Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
corded where they cross a line. The total cover of the line is calculated in addition to determining
species abundance and vertical stratification.
Plot method is a technique for sampling small plants, herbs, and grasses in discrete areas. Sizes
range from 0.1 to 1 meter square or larger for woody plants. Plots are accurate for population counts.
Point counts and circular plots are bird census techniques commonly used on breeding bird
populations, especially perching birds. Point counts require large areas so that point coverage does
not overlap with adjacent point areas.
Territory mapping for birds and some reptiles and mammals can be encountered a number of
times when conducting repeat site surveys. A composite map of these observations will generate
a map of territories. Trapping, mark and recapture, catching, drift fences, and mist netting are
several of the techniques used to verify the presence of small to large mammals, fish, and reptiles.
Depending on the species, the trapping may be very time-consuming and may require significant
equipment. State or province permits, certifications, or other authorizations may also be required.
Trails, tracks (e.g., footprints), antler marks, browsing lines, and scat (e.g., droppings, dung) are
all good methods of determining presence. Under some conditions, and with appropriate planning
on collection patterns, it is possible to apply statistical analysis to the data collected.
Monitoring Protocols
Standardized protocols have been developed for monitoring physical environmental conditions,
vegetation, and wildlife populations. The use of standardized protocols is critical for compar-
ing results across space and time. Protocols have been developed by various agencies charged
with management of endangered species, species at risk, and rare, threatened, or sensitive species
throughout North America. These protocols establish many of the elements previously discussed
in a monitoring plan, augmented with specifics for each species of concern, such as time of day,
length of sampling for that day, total sampling duration, frequency of sampling, and dates to sam-
ple within the appropriate season. In addition to these established protocols, the agencies require
prior testing of the individual doing the sampling. You should familiarize yourself with the standard
monitoring protocols being used in your region before designing your own monitoring program.
General Budgeting of Fiscal and Resource Needs
After you have completed the plant establishment period, you now have a persistent stewardship
obligation. As discussed earlier, the obligation may be of varying intensity, seasonally or annually.
Generally, the closer your project approaches self-sustainability, the less stewardship tasks you
should have. Of course, if your target is a specific intermediate phase of an ecosystem or vegetation
community, one that never reaches maturity, then your stewardship obligations will require action
that keeps that cycle occurring constantly. An excellent example of this would be the heath of
England and the prairies of mid-North America, where fire is frequently applied.
Projects done as mitigation frequently have a postinstallation requirement to manage the site
for a number of years. We call this the habitat management period of stewardship, in which the
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