Biometry Protocol

22 Pages·2017·1.23 MB·English

Biometry Protocol
Purpose Use appropriate mathematics to
To measure and classify the plant life analyze data.
present at a Land Cover Sample Site to help Develop descriptions and predictions
determine the MUC classifcation. using evidence.
Recognize and analyze alternative
Overview explanations.
Students walk the half-diagonals of their Communicate procedures,
Land Cover Sample Site and take one or descriptions, and predictions.
more biometry measurements. These may Level
include canopy cover and ground cover,
All
identifying dominant and co-dominant
vegetation species, and measuring tree
Time
circumference, GPS coordinates and
height, and/or graminoid biomass. Variable, depending on type and number
of measurements taken
Student Outcomes
Frequency
Students will learn how to use biological
sampling techniques to quantify and As necessary to determine MUC at most
describe a Land Cover Sample Site. sites, or, frequently as an enrichment
study
Science Concepts
Physical Science Materials and Tools
Objects have observable properties 50 m tape measure
that can be measured using tools. Compass
Life Science Species ID keys and/or other local
Earth has many different environments species guides
that support many different kinds of MUC Field Guide or MUC System
organisms. Table and MUC Glossary of Terms
Organisms change the environment in GPS protocol
which they live. GPS receiver
All populations living together and the Stopwatch
physical factors with which they GPS data sheet
interact constitute an ecosystem.
Permanent tree markers (optional)
Geography
Pen or pencil
The physical characteristics of place
Calculator (optional)
The characteristics and spatial
Appropriate Biometry Data Sheets
distribution of ecosystems
Tubular densiometer (See
Scientifc Inquiry Abilities Investigation Instruments section)
Identify biometry measurements Clinometer (See Investigation
needed for MUC. Instruments section)
Use vegetation feld guides to identify Flexible tape measure
vegetation and species. Blindfold
Interpret data to propose MUC Clipboard
classifcation. Small bean bag
Identify answerable questions. Grass clippers or strong scissors
Design and conduct scientifc Small brown paper bags
investigations. Drying oven
GLOBE® 2014 Biometry Protocol- 1 Biosphere
Welcome Introduction Protocols Learning Activities Appendix
Balance or scale, accurate to 0.1 g Gather materials for clinometer and
densiometer.
Preparation
Make copies of the appropriate Work Have students practice taking feld
measurements, pacing and using a
Sheets.
compass.
Familiarize students with the MUC
System.
Prerequisites size in both areas?
Students make necessary feld instruments. Measurements of living things are important
to scientists. They can show the amount of
Site-Seeing Learning Activity Beginning or
nutrients and gases living things store. They
Intermediate (Suggested)
also show the amount of carbon and usable
water stored in trees and plants.
Biometry Protocol –
Choosing the right MUC class can be hard.
Introduction How do you know that you have a “deciduous
forest” and not an “evergreen forest”? How
Biometry is the measuring of living things. do you know you are in a “shrubland” and
Why do scientists need measurements of not “woodland”? How do you know a site is
living things? What do they tell us about our “tall graminoid” and not “short graminoid”?
environment? The biometry measurements Biometry measurements answer these
include tree height and circumference, canopy questions.
cover, ground cover, and graminoid biomass.
Graminoids are grass and grass-like plants. Biometry measurements help you choose the
These all measure the size or amount of trees right MUC class. What kinds of measurements
and plants. will you need to decide between an evergreen
and deciduous forest? What measurements
What do trees and plants store? What are they will you need to decide if something is a shrub
made of? Can different types of land cover or a tree? What do you need to know to decide
have different size trees, shrubs or grasses? between a tall and short graminoid site?
Can they have different amounts of trees,
Biometry measurements make your data
shrubs or grasses? Think about a desert. What
more reliable. When scientists use your
is the most common tree or shrub there? Is
Land Cover Sample Site data, biometry
that a sign of what kind of area it is? Compare
measurements assure them that the data
that to the most common tree in a forest.
are of high quality. There are two tests of
Can the same types of land cover have good measurement technique. Biometry
different size trees, shrubs or grasses? Can measurements will help assess how close
there be different amounts of trees, shrubs or to the bull’s-eye (the right answer) your data
grasses? Think about two wetlands. Are the are. This is called accuracy. Your data are
trees, shrubs or grasses the same type and precise when you repeat measurements and
High Accuracy and High Accuracy and Low Accuracy and
Low Precision High Precision High Precision
GLOBE® 2014 Biometry Protocol - 2 Biosphere
get the same results throughout a site. The vegetation biomass estimates through the
goal of GLOBE students should be to have measurement of vegetation canopy height.
their measurements look like the bull’s eye in In closed forest sites, where the trees cover
the center (see below), highly accurate and the shrubs and ground, the trees will refect
precise! Biometry measurements can help the highest percentage of light. See Figure
you do that. BIO-BI-2. In woodland sites, where there is
space between trees, there will be a greater
contribution of refectance values from the
Teacher Support shrubs and ground below the tree canopy,
but again, the trees will refect the greatest
The Measurement percentage of light. See Figure BIO-BI-3. In
The Biometry Protocol is divided into shrubland sites, where shrubs dominate, the
four different measurements: 1) canopy refectance values will mostly represent the
and ground cover; 2) tree, shrub and/or shrubs and not the scattered trees or ground
graminoid height; 3) tree circumference; and cover that may also be present at the site.
4) graminoid biomass. You may choose to See Figure BIO-BI-4. Keeping this in mind
take biometry measurements only once in a should help you determine what biometry
site during peak growth, or you can return to measurements to take. For instance, in a
the same site year after year and repeat the closed forest site with tall trees covering the
biometry measurements to track changes entire site, shrubs scattered throughout the
in the site biomass over time. You may also site below the trees and some tall grasses on
take biometry measurements twice a year in the forest foor, the biometry measurements
a single site year after year, once during peak that would be most important would be tree
foliage or growth and once during a time of canopy, ground cover, and tree height. You
low growth (i.e. winter or drought). You should may choose to measure shrub height or
always use the following two guidelines to graminoid biomass but since the tree canopy
determine what measurements you should would dominate the refectance values, the
take: shrub and graminoid data would be less
important. Another example would be in
First, take ANY measurements necessary to
herbaceous vegetation sites. See Figure BIO-
determine the correct MUC class. Whenever
BI-5. If a site was primarily graminoid with
a decision must be made between MUC
two trees and several shrubs, the most useful
classes, take the appropriate biometry
biometry measurement would be graminoid
measurement (i.e. canopy and ground
biomass. You can also measure the height
cover or height) to make that decision. If
of the shrubs and trees, but since they are
the decision can be made without biometry
not the dominant land cover, the graminoids
measurements, it is not necessary to take
would refect the highest percentage of light
any, but you may choose to do so to ensure
in that area. However, it would still be useful
accuracy.
to note that the site contained the trees and
Second, scientists will be using an aerial shrubs. Any type of information of this sort
view when using the MUC and biometry is important metadata since sites that are
data and you should too. Therefore, purely herbaceous vegetation may refect
measurements of the dominant (covering light slightly differently than sites that have
the greatest area) land cover of the highest a few trees or shrubs. (Note: If you use any
canopy are the most important. Canopy canopy and ground cover measurements
cover refers to layers of vegetation. There to determine the MUC class, report that
can be several layers of each type (tree measurement also.)
and/or shrub). Multiple layers are present
when canopy heights are at different levels. Student Preparation
When these layers are not present, the Students should be able to defne and identify
ground cover forms the dominant vegetation a homogeneous land cover site.
type. See Figure BIO-BI-1. the Landsat
Students should understand and know how to
satellite records the amount and wavelength
classify a site using the MUC System.
of light refected be ALL vegetation that it
can “see.” ICESat-2 provides large-scale
GLOBE® 2014 Biometry Protocol - 3 Biosphere
Welcome Introduction Protocols Learning Activities Appendix
Figure BIO-BI-1: Multiple Layers of Vegetation: Tree Canopy, Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover
Side View
LandSat Satellite
ICESat-2 Satellite
5 m
Ground Cover
The tree canopy will meet the height requirement of greater than 5 m while shrubs are between
0.5 m and 5 m tall.
Top View
Figure BIO-BI-2: Closed Forest Site
Side View
The most useful biometry measurements to take here would be tree canopy, tree height and ground cover.
Top View
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GLOBE 2014 Biometry Protocol - 4 Biosphere
Figure BIO-BI-3: Woodland Site
Side View
The most useful biometry measurements to take here would be tree canopy, tree height and ground cover.
Top View
Figure BIO-BI-4: Shrubland Site
Side View
5 m
The most useful biometry measurements to take here would be shrub canopy, shrub height
and ground cover.
Top View
Figure BIO-BI-5: Herbaceous Site
Side View
The most useful biometry measurements would be ground cover and graminoid biomass.
Top View
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GLOBE 2014 Biometry Protocol - 5 Biosphere
Students should make and know how to use the seen at the densiometer crosshairs.
densiometer and clinometer. Determine the percentage of trees in
the canopy (# of +’s / total number of
Students should know how to use a compass.
observations from the Tree Canopy
Students should practice pacing techniques. and Ground Cover Data Sheet). If
They should know their pace and how many the trees are 40% or more of the
paces are in 21.2 meters. canopy, this is a forest or woodland
and you should use the Tree Canopy
Helpful Hints and Ground Cover Data Sheet for
• Practice these measurements in a the ground cover data collection on
location close to school to get some the half-diagonals and report all of
experience before using them in a Land these measurements. If trees are
Cover Sample Site. less than 40% of the canopy, walk the
half-diagonals again using the Shrub
• You or your students may want to
Canopy and Ground Cover Data
investigate a potential site with a brief
Sheet. Record a (+) where a shrub is
visit to make sure that it is large enough
seen at the densiometer crosshairs.
and homogeneous throughout before a
Determine the percentage of shrubs in
longer data collection visit.
the canopy (# of +’s / total number of
• When distinguishing between trees
observations from the Shrub Canopy
and shrubs, use the defnition of a tree
and Ground Cover Data Sheet). If
given in the MUC Field Guide and MUC
the shrubs are greater than 40% of
Glossary of Terms: a tree is at least 5
the canopy, this is a shrubland and
meters tall. You may want to practice
you should use the Shrub Canopy
estimating this height with the clinometer
and Ground Cover Data Sheet for the
near your school before entering the
ground cover data collection on the
feld.
half-diagonals and report all of these
• If the shrub canopy is below the
measurements.
observer, treat it as ground cover. Dwarf-
• If both trees and shrubs are less
shrubs are always considered ground
than 40%, choose the Data Sheet
cover.
corresponding with the highest
• There are two Canopy and Ground
percentage of canopy cover to take
Cover Data Sheets: one to use when
the ground cover measurements.
the dominant canopy cover is trees and
Example: In a site with 15% tree
one to use when the dominant canopy
canopy and 35% shrub canopy, use
cover is shrubs. Your students need to
the Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover
decide which one to use. In a forest or
Data Sheet to take your ground cover
woodland, canopy cover refers to the
measurements and report the tree
tree canopy. In a shrubland, canopy
and shrub canopy cover as metadata.
refers to the shrub canopy. Always keep
Since the tree and shrub canopy make
in mind that these measurements are
up less than 40% of the canopy, the
helpful to scientists studying land cover
MUC class will not be a Closed Forest,
from satellite imagery. Therefore, the
Woodland or Shrubland. In this case,
highest canopy is what you should try to
use the ground cover measurements
measure.
to determine the correct MUC class.
• If you have diffculty determining if a site
• It is more effcient to have your
is a forest, woodland or shrubland, you
students work in pairs or trios for this
may need to walk the half-diagonals
protocol.
twice. Keep in mind the “view from
• For more accurate readings, other
above” and look to the highest canopy
pairs of students should repeat the
with your densiometer for the correct
measurements. If different teams of
measurement. The frst time, use the
students repeat observations, report
Tree Canopy and Ground Cover Data
the average of these values if they
Sheet recording a (+) where a tree is
generally agree.
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GLOBE 2014 Biometry Protocol - 6 Biosphere
• Before going into the feld, teach measurements with a class, break
your students how to use your local the class into groups and have each
vegetation feld guides. group pace a different half-diagonal.
• It is recommended that you consult Each group will need its own copy of
local experts (Forest Service, County the Field Guide, a Data Sheet, and
Extension Agent, etc.) to assist with a densiometer. Ideally, one person
species identifcation. should serve as a ‘pacer’ and one
• If your site experiences seasonal should be the ‘recorder.’ The ‘pacer’
variation and you choose to track walks the distance and makes the
changes in biomass over time, take measurements. The ‘recorder’ records
biometry measurements once during the readings onto the Data Sheet
peak growing season and once during and makes sure the ‘pacer’ is walking
the least active season. straight in the assigned direction. The
‘pacer’ should know how many of his/
vvWhen measuring the tree height,
her paces are in the 21.2 m length of
GPS measurements, using the GPS
the half-diagonal. Have each student
Protocol, should be measured at the
write this number on his/her copy
base of each of the trees. Remember,
of the Field Guide. This is the total
the trees being measured must be at
number of measurements/paces to
least 3 meter away from each other.
take in walking a half-diagonal from
• If it takes smaller students more than
the center to the corner of the central
forty paces to complete a diagonal,
30 m x 30 m area.
they may take measurements at every
other pace. Questions for Further Investigation
• For younger students, if the angle
What are the dominant and co-dominant
on the clinometer is 45 degrees, the
species in your Land Cover Sample Site?
distance from the tree will equal the
Do these species always occur in sites that
height of the tree above the student’s
have the same MUC class?
eye level. See the Alternative
Technique to Measure Tree Height on Are the dominant and co-dominant species
Level Ground: Simplifed Clinometer common in your area? Are these species
Technique Field Guide. native to your area? Are the trees mature
or juvenile?
• If you are going to revisit a forest or
woodland site, mark and number/label Is there a relationship between the amount
the trees you use. Always measure of ground cover and canopy cover?
the same trees, and report their
Are the percentages of the canopy and
heights and circumferences in the
ground cover consistent with your MUC
same order.
class?
• Examples of forbs include clover,
sunfowers, ferns, and milkweeds. Which is greater, the amount of brown or
• Do not use a conventional oven to green ground cover? Do you think that these
dry the graminoid vegetation. This is amounts will change during the year?
dangerous because the oven may
If your MUC 4 site has trees as the co-
have to be left on continuously for
dominant species: Is the herbaceous
several days!
vegetation around the trees the same as that
• In warm, dry climates, graminoid in open areas?
biomass samples can be dried in
mesh bags outside.
• Make sure to use several small brown
drying bags for proper drying of
graminoid samples.
• If you are performing the Canopy
Cover and Ground Cover
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GLOBE 2014 Biometry Protocol - 7 Biosphere
Welcome Introduction Protocols Learning Activities Appendix
Canopy Cover and Ground Cover
Field Guide
Task
Take ground and canopy cover measurements while pacing half-diagonals to determine the
MUC class of your Land Cover Sample Sites.
What You Need
q Tubular densiometer q Compass
q Tree Canopy and Ground Cover q Species ID keys and/or other local species
Data Sheet guides
q Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover q Pen or pencil
Data Sheet
q Clipboard
In the Field N Land Cover Sample Site
with the four 21.2 m half-
Center
of Site diagonals (in the NE, SE,
SW and NW directions) for
sampling.
30 m
• Locate the center of your homogeneous Land Cover Sample Site. This is your
starting point. Take the measurements described in Steps 2 and 3 from the center
of the Sample Site by walking the distance of a half-diagonal (21.2 m) in each of the
following four directions: NE, SE, SW and NW (using a compass for bearing). Stop
after each pace (2 steps) to complete Steps 2 and 3.
• There are two possible data sheets to use for measuring Canopy and Ground
Cover, the Tree Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet or the Shrub Canopy and
Ground Cover Data Sheet. The following step will help you decide which one to use.
However, if you are still confused about which sheet to use, you may want to choose
a different site where the decision is clearer.
GLOBE® 2014 Biometry Protocol - 8 Biosphere
21.2 m
30 m
Canopy Cover and Ground Cover: Field Guide - Page 2
Steps:
1. Decide which Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet is appropriate, using the following
procedure.
a. If the site is clearly dominated (greater than 40%) by trees (greater than 5 m tall), use
the Tree Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet. Go to Step 2.
b. If the site is clearly dominated by shrubs (between 50 cm and 5 m) and there is less
than 40% tree canopy, use the Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet. Go to
Step 2.
c. If you cannot decide the dominant canopy cover:
• Walk each half-diagonal (21.2 m) from the center of your site using your
densiometer and the Tree Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet. Follow Step 2,
marking a (+) if you see a tree at the crosshairs of your desiometer and a (-) if there
is not. Record the other canopy information for any trees you record a (+) for.
• Calculate the percent tree canopy cover (# of +’s/total number of observations from
the Tree Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet). If the percent tree cover is over
40%, use the Tree Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet and walk the half-
diagonals again following Step 3 to collect the ground cover data.
• If the trees are less than 40%, walk the half-diagonals again using the Shrub
Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet. Follow Step 2, marking a (+) if you see a
shrub at the crosshairs even if there is a tree above it and a (-) if there is not a shrub
at the crosshairs. Record the other canopy information for any shrubs you record a
(+) for.
• Calculate the percent shrub canopy cover (# of +’s / total number of observations
from the Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet). If the shrubs are dominant
(40% or more), use the Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet to record the
ground cover data by walking the half-diagonals again following Step 3.
• If both trees and shrubs are less than 40%, choose the Data Sheet corresponding
with the highest percentage of canopy cover and walk the half-diagonals again
following Step 3. Report the percentage of tree and shrub canopy as metadata since
they help scientists understand the site. Note: Since neither the tree nor shrub
canopy are dominant, the MUC class of this site should not start with 0 (Closed
Forest), 1 (Woodland), or 2 (Shrubland).
2. Look up through your densiometer at the canopy. Make sure the densiometer is vertical
and the metal nut/washer is directly below the intersection of the crosshairs at the top
of the tube. Look to the highest canopy. If you are using the Tree Canopy and Ground
Cover Data Sheet, only record data for TREES and ignore shrubs. If you are using the
Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet, only record data for SHRUBS and ignore
trees.
a. If you see vegetation, twigs or branches at the crosshairs:
• Record a (+) on the Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet. Remember, if you are
using the Tree Canopy and Ground Cover Sheet, only record a (+) if the vegetation
you
see is from a tree. If it is from a shrub, record a (-) instead and skip the next steps.
The
opposite will be true if you are using the Shrub Canopy and Ground Cover Sheet.
• Identify the species name. If you do not know the genus and species but know the
common name, record the common name. If you do not know the common name,
collect a leaf or describe or sketch it for identifcation later in the classroom.
• Record the canopy type as Evergreen (E) or Deciduous (D).
b. If you do not see vegetation, twigs, or branches at the crosshairs:
• Record a (-) on the Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet.
3. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, look down and observe any vegetation that
is touching your foot or leg below the knee. Do not pick up your foot; only use
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GLOBE 2014 Biometry Protocol - 9 Biosphere
Canopy Cover and Ground Cover: Field Guide – Page 3
vegetation touching you without moving. Also, do not measure ground
cover by looking down through the densiometer!
a. If the vegetation is green (alive), record a (G) on the Canopy and
Ground Cover Data Sheet.
b. If the vegetation is green, record if it is graminoid (GD), forb (FB),
other green vegetation (OG), Shrub (SB) or Dwarf Shrub (DS).
c. If the vegetation is brown but still attached, record a (B).
d. If there is no vegetation, record a (-) on the Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet.
4. After you have completed your pacing and measurements, fll out the summary tables
on the bottom of the Canopy and Ground Cover Data Sheet using the formulas below
for reference in calculating percentages. Note: If other groups walked other half-
diagonals, compare your “% Canopy Cover” and “% Ground Cover” with the other
group’s diagonal data. Average the percentages from all the groups and use these
averaged values to determine the dominant land cover for data entry.
5. If you have enough information to determine the MUC class of your site at this point,
you are done. If tree, shrub or graminoid height cannot be estimated, follow the Field
Guide for Graminoid, Tree and Shrub Height.
Determining the Percentage of Tree or Shrub Canopy Cover (Column 1):
Calculate the percent of tree or shrub canopy using the data collected. Use the following
equation as a model.

__#_ o_f_ +_’_s_ (_T_re_e_ _o_r _S_h_r_u_b_ C__a_n_o_p_y)_
% Tree or Shrub Canopy Cover = X 100
# of Total Observations

Determining the Percentage of Evergreen or Deciduous Canopy Cover (Column 3):
Calculate the percent of tree or shrub canopy that is evergreen or deciduous using the data
collected. Use the following equation as a model.

_____#_ _o_f _E_’s_ _(E_v_e_r_g_r_e_e_n_ O_b_s_e_r_v_a_ti_o_n_s_)__________
% Evergreen = X 100
# of E’s + # of D’s (Total Canopy Cover Observations)

Determining the Percentage of Ground Cover (Column 4):
Calculate the percent ground cover using the data collected. Use the following equation as
a model.

__#_ _o_f _G_’s_ _(G__re_e_n_)_ _+_ #_ _o_f _B_’s_ _(B_r_o_w_n_)_
% Ground Cover = X 100
# of Total Observations

Determining the Composition of Herbaceous Coverage (Column 5):
Calculate the percent of the ground that is graminoid, forb or other green vegetation using
the data and the following equation as a model.

_____#_ _o_f _G_D_’_s_ (_G_r_a_m_i_n_o_id_ _O_b_s_e_rv_a_t_io_n_s_)___________
% Graminoid = X 100
# of GD’s + # of FB’s + # of OG’s + # of SB’s + # of DS’s

(Total Herbaceous Ground Observations)
Determining Total Shrubs (Column 6):

____#_ o_f_ +_’s_ _(S__h_ru_b_s_ _P_re_s_e_n_t_)__
% Total Shrubs = X 100
# of Total Observations

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GLOBE 2014 Biometry Protocol - 10 Biosphere