1. FIELD METHODS Strategy for Monitoring Post-fire Rehabilitation Treatments Troy Wirth and David Pyke USGS – Biological Resources Division Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center Corvallis, Oregon U.S. Department of Interior U.S. Geological Survey Supported by USGS - BLM Interagency Agreement #HAI040045

2. Field Methods Photo points Photo points Line Point Intercept (Cover) Line Point Intercept (Cover) Basal Gap Basal Gap Density Density Belt Transect Belt Transect Quadrats Quadrats Paper data sheets or rangeland monitoring database Paper data sheets or rangeland monitoring database Plot design: Three transects radiating from a central point. Measurements made along each transect and averaged for a plot total.

3. Photo Points Photos taken from center stake at standard height (1.5 m) Photos taken from center stake at standard height (1.5 m) Qualitative documentation of site conditions Qualitative documentation of site conditions May show change that is indicated by quantitative data May show change that is indicated by quantitative data

4. Plot establishment General Information General Information GPS Location Information GPS Location Information Soil / ecological site Verification Soil / ecological site Verification Disturbance/Management history Disturbance/Management history Species Lists Species Lists Additional Plot Information Additional Plot Information

6. Vertical and Horizontal slope shape descriptions

13. Plot Establishment Page 2 Recent weather Recent weather Recent disturbance Recent disturbance Wildlife use Wildlife use Management history Management history Map Map

14. Additional Plot Information Comments Species present but not encountered during quantitative techniques Species present but not encountered during quantitative techniques Search for rare species if a concern in the area Search for rare species if a concern in the area Evidence of drill rows Evidence of drill rows General impression of the site (lots of seedlings, few seedlings etc.) General impression of the site (lots of seedlings, few seedlings etc.) Other information that would help interpretation of seeding success. Other information that would help interpretation of seeding success.

15. Line-Point Intercept Measures canopy, basal, and bare ground cover Measures canopy, basal, and bare ground cover Total cover (vegetation + surface cover) positively correlated with soil and site stability and hydrologic function Total cover (vegetation + surface cover) positively correlated with soil and site stability and hydrologic function Basal and canopy cover are sensitive indicators of biotic integrity Basal and canopy cover are sensitive indicators of biotic integrity Rangeland Health Indicators Rangeland Health Indicators

16. Line-Point Intercept 1. Drop a pin flag at a 90° angle at the specified meter mark 2. Record the first species that intercepts the pin in the top canopy column (If no plant is intercepted, record “NONE” in top canopy) 3. Record additional species that intercept the pin (record each species only once) 4. Record litter (L or W) 5. Record perennial plant bases or soil surface in soil surface column.

17. Line-Point Intercept Perennial plant bases are important because they hold the soil surface throughout the year. Perennial plant bases are important because they hold the soil surface throughout the year. Soil surface codes: Rock (R), Bedrock (BR), Duff (D), Moss (M), LC (Lichen Crust), and Soil (S) Soil surface codes: Rock (R), Bedrock (BR), Duff (D), Moss (M), LC (Lichen Crust), and Soil (S) Standing dead is recorded as that species – dead material must be on soil surface to be litter Standing dead is recorded as that species – dead material must be on soil surface to be litter

19. Line-Point Intercept Number of points taken per transect can be adjusted depending on the variability of the community (minimum of 50) Number of points taken per transect can be adjusted depending on the variability of the community (minimum of 50) The line-point intercept procedure is designed to estimate the cover of dominant species, not species diversity or richness The line-point intercept procedure is designed to estimate the cover of dominant species, not species diversity or richness Richness is combination of species on LPI and searching for additional species Richness is combination of species on LPI and searching for additional species

20. Line – Point Intercept Data Form

21. Basal Gap Intercept Measurement of gaps >20 cm between perennial plant bases along a transect (typically 50 m) Measurement of gaps >20 cm between perennial plant bases along a transect (typically 50 m) 1. Look straight down at the tape and use a stiff pin to project a line vertically to the ground. 2. Record the beginning and end of each gap between perennial plant bases longer than 20 cm. 3. Count only live plant bases

22. Basal Gap Intercept Correlated with soil and site stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity Correlated with soil and site stability, hydrologic function, and biotic integrity Large gaps increase the potential for erosion Large gaps increase the potential for erosion Detects increasing/decreasing number of large gaps Detects increasing/decreasing number of large gaps Sensitive to spatial pattern (aggregation or patches) of vegetation Sensitive to spatial pattern (aggregation or patches) of vegetation Successful seedings should show decreasing percentage of large gaps Successful seedings should show decreasing percentage of large gaps

23. Basal Gap Intercept From Herrick et al. 2005a

24. Basal Gap Intercept

25. Basal Gap Intercept Form

26. Plant Density Belt Transect Walk along transect with a PVC pipe and record plants occurring underneath Walk along transect with a PVC pipe and record plants occurring underneath Use for larger, less abundant plants Use for larger, less abundant plants

27. Belt Transect Measures density of larger and less common plants (Class B and C shrubs) Measures density of larger and less common plants (Class B and C shrubs) Adjustable belt width to increase sampling efficiency dependent on the number of plants Adjustable belt width to increase sampling efficiency dependent on the number of plants From Herrick et al. 2005a, based on Tazik et al. 1992

28. Plant Density Quadrats Place quadrats at specified intervals along each transect to estimate density of seedlings and common herbaceous species (generally 1x1 meter quadrats) Place quadrats at specified intervals along each transect to estimate density of seedlings and common herbaceous species (generally 1x1 meter quadrats) Track size classes of individuals (A, B, C) Track size classes of individuals (A, B, C) Separate into seeded and non-seeded plants if possible Separate into seeded and non-seeded plants if possible Define rules for dealing with rhizomatous species or other species that are difficult to count Define rules for dealing with rhizomatous species or other species that are difficult to count

29. Plant Density Quadrats Count number of individuals of all seeded species and other species of interest Count stems of rhizomatous species Questionable situations - follow a consistent set of guidelines

30. Cheatgrass follows the drill rows, search here for seedlings

31. Shrink-swell breaks plants apart - difficult to locate drill rows

32. Rhizomatous plants and seeded plants present. How do you decide which is which?

33. Plant Density Analysis Analyze data to isolate the effect of the seeding depending on your situation Analyze data to isolate the effect of the seeding depending on your situation Comparing parameter to quantitative objective Comparing parameter to quantitative objective Treatment vs. control (direct) Treatment vs. control (direct) Treatment vs. control (change) Treatment vs. control (change) Seeded vs. unseeded or group if unable to tell the difference Seeded vs. unseeded or group if unable to tell the difference Group lifeforms (seeded perennial grasses) etc. Group lifeforms (seeded perennial grasses) etc.

34. Plant Density Analysis Treatment Density N = 5 X = 5.3 plants/m 2 S = 1.8 plants/m 2 Control Density N = 5 X = 2.5 plants/m 2 S = 0.7 plants/m 2 Objective is difference of 2 plants/m 2 (alpha = 0.1)

36. Reporting