[APWG] Ecosystem Restoration Performance Survey techniques and results Re: 200 Endangered species need their habitats weeded inCalifornia

[Wayne Tyson]

Hi Craig,

How did you determine your survey methodology? I've certainly heard of 
"point-toe intercept" or whatever it's properly called, but have forgotten 
which published paper(s) or book(s) prescribe the methods that have been 
more or less consistently followed for the past several decades. I've also 
forgotten when it all got started.



Working only from memory (most of my library is in boxes), I think I read 
about it in Daubenmire first, but also seem to remember a paper from a 
Forest Service research station publication that outlined the one where you 
cut a little V-shaped notch in your boot, but have forgotten the details, 
especially the part about determining sample size and the randomness of 
transect placement.



Just offhand, it seems to me that the arbitrary selection of 100 feet would 
not meet normal criteria for sample size adequacy. And not that I think it 
makes much difference, but a pace of two feet may not be standard either. 
All in all, it seems to me that the survey methods are non-standard (that 
doesn't necessarily bother me either, as all I care about is that the 
sampling closely reflects the entire population.



If you've had trouble getting independent researchers to take on the job of 
providing the information from an uninvolved third party, you have my 
sympathy--I had the same problem for so long that I finally gave up. It's 
hard to convey credibility when the fox is measuring the henhouse, but ya 
gotta do what ya gotta do, I reckon. Context is everything.



My guess is that your sample is inadequate and to get adequacy you will have 
to gather a mountain of data entries to get even close with point intercept 
a la boot toe. You might be able to reduce the data gathering load by using 
a combination of randomly-located Relevés or Braun-Blaquets along the 
transects if you want to get good cover data along with species composition 
and relative population data (however crude--but economical and not 
significantly misleading). In my view, cover is the least useful and most 
misleading "metric" of all, and mostly irrelevant in terms of determining 
restoration project performance.


WT


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craig Dremann - Redwood City Seed Company" <Craig at astreet.com>
To: <apwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2012 9:45 AM
Subject: [APWG] 200 Endangered species need their habitats weeded 
inCalifornia


Dear All,

I have put together a web page about our local native grasslands at
http://www.ecoseeds.com/WMA.html and there are photos of Michael Shaw in
his 74 acres that are over 90% native cover, and Mark Vande Pol and his 14
acres of 99.5% weed-free grasslands and woodlands.

This is the first step that we are taking in our area, a very simple and
quick measurement to see what percentage cover we have in our grasslands,
for native grasses, wildflowers and weeds.

If anyone on this list tries my 30 steps in their natural areas listed at
http://www.ecoseeds.com/grass.yes.html, that process should be able to get
a significant increase in native cover in a very short amount of time,
like the 180 days that I am suggesting.  Please me know if you try the 30
steps, and what the results are.

If you are working with annual weeds, like we do out here in California or
in the Great Basin with cheatgrass, the time frame to get solid native
cover could be as short as 60 days or less, like I got with the Riverside
County Stephen's Krat exsitu test pots between November 1 and December 31,
that you can see the photo of on the 30 Steps web page.

All of the counties from San Diego to San Bernardino are buying up tens of
thousands of acres of grasslands and shrublands to preserve hundreds of
Endangered species, but no successful plans to manage the weeds, or
significant annual budget to manage the weeds have been offered yet.

It is like buying up 1,000,000 old dilapidated homes that all need new
roofs, but you haven't even invented a way to put a new roof on a single
house yet.

Riverside County has formed a Regional Conservation Authority and is
proposing buying 500,000 acres, and San Diego County is taking about
spending $1.2 billion on land acquisitions alone.

So at the end of the day, there might be close to a million acres in
Southern California preserved that are very weed infested right now,
mostly grasslands and shrublands, that are going to need help becoming
weed-free so the 200 or so Endangered species that live in them, can
survive for the future?

Sincerely,  Craig Dremann (650) 325-7333



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