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.
Principle Investigators: Ken Boykin
Analyst: Scott Schrader, supervisor of field investigators
Field Investigators: Brad McKown, Dave Coble, Erin Sizemore, Cindy King, Jennifer Puttere, and Ed Weber.
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: NM060203JP12).
Map Zone = 4-letter code for mapping zone (For Example: LOPC = Lower Pecos).
Mega Map Zone = 3-digit code for mega mapping zone representing a composite of one or more map zones as recorded in the field (For Example: NM-2)
State = 2-letter code for location of site as recorded in the field.
Plot Size = Approximate size of training site, expressed as: "X x Y," where X and Y represent number of (30m) pixels.
Confidence = confidence level assigned a site. Not all sites were assigned confidence levels. List of entries and descriptions provided in table (tbl_confid_list).
Datum = Datum of UTM projection 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.
UTM Zone = Number of UTM Zone as recorded in the field.
Photos = Number of photographs taken at the site.
Elevation = Elevation of the site represented in meters.
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.).
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_nm).
Site Notes = Additional comments about vegetation, disturbance, or other explanatory features at the training site.
Landform = Type of landform. List of entries and descriptive data provided in table (tbl_landform_list_nm).
Hydrologic Class = Hydrologic class as defined in TNC's Terrestrial Vegetation Classification System. List of entries and descriptions provided in table (tbl_hydro_list).
Physiognomic Class = Physiognomic class as defined in TNC's Terrestrial Vegetation Classification System. List of entries and descriptions provided in table (tbl_physio_list).
NVCS Alliance = Alliance classification as defined in TNC's Terrestrial Vegetation Classification System. List of entries provided in table (tbl_alliance_list).
Plant Species and Cover Data. Tree = Acronym for tree species. (For Example: Jumo = Juniperus monosperma).
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: LATR2 = Larrea tridentata).
height = Estimated height of shrub.
Cover = Percent canopy cover for each dominant species.
Forb = Acronym for forb species. (For Example: LEFE = Lesquerella fendleri)
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 Cover Data. % Grasses = Percent canopy cover for all grass species at site (Calculated field).
% Forbs = Percent canopy cover for all forb species at site (Calculated field).
% Shrubs = Percent canopy cover for all shrub species at site (Calculated field).
% Trees = Percent canopy cover for all tree species at site (Calculated field).
% Bare Ground/Litter = Percentage of bare soil and Litter on ground's surface.
% Cryptobiotic Crust = Percentage of cryptobiotic crust.
% Water = Percentage of water.
% Surface Rock = Percentage of surface rock fragments (gravel through boulder size). % Rock Outcrop = Percentage of exposed intact bedrock (hard or soft).
% Total Plants = Summation of total percent canopy cover of all vegetation (Calculated field).
% 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%.
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).
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).
Soil Type = general soil type found at site entries include: boulder, clay, cobble, gravel, sand, silt, and stone.
Cryptobiotic Crust Albedo = Numeric representation of the color and value of the cryptobiotic crust found at site (1-4). 1 darker to 10 lighter.
Water Albedo = Numeric representation of the color and value of the surface water found at site (5-6). 1 darker to 10 lighter.
Litter Albedo = Numeric representation of color and value of surface litter found at site (2-9). 1 darker to 10 lighter.
Surface Rock Albedo = Numeric representation of color and value of surface rock at site (1-9). 1 darker to 10 lighter.
Understory Plant Species and Cover Data = Supplemental information regarding trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses that were present in the understory.
The following includes a list of landform data including their definitions as seen in 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 plant species data including their definitions 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.