Protocols
15 protocols
quadrat sampling method
Measurement of plant species-specific cover, identification of focal species, and collection of plant biomass and functional traits including specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content.
Subalpine plant community energetics census
Complete census of all individual plants in gridded plots with spatial mapping, tissue sampling, and photosynthetic area measurement for metabolic rate estimation in herbaceous plant communities.
Alpine soil inocula collection and preparation
Collection of soil inocula from resident (high elevation) and novel (low elevation) sites across elevation gradients in mountain ecosystems, with subsequent sterilization treatments to isolate microbi...
Potter trap
Standard bird capture protocol using Potter's traps baited with seed, followed by individual banding and morphological measurements for population monitoring and identification.
destructive biomass sampling
Complete excavation of plants followed by separation into above-ground, below-ground, and reproductive components, with subsequent drying and weighing to determine biomass allocation patterns.
NRCS soil characterization methods (Plantae)
Random plot establishment along elevational gradients followed by soil coring and root extraction to quantify coarse and fine root biomass allocation patterns. Ground cover composition is estimated to...
Paired plot community comparison (Orobanchaceae)
Vegetation composition and diversity are compared between paired 1m² plots with and without Castilleja presence to assess community-level effects of parasitism. Plots are positioned as close as possib...
CDC light trap sampling (Culicidae)
Opportunistic collection of adult and larval mosquitoes across elevational gradients using standardized collection techniques. Adults collected during blood-feeding attempts, larvae sampled from diver...
Species-area curve analysis
Systematic sampling of lichen cover and species composition along fixed 1-meter transects on rock surfaces, with digital photography and image analysis for precise measurement of lichen thallus length...
Adult mosquito collection and identification (Culicidae)
Collection of adult mosquitoes during blood-seeking behavior and other activities to complement larval surveys and confirm species identifications.
Elevational gradient soil and seed sampling (Fabaceae)
Systematic collection of soils and seeds across elevational gradients spanning current and projected future species ranges to capture natural variation in soil microbial communities and plant populati...
Successional stage soil sampling across landslide chronosequence
Systematic sampling of soil from different plant successional stages within a landslide area to compare soil properties across a chronosequence. Uses stratified random sampling within defined communit...
Systematic grid mapping of sagebrush populations (Asteraceae)
Complete census of sagebrush individuals within systematic 16m × 16m grids divided into 1m² cells, with measurement of plant dimensions for size estimation.
percent cover estimation
Long-term monitoring of tundra plant communities using standardized sampling within permanently marked study areas, employing various abundance quantification methods including point frame hits, visua...
Rolatape transect gopher disturbance survey
Systematic survey of pocket gopher soil disturbances (eskers, mounds) along standardized transects using rolatape measuring wheels with perpendicular PVC pipe to standardize observation width. Each di...