vegetation and terrestrial wildlife...terrestrial ecology: vegetation plant community descriptions:...
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Vegetation and Terrestrial Wildlife
Vegetation Plant Communities Disturbance Unique Communities
Wildlife
Amphibians and Reptiles Birds Mammals
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Goals of vegetation sampling on ODOT projects: Inventory the plant species found within the study area Identify the predominant vegetative communities
within a study area Determine the degree of disturbance to these
communities Determine if there are any unique rare or high quality
communities Determine if there are any listed species present
Background Literature: Use the local floras that are available for
this area: Lucy Braun – Monocotyledoneae and the
Woody plants of Ohio. Fisher – Asteraceae. Cooperrider – The Dicotyledoneae of Ohio
Part 2. Weishaupt – Vascular plants of Ohio.
Use regional and U.S. floras. Gleason and Cronquist – Manual of Vascular
Plants … Flora of North America North of Mexico
Do not use or cite Audubon and Peterson field guides (for vegetation).
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Plant Community Descriptions: Classification scheme for ODOT projects
incorporates Major natural plant communities described by
Anderson (unpublished, 1982) Disturbed communities described in the
National land Cover Dataset (NLCD 2001)
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Cultivated Crops Developed Open Space Grassland/Herbaceous Scrub/Shrub Herbaceous Riverine Community* Marsh* Shrub Swamp* Forested Swamp*
Floodplain Forest* Upland Forest* Bog* Fen* Prairie* Oak Savanna* Beach-Dune* Cliff Community*
* Anderson Native Habitats
Plant Community Disturbance: Categories of established for ODOT projects to
describe the level of disturbance to a plant community
based on descriptions found in the Floristic Quality Assessment Index (FQAI) for Vascular Plants and Mosses for the State of Ohio (Andreas et. al. 2004)
Extreme Disturbance/Ruderal Community - dominated by opportunistic invaders or native highly tolerant taxa.
High Disturbance - dominated by widespread taxa not typical of a particular community.
Intermediate Disturbance - dominated by plants that typify a stable phase of a native community that persists under some disturbance.
Low Disturbance - dominated by plants with a narrow range of ecological tolerances that typify a stable or near "climax" community.
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Determining High Quality, Rare, or Unique Habitats: Natural plant communities that are dominated by plants with
a narrow range of ecological tolerances that typify a stable or near "climax" community (low disturbance) should be considered high quality
In addition, the following natural community types (taken from Anderson, unpublished 1982) represents rare or unique habitats found within Ohio
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Sphagnum Bog Leatherleaf Bog Tall Shrub Bog Tamarack-Hardwood Bog Cinquefoil-Sedge Fen Tamarack Fen Arbor Vitae Fen Slough Grass-Bluejoint Prairie Big Bluestem Prairie Little Bluestem Prairie
Post Oak Opening Sand Barren Oak Savanna Beach Dune Calcareous Cliff Non-Calcareous Cliff Hemlock-White Pine-Hardwood Swamp Hemlock-White Pine-Hardwood Forest Arborvitae –Mixed wood Forest
Field Survey Methods for Vegetation: Most surveys use qualitative rather than quantitative methods.
Qualitative surveys: Map of plant communities with list of plant species. For new location projects
note the habitat where each species is found. Each plant community is searched until no new species are found.
Do your home work before going to the field. Use Lit review data and other appropriate references for the area you
are going to survey. Determine what communities may be present and what species to expect.
Are there any records for E & T species near or in the project area? If yes, and you are not familiar with the species go to the herbarium and
review specimens that have been collected before. Quantitative surveys may be needed:
Scenic rivers, rare plant community (bog, fen or prairie) and high quality woodlots (Indiana bat habitat).
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Results of Field Vegetation Surveys: A complete list of plants encountered within a project study
area, notations on the vegetative community (ies) the plant was found in
(such as type of plant community, maturity, and level of disturbance).
Identification of the dominant plants found within the study area this information will be used concurrently with the survey to
determine the plant community types present
A map indicating the locations of vegetative communities within the study area Can be created using aerial mapping, GPS, or other sources/tools.
The GPS point or boundary locations of any listed species that may have been encountered during the survey.
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Terrestrial Ecology: Vegetation
Background Literature Use the local books or works that are
available for this area: Pfingsten and Downs 1989; for
salamanders. Walker 1946; for frogs. Conant 1951; has the most
comprehensive treatment of Ohio’s reptiles.
Nomenclature & classification follow Collins (1997).
Terrestrial Ecology: Amphibians and Reptiles
Reptiles and Amphibians cont. Survey Techniques
Record through qualitative observations.
Aquatic species often observed during surveys for fish and macroinvertebrates.
Terrestrial species mostly identified through direct observations. Often need to search out these species by looking under rocks and fallen logs.
Toads and frogs can be recorded by vocalizations.
Obtain the tape of calls from the Ohio Biological Survey.
Occasionally trapping may be necessary for rare species and or unique habitats.
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) form Meigs County.
Terrestrial Ecology: Amphibians and Reptiles
Discussion in Reports. Emphasize the composition of
amphibian and reptile communities in each habitat type with the project area.
Data should be presented in tabular form and discussed in the text of the document.
In the body of the report common and scientific names must be used when a species is first mentioned (after the first use only the common name is required for repeat entries).
Terrestrial Ecology: Amphibians and Reptiles
Birds Background Literature
Use the local books or works that are available for this area:
Peterjohn and Rice – Ohio Breeding Bird Atlas.
Regional references -- see list in manual. Peterson Field Guide & CD are very good.
Nomenclature American Ornithologist
Union (1998).
Terrestrial Ecology: Birds
Birds cont. Survey techniques.
If possible surveys should be performed between early May and early August and emphasis should focus on breeding bird communities.
For most projects surveys will be qualitative observations of individual birds and/or their auditory songs in and adjacent to the project area.
Quantitative surveys may be required in some circumstances (eg. Project will impact a large amount of unique or high quality habitat), but would be an “as authorized” activity.
Discussion in reports. Emphasize the breeding bird species occupying each vegetative community in
the report. Present data in table format. Habitats used by migrant birds should be discussed where appropriate Photographs of rare or unusual species should be take, if possible. Data should be presented in tabular form and discussed in the text of the
document. In the body of the report common and scientific names must be used when a
species is first mentioned (after the first use only the common name is required for repeat entries).
Terrestrial Ecology: Birds
Mammals Background Literature
Gottschang (1981) and Kurta (1995) for general life history and distribution for Ohio mammal species
See regional references listed in the manual for specific areas of the state.
Additional life history information can be obtained from the following: Hall (1981) Knox and Birney (1988) Barbour and Davis (1969):
Bats only Belwood (1998): Bats only
Terrestrial Ecology: Mammals
Mammals cont. Nomenclature
Follow the checklist of North American mammals by Jones et al. (1982) . http://www.mammalsociety.org/statelists/ohmammals.html
Survey techniques Generally utilize qualitative surveys. Direct observation (especially road-kill), calls, tracks, burrows, and
scat can be used for evidence of presence. Quantitative surveys may be required for new location projects, or for
rare mammals, but these surveys will be “as authorized” activities. Surveys should emphasize the following:
List of species found within the project area Composition of mammal communities within each vegetation community. Habitat use by each species
Photographs of rare or unusual species should be included when possible.
Terrestrial Ecology: Mammals
Mammals cont. Discussion in reports.
Include a species list and emphasize the composition of mammal communities in each habitat type with the project area.
Data should be presented in tabular form and discussed in the text of the document.
In the body of the report common and scientific names must be used when a species is first mentioned (after the first use, only the common name is required for repeat entries).
Terrestrial Ecology: Mammals
QUESTIONS??