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
YearYear

Year that data was collected

Measurement type: Ordinal
Species (Spp)Species name

Latin (scientific) name of the species

Measurement type: Nominal
SiteElevation

Elevation of sampling site

Measurement type: Ratio
Unit: unavailable
Precision: 100
DateSample Date

Date when sample was collected

Measurement type: DateTime
Date/Time Format: YYYY-MM-DD
Day of Year (DOY)Day of Year

Day of the year

Measurement type: Ordinal
Upper Canopy DevelopUpper Canopy Development

Upper Canopy Development average of 5 trees

Measurement type: Ordinal
Upper Canopy Development Code
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning of code
0bud dormancy
1initial bud swell, initial lengthening
2bud elongation, buds grow fatter and more green
3buds in green stage, scales separating
4bud break, leaf tips exposed
5extended bud break
6initial leaf emergence
7initial leaf expansion, leaves unfolding, wrinkled
8full leaf expansion, flattended surface without wrinkles, may not be full size
Lower Canopy DevelopLower Canopy Development

Lower Canopy Developmental Stage average of 5 trees

Measurement type: Ordinal
Lower Canopy Development Code
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning of code
0bud dormancy
1initial bud swell, initial lengthening
2bud elongation, buds grow fatter and more green
3buds in green stage, scales separating
4bud break, leaf tips exposed
5extended bud break
6initial leaf emergence
7initial leaf expansion, leaves unfolding, wrinkled
8full leaf expansion, flattended surface without wrinkles, may not be full size
Regeneration DevelopRegeneration Development Average

Regeneration Developmental Stage average of 5 saplings

Measurement type: Ordinal
Regeneration Development Stage Code
+ show
Appears in data asMeaning of code
1initial bud swell, initial lengthening
2bud elongation, buds grow fatter and more green
3buds in green stage, scales separating
4bud break, leaf tips exposed
5extended bud break
6initial leaf emergence
7initial leaf expansion, leaves unfolding, wrinkled
8full leaf expansion, flattended surface without wrinkles, may not be full size
Average DevelopmentaAverage Developmental Stage

Average Developmental Stage of all levels and trees

Measurement type: Ordinal

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.