Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)The UCCS Ecology Field Methods course taught by RMFI Board Member Dr. Emily Mooney is heading out to collect advanced plant measurements on the closed social trail (2015) in the Garden of the Gods. This trail is an excellent research study site for several reasons.

The trail was restored on both ends, but the ecological conditions along the trail change from the north end to the south end. The north end is amidst a mature native grassland with excellent soil development due to its relatively flat geography. As the former trail extends southward, the aspect (S-S/W) remains constant, but the slope increases dramatically until the former trail reaches the dam on the south end of the reservoir valley. At this end, there is little topsoil and rocky, eroding basement materials from the Niobrara Ridge formation.

In addition to the ecological gradient, the former trail represents a gradient from active to passive revegetation. Approximately 1/3 of the former trail was restored from either end, leaving the middle 1/3 untouched by restoration workers. The restoration components include decompaction, raking, seeding, mulching and transplanting into the former trail surface. The passive areas saw no such restoration disturbance.

Thirdly, the middle section of the former trail has no trail intersections, while either end of the former trail is a junction of foot and bike traffic. As such, it is assumed that the middle third of the former trail experiences decreased pressure from introduced species.

I write this in advance of our extended study because these are the assumptions upon which we enter the data collection process. We intend to collect measurements of richness, total cover, and partial percent cover per species in randomly spaced quadrats along the trail, starting from the north end of the trail and working inward toward the middle section of the trail.

Regarding your demeanor while conducting research, do not walk in the former trail. Don’t walk right next to it. Whenever and however possible walk in an indirect path, not following your partner through the study area. We don’t want to cause disturbance by conducting research. The best way to avoid this is to disperse our foot impact and make sure our backpacks are on a hardened surface and not all piled up together in one spot.

Regarding the specifics of measurement, teams of two citizen scientists will work together, but collect independent data. Both participants shall approach the plot and decide first:

1. What is the richness within the quadrat?

Richness is a measurement of how many different species are present in the quadrat. You needn’t know what they are to count them. Simply count with your partner how many different species you see. Do not collect any specimens from within the plot. Record the richness in the datasheet.

2. What is the total cover in the quadrat?

The quadrats are divided into equal subcells. The subcell is a “hit” if there is a plant rooted in it. Count the subcells with plants growing in them. Divide this number by the total number of subcells in the quadrat. This is your total cover.

Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Each citizen scientist in the team will do this independently and quietly. When the counting is complete, they will share their findings. If they agree, the measurement is complete. If their measurements differ, the counting process should begin again. In the second round, they should count each subcell together to reach an agreement. Record the total cover in the datasheet.

3. What is the partial percent cover in the quadrat?

After the total cover is determined, the same process ensues per species identified in the first step. To do this, you need to know what the species are that you counted in your richness measurement. Use the field guide that follows to aid this process. Citizen scientists have already completed a rudimentary plant inventory upon which this plant guide is based.

Use the dropdown menu in the datasheet to locate the species. Then record the percent cover, which is the total number of subcells containing the rooted species divided by the total number of subcells in the quadrat.

If you encounter species not present in the dropdown menu, please let me know and I will resolve this for you.

Repeat the process for every species present in the plot. Take a photo of your quadrat. Upload this to the datasheet and submit it.

Start a new datasheet for every quadrat measured.

Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)

Plant Guide - All photos are mine or labeled for reuse by nps.gov or wikicommons

Basic Reclamation Mix- the seeds of these plants were spread during the trail closure restoration

Andropogon gerardii big bluestem

Andropogon gerardii big bluestem

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Bouteloua curtipendula side oats grama

Bouteloua curtipendula side oats grama

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Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Basic Reclamation Mix

Bouteloua gracilis blue grama

Bouteloua gracilis blue grama

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Bromus marginatus mountain brome

Bromus marginatus mountain brome

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Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Basic Reclamation Mix

Elymus trachycaulus slender wheatgrass

Elymus trachycaulus slender wheatgrass

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Nassella viridula green needlegrass

Nassella viridula green needlegrass

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Oryzopsis hymenoides indian ricegrass

Oryzopsis hymenoides indian ricegrass

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Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Basic Reclamation Mix

Pascopyrum smithii western wheatgrass

Pascopyrum smithii western wheatgrass

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Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem

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Sporobolus cryptandrus sand dropseed

Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)

Sporobolus cryptandrus sand dropseed

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Tall Grass Prairie Mix/ Foothills Supplement

Andropogon gerardii big bluestem- noted above

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Panicum virgatum switchgrass

Panicum virgatum switchgrass

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Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem- noted above

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Sorghastrum nutans indiangrass

Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)

Sorghastrum nutans indiangrass

Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Short Grass Prairie Mix

Aristida purpurea purple three-awn

Aristida purpurea purple three-awn

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Bouteloua gracilis blue grama- noted above

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Buchloe dactyloides buffalograss

Buchloe dactyloides buffalograss

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Pleuraphis jamesii galleta grass

Pleuraphis jamesii galleta grass

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Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Other Species Present in the Closed Social Trail

Artemisia spp.

caption: top to bottom: A. ludoviciana, A. frigida, A. campestris

Artemisia ludoviciana Artemisia frigida Artemisia campestris

Artemisia spp. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Other Species Present in the Closed Social Trail- Native Species

Helianthus annuus common sunflower

Helianthus annuus common sunflower

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Ratibida columnifera prairie coneflower

Ratibida columnifera prairie coneflower

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Liatris punctata dotted gayfeather

Liatris punctata dotted gayfeather

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Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)Other Species Present in the Closed Social Trail- Non-Native Species

Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce

Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce

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Salsola russian thistle

Salsola russian thistle

Field Ecology Methods- September 2017 (M.Gaddis)

Botanical Glossary: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/help/glossary