Methods of Vegetation Survey

植群調查方法與實作

EEB5084 (B44U1960), semester 107-2, in English

Instructors: David Zelený (澤大衛) & Li Ching-Feng (Woody, 李靜峯)

TA: Teng, Hsin-Yen (鄧信彥, email: [email protected])

When & where: see Calendar

Link to CEIBA: https://ceiba.ntu.edu.tw/course/c6191d/index.htm

About the class

This course is focused on introduction to methods used in vegetation survey: sampling of forest and non-forest vegetation, measuring and estimating habitat environmental conditions and vegetation mapping. Course is composed from three equally important parts: theoretical part, field survey and lab analysis.

Students will learn theoretical background of field vegetation survey, apply it in practice, collect real data in the field, process them in the lab and discuss the results.

Teaching schedule

The course consists of three parts:

1. Theoretical part: overview of methods for sampling vegetation and measurement of environmental variables, introduction to visited areas, safety instructions.
2. Field trips: three whole-day field trips (around Taipei and some more distant regions), practicing the sampling methods, collecting field data and environmental measurements.
3. Lab module: processing and analysis of collected data, discussion of results.

Theoretical part (4 x 3 hours):

• Introduction, safety instructions for field work
• Theory of sampling methods (DBH and cover based)
• Theory behind measuring of environmental variables
• Theory behind vegetation mapping

Field trips (3-4 whole-day trips):

• Practical introduction to the field survey, safety in the field, operating basic hiking equipment (reading map, operating compass and GPS), choosing the locality for sampling.
• Sampling forest vegetation (DBH measuring, cover estimation, plot and plot-less sampling methods)
• Sampling non-forest vegetation (grassland and dune vegetation)
• Field measurements (topography, soil properties, microclimatic measurements, forest canopy structure)

Lab analysis (4 x 3 hours):

• Determining collected specimens.
• Practicing sampling habits indoor (estimating cover, use the measuring equipment).
• Retyping collected species and header data into computer using dedicated software (Turboveg and JUICE).
• Analysis of soil samples (pH and conductivity).
• Presenting and discussing results.

Evaluation

Note that you need to attend all whole-day excursions, unless you have serious reason why you can't (e.g. healthy issues). We also strongly suggest that you attend all theoretical parts and labs. During the semester there will be 3-4 homework assignments and number of group and individual tasks.

References

• Kent, M. (2011) Vegetation Description and Data Analysis: A Practical Approach, 2nd Edition. Wiley-Blackwell, 428 pp.
• Mueller-Dombois, D. & Ellenberg, H. (1974) Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology. John Wiley & Sons.
• Stohlgren T.J. (2006) Measuring Plant Diversity: Lessons from the Field. Oxford University Press.