A Method for Assessing the Ecological Condition of Army Lands Using a Floristic Quality Index.

A method for assessing the ecological condition of army lands using a floristic quality index.
     A floristic quality assessment, based on species conservatism, is a relatively easy and quick tool one can use to determine the ecological condition of a site. Species conservatism is the extent to which an individual species is likely found in areas relatively unchanged from pre-European settlement conditions. As such, the floristic quality assessment measures the level of “naturalness” of an area. The identifying characteristic of a highly conservative site is, therefore, dependent on the number of species that reflect the characteristics found in pre-European settlement conditions, thus distinguishing between the concepts of conservatism and rarity.
            Floristic quality assessments have several useful applications.  They can be used to: 1) determine the degree of “naturalness” of a site, 2) evaluate protective measures undertaken for a particular site, 3) evaluate restoration activities of a particular site, and 4) make comparisons among various sites.
            Floristic Quality Assessments can be conducted easily by a competent botanist without the need for elaborate sampling equipment or, alternatively, can be calculated with existing data sets. For our purposes, the Land Condition Trend Analysis (LCTA) data sets from Fort Riley, KS were used. Results of the assessment are still pending at this time.