1. Crown-Condition Classification Tutorial (Revised January 2008)

3.  To assess tree vigor and growth potential  Early warning sign of tree health deterioration  Crowns form the structural architecture of forests  Crowns influence understory flora and fauna  To assess individuals, ecosystems, states, regions Why Crowns?

4. Crown Variables  Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Crown Position  Crown Light Exposure  Crown Density  Crown Dieback  Foliage Transparency  Sapling Vigor Class

5. Size Classes of Trees  Seedlings  <1.0-inch DBH/DRC  Saplings  1 inch to 4.9 inches DBH/DRC  Trees  5 inches + DBH/DRC

6. Crown Variables  Both Saplings and Trees  Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Crown Position  Crown Light Exposure  Trees Only  Crown Density  Crown Dieback  Foliage Transparency  Saplings Only  Crown Vigor Class

7. FIA Plot Configuration Subplot-trees Microplot-saplings Macroplot-trees

8. Definitions  Live branch Woody lateral growth supporting foliage and larger than 1 inch at the base just above the swelling where it joins the main stem.

9. Definitions  Twig Woody lateral growth with secondary branching and less than 1 inch in diameter at the point of attachment to a branch or crown stem.

10. Definitions  Sprig Woody or non-woody lateral growth without secondary branching and less than 1 inch.

11. Definitions  Snag branch Dead upper crown branches without fine twigs.

12. Definitions  Epicormic branches Woody or non-woody lateral growths, usually on the bole or crown stem and initiated by sudden exposure or loss of crown stem.

13. Definitions  Crown Outline Exclude abnormally long branches Outline

14. Definitions  Crown Top Crown Top

15. Definitions  Obvious Live Crown  Obvious Live Crown Base Crown Base Obvious Live Crown

16. Crown Base Definitions  Live Crown Base, Saplings

17. > 5 feet Definitions  5-ft Rule Point 1 Point 2

18. Point 1 Point 2 Definitions  5-ft Rule < 5 ft

19. Quality Crown Measurements Require…  A calibrated eye  A positive attitude  Good weather and daylight  2 certified crown raters working as a crew Viewing the Crown

20. Get Two Separate Views Of Every Crown!

21. Viewing the Crown ½ to 1 tree length away View from grade level or upslope 90 o

22.  Separate the subject from other trees  Rate the whole crown, not just the easiest part to see Viewing the Crown

23. DON’T stand under the tree to make your ratings. DON’T stand at 180 o from your partner.

24. Field Aid  Useful for… Live Crown Ratio Crown Density Foliage Transparency

25.  Both Saplings and Trees  Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Crown Position  Crown Light Exposure  Trees Only  Crown Density  Crown Dieback  Foliage Transparency  Saplings Only  Crown Vigor Class Crown Variables

26. Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio X Y ULCR = X/Y(100) X Y

27. Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Determine the LIVE TOP of the tree (dieback & dead branches excluded)  Establish the OBVIOUS LIVE CROWN BASE  Determine the ACTUAL LENGTH of the tree (same as defined in the Phase 2 field guide)  Express the length of the Obvious Live Crown as a PERCENTAGE of the Actual Length  Agree on best answer with your partner or average and record to the nearest percent

28. Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio For trees: The Obvious Live Crown includes foliage and branches down to the lowest foliage of the lowest 1-inch branch.

29. Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio <5 feet; include >1 inch >5 feet; exclude New Live Crown Base For trees: The 5-foot, 1-inch rule

30. Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio >5 feet, >1 inch ULCR = 50 - 75%? ? ? ? ?

31. Include leafed twigs 50% 75% Exclude sprigs 35% For saplings: The Obvious Live Crown includes twigs, but not sprigs. Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio

32. X YX/Y(100) Obvious Live Crown (X) excludes dieback. Actual Length (Y) includes dieback. Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio

33. Epicormic branches: If tree or sapling crown contains only epicormics, ULCR = 00 Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio

34. Crown Position  The relative position of each tree in relation to the main overstory canopy Four Codes: Superstory Overstory Understory Open Grown

35. Overstory Canopy Zone Average Live Crown Lengths of overstory trees

36. Crown Position 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 midpoint

37. Crown Position Open Canopy: All saplings and trees coded 4 4 4 4 4

38. Crown Position All coded 4 1 acre in size Scattered Clumped

39. Crown Position  2 Conditions (> 1 acre in size)  >50% crown cover 1=Superstory (Never for saplings) 2=Overstory 3=Understory  <50% crown cover 4=Open grown (all saplings/trees)

40. Crown Light Exposure The number of sides of a crown (including the top) that receive sunlight when the sun is directly overhead.

41. Crown Light Exposure

42. In this case, the code for exposure would be 2

43. Crown Light Exposure ULCR = 25% Code as 1

44. Crown Light Exposure 5 4031 2

45.  Both Saplings and Trees  Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Crown Position  Crown Light Exposure  Trees Only  Crown Density  Crown Dieback  Foliage Transparency  Saplings Only  Crown Vigor Class Crown Variables

46. Codes for 5-percent Classes  Crown density, crown dieback and foliage transparency…  00No Crown  051-5%  106-10%  1511-15%  ……  9996-100%

47. Crown Density  The amount of crown branches, foliage, and reproductive structures that block light visibility through the crown

48. Crown Density

50. plywood Density: 100%

51. Crown Density Density: 50%

52. Crown Density Density: 50%

53. Crown Density Density: 25%

54. Crown Density Density: 25%

55. Crown Density Density: 55%

56. Crown Density Density: 35%

57. Crown Density Dead, no density estimate necessary! Density: 20% If there was some green, then….

58. Crown Density Oval shape Density 65%

59. Crown Density Conical shape Density 80%

60. Crown Density Fan-shaped crown Density 75%

61. Crown Dieback  Recent mortality of branches with fine twigs  Begins at the terminal portion of a branch and proceeds downward and inward towards the crown stem  Only considered when in the upper and outer portions of the crown

62. Crown Dieback

63. Must be recent Fine twigs attached

64. Crown Dieback Dieback? Exclude coarse, stubby dead branches

65. Crown Dieback

66. Dieback: 15%

67. Crown Dieback Dieback: 25%

68. Crown Dieback Dieback: 75%

69. Foliage Transparency  The amount of skylight visible through the live, normally foliated portion of the crown

70. Foliage Transparency Transparency Outline Defoliation

71. Foliage Transparency Transparency 20%

72. Foliage Transparency Transparency 25%

73. Foliage Transparency Transparency 5%

74. Foliage Transparency Transparency 10%

75. Foliage Transparency Transparency 20%

76. Foliage Transparency Transparency 50%

77. Foliage Transparency Transparency 15% Ignore dieback

78. Foliage Transparency  Ignore Dieback  Include Defoliation  Complete defoliation =99 (not 0!) Transparency 70%

79. Crown Outline for Density Include dead branches, dieback and/or missing top Include gaps for symmetry

80. Crown Outline for Dieback Include live foliage and recent dieback

81. Crown Outline for Transparency Include live foliage only

82. Crown Outline for Transparency If large gaps, average transparency across foliated segments

83.  Both Saplings and Trees  Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Crown Position  Crown Light Exposure  Trees Only  Crown Density  Crown Dieback  Foliage Transparency  Saplings Only  Crown Vigor Class Crown Variables

84. 3 Crown Vigor Classes:  Vigor Class 1 – High  Vigor Class 2 – Moderate  Vigor Class 3 – Low Sapling Vigor Class Rating Factors:  Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Dieback  Percent Normal Foliage

85. Normal foliage  Individual leaf has > 50% of the surface area present and free of damage Sapling Vigor Class

86. Abnormal foliage  Individual leaf has < 50% of the surface area present and free of damage.

87. Sapling Vigor Class Abnormal foliage  Dead leaves count as abnormal foliage  Recent dieback counts as abnormal foliage

88. Sapling Vigor Class 50% Normal foliage

89. Sapling Vigor Class 95% Normal foliage

90. Sapling Vigor Class  Vigor Class 1  > 80% normal foliage  ULCR > 35%  < 5% dieback  Vigor Class 2  > 20% normal foliage (can have any ULCR; may or may not have dieback)  Vigor Class 3  < 20% normal foliage (can have any ULCR; may or may not have dieback)

91. Sapling Vigor Class 1 ULCR > 35% < 5% dieback >80% normal foliage 50% ULCR 35% ULCR Dieback < 5%

92. Sapling Vigor Class 3 < 20% normal foliage Dieback = abnormal foliage

93. Sapling Vigor Class 2 > 20% normal foliage Dieback

94. Normal Foliage: 100% ULCR: 40% Dieback: 0 Vigor Class: 1 Sapling Vigor Class

95. Normal Foliage: 30% ULCR: 70% Dieback: 50% Vigor Class: 2 Sapling Vigor Class

96. Normal Foliage: 0% ULCR: 60% Dieback: 5% Vigor Class: 3

97. Special Situations

98. Leaning Trees Live Crown Ratio

99. Special Situations Leaning Trees Crown Density

100. Special Situations Leaning Trees Crown Position Crown Exposure

101. Special Situations Forked Trees Crown Density

102. Special Situations Dead Top Included in ULCR Included in Density Outline denominator of ULCR Actual Length used in

103. Special Situations Missing Top NOT included ULCR Included in Density Outline Actual Length used in denominator of ULCR

104.  Coding for trees/saplings with only epicormics or sprigs: ULCR = 00 Light Exposure = 0 Position = 3 (or 4) Density = 00 Dieback = 99 Transparency = 99 Special Situations

105. Species with delayed development of 1-inch branches: These small branches are part of the obvious live crown (i.e., not epicormics) 5-ft. rule may be applied

106. Crown VariableToleranceMQO  Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio  Crown Density  Crown Dieback  Foliage Transparency +- 10%90%  Crown Light Exposure +-1 if >085%  Crown Position 085%  Sapling Crown Vigor 090% Measurement Quality Objectives (MQO’s)

107. Crown Indicator Homepage Crowns Home Methods Data Analysis Data Quality Training Materials Publications Additional Links ContactsMethods Data Analysis Data Quality Training Materials Publications Additional Links Contacts http://srsfia2.fs.fed.us/crowns/index.shtml