2023
Vegetation Sampling Techniques
Name: Vegetation Sampling Techniques
Code: BIO12338M
3 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/78 hours
Scientific Area:
Biological Sciences
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
Plant diversity identification and monitoring is the main objective. Biodiversity awareness will promote the recognition of its potential as a biological resource, to be used in a sustainable way.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
Acquisition of a sound understanding of vegetation structure and composition in order to determine how
land-use will affect the natural vegetation, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and high nature value ecosystems
and landscapes of Mediterranean agroforestry and semi-natural ecosystems. Ability to recognize the
vegetation attributes of agroforestry and semi-natural ecosystems that can be measured and quantified.
Skills to make wise decisions about which attributes to assess or monitor based on the limitations or
values associated with specific attributes. Be familiar with major field protocols for measuring vegetation
characteristics and be able to select which protocol is most relevant for meeting objectives. Summarize,
discuss, and present assessment results.
land-use will affect the natural vegetation, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, and high nature value ecosystems
and landscapes of Mediterranean agroforestry and semi-natural ecosystems. Ability to recognize the
vegetation attributes of agroforestry and semi-natural ecosystems that can be measured and quantified.
Skills to make wise decisions about which attributes to assess or monitor based on the limitations or
values associated with specific attributes. Be familiar with major field protocols for measuring vegetation
characteristics and be able to select which protocol is most relevant for meeting objectives. Summarize,
discuss, and present assessment results.
Contents
1. Vegetation (herbaceous, shrub and tree) attributes - specific composition and abundance: frequency,
coverage, density
2. Vegetable diversity
2.1 Indices of species diversity
2.2 Functional diversity
3. Actual vegetation
3.1 Methods of floristic surveying for herbaceous, shrub and trees
3.2 Analysis of plant communities (inventorying, mapping, classification and ordination; cartography)
4. Structural diversity of vegetation - horizontal and vertical structure
4.1. Physiognomy and architecture
4.2 Phenology, growth and productivity
5. Phytosociological surveying
6. Woody species surveying
7. Potential vegetation - seed harvesting and soil seed bank analysis
coverage, density
2. Vegetable diversity
2.1 Indices of species diversity
2.2 Functional diversity
3. Actual vegetation
3.1 Methods of floristic surveying for herbaceous, shrub and trees
3.2 Analysis of plant communities (inventorying, mapping, classification and ordination; cartography)
4. Structural diversity of vegetation - horizontal and vertical structure
4.1. Physiognomy and architecture
4.2 Phenology, growth and productivity
5. Phytosociological surveying
6. Woody species surveying
7. Potential vegetation - seed harvesting and soil seed bank analysis
Teaching Methods
Structured lectures are given for thematic presentation and discussion, using a wide variety of
technological resources. Field and lab theoretical-practical demonstration component. Application of
specific field protocols for measuring different vegetation attributes, followed by the analysis, presentation
and discussion of data collected in the field. Field trips with interpretive observation of plant diversity,
recorded in reports. Discussion of scientific papers.
Evaluation of the implementation of field protocols and of the analysis and discussion of the collected
data, in the form of written papers and oral presentations.
technological resources. Field and lab theoretical-practical demonstration component. Application of
specific field protocols for measuring different vegetation attributes, followed by the analysis, presentation
and discussion of data collected in the field. Field trips with interpretive observation of plant diversity,
recorded in reports. Discussion of scientific papers.
Evaluation of the implementation of field protocols and of the analysis and discussion of the collected
data, in the form of written papers and oral presentations.
Teaching Staff
