The standardized methodology for vegetation records is the Braun-Blanquet sampling method (Walker et al. 2017) which we recommend be followed for all vegetation relevés. The typical relevé covers 1-4 m2 in the tundra, although we recommend when beginning a study to calculate a species area curve to determine the best plot size to capture adequate species diversity within a given vegetation community. Record of the plot area and shape is required for comparative purposes when submitting data sets to the archive.
The species cover abundance is indicated by a categorical scalar from rare (r) to 76-100% (5; (see table below). Species cover can also be recorded as a percent in the field and later categorized in the Braun-Blanquet Plant Species Cover Abundance Scale. The sociability of the species is indicated on a scale from 1 to 5. For subsequent localization of the plot it is highly important to take accurate GPS coordinates (datum WGS 84 is recommended) of the observation location and not only mark it on a map.
Walker, D.A. , Daniëls, F.J.A., Matveyeva, N.V., Šibík, J., Walker, M.D., Breen, A.L., Druckenmiller, L.A., Raynolds, M.K., Bültmann, H., Hennekens, S., Buchhorn, M.Epstein, H.E., Ermokhina, K., Fosaa, A.M., Hei∂marsson, S., Heim, B., Jónsdóttir, I.S., Koroleva, N., Lévesque, E., MacKenzie, W.H., Henry, G.H.R., Nilsen, L., Peet, R., Razzhivin, V., Talbot, S.S., Telyatnikov, M., Thannheiser, D., Wirth, L.W. and Webber, P.J.. 2018. Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Classification Phytocoenologia 48(2): 181-201. (PDF)
Braun-Blanquet Plant Species Cover Abundance Scale
|
r |
Rare |
|
+ |
Common, but <1% cover of taxa |
|
1 |
1-5% cover of taxa |
|
2 |
6-25% cover of taxa |
|
3 |
26-50% cover of taxa |
|
4 |
51-75% cover of taxa |
|
5 |
76-100% cover of taxa |
Braun-Blanquet Sociability
|
1 |
Individually growing |
|
2 |
Scattered groups or tufts of plants |
|
3 |
Patches or cushions |
|
4 |
Large patches |
|
5 |
Large and fairly continuous mats of one taxon |
