Submit your monitoring methods here! We'll review and publish them to the repository to share with the community.
The Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) has created a standard protocol for surveying for invasive plant species along roadsides in mountains. This is a specialized version of a quadrat survey that is particularly suitable for such environments.
The Mountain Invasion Research Network (MIREN) has created a standard protocol for surveying for invasive plant species along roadsides in mountains. This is a specialized version of a quadrat survey that is particularly suitable for such environments. Additionally, all data collected with the protocol can be submitted to the open-access MIREN database.
Invasive plant species often spread along roads, and can often be first detected along them. Additionally, in mountainous areas, elevation-specific survey efforts are crucial to understand the true spread and impact of invasive species. Given the rugged terrain, roads also offer more practical access across large elevational gradients.
To apply the MIREN protocol, a given elevational gradient is divided into 20 elevational bands. Within each band, a site is selected that is safe to access, and that provides 100 meters of access from the road edge (for example, a road section on a cliff edge would not be suitable). At each site, three rectangular plots are created - one next to and parallel with the roadway, the other two perpendicular, placed end-to-end, and extending a total of 100 meters away from the roadway. Within each plot, the vegetation is exhaustively surveyed to understand the presence and abundance of native and non-native species.
Plots can be marked out relatively inexpensively, using materials such as PVC pipes or pegs and rope. The MIREN protocol allows for repeated sampling of the same plots to track the spread of invasive species, so permanently marking plots is heavily recommended.
Additionally, a comprehensive identification guide to the plant species of the area being surveyed would be needed. The MIREN data format also requires a comprehensive list of all recorded species that could occur in the plot, along with their status as native or non-native. A camera would be highly recommended to capture images, if field identification is not possible.
All necessary documents and tools can be found on their website here.
A complete description of the MIREN protocol is available on their website at this link. The website also contains links to the MIREN dataset, a data submission form, and other useful resources to conduct this method. All necessary documents and tools can be found on their website here.
Traditional Knowledge knowledge holders may be able to contribute important information on plant identification and use from an ethnobotanical perspective. Including Traditional Knowledge holders in quadrat sampling can increase the efficacy of this method.
To understand how to integrate Traditional Knowledge into your project's monitoring protocol, please refer to COMET's Practitioners Guide to Engaging with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Conservation Monitoring.
