Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative

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

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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

  • biogeochemical processes, physical 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: Physical Parameters and Site Classification
  • Start Date: 1999-01-01
  • End Date: 2000-12-31
  • Description: Physical characteristics of each study site

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

  • Condensed Title: Z0332_PhysicalParameters

  • Object Name: VMC.332.352

  • Data Type: mySQL
  • Citation: Eric Sorenson. 2000. Physical Parameters and Site Classification. Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife. FEMC. Can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/data/archive/project/an-evaluation-chemical-physical-biological-characteristics/dataset/physical-parameters-site-classification

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

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: YYYY-MM-DD
    Attribute Name: Town
    • Label: Town
    • Description: Name of town site is located in
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Latitude
    • Label: Latitude
    • Description: Latitude coordinate
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: interval
    • Standard Unit: degree
    • Precision: 100000
    • Unit: degree
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Longitude
    • Label: Longitude
    • Description: Longitude coordinate
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: interval
    • Standard Unit: degree
    • Precision: 100000
    • Unit: degree
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Elevation
    • Label: Site Elevation
    • Description: Elevation of site
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: foot
    • Precision: 0.1
    • Unit: foot
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Vernal Pools
    • Label: Vernal Pools within 150 meters
    • Description: Number of vernal pools within 150 meters of site
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Watershed Area
    • Label: Area of Watershed
    • Description: Area of watershed
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: squareMeter
    • Precision: 10000
    • Unit: squareMeter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Other Wetlands
    • Label: Other Wetlands within 150 meters
    • Description: Number of wetlands within 150 meters of site
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Canopy Cover
    • Label: Percent Canopy Cover
    • Description: Percent of aboveground portion of site covered by canopy
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: percent
    • Precision: 0.1
    • Unit: percent
    • Number Type: real
      • Bounds:
      • Minimum: 0
      • Maximum: 100
    Attribute Name: Pool Area
    • Label: Pool Area
    • Description: Area of pool
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: squareMeter
    • Precision: 0.1
    • Unit: squareMeter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Perimeter
    • Label: Pool Perimeter
    • Description: Distance around pool
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: meter
    • Precision: 0.1
    • Unit: meter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Water Depth
    • Label: Depth of Water
    • Description: Depth of water
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: meter
    • Precision: 0.001
    • Unit: meter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Wetted Depth
    • Label: Total Wetted Depth
    • Description: Total depth of pool, including water and pool sediment
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: meter
    • Precision: 0.001
    • Unit: meter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Reference
    • Label: Reference Site
    • Description: sites with a total disturbance rank of 3 or less and with no individual disturbance type ranked above 2 (moderate)
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Disturbed
    • Label: Disturbed Site
    • Description: Sites disturbed by development
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Permanent
    • Label: Permanent Site
    • Description: Permanent sites based on observations over the two field seasons
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal

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.