Our long-term project is to analyze vegetation dynamics on SCI over a 30 year period (1990 – 2021). The island has experienced two major feral animal grazing events (sheep and pigs) which had a large effect on vegetation dynamics and brought invasive plant species. Subsequent removal of these ungulates resulted in an expansion of the invasive plant population. The island is also expected to be subjected to longer term changes in climate. There are going to be pronounced as well as subtle changes in the vegetation. 100 plots were established in 1990 to 1991 to monitor vegetation changes over long term. The plots were sampled 6 times over 1991-1998 and are expected to be resampled three times over 2021-2025. This project will look at long term spatially explicit aspects of vegetation including diversity, composition and structure. Plots were established prior to the use of GPS. The purpose of this trip is to accurately georeference the plots with modern equipment. Approximately 12 people will work for 3 or 4 days. Our goal is to get all plots georeferenced so we can work with GIS layers and add data layers.

Approved