There are three main facets of our protocol: the transect, the quadrats, and the 1/100th acre plot. We begin with setting up the transect, upon which the other two facets will be added.
A random latitude/longitude point is provided by our Community Partners within an area they want us to investigate. This point serves as the center of our transect. - We generate a random number between 0 and 359, which becomes our bearing for the transect. The number indicates what degree to set our compass to, and then we walk along that bearing for 25ft (using a tape measure) from the center. We repeat along the back-bearing, (bearing – 180°) for another 25ft, such that we have a straight line 50ft long with the provided point in the center.
- Along the transect we collect data for shrub and canopy cover by measuring the points along the transect in which shrubs intersect, and which are under canopy. This gives us an overall percentage of the 600 inch transect which has shrub cover and/or canopy cover.
- Pictures are taken facing bearing and back bearing.
- Along the transect we set up our quadrats. These are 1m^2 squares made by PVC pipe. They are placed from 0-3ft, 25-28ft, and 47-50ft along the left side of the transect (facing towards the increasing numbers towards the bearing).
- Within the quadrats we collect data for:
- % cover divided by classes for exposed rock or soil; leaf litter/duff; small woody fuel; woody basal; and herbaceous cover.
- Herbaceous height, by measuring the three tallest herbaceous materials to the nearest 1.0 inch, and finding the average.
- Tree sprouts and seedlings with a tally per species, as well as tree height by class.
- Litter/duff depth measured at each corner of the quadrat according to the cardinal directions N, E, S, W, rounded to the nearest 0.25 inch.
- Small woody fuel loads are measured in tons per acre for each 1 hour, 10 hour, and 100 hour fuels, with reference to “The Photoload Sampling Technique: Estimating Surface Fuel Loadings from Downward Looking Photographs of Synthetic Fuelbeds” (Keane and Dickinson 2007). Small woody fuel depth is also measured at the deepest point of all categories (1 hour, 10 hour, and 100 hour) of fuels.
- Pictures are taken for each of the three quadrats.
- The 1/100th acre plot is set up with a 11.78 ft string. One team member stands on the center point of the plot, holding the string directly over the center point. Another team member holds the other end of the string such that the string is taut. This individual will hold the string taut while walking in a circle, placing enough pin flags (8) so the circle is easily visible.
- Within this circle, we collect data for:
- Trees within the circle: number, species, Diameter at Breast Height (DBH), Canopy Base Height (CBH), if it is alive or dead (and if dead, the decay class).
- 1000 hour fuels: for all woody fuels with 3in diameter within the circle, the diameter and length of the fuel is measured, in addition to whether it is rotten or sound.
The more detailed version of the protocol that we referenced in the field can be found here.