SOUTHERN WATERSHEDS COMMON REEDGRASS PROJECT VEGETATION ...

SOUTHERN WATERSHEDS COMMON REEDGRASS PROJECTVEGETATION MONITORING PLAN

INTRODUCTION

The Southern Watersheds Common Reedgrass Project is aninteragency effort to increase public awareness of the commonreedgrass problem, demonstrate effective control techniques, andencourage preventative measures against reedgrass infestation inthe wetlands of southeastern Virginia. Complete projectinformation can be found in the project proposal. The objectiveof this monitoring is to document changes in populations ofcommon reedgrass and other marsh plant species subjected to acombination of herbicide and fire treatments. The monitoringprogram is designed to test the following null hypothesis:herbicide treatment followed by burning in a reedgrass infestedmarsh causes no change in the number of reedgrass shoots, thenumber of "desirable" emergent shoots, or the vascular plantspecies richness.

The twenty-one proposed treatment units occur scattered over alarge area (645+ square km) and range widely in size from lessthan 0.5 hectares to more than 16 hectares. Treatment units areoften accessible only by boat and/or by wading through largemarshes. The harsh environmental conditions and flooded soils inthe marsh habitats to be monitored limit the rate of datacollection to a level much lower than that which is possible ondry land. Staff time available for data collection is limited toabout eight staff days.

In order to quantitatively analyze the effectiveness of theproposed treatments, four representative treatment units alongwith two control units will be intensively monitored before andafter treatments. All other treatment units will be monitoredinformally via visual assessment and aerial and groundphotography.

METHODS

Stem density data will be collected from plots in representativetreatment units to facilitate testing of the hypothesis. Plot-type density method was chosen because it provides quantitative,objective data regarding the plant community composition. Thismethod will also provide frequency data. In order to facilitatespeed of data collection, a set of indicator species will be usedfor density data collection. Suggested indicator species arelisted on Table 1. Data collection should be conducted in latesummer (August through early September) of each year when thespecies of primary concern will be at their mature physiologicalstates. Data will be collected in 1993, 1994, and 1995.

The following procedures will be used:

1. Select and delineate four representative treatment units

Monitoring PlanPage 2

which will be aerially sprayed with herbicide and burned; selecttwo control units which will have no treatments. These unitswill be a minimum size of 1 hectare.

2. Select and permanently mark a "starting point" at one edge ofeach sampling unit. Establish a baseline along an edge of eachsampling unit from the starting point. Record bearing ofbaseline from starting point to facilitate re-establishment ofbaseline in following years.

3. At randomly determined points along the baseline, run a metertape perpendicular to the baseline, across the sampling unit. Atrandomly determined points along the meter tape sample 1X1 mplots. To minimize observer impact to the sampling plots, allplots should be positioned on the same side of the meter tape.The side on which the plots will be sampled should be determinedrandomly for each line. There should be a minimum of fifty plotsin each sampling unit. Figure 1 shows a diagrammaticrepresentation of the sampling system.

4. Within each sampling plot record all vascular plant speciespresent (frequency data) and record the number of stems/shootsemerging from within the plot for the set of suggested indicatorspecies (density data). As an effort to save data collectiontime, when a species' stem count within a plot reaches 100,researchers will stop counting and simply mark an asterisk forthat species in that plot. Additional or different indicatorspecies may be chosen in the field if circumstances warrant achange from the suggested list (Table 1).

5. Statistical analysis of the density data will likely includeone-tailed T-tests or, preferably, analysis of variance. Non-parametric tests may be utilized if assumptions of parametrictechniques are not met by the data. Frequency data will beexamined using descriptive statistics and bar graphs.

Permanent photographic monitoring points will be established forall intensively monitored units. Photographs of the units shallbe taken each year during late summer according to the followingprocedure:

1. Select and permanently mark a subjectively chosen photographypoint for each unit. The photography point should be positionedsuch that a representative section of the reedgrass stand appearsin the frame.

2. Select and permanently mark a reference point at the edge ofthe reedgrass stand. A staff indicating heights shall be affixedto the reference point for the photograph. The reference pointshould be selected such that the indicator staff is clearlyvisible in the photograph in front of the reedgrass stand.

3. A photograph shall be taken from the photography point towardsthe reference point. The camera height, lens type, film type,

Monitoring PlanPage 3

and position of the reference point in the frame shall berecorded so that the same site can be photographed year afteryear.

4. Photographs can be analyzed qualitatively or can be projectedonto a grid to make quantitative measurements of vegetation coverwithin the frame over time.

Table 1 - Suggested Indicator Species

Acer rubrumAsclepias lanceolataCladium mariscoidesHibiscus moscheutosJuncus roemerianusKosteletzkya virginicaPeltandra virginicaPhragmites australisPontederia cordataSagittaria falcataScirpus americanusSpartina cynosuroidesTvpha spp.

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SOUTHERN WATERSHEDS COMMON REEDGRASS CONTROL PROJECTPLANT COMMUNITY MONITORING DATA SHEET

UNIT NAME/NUMBER

DATE START TIME

LINE NUMBER

END TIME BASELINE

START POINT

SAMPLED BY

START THIS LINE AT START PLOTS AT

SPECIES PLOT NUMBER

ACERRUBRUM

ASCLEPIASLANCEOLATA

CLADIUMMARISCOIDES

HIBISCUSMOSCHEUTOS

JUNCUSROEMERIANUS

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PELTANDRAVIRGINICA

PHRAGMITESAUSTRALIS

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DATA SHEET INSTRUCTIONS

UNIT NAME/NUMBER: number and name of the monitoring unitLINE NUMBER: line number recorded on this sheet (each line getsits own data sheet)START/END TIME: time of day on 24-hour clock you started andended data collection on this lineBASELINE: compass bearing of baseine from starting point, includeany other pertinent info on baselineSTART POINT: description of starting point location, include acompass bearing to one or more landmarksSAMPLED BY: put full name of everyone in your team for this lineSTART LINE/PLOT AT: random numbers where you start your transectalong baseline or start plot along this line, filled in for youSPECIES AND PLOTS: count stems for indicator species listed, putan asterisk under any plot in which stem count exceeds 100 (i.e.,don't count beyond 100), fill in other species present in spacesprovided and put check under plots that have themRUN OUT OF ROOM FOR SPECIES? use back of sheet: fold over bottomhalf such that bottom edge lines up with row of plot numbers thenproceed from thereRUN OUT OF PLOT NUMBERS? for lines that have more than 10 plots,use a second sheet and put a "1" in front of each plot number(i.e., "1" becomes "11", etc.). be sure to fill in blanks at topand write page numbers at top of pages

SOUTHERN WATERSHEDS COMMON REEDGRASS CONTROL PROJECTPLANT COMMUNITY MONITORING DATA SHEET

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SOUTHERN WATERSHEDS COMMON REEDGRASS CONTROL PROJECTPHOTOGRAPHY POINT DATA SHEET

UNIT NAME/NUMBER

PHOTO POINT LOCATION

REFERENCE POINT LOCATION

TRIPOD HEIGHT

DATE PHOTOGRAPHER CAMERA, LENS FILM TYPE SHUTTER F-STOP ROLL, FRAME