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

Past Methods (No longer in use)

  • Sites
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    Sites were chosen based on established VMC Forest Health Monitoring plots.

  • Bird Counts
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    Bird species seen and heard were recorded during the time it took to complete an FHM subplot (4 subplots total), and then combined to create a plot-level list of species observed.

    Instrumentation: Binoculars

    Quality Control Measures: All crew members had experience in birding/ornithology. Binoculars were used to aid bird ID. Start and end times were recorded.

  • General Subplot Info
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    After completing an FHM subplot, general subplot metrics were recorded on the bird habitat data sheet (i.e. start and end times, FHM plot and subplot ID, any pertinent notes about weather and miscellaneous habitat features).

  • Overstory
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    Canopy height, overstory percent cover, and overstory distribution were categorized into classes (overstory being >30'). See subplot metrics dataset attributes for details regarding the classes.

  • Midstory and Understory
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    Midstory and understory percent cover and distribution were estimated over the area of each FHM subplot. Species present in each structure class were also recorded and rated based on relative abundance. See subplot metrics and tree species dataset attributes for details.

  • Forage Quality
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    Presence of soft mast species (e.g. raspberry, blackberry, elderberry, etc.) in each FHM subplot was recorded. Leaf litter was classified as either 'adequate' or 'inadequate' based on functionality for forage (see subplot metrics dataset attributes for details). Presence of invasive species and their percent cover over the the subplot if present was also recorded.

  • CWD and FWD
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    Coarse Woody Debris (>4 in.) and Fine Woody Debris (<4 in.) were classified based on habitat functionality over the area of an FHM subplot (see subplot metrics dataset attributes for details). Presence of CWD and FWD are important to note in a plot because they provide perching sites, habitat for invertebrates that are a significant part of the breeding season diet of many birds, nesting substrate, and cover.

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
YearYear

Year of data collection.

Measurement type: Nominal
PlotPlot

Plot at which data was collected.

Measurement type: Nominal
SubplotSubplot

Subplot at which data was collected.

Measurement type: Nominal
LocationLocation

Location in vertical forest profile, i.e. midstory or understory.

Measurement type: Nominal
SpeciesSpecies

Tree species found in subplot.

Measurement type: Nominal
AbundanceAbundance

Relative abundance of tree species found in subplot, 1 being most abundant.

Measurement type: Nominal
NotesNotes

Notes regarding tree codes.

Measurement type: Nominal

Sampling Equipment

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

Current Equipment

  • Compass and GPS

    A compass and GPS were used to locate each FHM plot.

Past Sampling Equipment (No longer in use)

  • Binoculars
    Started: 2016-06-16
    Ended: 2016-08-17

    Binoculars (Eagle Optics 8x42) were used to locate and identify bird species in each plot.

Site Characteristics

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

  • Site Description

    Sites were variable since data was collected at all currently established FHM plots in Vermont.

    Minimum Altitude: 0

    Maximum Altitude: 0