An introduction to VegBank:
a tool for data entry, acquisition, and archiving

A Fieldtrip and Workshop sponsored by
The ESA Vegetation Classification Panel

Principal Instructors:
Michael Jennings, Robert Peet, Dave Roberts,
Michael Lee, Don Faber-Langendoen, & John Harris

Lead organizer:
Michael Jennings, jennings@uidaho.edu

Staff contact:
Lori Hidinger, lori@esa.org

Description:

There is currently no public archive for vegetation plot data in the U.S or elsewhere, yet such an archive is critical for plot storage, plot identification and access, and for plot documentation and citation. Such a repository is especially needed for obtaining, synthesizing, and documenting the large number of field observations needed to classify, describe, and name vegetation types, particularly for the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (US-NVC). The ESA Panel on Vegetation Classification has been developing VegBank to meet this need. For vegetation plot data VegBank is expected to function in a manner analogous to GenBank in that primary data will be deposited for reference and reanalysis. VegBank is intended to be directly linked to vegetation types and description maintained in the USVC classification database.

This workshop will introduce attendees to the functions and applications of VegBank in vegetation science by walking participants through all phases of the classification process, from collection and entry of original field plot data to extraction of preexisting complementary plot data, data set integration, subsequent analysis, documentation, and final archiving. Workshop participants will first visit a range of vegetation types in the Santa Catalina Mountains, after which they will divide into five crews deployed to different field locations. They will use the Panel's "Standards for Floristic Vegetation Classification" as a basis for collecting field data that will be entered into VegBank. The second day will be spent in a computer teaching lab at the University of Arizona. There participants will download the VegBank client tool, upload field data to the client, query the central database for related plots, and develop an amalgamated set of plot data for classification. They will then output a set of plot data for initial analysis. Participants will end the workshop by employing analytical tools to evaluate their derived data with respect to current floristic descriptions of vegetation types in the USVC.