Below are links to the HerbVar sampling protocols. Please be sure to review the larger strategic vision and project goals of the HerbVar Network, which are summarized in Chapter 1.
Species & Site Selection
Our approach to select plant species and/or sites to survey is described in Section 9.1. Briefly, we suggest collaborators strive to survey one of the following:
- One of our three focal species – Taraxacum officinale, Plantago lanceolata, and Plantago major – in a novel geographic/environmental context,
- New clades or growth forms of species in our five focal families: Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Solanaceae, or
- Reproductive tissue damage of any species.
Primary Protocol
The Primary Protocol for collecting HerbVar data with most species (e.g., sample sizes, selecting individuals to sample) is described in Chapter 14. If there is a reason why you think this protocol will not work for your species or in your field sites, please consider one of the alternative protocols below or contact the HerbVar Planning Group.
Estimating damage by herbivores: Chapter 15 provides a detailed walk-through of the process for estimating herbivore damage on leaves and whole plants, including suggestions for different types of leaves and damage. There is also an Illustrated Guide to Percent Leaf Damage (download link: Section 23.1) to help estimate different levels of to damage to leaves. We suggest printing this guide and taking it with you to the field to help estimate percent herbivory. It currently includes leaves of two species as examples; it will be updated with examples from other species.
Datasheets
Datasheet - Excel File (download link: Section 23.1). This Excel file is a template datasheet designed to work for the HerbVar Primary Protocol. It contains a “data dictionary” sheet that defines all columns if any abbreviations are unclear.
Datasheet - Printable PDF (download link: Section 23.1). We have split the printable datasheets into three parts, one each for the Primary, Reproductive, and Herbivore Protocols. The herbivore datasheet is built for you to print as many copies of the second page as you have identified herbivore groups.
Damage to reproductive tissues
If your plants have reproductive tissues (e.g., flowers, fruits, seeds), please follow the protocol in Chapter 16 to quantify damage to these tissues.
Alternative survey protocols
Rare Plants
Chapter 17 describes protocols for rare plants (i.e., plants found at low densities / abundances).
Cacti & Other Succulents
Chapter 18 describes protocols and issues related to quantifying herbivory on cacti and other succulents.
Trees
Chapter 19 is a protocol for surveying mature trees. It also discusses how to handle seedlings and saplings of tree species. If you are sampling tree species in their seedling or sapling stage (i.e., <2m tall) please refer to the Primary Protocol.
Rhizomatous species
Chapter 20 is a protocol for rhizomatous species for which it is feasible to determine what constitutes a genet (e.g., by identifying rhizomatous connections) and for which genets are small enough that herbivory could be estimated on ~30 genets in a site and their nearest neighbors.
Sampling Insects
All surveys should note internally-feeding herbivores (e.g., gallers and miners), but only some should take the extra time to sample external herbivores. Chapter 21 discusses whether and how to sample insects, and includes visual cheatsheets for several identifying several focal groups of insects and for counting galls and mines.
Entering and Correcting Data
Do not make any changes to the raw data files once you have entered the data. Make any corrections using R scripts. For additional information on how to do this, see Chapter 10