Details and Metadata
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Methods
The methods followed in the creation of the dataset, including description of field, laboratory and processing steps, and quality control procedures
Current Methods
Plot establishment
Started: 1200-08-2920 plots were established in different areas of the Green Mountain National Forest. Plot selection parameters included lack of disturbance, minimum 1/4 from roads, common ecological land and soil types, in uniform areas with less than 35% slope.
Plot design generally follows FIA procedures with exceptions made for soils and lichen sampling. A plot center and 3 subplots were established, with an area between them for soil sampling. Three trees near subplot centers were scribed; 2 at dbh and 1 at the base.
Data collection
Plots were sampled for vegetation, lichen, tree, down woody debris, and soil data.
Soil sampling pits
Three 2X3 soil sampling pits were dug/plot. One 4 ounce sample/soil layer was collected, and bulk samples were taken at the Oi and Oe, A and Oa horizons, and from the 1st 10 inches of the B horzin, and at 60-70 cm belwo the ground surface.
Vegetation monitoring
Vegetation was monitored in 24-foot diameter circular subplots surrounding each subplot center. All plant species within the circle were identified and each species’ abundance was estimated. Vegetation was divided into height classes and relative abundances of species were estimated. A small (1 m²) vegetation plot was placed along each of three transects radiating at set degrees from the subplot center. All vegetation growing within these 1 m² vegetation plots was inventoried.
Subplot inventory
Trees, saplings, and down woody material were inventoried in each subplot. Samplers measured diameters and estimated heights of each tree within the 24-foot radius subplots, measured diameters and heights of all saplings within a 6.8-foot radius microplot, and measured sizes and described decay classes of coarse woody material along a transect. Fine woody material was not measured.
Lichen collection
Lichen specimens were collected to determine species diversity. Lichens were collected throughout each 58.9-foot radius annular plot. Each specimen was placed in its own brown paper bag and labeled with plot number, collection number, date, abundance, and occasional microhabitat notes, for id in the laboratory. As specimens were collected in the field, the sampler estimated the abundance of each species in the plot.
Soil sample processing
Soil samples were dried at the Mount Tabor Work Station of the GMNF at the end of each field season. During the drying process, the soil samples were laid out to air dry on clean plastic tarps in the fall. Samples took 2-3 months to dry. Samples were then bagged and delivered to the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest for analysis of a full complement of chemical parameters. Archived soil samples will be stored at Hubbard Brook.
Dataset Fields
Detailed documentation of the fields comprising the dataset, including the type of measurement, units where applicable, and any controlled vocabularies or code lists present in the data
Field Name Caption Description Additional Information Azimuth Azimuth Azimuth from plot center
Measurement type: Interval
Units: DegreesDamageLocation Damage Location Code The codes coordinate to a specific location on the sapling where damage has occurred.
Measurement type: Nominal DamageSeverity Damage Severity Code A code that coordinates to a percentage of the tree impacted by a certain type of damage.
Measurement type: Interval
Units:
Precision: 1DamageType Damage Type Code A code that coordinates to a particular type of damage.
Measurement type: Nominal DBH DBH Measurement type: DBH__in Diameter at Breast Height (4.5 ft) The diameter of a sapling at breast height (4.5 ft).
Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1Distance Distance Measurement type: Distance_ft Distance_ft Distance of sapling from microplot center
Measurement type: Ratio
Units: feet
Precision: 0.1Note Note Measurement type: Nominal PlotID PlotID Plot id
Measurement type: Nominal Species Species Species code that coordinates to a particular tree species.
Measurement type: Nominal
GMNF LEMP Microplot Sapling Species
+ showAppears in data as Meaning ACSA3 sugar maple (Acer saccharum) - View ITIS Record ACPE striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum) - View ITIS Record FAGR American beech (Fagus grandifolia) - View ITIS Record ABBA balsam fir (Abies balsamea) - View ITIS Record PIRE red pine (Pinus resinosa) - View ITIS Record BEAL2 yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) - View ITIS Record ACSP2 mountain maple (Acer spicatum) - View ITIS Record ACRE trailing white monkshood (Aconitum reclinatum) - View ITIS Record BEPA paper birch (Betula papyrifera) - View ITIS Record ACRU red maple (Acer rubrum) - View ITIS Record BEAL yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) - View ITIS Record CADE12 American chestnut (Castanea dentata) - View ITIS Record BELE sweet birch (Betula lenta) - View ITIS Record TSCA Canada hemlock; hemlock spruce (Tsuga canadensis) - View ITIS Record ACSA2 silver maple (Acer saccharinum) - View ITIS Record AMAR3 Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) - View ITIS Record AMEL serviceberry (Amelanchier sp.) - View ITIS Record StandingDead StandingDead This refers to whether or not the tree is standing dead. A value of 1 indicates that the tree is standing dead. A 0 indicates that it is alive.
Measurement type: Nominal Status Status The status of the sapling indicates whether it is alive or dead. A 1 indicates a live sapling and a 2 indicates a dead sapling.
Measurement type: Nominal SubplotID SubplotID There are 4 subplots that make up a plot. They are labeled 1 through 4.
Measurement type: Nominal TotalHeight TotalHeight Measurement type: TotalHeight_ft TotalHeight (ft) Total height of the sapling. There is no maximum value represented by a value of 999.
Measurement type: Ratio
Units: feet
Precision: 0.1TreeID TreeID Each microplot identifies their saplings starting with ID 1 at or closest to 0 degrees and moving clockwise.
Measurement type: Ordinal UncompactedLiveCrownRatio UncompactedLiveCrownRatio Uncompacted Live Crown Ratio refers to the relative amount of tree bole length supporting live foliage and is expressed as a percentage of the trees total height.
Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 1Year Year Year the data was collected.
Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: YYYYSampling Equipment
Equipment and software used to collect data, including how that equipment was used.
No sampling equipment recorded for this dataset
Site Characteristics
The spatial extent of the dataset site coverage, and descriptions of the spatial extent and context for the data collection
No site characteristics recorded for this dataset