September 21, 1998

Hurricane George's crosses over Puerto Rico. Leaf collection stops at MRCE El Verde.

October 1998

Trails with access to MRCE El Verde area cleared.

February 1999

MRCE El Verde Plots old baskets are repaired.

February 9, 1999

New Total Removal Plot (1-5 in Block 1) is established at MRCE El Verde; (wood removal and baskets collocation.)

February 16, 1999

New Total Removal Plot (2-3 in Block 2) is established at MRCE El Verde; (wood removal and baskets collocation.)

February 23, 1999

New Total Removal Plot (3-1 in Block 3) is established at MRCE El Verde; (wood removal and baskets collocation.)

New Wood Removal Plot (3-2 in Block 3) is established at MRCE El Verde; (wood removal and baskets collocation.)

February 23, 1999

All baskets in MRCE El Verde Plots are emptied in preparation to the first collection after Hurricane George’s.

March 9, 1999

First collection in MRCE El Verde Plots after hurricane George's. Collection will continue to be every other week.

June 10, 1999

First measurements taken of trees > 2cm DBH at New MRCE El Verde Plots:

Plot 1-5 and Plot 2-3

June 16, 1999

First measurements taken of trees > 2cm DBH at New MRCE El Verde Plots:

Plot 3-1 and Plot 3-2

April 2000

Dr. Xioming Xou decided not to fertilize or continue collecting basket contents in Block 4. 

August 8, 2000

John E. Bithorn starts to identify and weight the leaves of the 5 most common tree species at MRCE El Verde Plots. Data is sent to John Monge at ITES. A double check of the data is done by J. Bithorn

February 2, 2001

John E. Bithorn gives John Monge all the data from MRCE El Verde ; from August 8, 2000 to January 10, 2001. From that moment, the data will be sent to ITES as soon as the sorting and weighting of each collection is done.

January 28, 2002

All three plots at Block 4 are dismantled by John E. Bithorn  and María Aponte

March 2002

(Reference information: At MRCE Pico del Este there were 12 plots, each with 6 baskets; 72 baskets in total. The opening dimension of each baskets was 17 3/4" X 17 3/4".)

Due to bad condition, all 72 baskets at MRCE Pico del Este Plots are replaced. Now, in each plot there are 6 baskets but with the following dimension at the opening: 2 baskets 17 3/4" X 17 3/4" and 4 baskets 18 1/2" X 18 1/2". 

April 10, 2002

First collection at MRCE Pico del Este after baskets replacement. From this moment, consider the change of dimension of the baskets opening.

August 5-9, 2002

(Reference information: At MRCE El Verde there were 15 plots with 10 baskets in each; 150 baskets in total. The opening dimension of each baskets was 17 3/4" X 17 3/4".)

Due to bad condition, all 150 baskets at MRCE El Verde Plots are replaced. Now, all baskets have a  18 1/2" X 18 1/2"opening.

August 21, 2002

First collection at MRCE El Verde after baskets replacement. From this moment, use the new dimension of the baskets opening for calculation using total leaf weight.

December 31, 2003

Projected date to stop collecting data from MRCE El Verde Plots.

Block 1

Block 2

1-1

Litter Removal

(L)

2-1

Fertilization

(F)

1-2

Fertilization

(F)

2-2

Wood Removal

(W)

1-3

Control

(C)

NEW

Plot

Total Removal

(T)

1-4

Wood Removal

(W)

2-4

Litter Removal

(L)

1-5

NEW

Plot

Total Removal

(T)

2-5

Control

(C)

Block 3

Block 4

3-1

NEW

Plot

Total Removal

(T)

4-2

Litter Removal

(L)

3-3

Litter Removal

(L)

4-3

Control

(C)

NEW

Plot

3-2

Wood Removal

(W)

4-5

Fertilization

(F)

3-4

Control

(C)

No new plot added to block 4

after Hurricane George’s

Block 4 dismantled on January 28, 2002

3-5

Fertilization

(F)

Plot Number

Treatment

1

Control

2

Fertilization

3

Control

4

Fertilization

5

Fertilization

6

Control

7

Fertilization

8

Control

9

Control

10

Fertilization

11

Fertilization

12

Control

Pico del Este MRCE Plot #

Total amount of baskets in each plot

Replacement date of baskets.

1

Control

6

17 3/4"

15/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

2

Fertilization

6

17 3/4"

15/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

3

Control

6

17 3/4"

15/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

4

Fertilization

6

17 3/4"

15/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

5

Fertilization

6

17 3/4"

15/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

6

Control

6

17 3/4"

27/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

7

Fertilization

6

17 3/4"

27/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

8

Control

6

17 3/4"

27/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

9

Control

6

17 3/4"

14/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

10

Fertilization

6

17 3/4"

14/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

11

Fertilization

6

17 3/4"

14/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)

12

Control

6

17 3/4"

14/03/02

2 (17 3/4)

4 (18 1/2)