Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative

An Evaluation of the Chemical, Physical, and Biological Characteristics of Seasonal Pools and Northern White Cedar Swamps: Chemical Parameters

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Metadata Provider

  • 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

Abstract

    Wetland bioassessment of seasonal pools and white cedar swamps with an emphasis on determining presence/absence of macroinvertebrates. The effects of disturbance on the ecological integrity of seasonal pools and northern white cedar swamps were determined. Drawing on the expertise of the VT Nongame and Natural Heritage Program with the VT Department of Environmental Conservation's background in biocriteria development, this project captured a range of data on natural community composition and structure at these less common wetland sites.

People

  • Doug Burnham: Content Provider

  • Eric Sorenson: Principal Investigator

Keywords

  • chemical properties, seasonal pools, vernal pools, white cedar swamps,

Organizations

  • Vermont Agency of Natural Resources : lead

Geographic Coverage

  • Coordinates
    • -73.39944, 43.13
    • -71.67, 43.13
    • -71.67, 44.638333
    • -73.39944, 44.638333
    • -73.39944, 43.13

Data Table

  • Title: Chemical Parameters
  • Start Date: 1999-01-01
  • End Date: 2000-12-31
  • Description: Chemical features of each study site

  • Purpose: To assess chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of seasonal pools and northern white cedar swamps

  • Condensed Title: Z0332_ChemicalParameters

  • Object Name: VMC.332.353

  • Data Type: mySQL
  • Citation: Vermont Wetlands Bioassessment program: An Evaluation of the Chemical, Physical, and Biological Characteristics of Seasonal Pools and Northern White Cedar Swamps. Final Report. VT Department of Environmental Conservation and VT Department of Fish and Wildlife, Nongame and Natural Heritage Program. FEMC.Can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/data/archive/project/an-evaluation-chemical-physical-biological-characteristics/dataset/chemical-parameters

  • Online Distribution: https://vmc.w3.uvm.edu/vmcdevel/data/archive/project/an-evaluation-chemical-physical-biological-characteristics/dataset/chemical-parameters

Attribute List

    Attribute Name: Site
    • Label: Site Name
    • Description: Name of site visited
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Date
    • Label: Date
    • Description: Date of site visit
    • Storage Type: datetime
    • Measurment Type: datetime
    • String Format: MM/DD/YYYY
    Attribute Name: Visit
    • Label: Visit Number
    • Description: First or second visit
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Color
    • Label: Water Color
    • Description: Water color of pool
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: customPlatinumCobaltUnits
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Field
    • Label: Field-Measured pH
    • Description: Pool water pH measured in field
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ordinal
    • Standard Unit: number
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: number
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: pH
    • Label: pH
    • Description: Measure of water acidity/basicity
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ordinal
    • Standard Unit: number
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: number
    • Number Type: real
      • Bounds:
      • Minimum: 0
      • Maximum: 14
    Attribute Name: Alk.
    • Label: Alkalinity
    • Description: Capacity of pool water able to neutralize an acid
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Cond
    • Label: Conductance
    • Description: Ability of water to transmit through material
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: customMicromho
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Ca
    • Label: Calcium Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of calcium in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Na
    • Label: Sodium Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of sodium in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: K
    • Label: Potassium Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of potassium in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Mg
    • Label: Magnesium Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of magnesium in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Al
    • Label: Aluminum Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of aluminum in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: SO4
    • Label: Sulfate Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of sulfate in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: NO3
    • Label: Nitrate Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of nitrate in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Cl
    • Label: Chlorine Concentration
    • Description: Concentration of chlorine in water
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Precision: 0.0000000001
    • Unit: milligramsPerLiter
    • Number Type: real

Methods

  • Past Methods (no longer in use)
    • Condition assessment
      • Started: 1999-01-01
        Ended: 2000-12-31
      • Method Description: A total of twenty-eight seasonal pools were assessed during the years 1999 and 2000. The assessed pools included those representative of reference (minimally disturbed) conditions as well as those representing a range of disturbance. Of those twenty-eight pools, five were assessed in both years in order to evaluate annual variability. Pools were selected to represent most of the biophysical regions of Vermont as well as a range of disturbance type and intensity.

    • Assessment of water chemistry and communities
      • Started: 1999-01-01
        Ended: 2000-12-31
      • Method Description: Biological communities assessed included aquatic macroinvertebrates, algae, vegetation, and amphibians. Water chemistry included earth metals, major anions, color, pH, alkalinity, aluminum, and specific conductance. A number of ecological observations were made at each pool, including: pool size; pool depth; in-pool habitat characteristics; and forest type and condition surrounding each pool.

    • Pool visits and data analysis
      • Started: 1999-01-01
        Ended: 2000-12-31
      • Method Description: All pools were visited a minimum of twice to assess amphibians and aquatic macroinvertebrates (early and late spring), with additional later visits between August and November as necessary to characterize physical and vegetative parameters. Data were analyzed in a variety of ways in an effort to identify ecological indicators of reference condition classification or disturbance gradients.

    • Unnamed Method
      • Started: 1999-01-01
        Ended: 2000-12-31
      • Method Description: See report for full details of methods

Sampling Equipment

  • No sampling equipment recorded for this dataset

Site Characteristics

  • Site Description: An effort was made to select seasonal pools across a range of geographical locations and elevations within the state. Seasonal pools include pools commonly referred to as vernal, temporary, intermittent, ephemeral, or autumnal. For this study, a seasonal pool was defined by the following criteria: 1) no permanent inlets or outlets, 2) standing water for at least two months of the year, and 3) dries out for some portion of each year with average rainfall.