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:

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DATA SET IDENTIFIER: Patterns in litterfall production from 12 forested sites along an elevation gradient in Pico del Este

PROJECT TITLE: Litterfall production along a tropical upper elevation gradient

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: We collected litterfall every two weeks from 12 forested sites in Pico del Este. Our goals are to determine patterns in litterfall production along the elevation gradient.

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):

Data File No.	Data File Identifier	On-Line Filename	Starting Date	Periodicity of sample	End Period
1	East Peak Litterfall	EastPeakLitterWeights1994-2004.txt	July 26, 1994	bi-monthly	August 24, 2004

RESEARCH LOCATION: 5 baskets in each of 12 plots located along an elevation gradient (635 to 937.5 m above sea level) in the East Peak region of the Luquillo Experimental Forest, PR

INVESTIGATORS:

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS	E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Whendee Silver	wsilver@nature.berkeley.edu

OTHER RESEARCHERS	E-MAIL ADDRESS:

CONTACT PERSONS	Phone Number (Include area code)	E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Whendee Silver	510-643-3074	wsilver@nature.berkeley.edu

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR): A.W.Mellon Foundation, Agricultural Experiment Station

DATA SET ABSTRACT: We measured litterfall from 12 sites along an upper elevation gradient every two weeks from 1994 to present. Samples are being used to estimate the litterfall productivity over time and space, identify the impacts of periodic events, and help us understand the drivers of ecosystem and biogeochemical processes with climate and vegetation change.

DATA SET METHODS: This data set includes litterfall values from 5 baskets in each of 12 plots located along an elevation gradient (635 to 937.5 m above sea level) in the East Peak region of the Luquillo Experimental Forest, PR. Samples were collected every two weeks, dried at 65 oC, and sorted into leaves, fruits and flowers, fine wood, and miscellaneous material. Sorted samples were redried at 65 oC and weighed to determine mass.

STORAGE SITES(of data files): U.C. Berkeley

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: Litterfall production

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table): silver (12), colorado, palm, cloud forest, litterfall

PUBLICATIONS: