Sampling efforts were stratified within pre-determined mapping areas that represented modified Bailey's (1994) ecoregions. Training sites were selected as they were found while traversing all navigable roads in a mapping zone by identifying areas where the appropriate size of atleast a hectare composed of a uniform stand could be found to satisfy the minimum requirements. The data collected at each site involved ocular estimates of biotic and abiotic landcover components, including percent cover of dominant plant species and physical data including elevation, slope, aspect, and landform. Each sample location was assigned an appropriate landcover label based on the Ecological System concept developed by Nature Serve (2004) for natural and semi-natural terrestrial vegetation. The scientific naming convention used for plant species identification was the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) On-Line Plants Database, current as of April 2005.
Additional tables were also made to provide descriptive information about some fields mainly Landform, Ecological Systems entries, Physiognomic Classes and Hydrologic Classes. A Plant list for all species found at any training site was also compiled. An additional geographic location table was constructed using the center point of the Training site to provide a spatial reference for sites that did not have its complete location reported in the field. The Method for obtaining this center point location for the field sites is outlined in the document: CO_points.html
Principle Investigators: Don Schrupp, Dianne Osborne
Project Coordinator: Lee O'Brien
Contributors: Eric Waller
Field Investigators: Debra Barringer, Ami Erickson, Scott Berggren, Laura Katers, Phillip Welch, Steve Fugate, Elizabeth Goralski, Jesse Ward, Sarah Ward, Arne Buechling, Amanda Musser, Jack Siegrist, Suzanne McGaugh, Brett Wolk
Site Identification = Unique ID for Training Site: 2-letter state code, 6-digit date (MMDDYY), 2-letter examiner initials, 2-digit number for site (For Example: CO052002JW01).
State = 2-letter code for location of site as recorded in the field.
Map Zone = 4-letter code for mapping zone (For Example: WSRB = West Slope River Basins).
Mega Map Zone = 3-digit code for mega mapping zone representing a composite of one or map zones as recorded in the field (For Example: CO-2)
Plot Size = Approximate size of training site, expressed as: "X x Y," where X and Y represent number of (30m) pixels.
Datum = Datum of UTM projection as recorded in the field.
UTM Zone = Number of UTM Zone as recorded in the field.
Easting = UTM easting coordinate (6 digits) as recorded in the field.
Northing = UTM northing coordinate (7 digits) as recorded in the field.
Photos = Number of photographs taken at the site.
Confidence = composite confidence level using class confidence, location confidence, and confidence fields. Not all sites were assigned confidence levels. List of entries and descriptions provided in table (tbl_confid_list_co).
Location = Additional information to describe location of training site.
Ecological System = Name of Ecological System (National Vegetation Classification System) as defined by NatureServe. List of systems and descriptions provided in table (tbl_nlcd_list_co).
NVCS Alliance = Alliance classification as defined in TNC’s Terrestrial Vegetation Classification System. List of entries and descriptions provided in table (tbl_alliance_list_co).
Landform = Type of landform. List of entries and descriptive data provided in table (tbl_landform_list_co).
Physiognomic Class = Physiognomic class as defined in TNC's Terrestrial Vegetation Classification System. List of entries and descriptions provided in table (tbl_physio_list_gap).
Hydrologic Class = Hydrologic class as defined in TNC's Terrestrial Vegetation Classification System. List of entries and descriptions provided in table (tbl_hydro_list_gap).
Elevation = Elevation of the site represented in meters. Some sites were calculated from DEM grid.
Slope = Slope of the site represented in degrees.
Aspect = Dominant aspect of the slope. Entry is restricted to an 8-class aspect list and N/A for slopes less than 3 degrees (For Example: SW, NE, S, etc.).
Site Cover Data. % Trees = Percent canopy cover for all tree species at site (Calculated field).
% Shrubs = Percent canopy cover for all shrub species at site (Calculated field).
% Forbs = Percent canopy cover for all forb species at site (Calculated field).
% Grasses = Percent canopy cover for all grass species at site (Calculated field).
% Total Plant Cover = Summation of total percent canopy cover of all vegetation (Calculated field).
% Bare Ground = Percentage of bare soil.
% Litter = Percentage of litter on the ground's surface.
% Cryptobiotic Crust = Percentage of cryptobiotic crust.
% Rock Outcrop = Percentage of exposed intact bedrock (hard or soft).
% Surface Rock = Percentage of surface rock fragments (gravel through boulder size).
% Water = Percentage of water.
% Total Land Cover = Summation of total percent cover of all land cover components (total vegetation + bare ground + litter + cryptobiotic crust + rock outcrop + surface rock + water) (Calculated field). Total coverage should not exceed 100%.
Rock Outcrop Albedo = A 3-digit code representing the color and value of exposed bedrock, where: G=gray, R=red, or B=brown and a number from 01 (darker rock) to 10 (lighter rock).
Ground Albedo = A 3-digit code representing the color and value of the ground, where: G=gray, R=red, or B=brown and a number from 01 (darker soils) to 10 (lighter soils).
Plant Cover. Tree = Acronym for tree species. (For Example: ACNE2 = Acer negundo).
height = Estimated height of tree.
DBH = Diameter at Breast Height.
Cover = Percent canopy cover for each dominant species.
Shrub = Acronym for shrub species. (For Example: AMAL2 = Amelanchier alnifolia).
height = Estimated height of shrub.
Cover = Percent canopy cover for each dominant species.
Forb = Acronym for forb species. (For Example: ARCO9=Arnica cordifolia)
height = Estimated height of forb.
Cover = Percent canopy cover for each dominant species.
Grass = Acronym for grass species. (For example: BRTE=Bromus tectorum).
height = Estimated height of grass.
Cover = Percent canopy cover for each dominant species.
Site Notes = Additional comments about vegetation, disturbance, or other explanatory features at the training site.
Understory Plant Cover = Supplemental information regarding trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses that were present in the understory.
The following includes a list of a data field and its definition as seen on the GPS Data Form (For Example: frm_gps_co) in the MicroSoft Access Database:
Offset = Yes/no question if GPS data was recorded at an offset.
Direction = direction of offset of GPS data in degrees
Distance = distance of offset of GPS data in meters.
The following includes a list of a data field and its definition as seen on the Center Point X,Y Form (For Example: frm_site_xy_co) in the MicroSoft Access Database:
Site Identification = Unique ID for Training Site: 2-letter state code, 6-digit date (MMDDYY), 2-letter examiner initials, 2-digit number for site (For Example: CO052002JW01).
State (CP) = 2-Letter code for location of site calculated as center point of Training Site polygon shapefile.
Map Zone (CP) = 4-letter code for mapping zone calculated as center point of Training Site polygon shapefile. (For Example: WSRB = West Slope River Basins).
Mega Map Zone (CP) = 3-digit code for mega mapping zone representing a composite of one or map zones calculated as center point of Training Site polygon shapefile (For Example: CO-2)
Easting (CP) = UTM easting coordinate (6 digits) calculated as center point of Training Site polygon shapefile.
Northing (CP) = UTM northing coordinate (7 digits) calculated as center point of Training Site polygon shapefile.
The following includes a list of data field and its definition as seen on the Landform Data Form (For Example: frm_landformdata) in the MicroSoft Access Database:
Landform = descriptive term chosen from NRCS land form list (consistent with GAP "homogenous" plot).
Slope Range = normal limits of slopes (degrees) consistent with landform term.
Definition = simple description based on terms found in the dictionary of geologic terms.
Landscape Setting = three categories for coarse landscape description. Values include erosional, depositional, or mixed.
TNC Name = cross-walk for TNC/ABI reference.
Best Fit Model = crosswalk to best theoritical matches with 10 class landform model.
The following includes a list of data field and its definition as seen on the Plant Species Data Form (For Example: frm_plantdata) in the MicroSoft Access Database:
Plant Species = Acronym of plant species. Code from http:\\plants.usda.gov. Accessed March 2005.
Scientific Name = Scientific Name (Genus and Species).
Common Name = Common Name of plant species.
Family = Family of plant species.
The attribute values for the Ecological System were derived from: NatureServe. 2004. Landcover Descriptions for the Southwest Regional GAP Analysis Project.
The attribute values for tree, shrub, forb, and grass species were derived from: the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) On-Line Plants Database [<http://plants.usda.gov/>] current as of April 2005.