A comparison of nested quadrat and point-line intercept sampling methods for fire effects monitoring in shortgrass prairie
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Abstract
Within the National Park Service (NPS) and other federal land-managing agencies, there has been widespread application of the use of standardized fire-effects monitoring protocols. While standardization is often desirable, researchers and managers have come to recognize that 1 method does not work in all habitats with regard to application and efficiency. In 1999, in response to a wildfire that burned over 2428 ha of prairie habitat within Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument (ALFL) and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (LAMR), Texas, long-term monitoring using a newer nested quadrat frequency/importance score method was implemented. In 2001, a 2-y study was initiated to compare the time and information-gathering efficacy of the nested quadrat method with the current NPS protocol used for monitoring fire effects within grassland systems. Both sampling methods were performed within burned and unburned mesa-top prairie habitats. No statistically significant differences were detected for total species richness between the 2 methods. However, the point-line intercept transects required significantly more time to sample compared to the nested quadrats. Within shortgrass prairie habitats the nested quadrat method appears to be a more efficient and effective sampling strategy than traditional point-line intercept methods.
| Publication type | Conference Paper |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Conference Paper |
| Title | A comparison of nested quadrat and point-line intercept sampling methods for fire effects monitoring in shortgrass prairie |
| Year Published | 2003 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Truman State University Press |
| Contributing office(s) | Great Lakes Science Center |
| Description | 8 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Conference Paper |
| Larger Work Subtype | Conference Paper |
| Larger Work Title | Proceedings of the 18th North American Prairie Conference: promoting prairie |
| First page | 116 |
| Last page | 123 |
| Conference Title | 18th North American Prairie Conference: promoting prairie |
| Online Only (Y/N) | N |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |