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 Number

ID number of sample

Measurement type: Ordinal
TreeNumberTree #

Number of tree sampled

Measurement type: Ordinal
datesSample Date

Date sample was collected

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

Number of the week in relation to the start of the research the sample was collected

Measurement type: Ordinal
AreaCM2Area

Area of leaf surface area

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
drywt_gDry Weight

Weight of leaves or leaf 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 or leaf litter sample)

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

Percent of nitrogen in leaf litter

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

Quality control adjustment

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.0001
ug_N_cm2ug N/cm2

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

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
NitrogenforTreeNumbNitrogen for Tree #

Number of tree used for sample collection

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 1
27SeptSeptember_27

Amount of Nitrogen in trees on September 27

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
30SeptSeptember_30

Amount of Nitrogen in trees on September 30

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
5OctobOctober_5

Amount of Nitrogen in trees on October 5

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
8OctobOctober_8

Amount of Nitrogen in trees on October 8

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
11OctobOctober_11

Amount of Nitrogen in trees on October 11

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
13OctobOctober_13

Amount of Nitrogen in trees on October 13

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
18OctobOctober_18

Amount of Nitrogen in trees on October 18

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001
Mean_NMean Nitrogen

Mean amount of Nitrogen in tree (average of each day sampled for each tree)

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.00000001

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.