Ecological Sites. Relationship to Other Classification Systems

Transcription

1 Ecological Sites Relationship to Other Classification Systems

2 Ecological Classification Systems and Ecological l Sites Ecological classification Long history of land and ecosystem classification and mapping among the agencies Ecological sites Represent a common, standardized approach to classify, describe, and map land capability and interpret ecosystem processes and response at local scales.

3 Ecological site relationships with hierarchical ecological classification & mapping systems and planning/analysis levels. Ecological Classification Systems Ecological Mapping Systems Hierarchical Planning and Analysis Levels Ecosystem Classification NRCS and BLM Ecosystem Classification FS 1, 2 Potential Natural Vegetation Hierarchy 6 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) 5 National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units 1 NRCS Soil Geography Hierarchy 3 (NVC) 5 Ecological Units 1 y Continental and Region (Ecoregion) NA PNV Series Groups 1 PNV 1 ; Groups, Sub-classes Formation/Division Domain, Division, and Province (1:5,000,000-1:30,000,000) Land Resource Region (LRR)/Common Ecological Region (1:7,500,000) Subregion NA PNC Series, Formation Plant Series; Formation Division/ Macrogroup Section (1:3,500,000) and Subsection (1:250,000) Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) (1:3,500,000) Land Resource Unit (LRU)/Common Resource Area (CRA) (1:1,000,000) General Soil Map (1:250,000) Landscape (watershed 5 th unit of Hydrologic Unit Code) NA Potential Natural Community (PNC) Plant Series; Group/Alliance; Series; Habitat Type Group (Dominance Type 4 ) Habitat Type Group, Ecological type 2 Landtype Association (1:60,000) 000) NA Land Unit (subwatershed 6 th unit of Hydrologic Unit Code), grazing allotment, farm/ranch) Individual Sites NA Ecological type 2 Association; Potential Plant Habitat type Potential Plant Ecological Site Ecological type 2 Association Phase; Vegetation plot and soil series Habitat type phase Association/ Alliance Association Landtype (1:24,000) Landtype Phase (< 1:12,000) Detailed Soil Map (1:24,000) Soil Series (1:12,000) Sample site (soil pedon/ Vegetation plot Vegetation plot NA Soil Pedon vegetation plot) 2

4 Interagency Ecological Site Development Abiotic & Biotic Factors as Criteria Climate Geology Geomorphology Landform Topographic p features (slope, aspect, shape, elevation) Hydrology Soils Vegetation Same factors are required & used in ecological unit map hierarchy & ecological type classification Their influence and importance as ecosystem drivers vary with scale

5 Interagency Development of Ecological Sites Opportunity to: Build upon past investments when developing ecological site concepts Reference or utilize agency s information and data from existing classifications Incorporate agency s legacy data Particularly l in classifying i and describing plant community phases and dynamics associated with ecological sites Utilize agency s expertise

6 Some Examples: Existing Ecological Classifications and Inventory Data Westwide 272 published habitat t type classification (as of 1987) FS Southwestern Region Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory (TEUI) FS Northern Region 3800 veg. plot/soil pedon data collected concurrently since 1986 LTA mapping completed, Land system inventory & TEUI FS North Central Region Lake states and Missouri multi factor classification and modeling LTA mapping completed across all ownerships for 3 states FS Southern Region LTAs mapped across all National Forests

7 FS Background Ecological Type and Ecological Site FS Handbook (1991) incorporated many concepts and terminology in 1983 Range Inventory Standardization di i Committee (RISC) Report, except ecological site FS adopts ecological type; the term Type was more descriptive for a kind of land Collection of sites make up a type Site refers to a specific location on the landscape (plot) Ecological type was already in use by some FS Regions Ecological type has a similar definition and concept (based on multiple abiotic/biotic factors) to define and describe kinds of land that respond similarly

8 Ecological Site Ecological Type More Similar il than Different Ecological site: A distinctive Ecological type: A category of kind of land with specific soil land with a distinctive and physical characteristics combination of landscape that differs from other kinds elements (climate,,geology, gy, of land in its ability to geomorphology, soils, produce distinctive kinds and potential natural vegetation), amounts of vegetation and in that differs from other types its ability to respond similarly in the kind and amount of to management actions and vegetation it can produce and natural disturbances. in its ability to respond to management actions and natural disturbances.

9 Ecological Site Ecological Type Applied at Different Scales Ecological site: Correlated to soil series, soil series phase which incorporate climate, geology, geomorphology, soil properties, and climate Associated with soil map unit components 1 st 3 rd order soil survey Ecological type: Correlated with PNV, soil properties and soil family, geology, geomorphology A landtype, landtype association ecological map unit component 3 rd -4 th order soil survey

10 Forest Service Ecological Classification and Mapping FS Policy Use ecological classification and ecological units to make predictions and interpretations for resource management on National Forest System Lands. Cooperate with other agencies to identify, define, provide quality assurance for use of rangeland ecological sites (recently added). A nested multi-factor hierarchical classification & mapping system: Addresses FS resource management information needs at multiple planning and assessment levels Utilizes multiple ecosystem factors applied at appropriate scales to describe and assess ecosystem processes, response, and condition at multiple levels (site to continental).

11 Applications of National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units Planning and Analysis Levels Ecoregion Continental Regional Ecological Units Domain Division Province Purpose and General Use Characterize continental and regional patterns and relationships Modeling, sampling, national/regional analysis and planning General Geographic Extent (map unit size) > thousands of square miles Subregion Section Characterize subregional ecosystem Thousands to tens of Subsection patterns and relationships square miles Strategic, subregional, statewide, assessment and planning, inventory, monitoring Landscape Landtype association Characterize landscape ecosystem patterns and relationships Thousands to hundreds of acres National Forest, landscape, & watershed analysis, modeling, planning, inventory, monitoring. Land Unit Landtype Landtype phase Characterize land unit ecosystem processes and relationships Sub-watershed, grazing allotment, modeling, land treatment planning, inventory, monitoring. Hundreds to less than ten acres

12 FS - Ecological Classification and Ecological l Unit Mapping Accomplished through: Terrestrial Ecological Unit Inventory (TEUI) Classify and map ecosystems based on biotic and abiotic factors (regional climate, local climate, geology, gy geomorphology, gy landform, topography, p soil, PNV) National Hierarchy Framework of Ecological Units Provides a framework for mapping ecological units from continental to local scales

13 Ecological Unit Criteria (Cleland et al 1997) Ecological unit Principal map unit design criteria Domain Division Province Section Broad climatic zones or groups (e.g., dry, humid, tropical) Regional climatic types vegetation affinities (e.g., prairie or forest) soil order ode Dominant potential natural vegetation (Kuchler 1964) highlands or mountains with complex vertical climate-vegetation-soil zonation Geomorphic province, geologic age, stratigaphy, lithology regional climate Phases of soil orders, suborders, or great groups Potential natural vegetation Potential natural communities (PNC) (FSH 2090) Subsection Landtype association Landtype Landtype phase Geomorphic process, surficial geology, lithology phases of soil orders, suborders, or great groups subregional climatic data PNC formation or series Geomorphic process, geologic formation, surficial geology, and elevation Phases of soil subgroups, families, or series local climate PNC series, subseries, plant associations Landform and topography (elevation, aspect, slope gradient, and position) Phases of soil subgroups, families, or series Rock type, geomorphic process PNC Phases of soil subfamilies or series Landform and slope position PNC plant associations or phases

14 TEUI Landscape/Land Unit Scale TEUI Tech Guide and National Cooperative Soil Survey Standards (USDA Soil Survey Handbook) Provides guidance and standard methods for identifying, classifying, and describing ecological types (sites) and mapping ecological units. Interdisciplinary/multi-factor classification and mapping system: Interdisciplinary teams (soil scientists, vegetation ecologists, others) Data driven Soil pedon, site, and vegetation data collected concurrently Identify and describe abiotic/biotic factors that influence ecosystem processes and response associated with environmental gradients (e.g. plant distribution/abundance, water/nutrient availability, soil properties)

15 Ecological site relationships at landscape and land unit scales Ecological Classification Systems Ecological Mapping Systems Hierarchical Planning and Analysis Levels Ecosystem Classification NRCS and BLM Ecosystem Classification FS 1, 2 Potential Natural Vegetation Hierarchy 6 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) 5 National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units 1 NRCS Soil Geography Hierarchy 3 Landscape (watershed 5 th unit of Hydrologic Unit Code) Land Unit (subwatershed 6 th unit of Hydrologic Unit Code), grazing allotment, farm/ranch) Individual Sites NA NA Ecological Site Vegetation plot and soil series Potential Natural Community (PNC) Series; Habitat Type Group, Ecological l type 2 Ecological type 2 Ecological type 2 Sample site (soil pedon/ vegetation plot) 2 Plant Series; Habitat Type Group Potential Plant Association; Habitat type Potential Plant Association Phase; Habitat type phase Vegetation plot Group/Alliance; (Dominance Type 4 ) Association/ Alliance Association Vegetation plot Landtype Association (1:60,000) Landtype (1:24,000) Landtype Phase (< 1:12,000) NA Detailed Soil Map (1:24,000) Soil Series (1:12,000) Integrated Plot Soil Pedon

16 Rangeland Interagency Ecological Site Manual (RIESM) Common Approach at Local Scales: Cooperative, interagency, and interdisciplinary, approach to ecological site classification, descriptions, and delineation Common definitions and classification of land and ecosystem capability at local scales Share agency expertise, resources, and data Interagency access to agency s technical strengths and expertise

17 Ecological Sites Relationship to Existing Vegetation Classification System

18 Range Sites Predecessor to Ecological l Sites Site Classification System for Rangelands Relationship to Existing Vegetation Communities was with Range Condition An Existing Vegetation Classification Did Not Exist

19 Ecological Sites Site Classification System for Any Land Type Potential Vegetation Still Used to Classify Ecological Site However, existing vegetation assemblages that can exist on the ecological l site, as a response to land management, disturbances, and succession, are now a part of the description of an ecological site

20 Many Existing Vegetation Types Can Occur on Same Ecological Site At Various Times and In Response to Management and Disturbance

21 Describing the ecological dynamics of the site through S&T Models and narratives

22 An Existing Vegetation Classification The National Vegetation ti Classification A classification of existing vegetation (the plant cover, or floristic composition and vegetation structure, documented to occur at a specific location and time) for the United States

23 Integrating National Vegetation Classification Into Ecological l Sites Existing vegetation types in the National Vegetation Classification and the associated vegetation data can be used as a source to identify plant community phases in state-and- transition models in ecological site descriptions.

24 Integrating National Vegetation Classification and Ecological l Sites Vegetation data collected to describe the plant community phases that can exist on an ecological site can be used to identify new existing vegetation types in the NVC or can be used to match up to already known existing vegetation types in the NVC.

25 Source of Vegetation Data on Existing Vgtti Vegetation Types VegBank is a publicly-accessible database that contains vegetation plot data for existing vegetation types across North America at

26 Source of Vegetation Data on Existing Vgtti Vegetation Types BLM has Legacy Vegetation Plot Data Associated with Ecological Site Inventory (ESI) and Soil-Vegetation Inventory Method (SVIM) BLM continues to collect vegetation data on existing vegetation types as part of conducting range condition surveys. Legacy data and newly collected data are useful to identify plant community phases on ecological sites

27 Summary Points Ecological Sites have a relationship to the National Vegetation Classification, i a Classification i of Existing i Vegetation Denoting plant community phases (existing vegetation types) and their successional response to disturbance and land management in state-and-transition models is where the relationship exists Existing vegetation types and data from NVC can be used to denote plant community phases in ecological site descriptions. Plant community data, whether legacy or contemporary data, can be used to describe new existing vegetation types for the NVC or to match up to already identified existing vegetation types in the NVC.

28 Ecological site relationships with hierarchical ecological classification & mapping systems and planning/analysis levels. Ecological Classification Systems Ecological Mapping Systems Hierarchical Planning and Analysis Levels Ecosystem Classification NRCS and BLM Ecosystem Classification FS 1, 2 Potential Natural Vegetation Hierarchy 6 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) 5 National Hierarchical Framework of Ecological Units 1 NRCS Soil Geography Hierarchy 3 (NVC) 5 Ecological Units 1 y Continental and Region (Ecoregion) NA PNV Series Groups 1 PNV 1 ; Groups, Sub-classes Formation/Division Domain, Division, and Province (1:5,000,000-1:30,000,000) Land Resource Region (LRR)/Common Ecological Region (1:7,500,000) Subregion NA PNC Series, Formation Plant Series; Formation Division/ Macrogroup Section (1:3,500,000) and Subsection (1:250,000) Major Land Resource Area (MLRA) (1:3,500,000) Land Resource Unit (LRU)/Common Resource Area (CRA) (1:1,000,000) General Soil Map (1:250,000) Landscape (watershed 5 th unit of Hydrologic Unit Code) NA Potential Natural Community (PNC) Plant Series; Group/Alliance; Series; Habitat Type Group (Dominance Type 4 ) Habitat Type Group, Ecological type 2 Landtype Association (1:60,000) 000) NA Land Unit (subwatershed 6 th unit of Hydrologic Unit Code), grazing allotment, farm/ranch) Individual Sites NA Ecological type 2 Association; Potential Plant Habitat type Potential Plant Ecological Site Ecological type 2 Association Phase; Vegetation plot and soil series Habitat type phase Association/ Alliance Association Landtype (1:24,000) Landtype Phase (< 1:12,000) Detailed Soil Map (1:24,000) Soil Series (1:12,000) Sample site (soil pedon/ Vegetation plot Vegetation plot NA Soil Pedon vegetation plot) 2