Measurements of the Plants and the Species of the Vegetation - Essay Example

? FANSHAWE GATE FARM VEGETATION MONITORING STRATEGY Fanshawe Gate Farm Vegetation Monitoring Strategy Introduction The Phase I survey of the farm showed that the area had tall and ruderal vegetation with a little bit of thistles. There was also an area with semi-proved grassland especially down the slope. Another area, to the Northern part of the farm, the vegetation there consisted of unimproved grassland. Marshy grassland was also seen in certain parts of the field. The above maps show an overview of the farm, which is the site for this survey Planning a survey This report aims to design a vegetation monitoring strategy for fields 2 and 6 of Fanshawe gate farm (shown in the above two maps). A phase one survey has been undertaken and information obtained from this will be useful to understand the current conditions of fields 2 and 6 and provide a context to carry out a phase 2 survey and a National Vegetation Classification (NVC). To successfully survey the two fields, technical and scientific approaches should be used to achieve all the needed objectives (JNCC 2010). The process starts by defining the objectives, devising a strategy o help achieve the set objectives. Once the strategy is put together, it should be tested by implementing it. The final step is to review and finalize the strategy. Legal requirements should also be maintained throughout the process to ensure the analysis and strategy is standard and as should be. Monitoring Strategy Objectives of the survey To know what type of vegetation is found in the fields. To establish the type of soil in the fields and what vegetation would do best in the given fields. To have a clear picture of the situation in the fields: climate and all To come up with ways to help improve the fields. Increase the diversity of grassland Have more unimproved grassland Analysis or Survey of fields 2 and 6 The fields have areas with tall ruderal vegetation with certain areas characterized by thistles (cirsium ssp). The vegetation in the fields also includes nettles (Urtica dioica). Generally, the fields have semi-improved grassland. This vegetations tends to change across the two fields (some patches have tall grass while others have short grass, others are bare while others have grass, especially under trees). Besides the grass, the waxcap fungi, (Hygrocybe spp) was formed part of the vegetation in the fields. The fungi is an indicator of unimproved grassland in both fields. However, some slight differences were found in field 6. In field 6, marshy grassland was evidenced around the area where a small stream ran. This changed and the vegetation became a bit scarce where the ground rose above the water table. In areas where the land was sloping, the vegetation cover was constituted by acid grassland, some scrub and Hygrobe calyptiformis. Monitoring Strategy A) Field 2 According to the survey, field 2 was established to have a sloping topography 2 with semi improved grassland and some species of unimproved grassland (Hydrocybe caliptiformis). The unimproved grassland was found in the lower down part of the slope in the field. To attest this, samples would be taken from across the whole field. The samples would help determine if the grassland was becoming more unimproved as one moves further down the slope. To measure the variation in plant species along the sloppy part of the field, quadrants could be studied in two parallel belt transects. The field would be split into quadrants on both belts, from where samples would be taken. To have reliable results, the belts will be divided into 25 quadrants where each will be 0.5 by o.5 m. This is highly recommended so as to get a reliable frequency of the unimproved indicator species of vegetation. All quadrants will be studied. The study would help prove right or wrong the hypothesis for the analysis that towards the bottom of the slope, the species of unimproved grassland increased. Some changes will be carried in the way the field was managed. The expected result of this is a gradual increase in unimproved indicator species each time that monitoring is repeated. This monitoring strategy would be done after every three years as a step to have more unimproved grassland in the field, meaning that the process would be a long term one and patience is needed to see it through successfully. The time period chosen for the surveys is three years because significant changes will only be visible after the three years. The best time to carry out the phase 2 survey would be during the mid months of the year since then, the grasslands are full and green. Changes in frequency would be recorded for some time so as to have a clear picture of when the field was becoming more unimproved and species rich. The method used for this survey would also make it possible to identify which part of the field was more unimproved. The method would serve as an investigation platform to find out which part of the field was becoming more unimproved and at what rate. That might also occur as livestock didn’t graze uniformly across areas. Other methods that would be used during the survey are observing where livestock would graze more often in the field as well as take measurements of various parts of the vegetation in the field. It would be a bit difficult trying to identify the species of a plant by looking at its shoot; the roots would be the target of study. This will help tell the age of the plant. Field 6 The strategy for this field would be the same as that used in field 2. This means that there will be two belt transects where each of them will be divided into 25 quadrants. Each quadrant will be measured at 0.m by 0.5 m, and the frequency approach applied on each of them. However, a few elements would have to be changed due to information acquired from the phase 1 survey. Photos would be taken to serve as study material for the field. A fixed point photographic survey would be done every year. This would help make out if the scrub was increasing or decreasing. To ensure a full coverage of the field, photos would be taken at each corner of the field at different directions in order to get a vivid understanding of the change in vegetation. One advantage of using a photographic survey is that this method makes it easier to cover an extensive area within a short time (JNCC 2010). With photographs, it is possible to capture more than one element at the same time. These photographs can also be kept for use as reference in later days, or just for the sake of keeping records. To have a successful photographic survey, the field would be divided into 3 portions, scientifically known as stratums (JNCC 2010). In these portions, measurement aids such as a tape measure would be used to get proper measurements for the intervals at which the photos would be taken. Since most of the area contained scrubs and some small portion was covered with grass, the photos would be strategically taken to ensure all these was captured. This is where the portions would come in handy as one would be taken is the area where scrub is most dense. The second portion would be where the grassland is most prevalent and the third portion would cover the marshy part of the field. This is the part at the bottom of the valley, right next to the stream that was in the field. The information to be gathered in the photos would help identify the percentage of vegetation cover in each portion and the type of species. From the photos, it would also be easy to identify where animals grazed more often, where the land was bare, where the scrub or the grassland was more concentrated. The only difficult thing to identify from the photos would be the particular species of the various types of vegetation in the field. This photographic survey would also be carried out every three years since for the process in which observable changes in plants are seen is long. NVC for field 6 The acidic grassland of the slope of field 6 is dominated by the community of U4 Festuca ovina, Agrostis capillaries, Galium saxatile grassland, typical subcommunity. Common species here Potentilla erecta, and swards which are short and rough. There is also an indicator of improved grassland which is as a result of agricultural activities taking place around the nearby. The type of soil in the slope can be referred to as mosaic soil due to feaces of animals that graze around the area. This explains why there is no definite subcommunity of a species of vegetation on the slope. NVC DATA Species Quadrant Abundance Frequency 1 2 3 4 5 Festuca ovina 4 8 6 7 6 Veronica officinalis 3 3 1 2 2 Lathyrus linifolius 2 0 3 2 4 Potentilla erecta 4 1 2 4 3 Festuca rubra 2 4 0 3 4 Holcus lanatus 1 0 1 0 2 Campanula rotundifolia 3 2 0 1 0 Trifolium medium 2 0 3 3 1 Succisa pratensis 1 0 0 3 6 Veronica chamaeydrys 2 1 1 2 0 Expected Risks and Challenges Risks are part of any study, research, or survey that is undertaken (JNCC 2010). In this monitoring particular survey, the expected risks and challenges include: Someone taking part in the survey may fall ill during the course of collecting information for the survey. On the same note, the people involved in the project may not have the proper skills. The result of this is poor results which can get even worse if the supervisors are not well skilled. Not having proper funding for the survey. Funds are needed to provide all the materials needed for the study as well as pay those who are involved in the project. Not having all the equipment and well qualified personnel to do all that is expected to be done during the survey Having poor knowledge of the species of vegetation in the fields. One needs to be well versed with skills in anything before they partake, otherwise, carrying out the task will be very difficult for them. Using poor methods to collect the needed material and information. Poor methods of managing the information collected from the survey. Not having the proper permits to access the area. Accessing the area without the needed permits can be termed as trespassing which is illegal as per as most constitutions. To avoid this, certain steps given by the IEEM body should be followed. The steps are: i. Clarify the individuals or organizations responsible for issuing permits to access the fields. ii. Have the contacts of anyone involved in the process of acquiring permits to access the two fields. iii. In the chance that permission is denied, one should comply with the decision and not insist on going on with the analysis, as this would only be a source of trouble. iv. Obtain all the needed documents to ensure that one is on the land legally. v. Observe all rules, regulations and codes. vi. When asked to leave the land, it is advisable to do so without much ado. This can also be taken as a safety measure. During the survey, all safety measures would be implemented to ensure the safety of everyone taking part in the study. These measures will be set and strictly followed so as not to affect the stay of other organisms in the area. This step will help avoid distracting the lives of all organisms on the two fields, both human, livestock and vegetation. Indicators to look out for during the survey a) Soil Ph For acid soils (wavy hair grass, heathers) For alkaline soils (salad burnet, wild majoram) b) Soil Fertility Fertile soils (stinging nettles, cleavers, and burdock) Infertile soils (heath bedstraw, field woodrush) c) Poor Drainage Rushes Marsh foxtail Creeping buttercup Impact of the survey on organisms The monitoring survey, bound to be carried out every three years during the mid months, precisely the month of June is meant to help improve on the existing vegetation and any other organisms on the land. During the survey, measures to improve the fertility of the soil in the land would be taken. Fertility of the soil can be improved by adding fertilizers and pesticide to the soil. Improving the fertility of soil in turn helps improve on the vegetation in the area. Another expected result of the survey is that the grassland will be expanded and moved more into unimproved grassland. With this, all species of unimproved grassland will be maintained. The survey will also help control the extent of the scrub vegetation, as well as make sure that tall vegetation does not overshadow the grassland vegetation. Summary of methods to be used during the survey To have an effective survey, various approaches are going to be used to collect data, carry out the studies, analyze the information and store it. When collecting information, samples from each part of the land are going to be taken and analyzed. Measurements of the plants will be used to analyze the species of the vegetation. Photos will also be taken to show exactly what is on the ground. All these will be used together to help come up with the best solutions on how to best maintained unimproved grassland on a larger part of the land. Methods of storing and analyzing the data The data will be stored inform of tables, graphs, photos, and maps. The tables will be used to show the indicator values, graphs will show where different types of species of plants are found. Photos will help give an overview of the lands and will be kept as archives for future references when trying to estimate the changes in vegetation cover. Conclusion The above proposed monitoring strategy will help determine whether the management techniques used to run the Fanshaware Gate Farm’s have been effective or not. Results of the strategy will help decide whether to change the management techniques or if the situation is extremely, have a new management put in place of the old one. The study will also help come up with the best ways possible to improve on the farm and generally improve it. The monitoring would investigate whether the site was overgrazed, or under grazed. This can be done by monitoring the change of species composition and bare ground on the quadrants. Photographs would show whether scrub was increasing and where that increase was taking place. That would help improve the management of the site in future. References JNCC, 2010. Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey: A technique for environmental audit, Nature Conversancy Council: England Read More