Floristics Module. In 'Ecological Field Monitoring Protocols Manual using the Ecological Monitoring System Australia.'

This module is one of many that form the Ecological Field Monitoring Protocols Manual using the Ecological Monitoring System Australia (EMSA), available at https://emsa.tern.org.au/documents. The Floristics Module involves the collection of plant specimen vouchers of all species to support the species list recorded. Plant specimen vouchers ensure correct species identification, provide a taxonomic reference and ensure the repeatability of studies. This module includes two protocols to record flora species composition within a core monitoring plot:

Enhanced protocol – plant specimen vouchers collected for all species present in a plot for identification by the relevant herbarium (or approved taxonomist).

Standard protocol – plant specimen vouchers collected for a subset of the species (new, unknown, important, contentious and threatened species; see Table 1) present in a plot for identification by the relevant herbarium (or approved taxonomist). Field botanist identification and plant photo vouchers collected for the remaining species.

The enhanced protocol includes the procedures and guidelines for collecting vouchers of all flora species from a plot, attaching voucher barcode labels, scanning the voucher barcodes into the Monitor app, allocating the species NVIS growth form and field name, pressing the vouchers, and maintaining the pressed vouchers both during and after the field survey. The guidelines provide further information on taxonomic preferences and pressing techniques, including specifics for dealing with small species, succulent species and wet specimens.

The enhanced protocol is best practice and recommended, particularly for baseline surveys and inexperienced surveyors, as vouchers are provided to the relevant herbarium (or approved taxonomist) for identification. The Enhanced protocol is highly recommended when a plot is monitored for the first time and, for more arid environments, when a plot is monitored after favourable environmental conditions.