Phase 2 Vegetation Profile
Summary
Estimation of vegetation foliage cover (no boles or
woody stems) by layer and aerial canopy cover of
each growth habit
Canopy cover is estimated for each sampled
accessible forestland condition on the subplot
Not collected on accessible nonforest land conditions
Plot Level Variables - filled in for you
SAMPLING STATUS
0 - Veg not sampled (no further veg data required)
1 - Veg sampled on accessible forest land conditions
LEVEL OF DETAIL
1 - Collect data for Vegetation Structure only
Levels 2 & 3 deal with species specific cover estimates
which SRS-FIA may or may not go to in the future.
Subplot Level Variables
SUBPLOT NUMBER
P2 VEG SUBPLOT SAMPLE STATUS
1 - Subplot sampled for P2 Vegetation
2 - Subplot not sampled for P2 Vegetation
VEGETATION NONSAMPLED REASON
10 - Other (for example, snow or water covering
vegetation that is supposed to be sampled)
Subplot Level Variables Cont.
CONDITION CLASS NUMBER
Record the number for the sampled accessible forested
condition in which the vegetation is found. If multiple
forested conditions occur on the same subplot, veg cover
will be collected for each condition.
VEGETATION SUBPLOT NOTES
Use this field to record notes pertaining to the subplot, and
any unusual conditions encountered.
Growth Habits
(TT) Tally tree spp - on SRS tree species code list (P2 field manual
Appendix 3)
(NT) Non-tally tree spp - not on SRS tree species code list (P2 field
manual Appendix 3)
(SH) Shrub & Woody Vine - any size; woody, multi-stemmed;
woody vines; sub-shrubs, cacti
(FB) Forb - herbs, non-woody vines, ferns
(GR) Graminoid - grasses and grass-like plants
Tree spp Growth Habits include seedlings, saplings and
mature trees – NO MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT
Questionable Growth Habits
Bamboo and Cane = Grasses
Cacti, Yucca and other Agave = Shrubs
Spanish moss and other bromeliads = Forb/Herb
Herbaceous vines like Philodendron = Forb/Herb
Blackberries, Raspberries = Shrubs
*Mistletoe = Shrub
Clubmoss aka Groundpine = Shrub
Indian Pipe and Squaw Root = Forb
Questionable Growth Habits continued
For a woody species that is not on the SRS-FIA tally list
and exhibits both tree and shrub growth forms:
- Single dominant stem and will grow >13’ tall = non-tally tree (NT).
- No single dominant stem = shrub growth habit (SH).
Be consistent throughout the subplot-condition.
The growth habit of these tree/shrub species could be
different on separate subplot-conditions.
4 Layers and Aerial View
Aerial View
Layer 4
Greater than 16.0 feet
Layer 3
6.1 to 16.0 feet
Layer 2
2.1 to 6.0 feet
Layer 1
0 to 2.0 feet
* Within each layer and aerial view - Examine each Growth
Habit individually as if the other Growth Habits do not exist
The layers are parallel to
the slope of the ground.
To determine the layer of
a plant, measure the
height of the foliage
from the ground directly
underneath the foliage.
For example: If the plant
is rooted on top of a
boulder – layers begin at
the ground underneath
the boulder.
Estimating Canopy Cover
Aerial View Coverage
The total aerial canopy cover for a growth habit must be equal to or
greater than the highest canopy cover recorded for an individual
layer in that growth habit, but cannot be greater than the sum of all
canopy covers recorded for all layers in that growth habit
For example:
Vegetation
Structure
Growth Habit
Layer 1
(0-2.0’)
Layer 2
(2.1’-6.0’)
Layer 3
(6.1’-16.0’)
Layer 4
(>16.0’)
Tally tree sp (TT)
005
005
Non-tally tree sp
(NT)
Shrub/Subshrub/
Woody Vine (SH)
000
000
000
000
000
005
005
005
005
020
Forb (FB)
Graminoid (GR)
002
003
000
000
000
000
000
000
Percent canopy cover
005
005
Aerial
005
Hypothetical 5% perfect column of
tree foliage cover
Hypothetical 5% shrub
cover without any overlap
002
003
In this example the aerial cover for TT or SH cannot be less than 5% or greater
than 20%
Estimating Canopy Cover
Canopy cover is estimated by
drawing an outline around the
outer edges of the foliage
(include gaps)
P2 Veg cover estimates end
at 24 feet (like a cylinder).
Plant foliage is included in the condition it
is hanging over, even if the plant is rooted
in a different condition.
If multiple sampled accessible conditions occur on a subplot, treat the
condition boundary as a vertical wall on the plot.
Canopy Cover
• The maximum possible canopy cover is the
percentage of the subplot area within the
accessible condition
For example: if
Condition 2 is 30%
then maximum cover
is 30% (NOT 100%)
C2=30%
C1=70%
Canopy Cover
• Foliage that is OR WAS alive during the
current growing season is included in the
cover estimates, unless stem is completely
detached.
• Include broken stems if still attached.
• Record cover to the nearest percent (trace
amounts are recorded as 1%)
Canopy cover by layer and growth habit
12%
Layer 4
(>16.1’)
POTR5
6%
7%
Layer 3
(6.1-16.0’)
1% cover, 0% (aerial)
1%
0% (aerial)
ABCO
POTR5
2%
ABCO
POTR5
Layer 2
(2.1-6.0’)
1%
POTR5
ABCO
Layer 1
(0-2.0’)
FEAR2
3%
FRVI
2%
*Do not include stems
and boles into the cover
estimate.