Susan C. Gawler, NatureServe, Eastern Regional Office, Boston, MA USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis 200412 and 20090531 Plots V3.2 vector digital data http://biology.usgs.gov/npsveg/mabi/mabigeodata.zip doi:10.5066/F7ZW1HWH This geodatabase includes the locations of vegetation classification sampling plots used to develop an association-level vegetation classification of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park for the National Park Service. Vegetation sampling was performed by Brett Engstrom, Ecological Consultant, Marshfield, VT. The accuracy assessment points used to assess the association-level vegetation map of Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park developed by Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and NatureServe for the National Park Service. Accuracy assesement was performed by Sue Gawler and Ery Largay from NatureServe. The shapefile depicts point locations of vegetation classification sampling points and point locations for accuracy assessment observation points. Plot locations were recorded with a WAAS-enabled GPS unit. A GPSMap60CSX unit was programmed with coordinates of the selected accuracy assessment sampling locations. Data were reformatted to match Plots V3.2 by the USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis. 200409 200610 ground condition Complete None planned Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and environs -72.553895 -72.518654 43.639754 43.627067 none vegetation vegetation plots thematic accuracy assessment vegetation map association level Vegetation Classification National Park Service Theme Category Thesaurus vegetation ISO 19115 Topic Category biota National Park System Unit Name Thesaurus Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park National Park System Unit Code Thesaurus MABI None Vermont VT none 2004 2006 None Standardized National Vegetation Classification System vegetation classification alliance community association Kingdom Plantae None None. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Any related graphics (if available) are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not approriate to use the related graphics as data. Sue Gawler NatureServe Regional Ecologist mailing address

256 Gupthill Road

Belgrade ME 04917 USA 207-495-3513 207-495-3444 sue_gawler@natureserve.org 9am-5pm Microsoft Windows XP Version 5.1 (Build 2600) Service Pack 3; ESRI ArcCatalog 9.3.1.4000 Susan C. Gawler, NatureServe, Eastern Regional Office, Boston, MA F. Brett Engstrom, Ecological Consultant, Marshfield, VT 2010 final technical report Philadelphia, PA National Park Service, Northeast Region ESRI Point Geometry Exists. Point locations for all 30 plots are included. Locations for all 63 accuracy assessment points are included. Each accuracy assessment point is representaed by one point in the shapefile. All points fall within vegetation association polygons. Thirty vegetation plots were sampled for this vegetation project during July, August, and September of 2004. Herb and shrub layers were re-sampled in 23 permanent forest monitoring plots established by Keeton in 2003. Seven new plots were established and sampled in vegetation associations not sampled by Keeton. Upland forest plots sampled are 0.05 ha (22.36 x 22.36m), following Keeton's equivalent size in his nested plot protocol. Five of the newly established plots are smaller corresponding to the much smaller vegetation units being sampled. They include three 100 m2 (10 x 10 m) plots, and two 10 m2 (3.16 x 3.16 m) plots. All vegetation plot sampling followed the USGS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program protocols. Plots were allocated to all vegetation types known to occur in the park, or to unique signatures, with replicate plots to be assigned over the type's environmental range to the extent possible. The sampling design called for an average of three plots per targeted type, for a minimum of 30 plots. Areas classified as Anderson Level II (modified) categories were not sampled. NatureServe National Park Vegetation Mapping Program plot survey forms were completed for all 30 plots. The completed forms are on file with NPS and NatureServe. Abbreviated instructions for completing this form and definitions of the fields can be found in the NBS/NPS Vegetation Mapping Program: Field Methods for Vegetation Mapping manual. Vegetation structure was documented as total cover, stratum height, and characteristic species for each stratum. Then, segregated by stratum, each species' cover was recorded in the applicable cover class, as the class midpoint. A seven-class cover scale was used. Total cover, stratum height, and characteristic species for each stratum were noted to document vegetation structure. Natural disturbance and land use history notes were recorded on each form. Notes were taken on how well the plot represented the surrounding vegetation and any other significant environmental information, such as landscape context, herbivory, stand health, recent disturbance, or evidence of historic disturbance. Digital photographs were taken of most vegetation associations. The location of each plot was recorded with a global positioning system Garmin 12 (GPS) unit, with the datum set to North American 1983 (Conus) and the coordinate system set to Universal Trans-Mercator (UTM) zone 18. The GPS unit was WAAS (Wide-Area Augmentation System) enabled and provided real-time differential correction. Plot sampling was conducted in September 2004 by Brett Engstrom. Vegetation association-level data recorded in the plot forms were crosswalked to the US National Vegetaiton Classification System by NatureServe'sRegional Ecologist, Sue Gawler. 2004 Sue Gawler NatureServe Regional Vegetation Ecologist mailing and physical address

254 Gupthill Road

Belgrade MA 04917 USA 207-495-3513 207-495-3444 sue_gawler@natureserve.org Thematic accuracy has several objectives including to asssess the data's suitability for a particular application, to inform the map producers to learn more about data errors and improve the mapping process, and conform to production standards. Accuracy assessment (AA) sampling design followed the guidelines provided in the NPS Vegetation Mapping Program (The Nature Conservancy 1994) manuals with respect to the number of AA points sampled and their distribution across park polygons. The sampling design called for 51 points during the 2006 field season. AA sampling coordinates were selected by generating random points within the minimum and maximum easting and northing UTM coordinates of the park's extent. During September 2006, each accuracy assessment point was located in the field using a GPSMap60CSX unit. Points were then buffered at a distance of 10 meters from the polygon border to exclude ecotonal areas that may be of ambiguous classification. A total of 63 accuracy assessment plots were collected. The datum on the GPS units was set to North American 1983 (Conus) and the coordinate system was set to Universal Trans-Mercator (UTM) zone 18. The vegetation association at the point was then determined using the dichotomous key and the detailed vegetation descriptions. The minimum area of observation around the sampling point was a circle with a radius of 50 m. The dominant plant species in each stratum, environmental attributes, surrounding vegetation associations, rationale for classification and other comments were noted on a field form. After field work was completed, data from the 63 accuracy assessment points were entered into the NatureServe PLOTS 2.0 Database System on a Microsoft Access platform. Vegetation associations were identified using the vegetation key developed for the park. AA results were analyzed using a sample missclassification matrix. Overall accuracy, Lappa index and 90% confidence intervals were calculated using the Accuracy Assessment Procedures-USGS/NPS Vegetation Mappiong Program manual (The Nature Conservancy 1994). 2006 Sue Gawler NatureServe Regional Vegetation Ecologist mailing and physical address

256 Gupthill Road

Belgrade ME 04917 USA 207.495.3513 207.495.3444 sue_gawler@natureserve.org 9-5 Data were reformatted using Plots V3.2, and then the Shapefiles and the data was imported into a geodatabase by the USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis. 201208 Metadata imported. 201208 Vector Entity point 93 Universal Transverse Mercator 18 0.999600 -75.000000 0.000000 500000.000000 0.000000 coordinate pair 0.000100 0.000100 meters North American Datum of 1983 Geodetic Reference System 80 6378137.000000 298.257222 MABI_VegPoints Feature class attribute table National Park Service OBJECTID Internal feature number. ESRI Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated. Shape Feature geometry. ESRI Coordinates defining the features. Plot_Code Unique identifier for this Accuracy Assessment, Observation or Plot point Plots V3.2 Unique plot number. Pnts_Type Point type (accuracy assessment point, observation point or plot point) Plots V3.2 Accuracy Assessment Point AA Point Plots V3.2 Observation Point Observation Point Plots V3.2 Plot Point Plot Point Plots V3.2 X_Coord X Coordinate (UTM Easting) Plots V3.2 Easting coordinate. Y_Coord Y Coordinate (UTM Northing) Plots V3.0 Northing coordinate. rc_VegPoints_tAA_tPlots Defines relationship between Veg points and basic AA/plot attributes National Park Service USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator mailing and physical address

Denver Federal Center, Building 810, MS 302

Denver Colorado 80225 (303) 202-4220 303-202-4219 gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov Downloadable Data The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. These data and related graphics (if available) are not legal documents and are not intended to be used as such. The information contained in these data is dynamic and may change over time. The data are not better than the original sources from which they were derived. It is the responsibility of the data user to use the data appropriately and consistent within the limitations of geospatial data in general and these data in particular. Any related graphics (if available) are intended to aid the data user in acquiring relevant data; it is not approriate to use the related graphics as data. The U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of these data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from an U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service servers and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the utility of the data on another system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be paid to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this metadata report does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the U. S. Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey and National Park Service. HTML http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/vip/parks/mabi.html Internet Access None 20090904 20120807 USGS/CSS/Core Science Analytics and Synthesis USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program Coordinator mailing and physical address

Denver Federal Center, Building 810, MS 302

Denver Colorado 80225 (303) 202-4220 303-202-4219 gs-b-npsveg@usgs.gov FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata FGDC-STD-001.1-1999 http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/metadata/index.html