LUQ LTER DATA SETS DOCUMENTATION FORM

ON-LINE VERSION

A DATA SET is a series of observations collected by the same methodology. Each data set should have documentation sufficient for someone unfamiliar with the research to replicate the study. Data sets may be broken into subsets (data files) that are discrete in space and time, in that order. The documentation for a data set should include all spatial and temporal subdivisions of the data.

(Data, Abstract, Methods, Variables)

NOTES:

PERSON(S) COMPLETING THIS FORM: E-MAIL ADDRESS:

Barbara A. Richardson

mjrichardson@clara.net

Michael J. Richardson

mjrichardson@clara.net

DATA SET IDENTIFIER : Bromeliad collection data at different elevations in the LEF

PROJECT TITLE: Bromeliad invertebrate diversity in the LEF

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Tank bromeliads form complex, but discrete, microcosms whose biological, physical and chemical parameters can be sampled in their entirety. Plants impound canopy litter and throughfall water, and form a microhabitat for mainly detritivorous animal communities. This study of their fauna provided a natural way to examine diversity, and also the relationship between diversity and habitat parameters at different elevations in the LEF.

LTER CORE AREAS: (Annotate all that apply)

Population Dynamics

Inorganic Inputs and Nutrients Movements

LEF LTER 1 RESEARCH TOPIC: (Annotate all that apply)

Animal diversity in relation to nutrient inputs

We define a data file as a component of a data set. A data set can have only one data file or more. Basically, different data files have different data structures or format.
DATA SET FILES (SUBSETS):

Data File No.

Data File Identifier

On-Line Filename

Starting Date

Periodicity of sample

End Period

1

Bromeliad collection data

Bromeliadcollectiondata.txt

December 18, 1993

annually

February 28, 1997

RESEARCH LOCATIONS: Four areas within the LEF: Tabonuco at El Verde [Sonadora, La Prieta and Odum trail], Palo Colorado at Tradewinds and El Toro Trails, and Dwarf Forest at Pico del Este.

INVESTIGATORS:
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS E-MAIL address

Barbara Richardson

mjrichardson@clara.net

Michael Richardson

mjrichardson@clara.net


OTHER RESEARCHERS E-MAIL address

F. N. Scatena

scatena@fs.fed.us

CONTACT PERSONS E-MAIL address Phone Number (Include area code)

Barbara Richardson

mjrichardson@clara.net

0131-447-8165 (UK)

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR):    Carnegie Trust, Royal Society of Edinburgh, Napier University, USDA Forest Service

DATA SET ABSTRACT: Collection details of bromeliads collected for invertebrate community and diversity analysis from 4 localities in the LEF. Dates, location, plant size, amounts, pH and temp. of contained water, and  weights of debris retained by the bromeliads.

DATA SET METHODS: Plants selected for collection were measured and removed from the substrate. Retained water and litter was collected and measured. Plants were dismembered in the laboratory and all animals from plants, water and retained litter were recovered and preserved for counting and identification. For details see Richardson, B.A. 1999. The bromeliad microcosm and the assessment of faunal diversity in a neotropical forest. Biotropica 31:321-336.

REFERENCES: none

CROSS-REFERENCES (other data sets related to this one): LTERDBAS #116: Bromeliad chemistry;

SAMPLE LOCATION: with the researchers and various museums

STORAGE SITES (of data files): with the researchers

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: phytotelmata, bromeliads, invertebrates, diversity (species richness and abundance)

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table): EL VERDE, EAST PEAK, Q PRIETA, CLOUD FOREST, COLORADO, TABONUCO, COMMUNITY COMPOSITION, ANIMALS, INSECTS, PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL

PUBLICATIONS:

Hansen, M and B.A Richardson. 1998. A new species of Omicrus Sharp (Coleoptera: Hydrophiladea) from Puerto Rico and its larva, the first known larva of Omicrini. Systematic Entomology 23:1-8.

Richardson, B.A. 1999. The bromeliad microcosm and the assessment of faunal diversity in a neotropical forest. Biotropica 31:321-336.

Richardson, B.A., M.J. Richardson, F.N. Scatena, and W.H. McDowell. 2000. Effects of nutrient availability and other elevational changes on bromeliad populations and the invertebrate communities in a humid tropical forest in Puerto Rico. Journal of Tropical Ecology 16:167-188.

Richardson, B.A., C. Rogers, and M.J. Richardson. 2000. Nutrients, diversity, and community structure of two phytotelm systems in a lower montane forest, Puerto Rico. Ecological Entomology 25:348-356.

DISSEMINATION: UNRESTRICTED

FILING

_X__ "File" copy only : Data Management will only file an electronic copy of the data file and its documentation 
___ "Enter" data on-line : Data Management will be in charge of entering the data on computer files  (Contact Eda C. Meléndez)

SITES DESCRIPTIONS: see #7 above

Geographical positional system (GPS) Coordinates for each location:

location

latitude

longitude

Tabonuco at El Verde

18°19'N

65°49'W

Palo Colorado Tradewind Trail

18°17'N

65°47'W

Palo Colorado El Toro Trail

18°17'N

65°51'W

Dwarf Forest at Pico del Este

18°16'N

65°46'W

VARIABLES:

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1

1

1

1

Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)

Year

Forest

SampleNo

Date

NAME OF VARIABLE

Year (or year range)

Forest type

Plant number

Date

DEFINITION OF

VARIABLE

Year(s) of collection

Tab = tabonuco;PC = palo colorado; dwarf = dwarf forest

Number of plant in collection sequence

Date of collection of individual plant (in mm/dd/yyyy)

UNIT

       

PRECISION

       

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

1993-1997

 

1-20

12/18/1993 - 02/28/1997

DATA TYPE

alphanumeric

alphanumeric

integer

numeric

MISSING

DATA CODES

none

none

none

none

CONTINUE VARIABLES:

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1

1

1

1

Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)

Elevation(m)

HtAboveGround

Diam1(cm)

Diam2(cm)

NAME OF VARIABLE

Elevation

Height above ground

Plant diameter 1

Plant diameter 2

DEFINITION OF

VARIABLE

Elevation of collection site above sea level

Height code above ground at which plants were collected

Diameter of plant. Measurement number 1 of two measurements at right angles

Diameter of plant. Measurement number 2 of two measurements at right angles

UNIT

meter

 

centimeter

centimeter

PRECISION

     

 

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

200-1000

L = plants from trees, rocks or the ground,  collected within hands reach; H = plants collected from higher on tree trunks, >4m from the ground

15-150

15-150

DATA TYPE

integer

alphanumeric

integer

integer

MISSING

DATA CODES

none

none

none

none

CONTINUE VARIABLES:

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1

1

1

1

Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)

Temp(oC)

Light(lux)

Water(ml)

LiveLeaves

NAME OF VARIABLE

Water temperature

Light intensity

Amount of water

Live leaves

DEFINITION OF

VARIABLE

Temperature of water in phytotelmata

Intensity of light as measured immediately above plant

Amount of water held to the nearest ml by the phytotelm of each plant

Number of live leaves per plant

UNIT

centigrade

lux

milliliter

number

PRECISION

0.1

 

 

 

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

15-25

50 - >20000

0-700

15-125

DATA TYPE

numeric

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

blank

blank

none

none

CONTINUE VARIABLES:

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)

1

1

1

1

1

Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)

DeadLeaves

pH

Debris-coarse(g)  

Debris-medium(g)

Debris-fine(g)  

NAME OF VARIABLE

Dead leaves

pH

Amount of canopy coarse debris

Amount of canopy medium debris

Amount of canopy fine debris

DEFINITION OF

VARIABLE

Number of dead leaves per plant

PH of phytotelm water

The dry weight of coarse debris collected and retained by the bromeliad rosette, divided into coarse, medium and fine components respectively.

The dry weight of medium debris collected and retained by the bromeliad rosette, divided into coarse, medium and fine components respectively.

The dry weight of fine debris collected and retained by the bromeliad rosette, divided into coarse, medium and fine components respectively.

UNIT

number

 

gram

gram

gram

PRECISION

 

0.1

0.01

0.01

0.01

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

0-45

3.5-7

0-65

0-65

0-65

DATA TYPE

integer

numeric

numeric

numeric

numeric

MISSING

DATA CODES

none

blank

none

none

none

COMPUTATIONAL METHODS:


FOR DATA MANAGER USE ONLY

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: September 15, 2008
DATE OF LAST ENTRY :
February 28, 1997
STAGE OF DATA SET MANAGEMENT (dates) :

RECEIVED: January 19, 2002
ENTERED: January 25, 2002
FILED: January 25, 2002
ON-LINE: January 25, 2002
REVIEWED BY RESEARCHER
FILING MEDIA :
NAME OF DOCUMENTATION FILE : Bromeliadcollectiondata.doc
NAME OF ON - LINE CATALOG : lterdb117.htm
RECORD # : 117
DOCUMENT TYPE : magnetic media
PRIORITY TO BE ENTERED : N/A

Rev. date of this form: 15 July 2001