The Ecological Significance of Sun/Shade Plasticity in Balsam Fir, Red Spruce, and Paper Birch along Elevational Gradients in the Northeastern United States: Needle Morphology
Download MetadataView Metadata in XML Format
► dataset_eml_metadataproviderheader
- Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative
- Address:
705 Spear Street
South Burlington, Vermont 05403
United States of America
Phone: (802) 391-4135
Email: femc@uvm.edu
Website: www.uvm.edu/femc
► dataset_eml_abstractheader
To better understand the relationship between plants and their abiotic environment, by using the response of three different tree species growing at different elevations, to light.
► dataset_eml_peopleheader
- Andrew Richardson: dataset_eml_peopleprincipleinvestigator
► dataset_eml_locationheader
- dataset_eml_locationcords
► dataset_eml_datatableheader
- dataset_eml_datatabletitle: Needle Morphology
- dataset_eml_datatablestartdate: 2000-06-01
- dataset_eml_datatableendate: 2002-09-30
- dataset_eml_datatabledescription: Measurements of elevation, crown position, width, cross section etc.
- dataset_eml_datatablepurpose: To better understand the relationship between plants and their abiotic environment, by using the response of three different tree species growing at different elevations, to light.
- dateset_eml_datatableshortname: Z0128_SpruceNeedleMorph
- dataset_eml_datatablephysicalobjectname: VMC.128.172
- dataset_eml_datatabledatatype: mySQL
- dataset_eml_datatablecitation: Andrew Richardson. 2002. Needle Morphology. FEMC. Can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/data/archive/project/the-ecological-significance-sunshade-plasticity-balsam/dataset/needle-morphology/overview
- dataset_eml_datatableonlinedistribution: https://vmc.w3.uvm.edu/vmcdevel/CI4/data/archive/project/the-ecological-significance-sunshade-plasticity-balsam/dataset/needle-morphology
► dataset_eml_attributelistheader
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Observation
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Observation
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Observation identification number
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: int
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Species
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Species of Tree
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Species of tree sampled
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: text
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Elevation
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Elevation of Observation
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Elevation where tree is located (low, mid and high elevations)
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: text
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Crown position
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Crown Position
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: What part of the crown the sample is from (either sun or shade)
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: text
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Tree
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Tree ID
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Tree ID number
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: text
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Transect
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Transect
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Transect
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: text
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Mountain
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Mountain Site
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: The mountain where the sample was taken
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: text
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Sample code
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Sample Code
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Sample code
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: text
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: nominal
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Needle width
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Width of Needle
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Width of needle
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 1
- Unit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: integer
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Needle thickness
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Thickness of Needle
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Thickness of needle
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.01
- Unit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Epidermis thickness
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Thickness of Epidermis
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Thickness of leaf epidermis (layered group of cells that protects leaves from external environment)
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: micrometer
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.01
- Unit: micrometer
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Vascular cylinder cross-sectional area
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Vascular Cylinder Cross-Sectional Area
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Cross-sectional area of the vascular cylinder. Measured in micrometers squared time 10^3
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: customSquareMicrometers
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.01
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Cuticle thickness
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Thickness of Cuticle
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Thickness of leaf cuticle (hydrophobic, waxy covering produced by epidermal cells)
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: micrometer
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.001
- Unit: micrometer
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Transverse cross-sectional area of needle
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Needle Transverse Area
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Transverse cross-sectional area of a needle. Measured in micrometers squared time 10^3
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: customSquareMicrometers
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 1
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: integer
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Cross-sectional area inside epidermis
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Area Inside Epidermis
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Cross-sectional area inside epidermis. Measured in micrometers squared time 10^3
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: customSquareMicrometers
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 1
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: integer
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Mesophyll cross-sectional area
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Mesophyll Cross-Sectional Area
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Mesophyll cross sectional area (interior of the leaf between the upper and lower layers od epidermis). Measured in micrometers squared time 10^3
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: customSquareMicrometers
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.01
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Width/thickness ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Width/Thickness Ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Ratio of the leafs width to its thickness
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.000001
- Unit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Vascular cylinder ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Vascular Cylinder Ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Vascular cylinder ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.00001
- Unit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Mesophyll ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Mesophyll Ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Mesophyll ratio of leaf
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.000001
- Unit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Needle mass
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Needle Mass
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Mass of needle
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: milligram
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.1
- Unit: milligram
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Projected needle area (one-sided)
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Projected Needle Area
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Projected area of one side of a needle
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: squareCentimeters
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.001
- Unit: squareCentimeters
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Needle length
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Needle Length
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Length of needle
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.00001
- Unit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Average needle thickness
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Average Needle Thickness
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Average thickness of neele
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.0001
- Unit: centimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Tissue density
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Tissue Density
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Density of tissue
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: customGramsPerCubicMillimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.00001
- Unit: GramsPerCubicMillimeter
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
- dataset_eml_attributelistname: Needle mass to area ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistlabel: Needle Mass/Area Ratio
- dataset_eml_attributelistdescription: Ratio of the needles mass to area
- dataset_eml_attributeliststoragetype: decimal
- dataset_eml_attributelistmeasurementtype: ratio
- dataset_eml_attributeliststandardunit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistprecision: 0.001
- Unit: number
- dataset_eml_attributelistnumbertype: real
► dataset_eml_methodsheader
- dataset_eml_currentMethodsHeader
- Experimental design
- dataset_eml_methodsStartDate: 0001-01-01
- dataset_eml_methoddescription: A split-split plot experimental design was used on the plots, split by species (balsam vs fir) first and then samples were split by crown position (sun vs shade). After sample processing, three needles from each sample were used for anatomical measurements. dataset_eml_methodsInstrumentation: R:FR meter (Skye instruments); dataset_eml_methodsSoftware: Leica Q500MC and QWin V1.00 (Leica Cambridge Ltd.)
- dataset_eml_methodsStartDate: 0001-01-01
- Photosynthetic rates
- dataset_eml_methoddescription: Photosynthesis measurements were made on detached shoots with their ends immersed in vials of water. Projected needle area and dry mass were measured and then used to convert the measured photosynthetic rates to projected needle area. Chl NDI and PRI indices were used to obtain physiological insights from the chlorophyll fluorescence and spectral reflectance of dark-adapted foliage. dataset_eml_methodsInstrumentation: OS-500 Modulated Fluorometer UniSpec Spectral Analysis System
- Foliar C-13 analysis
- dataset_eml_methoddescription: Using a pool of three samples from each site x crown position x species combination, an analysis of foliar C-13 was conducted by a commercial laboratory. dataset_eml_methodsInstrumentation: Europa Scientific ANCA-GSL elemental analyzerdataset_eml_methodsQAQC: Two replicated of every fifth sample were analyzed sequentially. All samples were run against a flour standard and results are expressed in relation to the PDB standard.
► dataset_eml_samplingheader
- dataset_eml_noSamplingEquipment
► dataset_eml_sitecharacteristicsheader
- dataset_eml_sitecharacteristicsdescription: Sampling sites were located on three mountains (Whiteface Mt., Mt. Mansfield and Mt. Moosilauke), along two transects on each mountain (eastern and southern), at three elevations on each transect (low, mid and high elevation), for two species (red spruce and balsam fir) and two crown positions (sun and shade).