forest health indicator: tree and crown date: condition · forest health indicator: tree and crown...
TRANSCRIPT
Forest Health Indicator: Tree and crown condition
S T U D e n T P A g e
38 project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health © AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
Name(s):____________________________________________________________________
Location:__________________________________Date:__________________________________
Damagetotreesbydisease,airpollution,weather,orhumanactivitiescanaffectthehealthofforestsandcanalsobeanindicationofoverallforesthealth.
MaterialsPaper,pencils,chalk
MethodCountallthetreesintheplot,markingthetreeswithcoloredchalktohelpyoukeeptrack.Notetreesthathaveoneormoresignsofdiseaseordamage(seebelow).Tocountitasdiseasedordamaged,10percentormoreofthetreeshouldbeaffected.Calculatethepercentageofalltreesintheplotthathavesuchsigns.
Signs of Disease or Damage
Sign What it may indicate
Treehasraggedleaveswithholes Insectsfeedingontheleaves
Blackorbrownleaves Stemorleafdisease
Spotsorbumpsonleaves Insectsandmites
Twistedormalformedleaves Insectsanddisease,herbicides
Leaveschangingcolorbeforefall Trunkorrootdamage,drought,pollution
Branchdecay Unhealedwounds
Peelingorbrokenbark,holesinthebark Trunkwound,cankerdisease,ordamagecausedbyhumansoranimals
Dyingbranchesononesideofcrown Rootdecay,rootinjuryorinternalstemdisease,insectattack
Canker(adeadsectionofatrunkorbranch) Fungalinfections
Splits Brokenbranches
Hollows Waterenteringthrougholdwoundsandsupportingwooddecaybyfungi
Fungiormushroomsgrowingontree Internaldecompositionofwoodbyfungi
Greenorbrownspotsonneedles Airpollution
resultsTotalnumberoftreeswithsignsofdiseaseordamageinplot:______________(ValueA)Totalnumberoftreesinplot:______________(ValueB)Percentageoftreesdamaged=ValueA÷ValueBx100=______________percent
ratingTree and Crown Condition
Rating Description Points
Good Lessthan25percentoftreeshavedamage 3
Fair 25–50percentoftreeshavedamage 2
Poor Greaterthan50percentoftreeshavedamage 1
Overall Tree and Crown Condition rating for sample plot:
S T U D e n T P A g e
project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health 39
© AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
Forest Health Indicator: Forest Diversity
Name(s):____________________________________________________________________
Location:__________________________________Date:__________________________________
Ahealthyforestincludesavarietyofdifferentplantsandanimals.Onewaytoassessthisdiversityistodeterminewhetherthereisamixofplantspeciesofdifferentsizesandages,thuscreatingforest“layers”thatprovidehabitatformanyspecies.
MaterialsPencil,paper,tapemeasure,chalk,treeidentificationguide(optional)
MethodLookattheleaves,bark,seedpods,orflowersofthetreesinyourforestplottodeterminewhethertheyarethesameordifferentspecies.UsetheTree Species Diversitychartbelowtocatalogthisinformation.Treeidentificationguidesarehelpfulwiththisstep,butnotnecessary.Ifatreeidentificationguideisnotavailable,useyourobservationskillstodescribethedifferencesintreetypesandincludethisinformationintheTree Species Diversitychartbelow.
Measure(orestimate)thediameteratbreastheight(DBH)foralltreesinthesampleplot.Count(orestimate)thenumberoftreesofdifferentsizeclassesusingthecorrespondingDBHsizeclassificationsfoundintheSize Diversitychartbelowandrecordyourfindings.Tohelpyou,considerusingchalktomarkthetreesyouhavealreadycounted.
Assessthepresenceorabsenceofdifferentforestlayers,usingthedescriptionsfoundintheForest Layer Diversitychartandrecordyourfindings.
resultsTree Species Diversity
Name or Description Number found in sample plot
Species1
Species2
Species3
Species4
Species5
Size Diversity
Tree Size DBH Number found in sample plot
SaplingsorPoles 4–9inches(10–24cm)
Small 10–14inches(25–37cm)
Medium 15–19inches(38–49cm)
Large 20–29inches(50–75cm)
Giant 30inchesorgreater(>75cm)
Note:Pleasecontinuelistingtoaccountforallspeciespresentinsampleplot.
Forest Health Indicator: Forest Diversity (cont.)
S T U D e n T P A g e
Forest Layer Diversity
Tree Layer Description Present in sample plot? (Yes/ No)
Overstory Treeswhosecanopiesarefullyexposedtothesun
Understory Treesgrowingintheshadeofothertrees
TallshrubShrubs(woodyplantswithseveralstemsarisingfromthebase)greaterthan6feet(1.8meters)inheight
Shortshrub shrubslessthan6feet(1.8meters)inheight
Forb herbaceous(non-woody)plantssuchasferns,wildflowers,andgrasses
Leaflitter Deadanddecayingleavesandothermatterontheforestfloor
ratingTree Species Diversity
Rating Description Points
Good Threeormoretreespeciespresent 3
Fair Twotreespeciespresent 2
Poor Onetreespeciespresent 1
Tree Species Diversity rating for sample plot: (ValueA)
Size Diversity
Rating Description Points
Good Threeormoresizeclassespresent 3
Fair Twoorsizeclassespresent 2
Poor Onesizeclasspresent 1
Size Diversity rating for sample plot: (ValueB)
Forest Layer Diversity
Rating Description Points
Good Fiveorsixlayerspresent 3
Fair Threeorfourlayerspresent 2
Poor Oneortwolayerspresent 1
Forest Layer Diversity rating for sample plot: (ValueC)
Overall Rating Determinetheoverallratingbyaddingupthepointsshownforthetreespecies,size,andforestlayerdiversityratings;thendividingthetotalby3.Roundthetotaltothenearestwholenumber.
(ValueA+ValueB+ValueC)÷3=______________(Averagepointvalue)
OverallratingforForestDiversity:Good: Averagepointvalueof3Fair: Averagepointvalueof2Poor: Averagepointvalueof1
Overall Forest Diversity rating for sample plot: ______________
SourcesGreenleafForestryandWoodProductsInc.2010.“ForestHealthChecklist.”http://www.greenleafforestry.com/greenleafservices_006.htm.
PortlandStateUniversity.2010.“Protocol:MeasuringTreeDiameter,ClassSize,andAverageSpeciesDiameter.”Ecoplexity.http://ecoplexity.org/node/236?page=0,4.
40 project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health © AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator: Lichen Abundance
Name(s):____________________________________________________________________
Location:__________________________________Date:__________________________________
Lichensoftengrowontreesandshrubs,absorbingnutrientsfromtheatmosphere.Becauselichensareverysensitivetoairpollution—particularlytosulfurdioxide,fluoride,andammonia—theirpresenceorabsenceisanindicatorofforesthealth.Theacidityofatree’sbarkcanalsoaffectlichenabundance.
Alichenisactuallytwodifferentorganisms—eitherafungusandanalga,orafungusandacyanobacterium—livinginasymbioticrelationship.Thefungusprovidesprotectionandmoisture,whilethealgaorcyanobacteriumprovidesfoodthroughphotosynthesis.
MaterialsString,tapemeasure,compass,chalk,100-circlegridtransparency
MethodSelect10treesonyourstudyplottosample.Foreachtree,measurethediameteratbreastheight(DBH),andtieastringaroundthetreetrunkatthatheight.Useacompasstodeterminenorth,south,east,andwest;thenmarkthedirectionswithchalkonthetreeatthestringline.
Ateachofthe4directions,placethe100-CircleGridTransparencyagainstthetree,andcountthenumberofcirclesinwhichlichensareshowing.Thatnumberrepresentsthepercentageoflichencoverage.Foreachtree,findtheaveragelichencoveragebytotalingthelichensfoundwithinthecirclesandthendividingthetotalby4.Findthetotalaveragelichencoverageoftheplot.
resultsForeachtreeanddirection,recordthenumberofcirclesthatshowlichens.Thisnumberrepresentsthepercentageoflichencoverage.
Trees help support many other living organisms, including these lichens. Far from harming the tree, lichens indicate pollution-free air. Photo by USDA Forest Service - Northeastern Area Archive, USDA Forest Service.
project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health 41
© AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g e
Lichen Abundance
North East South West Total Tree Average (%)
Tree1:
Tree2:
Tree3:
Tree4:
Tree5:
Tree6:
Tree7:
Tree8:
Tree9:
Tree10:
Totals:
Average:
Addupthetreeaverages,whichwillberecordedinthefinalcolumninthechartabove.Dividethistotalbythenumberoftreessampledtogettheaveragelichencoveragefortheentiresampleplot.
AverageLichenCoverageforsampleplot:______________percent
ratingLichen Abundance
Rating Description Points
Good Greaterthan5percentlichencoverage 3
Fair 3–5percentlichencoverage 2
Poor 0–2percentlichencoverage 1
Overall Lichen Abundance rating for sample plot:
SourcesPathfinderScience.2006.“SamplingProcedureforLichenCoverage.”http://www.pathfinderscience.net/so2/cproto1.cfm.
Smith,GregoryL.,andThomasR.Baker.2003.“LichensasBioindicators.”InThe Middle School Science Classroom,NSTAScienceScope,16–19.http://tbaker.com/tbaker/academics/papers/published/sciscope_lichens/released_byNSTA/Lichens%20as%20Bioindicators.pdf.
Forest Health Indicator: Lichen Abundance (cont.)
42 project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health © AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g e100-circle
grid Transparency
project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health 43
© AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator: Soil Quality
Name(s):____________________________________________________________________
Location:__________________________________Date:__________________________________
Thequalityofthesoilinaforestisanimportantindicatorofforesthealth.Howwellthesoilfunctionsdirectlyinfluencesthehealthofthetreesandotherforestorganisms.Anevaluationofsoilqualityusuallyinvolvesmeasuringthesoil’sphysical,chemical,andbiologicalmakeupatdifferentdepths.
MaterialsSpadeortrowel,3papercupsorplasticbags,distilledwater,eyedropper,3Petridishesorplasticcontainers,pHpaper,whitepaper
MethodChooseasoilsamplesitethatrepresentstheoverallforestplot,andmeasure1squarefoot(0.09squaremeters)ofground,markingthecornerswithsticksorrocks.Withintheplot,firstremovetheleaflitterlayerwithaspadeortrowel.Next,collectsoilsamplesfromdepthsofapproximately3inches(7.5cm),6inches(15cm),and1foot(30cm).Usepapercupsorplasticbagstostorethesamples.
Conductthefollowingassessmentsforeachsample,recordingyourresultsinthe“SoilQualityResultsandRatings”chartbelow.
resultsSoil TypeMostsoilsareamixtureofsand,silt,andclay.Thespecificcontentofagivensoilinfluenceshowwellitholdsnutrientsandwater.Tofindoutyoursoiltype,takeasmallamountofsoil(aboutthesizeofamarble),andmoistenitwithafewdropsofwater.Squeezeitbetweenyourthumbandfingers.
Recordyourresultsinthe“SoilQualityResultsandRatings”chart.
Soil Types
Soil Type Squeezed Moist Soil Rating
Sand FeelsgrittyandcannotholdballshapePoor—Hasfewnutrients,holdslittlewater,andispronetodrought
SandyLoam Canbemoldedintoaball,butballbreaksupeasilyGood—Hasgoodbalanceofnutrientsandmoistureretention
SiltCanbemoldedintoaballthatiseasilydeformed;doesnotfeelgrittyandhassilkinesslikeflour
Fair—Hasmorenutrientsandholdsmorewaterthansand,butwashesaway(erodes)easily
LoamCanbemoldedintoaballthatcanbehandledquitefreelywithoutbreaking
Good—Hasgoodbalanceofnutrientsandmoistureretention
ClayLoamCanbeformedintoalongthinrodor“ribbon”thatwillbreakreadily,barelysustainingitsownweight
Good—Hasgoodbalanceofnutrientsandmoistureretention
ClayStickyandcaneasilybeformedintolongthinrodor“ribbon”
Fair—Holdswaterverywell,butdoesnotallowmovementofairorwater,sodoesn’tdrainwell
44 project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health © AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator:
Soil Quality (cont.)Soil pHSoilpHisameasureofhowacidicoralkalinethesoilis,anditisanindicatorofsoilquality.Measure1tablespoonofsoilfromeachdepth,placethisamountontoindividualPetridishesorplasticcontainers,andlabelthesoilsamples.Weteachsoilsamplewith5dropsofdistilledwater,andallowittositfor3to5minutes.PlaceonepieceofpHpaperoneachsoilsample.DeterminetheapproximatepHofyoursoil.
Soil pH
Rating Description Points
Good pHof5.51–7.2,whichisoptimumformanyplantspecies 3
Fair pHof7.2–8.5(moderatelyalkaline)or4.0–5.5(moderatelyacid) 2
Poor pHof4.0andless(acid),orgreaterthan8.5(alkaline) 1
Recordyourresultsinthe“SoilQualityResultsandRatings”chart.
Soil OrganismsThepresenceoflivingorganismsinthesoilisanimportantindicatorofproductivesoils.Soilorganismsaidinnutrientcycling,soilcreation,anddecompositionoforganicmatteranddeadorganisms.Pourtheremainingsoilsampleontoawhitepieceofpaper,andlookforthepresenceofthefollowingorganisms.Foreachtype,circlewhetheritispresentornot.(Soilfungiaremicroscopiccellsthatgrowaslongthreadsorstrandsinthesoil.)
Soil Organisms
Soil Depth Ants/Termites
Centipedes/Millipedes Earthworms Fungi Other Other
3in(7.5cm) PresentNone PresentNone PresentNone PresentNone
6in(15cm) PresentNone PresentNone PresentNone PresentNone
12in(30cm) PresentNone PresentNone PresentNone PresentNone
Soil Organisms
Rating Description Points
Good 3ormoretypesofsoilorganismspresentinsoilsample 3
Fair 1or2typesoforganismspresentinsoilsample 2
Poor nosoilorganismspresentinsoilsample 1
Recordyourresultsinthe“SoilQualityResultsandRatings”chart.
project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health 45
© AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator:
Soil Quality (cont.)ratingCircletheratingsthatapplyforeachdepthandeachassessment.Determinetheaveragescoreforeachdepthbyaddingupthepointsshownforeachratinganddividingthetotalby3.Findtheaverageofthethree“AverageSoilQualityatEachDepth”ratingstogettheoverallsoilquality.
Good: Averagepointvalueof3Fair: Averagepointvalueof2Poor: Averagepointvalueof1
Overall Soil Quality rating for sample plot: ______________
SourceUSDAForestService.2007.“SoilVitalSigns:SoilQualityIndex(SQI)forAssessingForestSoilHealth.”http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rp065.pdf.
Soil Quality Results and Ratings
3 in (7.5 cm) deep 6 in (15 cm) deep 12 in (30 cm) deep
SoilType
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
SoilpH
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
SoilOrganisms
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
Type:________________________________Good:3pointsFair: 2pointsPoor: 1point
Total Points
Average Soil Quality at Each Depth (roundedtonearestwholenumber)
Overall Soil Quality(roundedtonearestwholenumber)
46 project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health © AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator: regeneration
Name(s):____________________________________________________________________
Location:__________________________________Date:__________________________________
Forestregenerationisagoodmeasureofthehealthoftheforesthabitat.Whenaforestcanproduceenoughyoungtreestoreplacethecanopytreeswhentheyarecut,blowndown,ordie,suchproductionisanindicationthattheforestisvibrantandsustainable.Regenerationismeasuredbythenumberoftreeseedlingspresent.
MaterialsTapemeasure,stringorothermarker
MethodUsingatapemeasureandstringorothermarker,dividethestudyplotinto9equalsegments(8equalsegments,ifitisacircleplot).Surveyeachsegmentanddeterminewhetherthereisahealthyseedlingthatisatleast12inches(30cm)tallifitisaconifer,andatleast39inches(1meter)tallifitisadeciduoustree.Tobeconsideredhealthy,theseedlingmustnothaveanyapparentdamagetoitsleavesorstems.
resultsNumberofforestplotsegmentswithatleastonehealthyseedling:______________(ValueA)Numberoftotalforestplotsegments:______________(ValueB)
PercentageofplotswithatleastonehealthyseedlingValueA÷ValueBx100=______________percent
rating
SourceForestryBranch,ProvinceofManitoba.2010.“SilvacultureSurveys:RegenerationSurveys.”http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/forestry/renewal/surveys.html.
12”
39”
project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health 47
© AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
Plot Segments
Rating Description Points
Good Morethan66percentofplotsegmentshaveatleastonehealthyseedling. 3
Fair 33to66percentofplotsegmentshaveatleastonehealthyseedling. 2
Poor Lessthan33percentofplotsegmentshaveatleastonehealthyseedling. 1
Overall Regeneration rating for sample plot:
Coniferousseedling Deciduousseedling
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator: Snags and coarse Woody Debris
Name(s):____________________________________________________________________
Location:__________________________________Date:__________________________________
Innaturalforestecosystems,snags(standingdeadtrees)andcoarsewoodydebris(deadlogsandlargebranchesontheground)areimportantindicatorsofforesthealth.Theirpresenceindicatesaforestofdiverseages,andthesnagsanddebrisprovideanimalhabitat,energyandnutrientcycling,andstablesoils.Note: Inparksornearstructures,forestmanagersmayremovesnagsorcoarsewoodydebristopreventfireandothersafetyhazards.Ifyourforestplotisinsuchanarea,thepresenceofsnagsordebriswillnotbearelevantforesthealthindicator.
MaterialsTapemeasure
MethodCountthenumberofsnagsandthenumberoflivetreesinyourforestplot,andcalculatethepercentageofstandingtreesthataresnags.Then,countthenumberofdeadlogsanddownedlargebranchesinyourplotthataremorethan4inches(10cm)indiameterandmorethan39inches(1m)inlength,andcalculatetheirabundance.
resultsSnagsNumberofsnagsinplot:______________(ValueA)Numberoflivetreesinplot:______________(ValueB)
Totalnumberofstandingtreesinplot:ValueA+ValueB=______________(ValueC)
Percentageofsnags:ValueA÷ValueCx100=______________percent(ValueD)
Coarse Woody DebrisNumberoflogsanddownedbranchesgreaterthan4inches(10cm)indiameterand39inches(1m)inlength:______________(ValueE)
Abundanceofcoursewoodydebris:(ValueE÷ValueB)x100=______________percent(ValueF)
(Note:Forsomeforestplots,abundancemaybemorethan100percent.)
48 project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health © AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator:
Snags and coarse Woody Debris (cont.)
ratingSnags
Rating Description Points
Good Morethan10percentofstandingtreesaresnags. 3
Fair From5to10percentofstandingtreesaresnags. 2
Poor Fewerthan5percentofstandingtreesaresnags. 1
Snags rating for sample plot points(ValueG)
Coarse Woody Debris
Rating Description Points
Good Morethan15percentabundanceofcoarsewoodydebris. 3
Fair From5to15percentabundanceofcoarsewoodydebris. 2
Poor Fewerthan5percentabundanceofcoarsewoodydebris. 1
Coarse Woody Debris rating for sample plot points(ValueH)
Overall RatingDeterminetheoverallratingbyaddingupthepointsshownforthesnagandcoarsewoodydebrisratings,andthendividethetotalby2.Roundtothenearestwholenumber.
(ValueG+ValueH)÷2=______________
Good: Averagepointvalueof3Fair: Averagepointvalueof2Poor: Averagepointvalueof1
Overall Snags and Coarse Woody Debris rating for sample plot: ______________
SourceNationalParkService.2009.“ForestHealth:CourseWoodyDebrisandSnags.”ResourceBrief,NortheastTemperateNetwork.http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/NETN/Education/Resource%20Briefs/NETN_RB_CWDSnags_FINAL.pdf
project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health 49
© AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Indicator: Wildlife
Name(s):____________________________________________________________________
Location:__________________________________Date:__________________________________
Thepresenceofavarietyofwildlifeisanindicatorthataforestisvibrantandhealthy.Actuallyseeingtheanimalsmaybedifficult,buttracks,droppings,burrows,dens,nests,chewedleaves,andotherevidenceor“signs”revealtheirexistence.Youaremorelikelytoseeorheartheanimalsifyouarequiet,respectful,andpatient.
MaterialsPencil,paper,binocularsormagnifyingglass(optional)
MethodInyourforestplot,lookontheground,undershrubs,andintreesformammals,birds,reptiles,amphibians,spiders,orinsects,orforsignsofthoseanimals.Recordyourobservations.
results
rating
Animal Signs and Sightings
Animal Class Signs Sightings
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Spiders
Insects
Other
Wildlife
Rating Description Points
Good Signsorsightingsof4ormoredifferentclassesofanimals 3
Fair Signsorsightingsof2–3differentclassesofanimals 2
Poor Signsorsightingsof0–1differentclassesofanimals 1
Overall Wildlife rating for sample plot:
50 project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health © AmericAn Forest FoundAtion
S T U D e n T P A g eForest Health Summary Name(s):__________________________________
__________________________________Location:__________________________________
Date:__________________________________
UsethispagetotallytheForestHealthIndicatorinvestigationsthatyouhaveconductedforyourforestplot,whilenotinganykeyobservations.Usetheindicatorstomakeanassessmentoftheforest’soverallhealth.
Forest Health Summary
Forest Health
Indicator
Overall Point Value(3, 2, or 1)
OverallRating
(Good, Fair, or Poor)
Key Observations
TreeandCrownCondition
ForestDiversity
LichenAbundance
SoilCondition
Regeneration
SnagsandCoarseWoodyDebris
Wildlife
Averages/Conclusions
What is the Overall Health Assessment for your study plot?
Explain your reasoning.
project learning tree Exploring Environmental Issues: Focus on Forests Monitoring Forest Health 51
© AmericAn Forest FoundAtion