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

  • Study specimens
    Started: 1993-05-01

    Twenty sugar maple trees used for foliage sampling.

  • Plot description

    One 75 X 50 m plot used for soil, litter, throughfall and precipitation collections.

  • Leaf samples

    Leaf samples collected from north and south sides of tree; from lower, middle and upper canopy. Samples of leaves were collected once in mid-July and once in mid-August to obtain a measure of the maximum nitrogen pool. Foliar nutrient concentrations are most stable in this time frame.

  • Leaf litter
    Started: 1993-09-20

    Leaf litter traps collected twice weekly. One litter trap was placed under each tree, positioned so that minimal litter would fall in from surrounding trees. Leaf litter was collected throughout the leaf drop period (September 20-October 22).

  • Throughfall collection

    Throughfall collections consisted of two funnel collectors under each of five trees, on north and south sides of tree. Plus two collectors in an open area in close proximity to the site to collect rain as a control.

  • Leaf tissue analysis

    After each sampling, leaf tissue was run through a leaf area meter, assigned a thrips damage index number, oven dried at 70 degrees C to a constant weight and ground in a Wiley mill.

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
IDID

Site Id

Measurement type: Nominal
TreeNumberTree Number

Number assigned to identify tree

Measurement type: Nominal
datesSample Date

Date sample was collected

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: YYYY-MM-DD
LocationTree Sample Location

Location of sample collection in tree

Measurement type: Nominal
Location Code
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning of code
LNlower canopy on north side of tree
LSlower canopy on south side of tree
MNmiddle canopy north side of tree
MSmiddle canopy south side of tree
UNupper canopy north side of tree
USuppers canopy south side of tree
AreaCM2Area

Area of leaf surface

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
ThripsThrips Damage Index

All green leaf samples were assigned a pear thrips damage index number

Measurement type: Ordinal
drywt_gDry Weight

Weight of leaves or lead litter oven dried at 70 degrees Celsius

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
CHN_analysisWT_ugCHN weight

Weight determined by CHN elemental analyzer (weight of leaf of leaf litter sample)

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 10
Percentage_NPercent Nitrogen

Percent nitrogen

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
QC_adjustQC Adjust

QC adjustment

Measurement type: Nominal
ug_N_cm2ug N/cm^2

Micrograms of nitrogen per centimeter squared: the amount of nitrogen found in a given area

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.000000001
average_ug_N_cm2Average ug N/cm^2

Mean micrograms of nitrogen per centimeter squared for all sample sites in a tree

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.001
MG_Ngmg N/g

Milligrams nitrogen per gram

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.0001

Sampling Equipment

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

Current Equipment

  • Chromatograph

    Dionex Ion Chromatograph Model 2010i was used to analyze nitrate.

  • Flow injection analysis

    Lachat Quick Chem AE flow injection analysis was used to test ammonium colorimetrically.

  • Elemental Analyzer
    Started: 1993-05-01

    Leeman Laboratories CHN CE440 Elemental Analyzer was used to determine total nitrogen.

  • Leaf litter traps, funnel precipitation colle
    Started: 1993-05-01

    Leaf litter traps. Funnel precipitation collectors.

  • Pole pruners, ladders and rope climbing equip
    Started: 1993-05-01

    Pole pruners, ladders and rope climbing equipment.

Site Characteristics

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

  • Site Description

    Stevensville Brook watershed, west slope of Mt. Mansfield, northern hardwood forest.

  • Site Description

    The site is in the drainage of Nettle Brook, a small tributary to the north branch of Stevensville Brook.