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

  • Recording and monitoring methods

    Developmental stages for sugar maple are recorded based on a published guide. Guidelines for monitoring developmental stages for other species were developed as part of this project.

  • Specimens
    Started: 1991-04-01

    Five healthy dominant or codominat trees and five saplings used as replicates.


  • Started: 1991-04-01

    Sugar maple monitored at Proctor Maple Research Center.


  • Started: 1992-04-01

    Three hardwood species (sugar maple, yellow birch and American beech) monitored at two elevations (1400 and 2200 ft.)


  • Started: 1995-04-01

    Red maple and white ash added in 1995, at 1400 ft., only.


  • Started: 1996-04-01

    Upper elevation site discontinued.


  • Started: 1996-04-01

    Yellow birch and American beech monitoring discontinued in 1996.

  • Visual ratings
    Started: 1991-04-01

    Visual ratings of bud development are made twice weekly on each tree and sapling using a high powered spotting scope. Developmental stages are recorded for 10 buds per tree. Flower bud development is recorded separately from vegetative buds.



  • Added data collection from randomly selected regeneration of each species to compare to permanently marked regen. Plan is to replace the permanently marked regen with random sampling in the future.


  • Started: 2003-04-01

    Only sugar maple trees are monitored; discontinued red maple and white ash.

Past Methods (No longer in use)

  • Developmental ratings
    Started: 1991-04-01
    Ended: 1994-06-15

    Upper and lower canopy developmental ratings recorded separately.

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
DateSample Date

Date when sample was collected

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: YYYY-MM-DD
VMC SiteSite of Sampling

Name of the site of data collection

Measurement type: Nominal
YearYear

Year that data was collected

Measurement type: Interval
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 1
SpeciesSpecies Name

Latin (scientific) name of the species

Measurement type: Nominal
Bud Phenology 1992 - 2003 Species Codes
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning
SMsugar maple (Acer saccharum) - View ITIS Record
YByellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis) - View ITIS Record
BEAmerican beech (Fagus grandifolia) - View ITIS Record
RMred maple (Acer rubrum) - View ITIS Record
WAwhite ash (Fraxinus americana) - View ITIS Record
ElevationElevation of Site

Elevation of the sampling site on Mt. Mansfield

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 100
Day of YearDay of Year (DOY)

Day of the calendar year when data was collected

Measurement type: Interval
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 1
Upper Canopy Tree 1 Upper Canopy Developmental Stage

Upper Canopy Developmental Stage on tree 1

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Upper Canopy Tree 2Upper Canopy Developmental Stage

Upper Canopy Developmental Stage on tree 2

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Upper Canopy Tree 3Upper Canopy Developmental Stage

Upper Canopy Developmental Stage on tree 3

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Upper Canopy Tree 4Upper Canopy Developmental Stage

Upper Canopy Developmental Stage on tree 4

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Upper Canopy Tree 5Upper Canopy Developmental Stage

Upper Canopy Developmental Stage on tree 5

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Upper Canopy AverageUpper Canopy Developmental Average

Upper Canopy Developmental Average of 5 trees

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
Lower Canopy Tree 1Lower Canopy Developmental Stage

Lower Canopy Developmental Stage of Tree 1

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Lower Canopy Tree 2Lower Canopy Developmental Stage

Lower Canopy Developmental Stage of Tree 2

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Lower Canopy Tree 3Lower Canopy Developmental Stage

Lower Canopy Developmental Stage of Tree 3

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Lower Canopy Tree 4Lower Canopy Developmental Stage

Lower Canopy Developmental Stage of Tree 4

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Lower Canopy Tree 5Lower Canopy Developmental Stage

Lower Canopy Developmental Stage of Tree 5

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Lower Canopy AverageLower Canopy Developmental Average

Lower Canopy Developmental Stage Average of 5 trees

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01
Regeneration Tree 1Regeneration Developmental Stage

Regeneration Developmental Stage on sapling 1

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Regeneration Tree 2Regeneration Developmental Stage

Regeneration Developmental Stage on sapling 2

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Regeneration Tree 3Regeneration Developmental Stage

Regeneration Developmental Stage on sapling 3

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Regeneration Tree 4Regeneration Developmental Stage

Regeneration Developmental Stage on sapling 4

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Regeneration Tree 5Regeneration Developmental Stage

Regeneration Developmental Stage on sapling 5

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.1
Regeneration AverageAverage Regeneration Development

Regeneration Development Stage Average of 5 saplings

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 0.01

Sampling Equipment

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

Current Equipment

  • Spotting scope
    Started: 1992-04-01

    45 X spotting scope. Photographic Guide as standard.

Site Characteristics

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

  • Site Description

    Upper elevation site (2200 ft.) in the Underhill State Park.

  • Site Description

    West slope of Mount Mansfield in the Browns River watershed. Low elevation (1400 ft.) at the Proctor Maple Research Center.