Biological Monitoring
In this lab, we will be examining the vegetation diversity of several locations on Mt. Fiji.  Vegetation is defined as the characteristic plant community at a site, taking into account species composition, growth forms, and landscape characteristics.  "Chaparral" is an example of a vegetation type.

Monitoring programs record the abundance of plants and animals on a regular schedule.  They can be used to detect environmental change.  Most monitoring programs have goals such as these, from the United States Geological Survey Biological Resosurces Division Monitoring Program:

• Provide reliable information on the status and trends of the nation's biota;
• Identify populations, species, and ecosystems at risk before they become threatened or endangered;
• Determine the factors causing the observed trends; and
• Provide tools for forecasting future trends based on alternative policy and management decisions

To learn more about ecological monitoring studies, visit any of the sites linked here:

California Native Plant Society Vegetation Monitoring Program

Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Monitoring Program

Frogwatch USA

Salamander Monitoring Site

Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
 

Goals of this lab

Our goals in monitoring the vegetation on Mt. Fiji are:

• to give the class experience in quantitative sampling of vegetation
• to develop a long-term data base of the plant community on campus.
• to provide information to the Trustees and Campus Facilities Department on the status of the campus vegetation.

Vegetation Transect Protocol
 

1. We have established several 50 meter x 5 m plots on Mt. Fiji.
1. These are marked with permanent (nails) and temporary (flags) markers at the corners.
2. The transects are located on the north-facing side (3 transects), south-facing side (3 transects), and in a small riparian area.
2. Lay down a 50 meter tape down the center of the plot and secure the ends with stakes or flags.
3. Data will be recorded for three vegetation layers (herb, shrub, and tree).
1. For the herb and shrub layer estimate the maximum height of the layer, and for the tree layer, the minimum height.
4. Take data every 0.5 meters.
1. At each point, hold a 1 meter stick vertically.
1. Do not bias where the meter stick is to include a plant!
2. Each species intercepted by the line is tallied according to vegetation layer.
3. A total of 100 points along the transect should be sampled.
5.     Special notes:
1. Any species you cannot identify or are even slightly unsure of  should be placed in a zip-lock bag and labeled with a permanent marker with the transect code and a unique # for that unidentified specimen on that transect.    When you collect a sample to be identified later, note this on the data sheet so that we can go back and record the species in the right place.
2. If no plant is hit by a point, a non-plant category (bare, rock, litter) should be recorded.
3. If the shrub and tree layers are both bare, and the herb layer is either bare or occupied by a non-vascular plant (rock, moss, lichen, litter), then the category BARE on the top of the page also receives a tally.
4. All plants should be recorded with consistent names, and if unknown, consistent numbers.
6. All plants not recorded for the transects should be recorded (according to layer) after searching the entire 250sq. meter plot (2.5 meters on each side of the 50 meter transect).
7. Use the data sheet to record your data.
8. Two people from each lab group should record the data by the end of this week (Friday, March 1)

Examine the figures derived from our data. Answer the questions below.
 
 

1. How does species richness (total # of species) differ between sites for each layer?
2. Propose a hypothesis, or several hypotheses, to explain any observed differences in species richness between sites. It is acceptable to propose different hypotheses for each layer. You may want to use possible historical factors as well as physical and biological ones in your explanation.