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)

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DATA SET IDENTIFIER: Canopy Trimming Experiment (CTE) Fern surveys

PROJECT TITLE: CTE

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This long-term experiment will increase the frequency of simulated hurricane effects above background levels to once every six years. The experiment will determine effects of repeated disturbance of the forest canopy and increased detrital inputs to the forest floor on germination, growth, survival, nutrient cycling, soil conditions, and trophic structure. Climate change models predict increased frequency and intensity of Caribbean hurricanes (Emmanuel 1987, Goldenberg et al. 2001), and our goal is to ealuate predictions regarding the effects of an increased rate of hurricane disturbance on tabonuco forest (Sanford et al. 1991). The experiment also is designed to decouple the effects of canopy disturbance (e.g. , light levels, temperature, moisture, etc. ) from those of increased detrital inputs on rates of detrital processing and resultant community and ecosystem processes. Manipulations and measurements of detrital processing, SOM, and soil properties associated with SOM will continue for at least three more funding periods (until 2024). In the short-term, we will use faunal manipulations nested within the canopy trimming experiment to measure the strength of interactions between autotrophic and detrital food webs in the context of hurricane-like disturbance. These results will be directed specifically at parameterizing the Trophic Interaction Model. This experiment also will provide a physical and intellectual focal point for the project participants.
The Canopy Trimming Experiment has two parts: 1) a forest canopy manipulation with measurements of coupled changes in microclimate, structure, and biota and their associated impacts on ecosystem processes, and 2) specific manipulations of the biota that assess the importance of components of the food web.

CTE Ferns: The species composition and abundance of  all of the ferns on the CTE plots was done prior to the beginning of the survey.  Plant measurement subplots will be monitored at regular intervals and the experiment proceeds to detect changes in diversity and abundance. 

LTER CORE AREAS: (Annotate all that apply) (See online list)

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

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):

INVESTIGATORS:

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR): NSF LTER

DATA SET ABSTRACT: Changes in fern diversity and abundance were monitored prior to and during the Canopy Trimming Experiment (CTE). The abundance of all terrestrial fern species on the CTE plots is recorded for each subplot at annual intervals in January. The fern abundance and diversity changes in response to the block locations, treatments and other experiments conducted on subplots will be evaluated as the experiment proceeds. All surveys are done by Joanne Sharpe alone unless otherwise noted in the Comments. Only Block B was surveyed in January 2005 as other blocks had only partially been manipulated. Note that Variable abbreviations for fields common to all CTE data are in CAPS.

DATA SET METHODS: Each fern individual is identified and counted in each subplot from the between-subplot walkways.

REFERENCES: N/A

CROSS-REFERENCES (other data sets related to this one): N/A

SAMPLE LOCATION: N/A