Vegetation Community Assessment Methods

URI: http://linked.data.gov.au/def/corveg-cv/fb575f33-f9ef-4e1f-8dc7-d1f912e72bdd

Date created: 2019-07-31
Date modified: 2020-11-11

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Definition

Purpose

To describe the structure and species composition of the vegetation community present at and around the study location.

Abstract

Synopsis

A description of the vegetation community characterising the study location is recorded. It is determined by identifying the predominant species and vegetation structure of the study location. If appropriate, the associated environmental context is also assessed. For example, landform geology can be included in the description of the vegetation community (e.g. Eucalyptus crebra with occasional Corymbia erythrophloia open-woodland and grassy ground layer on low hills derived from basalt). The community area and, for linear communities, the width are determined by estimating the pre-clearance extent of the vegetation community in the immediate area that the site represents. This extent is derived from observations made when travelling to and from the site or aerial imagery at the time of sampling.

Key Features

  • Method: Visual assessment of a vegetation community
  • Target: Vegetation community at and around the study location

Procedure

Pre-conditions

The study location has been established by applying the study location establishment method.

Apparatus

Aerial imagery of the study location

Technique

  • The observer determines the vegetation community present at the study location by identifying the dominant species and vegetation structure.
  • A description of key environmental attributes, such as the landform and geology, are optionally also recorded to provide context for the vegetation community.
  • The pre-clearance cover and, for linear communities, the pre-clearance width of the vegetation community in the area surrounding the study location is estimated based on observations made when travelling to and from the study location or aerial imagery.
  • Differences in dominant species composition, frequently in the shrub or ground layers, are used to assess whether the vegetation community is representative of a regional ecosystem. A regional ecosystem refers to a vegetation community or communities in a bioregion that is consistently associated with a particular combination of geology, landform and soil. Regional ecosystems of Queensland were originally described in Sattler and Williams (1999). The Regional Ecosystem Description Database (Queensland Herbarium 2019) is maintained by Queensland Herbarium and contains the current descriptions of regional ecosystems

Vegetation community extent

For linear communities, the vegetation community's pre-clearance extent is estimated and assigned to width bands based on observations of remnant patches of the community (and other evidence such as landform and soil type etc.) made when travelling to and from the study location and/or by analysis of aerial images.

See the vegetation community extent values.

Vegetation community area

The vegetation community's pre-clearance extent is assigned to area bands based on observations of remnant patches of the community (and other evidence such as landform and soil type etc.) made when travelling to and from the study location and/or by analysis of aerial images.

See the vegetation community area values.

Vegetation community is representative of regional ecosystem

Refers to an area of vegetation which is relatively uniform with respect to structure and floristics. The basic unit in the vegetation community classification within the regional ecosystem classification is the plant association or sub-association. A number of vegetation communities may make up a single regional ecosystem, and are usually distinguished by differences in dominant species composition, frequently in the shrub or ground layers and denoted by a letter following the regional ecosystem code (e.g. a, b, c).

Vegetation community is mapped to regional ecosystem

Indication of whether the vegetation community of the site corresponds to the regional ecosystem mapping.

Citation

  1. Neldner, V.J., Wilson, B.A., Thompson, E.J. and Dillewaard, H.A. (2012) Methodology for Survey and Mapping of Regional Ecosystems and Vegetation Communities in Queensland. Version 3.2. Updated August 2012. Queensland Herbarium, Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane. 123-124 pp.

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Community Extent Values

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Community Area Values

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