Landscape protocolBEST Plots

Small and Large Scale Measurements

We rely on Earth’s surface to supply most of what we need to live. Therefore, mapping and monitoring this surface is critical to our wise use and protection of it.Wildlife habitatAgricultural landsDevelopmentWatershedsRecreation

Why is it important to study the land?

What will make our bioenergy blocks differ between districts? Each school will have the same seed mix and

treatments!Each school will have different:

Soil types: nutrients, soil moisture and water retention

Surrounding land use – different seeds will come into the plots

Topography and elevation – water movement and weather

Pollutants – runoff from parking lots or smog from cars

Why is it important for our experiment?

It is important to know what types of vegetation and land use surround the plotsInfluence what seeds enter the plots – future

“weeds”!Slope will influence water movement and

erosion

Small scale

It is important to know the history of the land

Identify habitats surrounding the plots for visiting birds, mammals, and insects (pollinators!)

Human impacts to the land – are habitats fragmented? Has lots of agriculture changed the soil or nutrient levels in the water?

Large scale

Small Scale

Activity 1

100 m

100 m 100 m

100 m

DISCUSSIONGroups share transect data and discuss how land use types would influence plots if they were built at KBS

Large Scale

Activity 2

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Count the number of grid cells that fall into each category

Ex. 10 forest= 10% forest

7 water = 7% water

DISCUSSIONGroups share grid counts and how these large scale land uses should influence plots at KBS and demonstration school district