This course will focus on the sampling of vegetation communities based on methods developed by The Nature Conservancy and practiced widely by the National Park Service and state Natural Heritage Programs.  The first session covers the elements of field preparation: maps, aerial photography, GPS units, field equipment, data sheets, rare plant and community documentation, and classification systems.  Our field investigations will sample upland and wetland plant associations, collecting data on geology, soils, and hydrology as well as quantitative information on species associations, forest structure, dominance, and cover.  We’ll experiment with releve, quadrat, and transect methods of plant sampling and compare the factors that determine species richness and diversity across different vegetation types.  Sturdy footgear is recommended, as are a compass and hand lens. Bring a bag lunch.