Field
|
Explanation |
*Personnel
|
All active participants should be recorded. |
*Date
|
The date of data collection is very useful
in determining vegetation phenology and
should always be included. |
*Locality name/description
|
Directions and orientation to the locality
from a reference shown in a map, e.g. ‘21
km from Fianarantsoa on tar road to Ihosy.
Or 5km SW village Mitanonoka’ This
information helps relocate a population
without the use of a GPS. The area of the
locality should be estimated (m2, hectares
or km2). |
Cultural site
|
If the site is a national monument, sacred
forest or has other cultural significance,
this should be recorded. |
Co-ordinates
|
Lat/longs are determined with a portable
Geographical Positioning System (GPS).
GPS co-ordinates are generally accurate
to 10-15 m. format should be DDMMSS (Degrees,
minutes and seconds) |
GPS datum
|
Ideally, the GPS datum It is preferable
if WGS84 is used. If another datum is used,
please state which in the box provided. |
Error/accuracy
|
GPS co-ordinates are generally accurate
to 10-15 m. |
Altitude
|
An altimeter is more accurate than a
GPS, although some more expensive GPS’s
have a built in pressure altimeter. The
recorder should define the instrument or
map used. Altitude measurements should
be given in metres. |
|
|
A national
physiognomic classification from White
(1983) is given. Recorders may
prefer to use a local or regional physiognomic
classification, in which case field 12
should be completed. Descriptions of these
classes are in the form. |
Estimated height
of each stratum
|
No explanation necessary |
*Species composition
|
Species composition gives important detail
to the habitat description. Frequent or
indicator species should be recorded, i.e.
common species or species that indicate
a certain soil type, geology etc. DBH (diameter
at breast height) measurements are useful
for demographic studies, but are NOT obligatory. |
*Intactness
of vegetation
|
This is mainly relevant to woody vegetation
types. If trees/shrubs have been removed
by cutting, fire etc. this should be recorded
as partially disturbed or disturbed. Impacts
to habitat Record the causes of degradation
or modification of habitat here. Where
details are known regarding which species
are primarily affected (e.g. tree species
being cut) or are causing the impact (e.g.
browsing by goats), this should also be
recorded. |
*Geographical
features of site
|
This is a description of the geographical
features within the area being described.
There may be more than one of these, but
this will depend on the size of the area
being described and the diversity of geographical
features within that area. The level of
detail provided here is at the recorder’s
discretion. At the very least, a description
of local topography should be provided
in the ‘Other’ box. |
Soil type
|
Soil texture (gravel/sand/loam/clay)
is best estimated by rolling a sample of
soil between finger and thumb. Colour will
indicate humic content (dark) or presence
of laterite (red). Lithology if Bare rock
is exposed, rock type should be enter. Likewise if lithology of the area is known. |
Slope
|
An estimate in degrees or an indication
of steepness. |
Aspect
|
If a collection is made from a slope,
the aspect (i.e. the direction the slope
is facing) should be recorded. This information
gives an indication of sun, shelter etc.
experienced by the plants. |
Herbarium collections
made
|
If herbarium collections are made, their
collectors, numbers, institution and field
identification should be given. This provides
additional floristic detail, which can
be verified through the specimens. |
Notes
|
Any additional relevant information should
be given here. |
