Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative

The Ecological Significance of Sun/Shade Plasticity in Balsam Fir, Red Spruce, and Paper Birch along Elevational Gradients in the Northeastern United States: Mt. Whiteface: Climate Data 2001-2003

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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

    To better understand the relationship between plants and their abiotic environment, by using the response of three different tree species growing at different elevations, to light.

People

  • Andrew Richardson: Principal Investigator

Keywords

  • air temperature, climate, elevation, soil temperature,

Geographic Coverage

  • Coordinates

Data Table

  • Title: Mt. Whiteface: Climate Data 2001-2003
  • Start Date: 2001-06-17
  • End Date: 2003-07-11
  • Description: Air and soil temperature of three plots at different elevations of mountains in New York, New Hampshire and Vermont

  • Purpose: To better understand the relationship between plants and their abiotic environment, by using the response of three different tree species growing at different elevations, to light.

  • Condensed Title: Z0128_MtWhiteFaceClimData01_03

  • Object Name: VMC.128.171

  • Data Type: mySQL
  • Citation: Andrew Richardson. 2003. Mt. Whiteface: Climate Data 2001-2003. FEMC. Can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/data/archive/project/the-ecological-significance-sunshade-plasticity-balsam/dataset/mt-whiteface-climate-data-2001-2003/overview

  • Online Distribution: https://vmc.w3.uvm.edu/vmcdevel/data/archive/project/the-ecological-significance-sunshade-plasticity-balsam/dataset/mt-whiteface-climate-data-2001-2003

Attribute List

    Attribute Name: IDNUM
    • Label: ID Number
    • Description: Record identification number
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Date
    • Label: Date of Collection
    • Description: Date and time of collection
    • Storage Type: datetime
    • Measurment Type: datetime
    • String Format: YYYY-MM-DDThh:mm:ss
    Attribute Name: Highelev1475m_AirTemp
    • Label: Highest Elevation Temperature
    • Description: Air temperature at the highest elevation (1475 meters)
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: celsius
    • Precision: 0.01
    • Unit: celsius
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Highelev1475m_SoilTemp
    • Label: Highest Elevation Soil Temperature
    • Description: Soil temperature at the highest elevation (1475 meters)
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: celsius
    • Precision: 0.01
    • Unit: celsius
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Midelev1377m_AirTemp
    • Label: Mid Elevation Temperature
    • Description: Air temperature at mid elevation (1377 meters)
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: celsius
    • Precision: 0.001
    • Unit: celsius
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Midelev1377m_SoilTemp
    • Label: Mid Elevation Soil Temperature
    • Description: Soil temperature at mid elevation (1377 meters)
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: celsius
    • Precision: 0.001
    • Unit: celsius
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Lowelev1095m_AirTemp
    • Label: Low Elevation Temperature
    • Description: Air temperature at the lowest elevation (1095 meters)
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: celsius
    • Precision: 0.01
    • Unit: celsius
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Lowelev1095m_SoilTemp
    • Label: Low Elevation Soil Temperature
    • Description: Soil temperature at the lowest elevation (1095 meters)
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: celsius
    • Precision: 0.01
    • Unit: celsius
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Comments
    • Label: Comments
    • Description: Comments
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal

Methods

  • Current Methods
    • Experimental design
      • Started: 0001-01-01
      • Method Description: A split-split plot experimental design was used on the plots, split by species (balsam vs fir) first and then samples were split by crown position (sun vs shade). After sample processing, three needles from each sample were used for anatomical measurements.
        • Instrumentation: R:FR meter (Skye instruments); Software: Leica Q500MC and QWin V1.00 (Leica Cambridge Ltd.)

    • Photosynthetic rates
      • Method Description: Photosynthesis measurements were made on detached shoots with their ends immersed in vials of water. Projected needle area and dry mass were measured and then used to convert the measured photosynthetic rates to projected needle area. Chl NDI and PRI indices were used to obtain physiological insights from the chlorophyll fluorescence and spectral reflectance of dark-adapted foliage.
        • Instrumentation: OS-500 Modulated Fluorometer UniSpec Spectral Analysis System

    • Foliar C-13 analysis
      • Method Description: Using a pool of three samples from each site x crown position x species combination, an analysis of foliar C-13 was conducted by a commercial laboratory.
        • Instrumentation: Europa Scientific ANCA-GSL elemental analyzerQuality Control Measures: Two replicated of every fifth sample were analyzed sequentially. All samples were run against a flour standard and results are expressed in relation to the PDB standard.


Sampling Equipment

  • Current Equipment
    • Electronic image analysis equipment
      • Sampling Description: Electronic image analysis equipment Leica Q500MC and QWin V1.00 software

    • Elemental analyzer
      • Sampling Description: Europa Scientific ANCA-GSL elemental analyzer used for C13 analysis

    • Fluorometer
      • Sampling Description: OS-500 Modulated Fluorometer was used to measure minimal chlorophyll fluorescence and variable fluorescence.

    • R:FR meter
      • Sampling Description: Portable R:FR meter (Skye Instruments) to measure the light environment of shade needles

    • Spectral Analysis System
      • Sampling Description: Spectral reflectance was measured using a UniSpec Spectral Analysis System

  • Data logger, integral thermistor for air tem
    • Started: 2000-10-01
      Ended: 2002-09-30
    • Sampling Description: Hobo H8 Pro data logger with integral thermistor for air temperature and capacitive sensor for relative humidity.

  • Data logger, integral thermistor for air tem
    • Started: 2000-10-01
      Ended: 2002-09-30
    • Sampling Description: Hobo H8 Pro data logger with integral thermistor for air temperature and capacitive sensor for relative humidity.

  • Data logger, integral thermistor for air tem
    • Started: 2000-10-01
      Ended: 2002-09-30
    • Sampling Description: Hobo H8 Pro data logger with integral thermistor for air temperature and capacitive sensor for relative humidity.

  • Data logger, integral thermistor for air tem
    • Started: 2000-10-01
      Ended: 2002-09-30
    • Sampling Description: Hobo H8 Pro data logger with integral thermistor for air temperature and capacitive sensor for relative humidity.

Site Characteristics

  • Site Description: Sampling sites were located on three mountains (Whiteface Mt., Mt. Mansfield and Mt. Moosilauke), along two transects on each mountain (eastern and southern), at three elevations on each transect (low, mid and high elevation), for two species (red spruce and balsam fir) and two crown positions (sun and shade).