Vine Stem Counts


 Vine stems, by species, were counted as present only if the largest rooted node
 was rooted within the square meter quadrat. Only separate stems were counted. Thus, if
 a vine was partially rooted within and partially rooted outside the square meter quadrat
 volume, then reappeared within the volume as one traced its length, it was not counted
 twice, as only the largest rooted node was counted. Figure 6.4 shows three sample vines
 falling within the quadrat sampling volume. Vine 1 was not counted as a rooted vine.
 Vine 2 was counted as a rooted vine; it was rooted once within the quadrat and once
 outside of the quadrat. Vine 3 was counted only once as a rooted vine; it was actually
 rooted at three nodes within the sample quadrat.


 Vine Basal Diameter

 Basal diameter of vines was measured within each quadrat using calipers. Basal
 diameter was taken as the average of two cross sectional measurements perpendicular to
 each other. The first basal diameter reading was taken at the widest part of the stem.
 This insured that oval and odd shaped stems were measured more accurately. Using
 Figure 6.4 as a guide, vine basal diameters were measured as follows: basal diameter was
 not measured for Vine 1; basal diameter was measured at the node rooted within the
 quadrat volume for Vine 2; and basal diameter was measured for all three rooted nodes of
 Vines 3, with only the largest of the rooted nodes recorded.


 Above-Ground Biomass

 After identification, vine biomass was harvested using clippers. Vines were
 harvested at the soil/detrital layer interface for those rooted within the quadrat volume.
 Vines were separated into bags according to species, dried, and weighed. The vines in
 Figure 6.4 represent the harvested above-ground biomass as follows: the biomass
 segment of Vine 1 falling within the square meter volume was harvested. The biomass
 segments of Vine 2 falling within the square meter volume were harvested. This
 included both the segment rooted within the sample quadrat and the piece that loops back
 into the sample quadrat after rooting outside of the quadrat. All of the biomass of Vine 3
 falling within the volume of the square meter quadrat was harvested.


 Percent Cover of Understory Vegetation

 Cover of understory vegetation was estimated using a modified Braun-Blanquet
(1932) cover scale. Classes of percent cover were designated as follows:

 1 = < 10% cover
 2 = 10 25 % cover
 3 = 26 50% cover


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