Measurements for Terrestrial Vegetation

Charles D. Bonham is Professor Emeritus of Rangeland Science, Colorado State University, USA.

• Preface xiAbout the companion website xiii1 Introduction 11.1 Historical brief 21.2 Units of measure 41.3 Choice of method 61.3.1 Vegetation characteristics 61.3.2 Biometrics and econometrics 71.4 Variation in vegetation 81.5 Observational units 91.6 Sampling 91.7 Frequency 101.8 Cover 111.9 Density 121.10 Biomass 131.11 Measurements with remote sensing 141.12 Monitoring and evaluation 141.13 Overview and summary 151.14 Bibliography 172 Sampling units for measurements 192.1 Frequency 202.2 Cover 202.2.1 Points 212.2.2 Point frames 212.2.3 Point line 222.2.4 Grid quadrats 232.2.5 Line intercept 242.2.6 Areas 242.2.7 Plotless units 252.3 Density 292.3.1 Plot size 292.3.2 Shape of plots 292.3.3 Line transects 302.3.4 Distance methods 312.4 Biomass 312.4.1 Plot characteristics 322.4.2 Indirect methods 342.5 Tree measurements 352.5.1 Tree heights 352.5.2 Units of measure for tree diameters 372.5.3 Tree crown cover 402.6 Bibliography 413 Statistical concepts for field sampling 433.1 Characterization of data 443.1.1 Measures of data location 453.1.2 Measures of dispersion 483.2 Principles of data behavior 523.2.1 Patterns of data commonly observed 523.2.2 The normal distribution 533.2.3 Sample statistics and the normal distribution 553.2.4 Confidence limits 593.3 Sample size 593.3.1 When available budget is too small 623.3.2 Sample size for non-normal data 633.4 Data distributions 633.4.1 Bernoulli data distribution 643.4.2 Geometric data distribution 673.4.3 Pascal data distribution 673.4.4 Negative binomial data distribution 683.4.5 Binomial data distribution 693.4.6 Poisson data distribution 713.5 Bibliography 734 Spatial sampling designs for measurements 754.1 Simple random sampling 774.2 Cluster and systematic sampling 784.3 Two-stage sampling design 804.4 A role for satellite imagery 814.4.1 Sampling units 834.4.2 Spatial sampling 854.4.3 Studies of large areas 864.5 On-ground large-scale spatial analyses 894.6 Bibliography 955 Frequency 995.1 Brief history and definition 995.2 Estimates of frequency 1015.2.1 Influences of size and shape of the plot 1035.2.2 Requirements for valid comparisons 1045.3 Minimal area and frequency 1045.4 Plot size considerations 1055.5 Applications for frequency data 1125.5.1 Prediction and monitoring 1125.6 Considerations 1145.7 Bibliography 1156 Cover 1176.1 Basal area techniques 1186.1.1 Diameter rule 1196.2 Intercept techniques 1206.2.1 Point intercept 1206.2.2 Grid-quadrat frame 1216.2.3 Vertical point frame 1236.2.4 Horizontal point frame 1236.2.5 Single points 1256.3 Line-intercept methods 1306.4 Crown diameter and canopy closure method 1386.5 Variable plot methods 1396.6 Semi-quantitative methods 1416.7 Bibliography 1487 Density 1537.1 Related measurements 1537.1.1 Frequency 1537.1.2 Abundance 1547.2 Limitations of the density estimate 1557.3 Quadrat techniques 1567.3.1 Distribution 1567.3.2 Quadrat size and shape 1587.3.3 Strip or rectangular quadrats 1607.3.4 Considerations 1617.4 Distance methods 1617.4.1 Random populations 1637.4.2 Distance methods for random and non-random populations 1667.5 Line transect 1697.6 Comments 1717.7 Bibliography 1728 Biomass 1758.1 Herbaceous biomass 1758.1.1 Harvesting 1758.1.2 Measurement of biomass 1768.1.3 Non-destructive methods 1798.1.4 Productivity 1858.1.5 Considerations of herbaceous biomass sampling 1868.2 Shrub biomass 1898.2.1 Non-destructive methods of shrub biomass 1898.2.2 Considerations of shrub biomass sampling 2008.3 Forest biomass 2018.3.1 Regression models of biomass estimation 2028.3.2 Bark biomass 2038.4 Tree foliage biomass 2048.5 Considerations for tree biomass sampling 2078.5.1 Annual production of tree foliage 2078.5.2 Production of tree biomass 2088.6 Selection of sampling units for tree biomass 2098.6.1 Sampling procedures 2108.7 Bibliography 2129 Monitoring and evaluation 2179.1 Mapping units 2189.1.1 Conventional mapping 2199.1.2 Satellite imagery mapping 2199.1.3 Naming vegetation units 2209.1.4 Describing vegetation units 2219.2 Basic considerations 2219.3 Sampling and monitoring vegetation 2239.3.1 Individual plant approach 2249.3.2 Multispecies approach 2259.4 Selection of a monitoring procedure 2259.4.1 Vegetation measurements 2259.4.2 Spectral imagery techniques 2269.4.3 Weight estimate methods 2269.5 Models versus measurements for monitoring 2279.6 Case studies for remote sensing 2289.7 Plant species evaluations 2319.7.1 Plant association 2319.7.2 Diversity indices 2339.8 Bibliography 234Appendix Unit conversion tables 237Index 239

“In summary, this book is excellent for describing the methods for measuring vegetative attributes (frequency, cover, density, and biomass) and the sampling design that will provide unbiased estimates for the attribute measured.”  (Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 1 November 2014“Summing Up: Recommended.  Upper-division undergraduates through professionals.”  (Choice, 1 February 2014)