detailed support information - vegetation

DOMINANT VEGETATION

Which vegetation type is dominant within the map unit? Select one. 
Dominance is based on height and density of branches and foliage. This means if shrubs and trees appear to be of equal density, trees would be the dominant type. Similarly, if shrubs and grasses appear to be of equal density, shrubs would be the dominant type over grasses. The specific shrub and tree height ranges in the responses  are based on ecological literature.

No vegetation present
Only aquatic vegetation present
No living plants or plant life is present. Only emergent, submergent, or floating mat vegetation is present.
Moss/lichen
Non-woody, soft and green stemmed plants
Moss is a type of green plant with very small leaves and no flowers that grows on rocks, bark or wet ground. Lichen is plantlike vegetation made up of an alga and a fungus growing together on a solid surface. Vegetation with soft and green stems that are not woody, also known as herbaceous vegetation, including grasses, flowering annuals, and herblike plants.
Low shrub (<1.8’)
Medium shrub (1.8’-6.5’)
Woody plant with several permanent stems less than 3 inches in diameter arising from or near the ground, shorter than 1.8 feet. Woody plant with several permanent stems less than 3 inches in diameter arising from or near the ground, between 1.8 feet and 6.5 feet in height.
Tall shrub (>6.5’)
Seedling (<1” DBH)
Woody plant with several permanent stems less than 3 inches in diameter arising from or near the ground, taller than 6.5 feet. Trees with DBH less than 1 inch.
DBH: Diameter Breast Height, a standard measurement of tree trunk diameter measured at chest height
Tree: woody plant with a fixed central trunk of at least one inch DBH, has a distinct mass of foliage, and mature height of at least 13 feet.
Sapling/pole (1”-9” DBH)
Small tree (10”-14” DBH)
Trees with DBH between 1 inch and 9 inches. Trees with DBH between 10 inches and 14 inches.
Medium tree (15”-19” DBH)
Large tree (20”-29” DBH)
Trees with DBH between 15 inches and 19 inches. Trees with DBH between 20 inches and 29 inches.
Large tree (30”-48” DBH)
Large tree (>48” DBH)
Trees with DBH between 30 inches and 48 inches. Trees with DBH greater than 48 inches.

What is the average height of the dominant vegetation?
Dominance is based on height and density of branches and foliage. This means if shrubs and trees appear to be of equal density, trees would be the dominant type. Similarly, if shrubs and grasses appear to be of equal density, shrubs would be the dominant type over grasses. Measure or estimate the average height of the dominant vegetation type in the map unit. The height ranges in the responses are based on ecological literature.

What type of shrub or tree is dominant?

Deciduous (broad leaf)
Deciduous (needle)
Leafy trees or shrubs that seasonally lose all their leaves. Needled trees or shrubs that seasonally lose all their needles.
Evergreen (broad leaf)
Evergreen (needle)
Leafy trees or shrubs that retain all or most of their leaves throughout the year. Needled trees or shrubs that retain all or most of their needles throughout the year.
Mixed
Forest areas dominated by trees taller than 16 feet, and each deciduous and evergreen type is less than 75% of total tree cover.

COVER AT GROUND SURFACE

For each vegetation group, what percent of the map unit is covered by standing live or dead stems and/or trunks? The sum for all groups must be ≤100%.
“Cover” refers to the area of ground surface that is covered by vegetation or other materials including rocks, litter, moss, etc. Cover is expressed as a percent of area. Cover at the ground surface, also known as basal cover, is a visual estimate of the amount of the map unit’s surface that is occupied by plant stems (not leaves) as compared to the full spread of the vegetative canopy, which is used for estimating aerial cover.

Non-woody, soft and green stems group Shrub group Tree group
Stems of grasses and vegetation with soft and green, non-woody stems (including flowering annuals and other leafy vegetation), also known as herbaceous vegetation. Stems of shrubs. Stems or trunks of trees.

What is the total area of the map unit occupied by standing stems and/or trunks of vegetation?
Estimate the total percent of cover at the ground surface, also known as basal cover, for all groups combined.

AERIAL COVER

For each vegetation group, what is the percent aerial cover (created by branches and foliage) within the map unit?  Estimate each group independently. The sum of all groups may be greater than 100%.
Aerial cover is a visual estimate of the amount of the map unit’s surface that is overshadowed by the full spread of the vegetative canopy, as compared to the cover of stems. It is the area that when viewed from above, obscures the area below. Because aerial cover is estimated at various heights for each vegetation group, the sum of all groups may be greater than 100%.

Non-woody, soft and green stems group Shrub group Tree group
Portion covered by grasses and vegetation with soft and green, non-woody stems (assessed as the percent of the map unit that is “shaded” by these herbaceous plants). Portion covered by shrubs (assessed as the percent of the map unit that is “shaded” by shrubs). Portion covered by both deciduous and coniferous trees (assessed as the percent of the map unit that is “shaded” by trees).

What is the total aerial cover within the map unit?
Estimate the amount of the map unit’s surface that is “shaded” by all groups of vegetation within the map unit.

What is the total aerial cover along the map unit’s edge?
This is a visual estimate of the amount of vegetation on the map unit’s surface that is capable of providing shade onto adjacent map units along the map unit’s “edge”. This measure captures the amount of aerial cover along the map unit’s boundary so that its effect on adjacent map units can be understood. To complete this question, evaluate the strip of aerial cover along the map unit’s boundary. The width of the strip to be evaluated depends on the dominant vegetation present. For map units dominated by herbaceous vegetation, investigate a 1 foot strip within the map unit’s boundary. For map units dominated by shrubs or trees, the width of the boundary strip should match the average height of the shrubs or trees present there.

AQUATIC VEGETATION

What is the percent aerial cover for each type of aquatic vegetation within the map unit?
Aerial cover is a visual estimate of the amount of the map unit’s surface that is overshadowed by the full spread of the vegetative canopy from aquatic vegetation. Aquatic vegetation lives in permanently waterlogged soil and/or is partly or wholly submerged in water. These plants typically live within wet terrestrial habitats that are inundated during the growing period or are found bordering/living within perennial streams, ponds, lakes, marshes, or springs. Aquatic plants are typically structurally supported by water.

Emergent
Submergent
Vegetation that is rooted in the bottom of a water body, but with leaves and stems extending out from the surface (cattails, lily pads, etc.). Vegetation growing completely under water, with their bases (roots, etc.) anchored in the aquatic substrate (milfoil, elodea, etc.).
Floating mats
Vegetation that is not rooted and floats at or near the surface (algal mats, duck weed, etc.).

What is the total cover for all aquatic vegetation (emergent, submergent and floating mat) within the map unit?
Estimate the amount of the map unit’s bed/bottom that is overshadowed by the full spread of the vegetative canopy from all types of aquatic vegetation.