Dataset: Percent Cover of Vascular Plants and Bryophytes Rooted in Vernal Pools

Methods

The methods followed in the creation of the dataset, including description of field, laboratory and processing steps, and quality control procedures

Past Methods (No longer in use)

• Condition assessment
  Started: 1999-01-01
  Ended: 2000-12-31

  A total of twenty-eight seasonal pools were assessed during the years 1999 and 2000. The assessed pools included those representative of reference (minimally disturbed) conditions as well as those representing a range of disturbance. Of those twenty-eight pools, five were assessed in both years in order to evaluate annual variability. Pools were selected to represent most of the biophysical regions of Vermont as well as a range of disturbance type and intensity.
• Assessment of water chemistry and communities
  Started: 1999-01-01
  Ended: 2000-12-31

  Biological communities assessed included aquatic macroinvertebrates, algae, vegetation, and amphibians. Water chemistry included earth metals, major anions, color, pH, alkalinity, aluminum, and specific conductance. A number of ecological observations were made at each pool, including: pool size; pool depth; in-pool habitat characteristics; and forest type and condition surrounding each pool.
• Pool visits and data analysis
  Started: 1999-01-01
  Ended: 2000-12-31

  All pools were visited a minimum of twice to assess amphibians and aquatic macroinvertebrates (early and late spring), with additional later visits between August and November as necessary to characterize physical and vegetative parameters. Data were analyzed in a variety of ways in an effort to identify ecological indicators of reference condition classification or disturbance gradients.
• 
  Started: 1999-01-01
  Ended: 2000-12-31

  See report for full details of methods

Dataset Fields

Detailed documentation of the fields comprising the dataset, including the type of measurement, units where applicable, and any controlled vocabularies or code lists present in the data

Sampling Equipment

Equipment and software used to collect data, including how that equipment was used.

Site Characteristics

The spatial extent of the dataset site coverage, and descriptions of the spatial extent and context for the data collection

• Site Description

  An effort was made to select seasonal pools across a range of geographical locations and elevations within the state. Seasonal pools include pools commonly referred to as vernal, temporary, intermittent, ephemeral, or autumnal. For this study, a seasonal pool was defined by the following criteria: 1) no permanent inlets or outlets, 2) standing water for at least two months of the year, and 3) dries out for some portion of each year with average rainfall.