habitats …” North Carolina Ecosystem Enhancement Program

Biennial Budget FY 2005/06 and Cost by Category:Total $175,077,880 Summary Administration $ 9,477,939 Restoration* $ 102,910,770 HQ Preservation $ 57,984,804 Project Development $ 4,704,366*Includes Implementation and Biennial Total $ 175,077,880 Future Mitigation Projects Ecosystem Enhancement Program

Stream Restoration Durham, NC

Traditional EEP method Consult brief habitat-based plant lists Consult brief habitat-based plant lists Design a site-specific restoration plan Design a site-specific restoration plan Implement the plan Implement the plan Monitor survival of planted stems 5 yrs Monitor survival of planted stems 5 yrs Replant if needed Replant if needed

EEP-CVS Collaboration EEP wants to do a better job creating natural ecosystems.EEP wants to do a better job creating natural ecosystems. CVS provides improved reference data, target design, monitoring, and data management and analysisCVS provides improved reference data, target design, monitoring, and data management and analysis

Target generation Simple goal – Deliver composition goal based on the vegetation type most appropriate for the site and region.Simple goal – Deliver composition goal based on the vegetation type most appropriate for the site and region. Sophisticated goal – Automated system that uses site information and reference plot data to predict vegetation composition.Sophisticated goal – Automated system that uses site information and reference plot data to predict vegetation composition.

Longleaf pine – feasibility study Few longleaf pine sites remain in “original” condition. Restoration targets must be extrapolated from a limited number of reference stands.

Dataset: -188 plots across fall-line sandhills of NC, SC, & GA - All sites contained near-natural, fire- maintained groundlayer vegetation - Soil attributes included for both the A and B horizon: sand, silt, clay, Ca, Mg, K, P, S, Mn, Na, Cu, Zn, Fe, BD, pH, organic content, CEC, BS.

Step 1. Classification. Developed a classification of the major vegetation types of the ecoregion. Used cluster analysis with a matrix of 188 plots x 619 species. Vegetation types were seen to be differentiated with respect to soil texture, moisture, nutrient status, & geography.

Step 2. Build model. - Forward selection with linear discriminant analysis identified predictor variables. - Critical variables were Latitude, Manganese, Phosphorus, Clay, Longitude. - 75% of plots correctly identified to vegetation series. Typically 75% of plots within a series were correctly classified to community type.

Step 3. Select species. 1.Generate a list of all species in type (species pool) with frequency, mean cover values, and mean richness. 2.Randomly order the list 3.Compare species frequency to random number between 0 & 1, and if the random number is less than the proportion of plots the species is selected. Continue until the number in list of selected species equals the number predicted.

Summary of overall strategy: Identify biogeographic region and obtain predictive models. Select pool of candidate species for a specific site based on range information. Divide restoration site into environmentally homogenous areas, stratifying by topography and soil. Use models to select species number and composition.

Monitoring – CVS methods

Trade off between detail and time.Trade off between detail and time. EEP protocol seamlessly integrates with CVS methods by allowing a series of sampling levels.EEP protocol seamlessly integrates with CVS methods by allowing a series of sampling levels. MS-Access data-entry tool to assure standardize data, easy assimilation, and automated quality control.MS-Access data-entry tool to assure standardize data, easy assimilation, and automated quality control. Backend database used for reports and analysisBackend database used for reports and analysis

Reports & Analysis Datasheets for monitoringDatasheets for monitoring Survival & growth of planted stemsSurvival & growth of planted stems Direction of compositional changeDirection of compositional change Rate of changeRate of change Problems needing attention, such as exotic speciesProblems needing attention, such as exotic species

Information Infrastrustructure and Biodiversity Databases “ … ecology is a science of contingent generalizations, where future trends depend (much more than in the physical sciences) on past history and on the environmental and biological setting.” Robert May 1986

Major new data sources Site data: climate, soils, topography, etc. Taxon attribute data: identification, phylogeny, distribution, life-history, functional attributes, etc. Occurrence data: attributes of individuals (e.g., size, age, growth rate) and taxa (e.g., cover, biomass) that occur or co- occur at a site.

Biodiversity data structure Taxonomic database Observation database Occurrence database Observation/ Collection Event Specimen or Object Bio-Taxon Locality Observation or Community Type Observation type database

VegBank VegBank is a public archive for vegetation plot observations ( is a public archive for vegetation plot observations ( VegBank is expected to function for vegetation plot data in a manner analogous to GenBank.VegBank is expected to function for vegetation plot data in a manner analogous to GenBank. Primary data will be deposited for reference, novel synthesis, and reanalysis.Primary data will be deposited for reference, novel synthesis, and reanalysis. The database architecture is generalizable to most types of species co-occurrence data.The database architecture is generalizable to most types of species co-occurrence data.

Opportunities Theoretical community ecology. Which taxa occur together, and where, and following what rules?Theoretical community ecology. Which taxa occur together, and where, and following what rules? Remote sensing. What is really on the ground?Remote sensing. What is really on the ground? Monitoring. What changes are really taking place in the vegetation?Monitoring. What changes are really taking place in the vegetation? Restoration. What should be our restoration targets?Restoration. What should be our restoration targets? Vegetation & species modeling. Where should we expect species & communities to occur after environmental changes?Vegetation & species modeling. Where should we expect species & communities to occur after environmental changes?

Accurate identification and labelling of organisms is a critical part of collecting, recording and reporting biological data.Accurate identification and labelling of organisms is a critical part of collecting, recording and reporting biological data. Increasingly, research in biodiversity and ecology is based on the integration (and re-use) of multiple datasets.Increasingly, research in biodiversity and ecology is based on the integration (and re-use) of multiple datasets. Biodiversity informatics depends on accurate and precise taxonomy

Taxonomic database challenge: Standardizing organisms and communities The problem: Integration of data potentially representing different times, places, investigators and taxonomic standards. The traditional solution: A standard list of organisms / communities.

Standard lists are available for Taxa Representative examples for higher plants in North America / US USDA Plants ITIS NatureServe BONAP Flora North America These are intended to be checklists wherein the taxa recognized perfectly partition all plants. The lists can be dynamic.

NameReferenceConcept Taxonomic theory A taxon concept represents a unique combination of a name and a reference. Report -- name sec reference..

USDA Plants & ITIS Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa var. arizonica One concept ofAbies lasiocarpa

Flora North America Abies lasiocarpa Abies bifolia A narrow concept of Abies lasiocarpa Partnership with USDA plants to provide plant concepts for data integration

Relationships among concepts allow comparisons and conversions Congruent, equal (=)Congruent, equal (=) Includes (>)Includes (>) Included in (<)Included in (<) Overlaps (> <) Disjunct (|)Disjunct (|) and others …and others …

High-elevation fir trees of western US AZ NM CO WY MT AB eBC wBC WA OR var. arizonica Abies lasiocarpa Distribution USDA & ITIS Flora North America Abies bifoliaAbies lasiocarpa A. lasiocarpa sec USDA > A. lasiocarpa sec FNA A. lasiocarpa sec USDA >A. bifolia sec FNA A. lasiocarpa v. lasiocarpa sec USDA >A. lasiocarpa sec FNA A. lasiocarpa v. lasiocarpa sec USDA | A. bifolia sec FNA A. lasiocarpa v. arizonica sec USDA <A. bifolia sec FNA var. lasiocarpa

Andropogon virginicus complex in the Carolinas 9 elemental units; 17 base concepts; 25 names

Demonstration Projects Concept relationships of Southeastern US plants treated in different floras. Based on > 50,000 mapped concepts

When reporting the identity of organisms in publications, data, or on specimens, provide the full scientific name of each kind of organism and the reference that provided the taxonomic concept. e.g., Abies lasiocarpa sec. Flora North America e.g., Abies lasiocarpa sec. Flora North America Best practice: Report taxa by reference to concepts

Lessons for Horticulturalists Which taxa to recommend for restoration planting ? – CVS descriptions and toolsWhich taxa to recommend for restoration planting ? – CVS descriptions and tools Determine how well plantings have worked ? – CVS monitoringDetermine how well plantings have worked ? – CVS monitoring What to grow in anticipation of the market ? – CVS descriptions & EEP predictionsWhat to grow in anticipation of the market ? – CVS descriptions & EEP predictions How to document identifications ? – NCU conceptsHow to document identifications ? – NCU concepts What are the natural conditions under which a taxon typically grows ? – CVS databaseWhat are the natural conditions under which a taxon typically grows ? – CVS database

Case study: Diversity and invasibility of southern Appalachian plant communities.

Little Tennessee River - Floodplain Nolichucky River - Uplands Nolichucky River – Bedrock Scour Bar New River - Scoured Island Montane riparian habitats

Native Exotic Upland (1090 plots) Riparian (121 plots) (268 plots with exotics) (110 plots with exotics) Mean Species Richness Kruskal-Wallis: Native Richness Χ 2 = 353.2, df = 1, P < Exotic Richness Χ 2 = 127.7, df = 1, P < Exotic Richness Χ 2 = 127.7, df = 1, P <

Community saturation at small scales? Does the degree to which immigration or extinction processes affect communities vary with scale?

Relationship between Native and Exotic Species Richness at a Large Scale

Relationship between Native and Exotic Species Richness at a Local Scale

Case Study – The lower Roanoke River

Roanoke basin

Pre-settlement floodplain surface: -82 cm Darker Gley

Financial Support US Forest Service – Savannah River Site; Clean Air Program; National Forests in NC The Nature Conservancy NC Heritage Trust Fund NC Agricultural Research Service Syngenta National Park Service National Science Foundation NC-DENR – Ecosystem Enhancement Program

Why CVS? Description, classification, and analysis of the natural vegetation of the CarolinasDescription, classification, and analysis of the natural vegetation of the Carolinas Determine attributes of individual taxaDetermine attributes of individual taxa InventoryInventory Targets for restorationTargets for restoration Long-term monitoring – both natural and modified landsLong-term monitoring – both natural and modified lands It’s fun, and you are invited !!It’s fun, and you are invited !!