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

  • Fence locations
    Started: 1991-04-01

    On Mansfield, drift fences located in the Browns River drainage. Two fences at 1200' (Proctor Maple Research Center) (1) in mixed northern hardwoods, (2) in hemlock stand; 2200' (off CCC road in Underhill State Park) in mixed northern hardwoods; and at 3200' (off Sunset Ridge Trail) in spruce and fir forest. No data collected in 2009.

  • Monitoring sites
    Started: 2008-04-01

    At Lye Brook, monitoring restarted with three drift fences located outside of the north and south ends of wilderness area used for monitoring: 860' fence near Lye Brook Falls Access area, 2400' and 2700' fence off Branch Pond Road

  • Preparation and sampling
    Started: 1991-04-01

    Drift fence bucket lids removed the day prior to anticipated heavy rain events, with samples collected after rain. Sampling done approximately 3 times per month, April through October.

  • Length measurements
    Started: 1994-04-01

    At each drift fence, length measurements were taken only on the first three individuals from each size class and species. Total length of specimens measured from the tip of the nose to the tip of the body or tail. Snout-to-vent length also measured as length from tip of snout to vent or cloacal opening.

Past Methods (No longer in use)

  • Drift fence location
    Started: 1993-04-01
    Ended: 2002-10-31

    At Lye Brook, drift fences located outside of the north and south ends of wilderness area used for inventory: 860' fence near Lye Brook Falls Access area, 2400' and 2700' fence off Branch Pond Road.

  • Drift fence location distinction
    Started: 1995-04-01
    Ended: 2002-10-31

    At Lye Brook, only the lower elevation drift fence (860') was used for inventory, the two upper elevation (2400' and 2700') were used for monitoring

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
Latin nameSpecies Latin Name

Latin name of the species observed

Measurement type: Nominal
StatusStatus

Method of detection

Measurement type: Nominal
DateDate

Date of observation

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: YYYY-MM-DD
CountyCounty

County of observation

Measurement type: Nominal
TownTown

Town of observation

Measurement type: Nominal
NamesObserver's Names

Name of observer(s)

Measurement type: Nominal
SGCNConservation Status

Species of Greatest Conservation Need ranking, as defined by Vermont

Measurement type: Ordinal
MethodCapture method

Method used to capture species

Measurement type: Nominal

Sampling Equipment

Equipment and software used to collect data, including how that equipment was used.

Past Sampling Equipment (No longer in use)

  • Drift fences, buckets, snake traps
    Started: 1993-04-01
    Ended: 1995-10-31

    At Lye Brook, 3 drift fences constructed of straight sections of 30-meter lengths of aluminum flashing. 17-liter plastic buckets were placed at the end, with #10 tin cans with funnel tops in the middle. Screen "snake" traps also used.

Site Characteristics

The spatial extent of the dataset site coverage, and descriptions of the spatial extent and context for the data collection

  • Site Description

    At Lye Brook Area, includes Lye Brook access area (840') and Branch Pond Road (2400' and 2700').

    Minimum Altitude: 840 feet

    Maximum Altitude: 2700 feet

  • Site Description

    West slope of Mount Mansfield at 3 elevations: 1200', 2200' and 3200'

    Minimum Altitude: 1200 feet

    Maximum Altitude: 3200 feet