Methods for the Assessment of Plant Species Diversity in Complex Agricultural Landscapes: Guidelines for Data Collection and Analysis from the PLEC Biodiversity Advisory Group (PLEC-BAG)

Abstract

s:This paper provides definitions of essential agro-biodiversity terminology (Table 1), a set of fundamental principles(Table 2) and practical guidelines(Table 3 and 4) for the collection of core PLEC plant species diversity data, and instructions for analysis and reporting of that data(Figure 1-4). The tables and figures may be used in the field as a‘recipe' for collection and analysis of that core data, which will ultimately be included in a PLEC biodiversity database. The text provides supplementary information and explanations. Cluster personal must acquire significant familiarity with the demonstration site prior to the collection of the core data, which require stratification of sampling based on Field Types Tables 1 and 2) . Methods for acquiring that familiarity are discussed by Brookfield, Stocking and Brookfield (1999), and analysis of biodiversity data collected during the familiarization process (e.g. along transects) will be discussed in a separate manuscript from the BAG members; those data do not constitute core data as defined here. In addition to stratification, the fundamental principles emphasize prioritizing sampling toward Field Types with high species richness, replication of sample areas, and collection of data critical temporal component of agro-biodiversity(Table 2). The practical guidelines emphasize criteria for sample area selection, numbers of replicates, plot size, kinds of data to record, and sampling frequency (Table 4). The instructions for analysis include simple metrics for calculating the similarity in species composition among sample areas (Figure 2), and the development and uses of species-area and abundance-diversity curves (Figures 3 and 4 respectively).