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Optimizing sampling across methods improves the power of ecological monitoring data

General Information
Data Package:
Local Identifier:knb-lter-jrn.200050001.1
Title:Optimizing sampling across methods improves the power of ecological monitoring data
Alternate Identifier:DOI PLACE HOLDER
Abstract:

Transect-based monitoring has long been a valuable tool in ecosystem monitoring. These transects are often used to measure multiple ecosystem attributes. The line-point intercept (LPI), vegetation height, and canopy gap intercept methods comprise a set of core methods, which provide indicators of ecosystem condition. However, users struggle to design a sampling strategy that optimizes the ability to detect ecological change using transect-based methods. We assessed the sensitivity of these core methods on a one-hectare plot to transect length, number, and sampling interval to determine: 1) minimum sampling required to describe ecosystem characteristics and detect change for each method and 2) optimal transect length and number for all three methods to make recommendations for future analyses and monitoring efforts. We used data from 13 National Wind Erosion Research Network locations spanning the western US, which included 151 measurements over time across five biomes. We found that longer and increased numbers of transects were more important for reducing sampling error than increased sample intensity along transects. For all methods and indicators across plots, three 100-m transects reduced sampling error so that indicator estimates fall within an 95% confidence interval of +/- 5% for canopy gap intercept and LPI-total foliar cover, +/- 5 cm for height and +/- two species for LPI-species counts. For the same criteria at 80% confidence intervals, two 100-m transects are needed. Site-scale inference was strongly affected by sample design, consequently our understanding of ecological dynamics may be influenced by sampling decisions.

Short Name:NWERN Sampling Analysis
Publication Date:2024-08-30
Language:English
For more information:
Visit: https://jornada.nmsu.edu
Visit: DOI PLACE HOLDER

Time Period
Begin:
2015-07-01
End:
2023-07-31

People and Organizations
Contact:Jornada Information Manager (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range) [  email ]
Creator:McCord, Sarah E (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)
Creator:Webb, Nick (USDA/ New Mexico State University)
Creator:Van Zee, Justin (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)
Creator:Courtright, Ericha M (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)
Creator:Billing, Ben (Bureau of Land Management)
Creator:Duniway, Michael (USGS Southwest Biological Science Center)
Creator:Kachergis, Emily (Bureau of Land Management)
Creator:Moriasi, Daniel (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)
Creator:Morra, Brian (University of Nevada-Reno)
Creator:Nafus, Aleta M (Bureau of Land Management)
Creator:Newingham, Beth A (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)
Creator:Scott, Drew A (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)
Creator:Toledo, David (USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range)

Data Entities
Other Name:
Data Results Scripts
Description:
Zipped file containing raw data files, results data files, R scripts, references, and attribute tables.
Detailed Metadata

Data Entities


Non-Categorized Data Resource

Name:Data Results Scripts
Entity Type:otherEntity
Description:Zipped file containing raw data files, results data files, R scripts, references, and attribute tables.
Physical Structure Description:
Object Name:Data_Results_Scripts.zip
Size:5988632 byte
Authentication:364da0a43960e591282372ef789428f8 Calculated By MD5
Externally Defined Format:
Format Name:application/zip
Data:https://pasta-s.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-jrn/200050001/1/db807852ac906a65656b8a3f1f561a22

Data Package Usage Rights

This information is released under the Creative Commons license - Attribution - CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data ("Data User" herein) is required to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. Thank you.

Keywords

By Thesaurus:
LTER Controlled Vocabulary v1transects
noneCore Methods, line-point intercept, sampling error, vegetation height
USDA National Ag Library's Agricultural ThesaurusLTAR, canopy gaps

Methods and Protocols

These methods, instrumentation and/or protocols apply to all data in this dataset:

Methods and protocols used in the collection of this data package
Description:

Methods

We analyzed data collected by NWERN between 2015 and 2023 (Webb et al., 2016), including data from thirteen plots, each with at least five data collection events for a total of 151 sampling events (Figure 1). The NWERN plots represent a diversity of rangeland (CPER, Holloman, Jornada, Lordsburg, Moab, Red Hills, San Luis Valley, Twin Valley), pastureland (El Reno), and cropland (Akron, Mandan, Morton, Pullman) ecosystems (Table S2). Akron, CPER, El Reno, Jornada, Morton, and Mandan are also part of the USDA’s Long-Term Agroecosystem Research network (Kleinman et al., 2018). Each NWERN plot represents one hectare with a meteorological tower at the center (Webb et al., 2016). Three, 100-m transects intersect at the meteorological tower at 60-degree intervals (Figure 1B). Transect measurements follow Herrick et al. 2018: 1) canopy gap intercept between all plants (annuals and perennials) with a 5-cm minimum gap, 2) LPI measured every 0.25 m and 3) vegetation height measured every two meters. All data collectors were trained and calibrated by NWERN staff. Data were accessed via the Landscape Data Commons (McCord et al., 2023).

2_2 Subsampling

All analyses were conducted in R 4.3.3 (R Core Team 2024). To test the impacts of different sampling approaches, we assumed that the NWERN plot sample design represented the upper limit of feasible data collection for most management and research projects. We subsampled the NWERN sites to create nine different sampling scenarios of combinations of one to three transects of 25, 50, and 100 m (Figure 1B). First, we reduced transect length, where transect lengths less than 100 m were set up to run from the plot center towards the edge of the plot (Figure 1B). Second, we randomly reduced the number of transects from three to two or one. Third, we reduced measurement intensity for LPI and vegetation height by varying pin drop measurement intensities at 0.25-, 0.5-, 1-, and 2-m intervals for LPI and 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-m intervals for vegetation height. These subsampling scenarios were selected as they include close approximations of common radial monitoring plot sample designs, such as BLM AIM (three 25-m transects sampled every 0.5 m for LPI and every 2.5 m for height) and NRCS NRI (two 45.72-m intersecting transects sampled every 91.44 cm for LPI and every 304.8 cm for height).

We calculated indicators for each subsampling scenario and method using the terradactyl R package (McCord et al., 2022). For canopy gap intercept, we calculated the percent of the plot covered in all-plant canopy gap size classes (5-24 cm, 25-50 cm, >50-100 cm, >100-200 cm, >200 cm). We used the LPI observations to calculate percent total foliar cover and to count the number of species detected. For vegetation height, we calculated the mean plant height.

2_3 Limits of agreement analysis

We conducted a limits of agreement analysis (LoA) to determine the effects of reducing sampling effort compared to NWERN sampling. Limits of agreement evaluates the differences between two measurement approaches with respect to their means (Martin Bland & Altman, 1986). In doing so, we determined the level of agreement between two approaches and detected bias exhibited by any one approach. For each indicator, we used the SimplyAgree R package (Caldwell, 2022) to conduct a nested LoA analysis that accounted for the repeat measures within NWERN sites, as well as the response across all sites using the MOVER method for calculating prediction intervals (Donner & Zou, 2012; Zou, 2013) at 80% and 95% confidence levels. All sites and indicators met the assumption of normality for the distribution of the differences. We compared the bias and agreement intervals across sampling approaches and to acceptable difference criteria. These criteria match the acceptable difference limits for field crew calibration (Herrick et al., 2018), including 1) bias was not significantly different to zero, and 2) agreement intervals and their prediction intervals were less than or equal to 5% for total foliar cover and the canopy gap indicators, five cm for vegetation height, and two species for species count. We then identified the lowest effort sampling scenario required to meet the acceptable criteria at both 80% and 95% confidence levels for each of the core methods.

People and Organizations

Publishers:
Organization:Environmental Data Initiative
Email Address:
info@edirepository.org
Web Address:
https://edirepository.org
Id:https://ror.org/0330j0z60
Creators:
Individual: Sarah E McCord
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Email Address:
sarah.mccord@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4755-2625
Individual: Nick Webb
Organization:USDA/ New Mexico State University
Email Address:
nick.webb@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9355-5512
Individual: Justin Van Zee
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Email Address:
jvanzee@nmsu.edu
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0664-5662
Individual: Ericha M Courtright
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Email Address:
ericha@nmsu.edu
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2181-4543
Individual: Ben Billing
Organization:Bureau of Land Management
Email Address:
bbillings@blm.gov
Individual: Michael Duniway
Organization:USGS Southwest Biological Science Center
Email Address:
mduniway@usgs.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9643-2785
Individual: Emily Kachergis
Organization:Bureau of Land Management
Email Address:
ekachergis@blm.gov
Individual: Daniel Moriasi
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Email Address:
Daniel.moriasi@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3389-3277
Individual: Brian Morra
Organization:University of Nevada-Reno
Email Address:
bmorra312@gmail.com
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5851-9401
Individual: Aleta M Nafus
Organization:Bureau of Land Management
Email Address:
anafus@blm.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9966-9123
Individual: Beth A Newingham
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Email Address:
Beth.newingham@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3324-500X
Individual: Drew A Scott
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Email Address:
Drew.scott@usda.gov
Id:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0361-9522
Individual: David Toledo
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Email Address:
David.toledo@usda.gov
Contacts:
Organization:USDA-ARS Jornada Experimental Range
Position:Jornada Information Manager
Address:
P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3JER New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 USA
Phone:
575-646-1739
Email Address:
jornada.data@nmsu.edu
Web Address:
https://jornada.nmsu.edu/ltar/data/documentation
Metadata Providers:
Organization:Jornada Experimental Range LTAR (USDA-ARS)
Address:
P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3JER New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 USA
Web Address:
https://jornada.nmsu.edu

Temporal, Geographic and Taxonomic Coverage

Temporal, Geographic and/or Taxonomic information that applies to all data in this dataset:

Time Period
Begin:
2015-07-01
End:
2023-07-31
Sampling Site: 
Description:Akron, CO: Akron, CO (LTAR): Cropland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -103.142000Latitude (degree): 40.160900
Sampling Site: 
Description:Central Plains Experimental Range, CO: Central Plains Experimental Range, CO (LTAR): Grassland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -104.697000Latitude (degree): 40.834900
Sampling Site: 
Description:Southern Plains - El Reno, OK: Southern Plains - El Reno, OK (LTAR): Grassland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -98.039100Latitude (degree): 35.555000
Sampling Site: 
Description:Holloman AFB, NM: Holloman AFB, NM (DoD): Shrubland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -106.107000Latitude (degree): 32.942200
Sampling Site: 
Description:Jornada Experimental Range, NM: Jornada Experimental Range, NM (LTAR): Shrubland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -106.739000Latitude (degree): 32.627100
Sampling Site: 
Description:Lordsburg Playa, NM: Lordsburg Playa, NM (BLM): Playa
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -108.913000Latitude (degree): 32.264700
Sampling Site: 
Description:Northern Plains - Mandan, ND : Northern Plains - Mandan, ND (LTAR) BAU: No-till cropland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -100.950000Latitude (degree): 46.774700
Sampling Site: 
Description:Moab, UT: Moab, UT (BLM/USGS): Grassland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -109.870000Latitude (degree): 38.651500
Sampling Site: 
Description:Morton - Mandan, ND: Morton - Mandan, ND (LTAR) ASP: Cropland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -100.925000Latitude (degree): 46.760600
Sampling Site: 
Description:Pullman, WA: Pullman, WA (LTAR): Cropland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -118.285000Latitude (degree): 46.887200
Sampling Site: 
Description:Red Hills - Reno, NV: Red Hills - Reno, NV (ARS): Post-fire shrubland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -117.216000Latitude (degree): 41.620400
Sampling Site: 
Description:San Luis Valley, CO: San Luis Valley, CO (BLM): Shrubland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -105.691000Latitude (degree): 37.599000
Sampling Site: 
Description:Twin Valley - Reno, NV: Twin Valley - Reno, NV (ARS): Post-fire shrubland
Site Coordinates:
Longitude (degree): -117.004000Latitude (degree): 41.750700

Project

Parent Project Information:

Title:Jornada Experimental Range LTAR
Personnel:
Individual:Dr. Brandon Bestelmeyer
Address:
P.O. Box 30003, MSC 3JER,
New Mexico State University,
Las Cruces, NM 88003-8003 United States
Phone:
575-646-4842 (voice)
Email Address:
brandon.bestelmeyer@usda.gov
Role:Research Leader
Abstract:

The Jornada Experimental Range Long-Term Agroecosystems Research (LTAR) program is part of a national network of long-term agricultural and rangeland ecology research sites funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Jornada Experimental Range is administered by the USDA-ARS (USDA Agricultural Research Service).

Funding:

The Jornada Experimental Range is supported by the USDA Long-Term Agroecosystem Research Network (CRIS# 3050-11210-009-00D)

Maintenance

Maintenance:
Description:ongoing
Frequency:asNeeded
Other Metadata

EDI is a collaboration between the University of New Mexico and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Center for Limnology:

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