Landscape Function Analysis: Soil-surface Indicators

Abstract

Here we describe eleven indicators of soil-surface processes that restoration practitioners (RPs) assess in each of the patch and interpatch types identified along landscape gradsects. (See chapter 13.) These soil-surface assessments (SSA) are made on examples of each patch and interpatch type selected at random from the full set recorded along gradsects. We call these selected examples query zones. Typically, three to five query zones are assessed per patch or interpatch type to obtain statistical rigor. As a rule of thumb, if we find a considerable amount of variation between patch (or interpatch) query zones within a type, then we assess a greater number of zones. A more rigorous method for estimating the number of zones to assess is explained in an LFA document on sample size available online ( http://members.iinet.net.au/~lfa_procedures).