neighboring areas to ensure adequate coverage for
been made as part of the floristic inventory and
that portion of the base.
search the database for species collected in differ-
Each inventory site was assigned a number and
ent areas of the base. It also permits a compilation
drawn onto one of the four DMA 1:50,000-scale
of the inventory areas covered. The specimens
topographic maps of Fort Wainwright (Fig. 2) in
collection list and collection-site species lists were
one of three different shapes: 1) an area where most
also used to construct a matrix of observed spe-
of the ground within an area was searched, 2) a
cies by floristic collection unit. Site records of rare
point where only a very small area or ground point
plants (Element Occurrence Records) were pre-
was searched, and 3) a line where searching oc-
pared and added to the AKNHP Biological and
curred only along a traverse line, trail, or road.
Conservation Database (BCD).
Inventory sites were located on these maps using
color infrared aerial photography (1:60,000) and
Identification and verification of specimens
topographic maps. Two handheld GPS (global
Specimens collected by field botanists were
positioning system) units (Garman and Magellan)
identified in several steps. Many of the specimens
were employed to navigate the base and aid in
were collected and tentatively identified during
locating inventory sites.
the collection season using local keys (Hulten 1968)
for vascular plants and other references. All speci-
mens were ultimately verified by staff at ALA with
Site data collection
Searches for plant species not previously seen
known specimens to ensure proper identifications.
or collected were conducted at each site. As the
season progressed, fewer collections were made
Specimens and labels
at each new site, and at several inventory sites no
Whenever possible, enough specimens of each
collections were recorded. Each collection was as-
species were collected to permit triplicate sheets
signed a collection number, and this number to-
for vascular plants and duplicates for common
gether with the site number and habitat descrip-
cryptogams. At the end of each field day, the vas-
tions were entered into a notebook in the field and
cular plant specimens were placed in standard
later into a computerized spreadsheet.
plant presses and dried under moderate heat with
Physical and biological features of each inven-
electric plant driers for a minimum of two days.
tory site were described and recorded. Physical
Cryptogam specimens were collected in paper
features included topography (slope and aspect),
packets or paper bags on which collection notes
moisture regime (wet, moist, or dry), soils (loess,
were placed. Wet specimens were very lightly
peat, gravel, sand, clay, etc.) and geology (if
pressed in a standard plant press in the labora-
known). Vegetation types at each site were noted
tory within a day of collection. Cryptogams were
and described to Level IV of Viereck et al. (1992).
air dried and stored in field packets. When dry,
For each vegetation type, a list of associated spe-
specimens were packeted for further processing.
cies and abundances were also noted. These data
Specimens were sorted into groups (lichens and
were used in producing the labels for herbarium
bryophytes), preliminary identifications were
and field specimens.
made, and standard data for the production of
herbarium labels were entered in a computer.
Collections from the study were prepared as
Database construction
A spreadsheet database was compiled daily
various types of specimens. For vascular species,
from the collection and site data described above.
two sets of each species were developed into her-
The location and shape of each collecting site vis-
barium specimens and one set into laminated
ited during the day were also drawn onto the
mounts. Laminated specimens were intended to
1:50,000-scale map. At the end of the field season,
be used in the field as reference material during
the site area, point, or line representing each col-
Land Condition Trend Analysis (LCTA) sampling.
lecting location was digitized from this map into
One set of specimens is retained at ALA as a
an ARC/INFO geographic information system at
voucher set for the study, and the other two sets
CRREL. A site number was assigned to each site,
(one laminated and the other herbarium-mounted)
and the number of species collected at each site
are stored at Fort Wainwright for reference. The
was input as an attribute. A lookup table showing
primary set of cryptogam specimens is archived
a list of species collected at each site was also con-
with labels at the Herbarium of the University of
structed and entered into the ARC/INFO system.
Alaska Museum. A second labelled set of common
These databases enable the natural resource man-
ground cryptogam species was prepared in plas-
agers to determine where plant collections have
tic petri dishes for use in LCTA studies at FWA.
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