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:

L.L.Woolbright Lwoolbright@lternet.edu
Eda C. Melendez-Colom emelend@lternet.edu

DATA SET IDENTIFIER: Frog spatial distribution data (El Verde + Bisley) (Coqui Grid Point Surveys)

PROJECT TITLE: Frog Population Dynamics

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: El Verde Station, located in the tabonuco forest zone on the NW side of the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF), has hosted numerous scientific efforts since the 1960s. Thus, a great deal of information exists concerning anuran populations at the site over the past 30 years. Although past surveys did not use consistent techniques, they clearly document the general status of the anuran community of the area. I began working at El Verde in the 1970s and have collected data on the anuran community primarily in the 1980s and 1990s. Until recently, these surveys also lacked a consistent sampling protocol, although they clearly document declines in species richness in comparison to earlier records.

Most Puerto Rican Eleutherodactylus are terrestrial frogs that breed for prolonged periods of time in more or less continuous habitat. Because their life cycle lacks a free living larvae stage, reproductive behavior is not tied to bodies of water and they do not have the large aggregations typical of many aquatic breeders. For these reasons, assessing their population status requires examining fairly large areas of habitat. I began systematically sampling the anuran community on a 12 ha grid at the Bisley watersheds in 1989 and a second 16 ha grid at El Verde in 1993. These efforts have provided a comprehensive data set that can be used to evaluate future changes in the anuran community in this forest.

LTER CORE AREAS:(Annotate all that apply)

Population Dynamics

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

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Populations

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

El Verde Grid Point 1991 Coqui Survey

ElVerdeDataAug91.txt

July 4, 1991

biyearly

August 9, 1991

2

El Verde Grid Point 1992 Coqui Survey

ElVerdeDataJul92.txt

July 12, 1991

Summer

July 17, 1991

3

El Verde Grid Point 1993 Coqui Survey

ElVerdeDataMay93.txt

May 26, 1993

Summer

May 30, 1993

4

Bisley Grid Point 1988 Coqui Survey

BisleyData.txt

March 1, 1988 once March 1, 1988

RESEARCH LOCATION: El Verde Grids: North of El Verde Field Station past the Sonandora River
Bisley Grids: at the Bisley Experimental Watersheds of the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF) of Puerto Rico. The Bisley watersheds 1 and 2 are on the windward side of the mountains

INVESTIGATORS:
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS  E-MAIL address
Larry Woolbright LWoolbright@siena.edu

OTHER RESEARCHERS E-MAIL address
Students

CONTACT PERSONS E-MAIL address Phone Number (Include area code)
Larry Woolbright LWoolbright@siena.edu (518) 783-2440

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR): LTER

DATA SET ABSTRACT: Count of frogs, various frog predators, and various frog preys were taken at regular intervals on the grids.

DATA SET METHODS: A 5m X 5m quadrant was established at certain grid points. Adult E. coqui were cohort marked by toc clip and measured with dial calipers to 0.5mm. Sex and reproductive condition were noted.

Juvenile coquies upto 5mm size classes were measured using a plastic rule and counted. Other frog species were sampled by listening for call and estimating the number of calling individuals within 20m of the grid point. Known invertebrate frog predators and major preys were identified by morphospecies and counted.

All data were taken between 2000m and 0200mm. Foliage and litter moisture, Rh sling psychoro, and SPL were taken inmediately before each quadrant was measured.

REFERENCES: None

CROSS-REFERENCES (other data sets related to this one): LTERDBAS25: Frog transect data, LTERDBAS30: Frog grid data (Bisley), LTERDBAS44: Frog population plots (El Verde + Bisley), LTERDBAS45: Frog spatial distribution data (El Verde + Bisley), LTERDBAS76: Frog abundance in fertilization plots, LTERDBAS150: Pattern morphology for frogs captured at 9 locations in northeastern Puerto Rico over a 25-year period from 1978 to 2002

SAMPLE LOCATION: N/A

STORAGE SITES (of data files):

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: Amphibia, Anura, leptodactylidae, eleutherodactylus coqui, habitat selection, density, Arthropoda, Insect, Arachnida.

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table): LFDP (EV Big Grid), BISLEY WATERSHEDS, Q1, Q2, TABONUCO, POPULATION DYNAMICS, AMPHIBIANS, PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL

PUBLICATIONS:
Stewart, M.M. and L.L. Woolbright. 1996. Amphibians. Chapter 8 in D.P. Reagan and R.B. Waide, editors. The food web of a tropical rain forest. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. (Abstract)

Gonser, R.A.* and L.L. Woolbright. 1995. Homing behavior of the Puerto Rican frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui. Journal of Herpetology 29:481-484. (Abstract)

Woolbright, L.L. 1996. Disturbance influences long-term population patterns in the Puerto Rican frog, (1)Eleutherodactylus coqui (Anura: Leptodactylidae). 1996. Biotropica 28:493-501. (Abstract)

DISSEMINATION: UNRESTRICTED

REASONS TO RESTRICT DATA IN THIS DATA SET BEYOND ITS TWO YEAR POLICY PERIOD*:

*WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY LTER PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: N. BROKAW, A. LUGO

SITES DESCRIPTIONS: El Verde Grid: Grids are 20 m by 20 m plots (quadrats) in the Big Grid. See LTERDBAS # 47 for further description. The Bisley watersheds 1 and 2 are on the windward side of the mountains, have a mean annual precipitation of approximately 3500 mm, and occur in the subtropical forest life zone (Scatena, 1989).

Geographical positional system (GPS) Coordinates for each location:  
location latitude longitude
El Verde Grids 18° 19’ 26' North
65° 49’ 3' West
Bisley Grids    

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

1-3 1-4 1-4 1-3 1-4 1-3

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

RecordDataLabel GridPointRow
GridPointColumn
GridPointSubGrid

Date

Time

NAME OF VARIABLE

Visit day or Totals grid row coordinate grid column coordinate Sub Grid number

Date

Time

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Label assigned to designate the day in which the observations were taken or that the record (row) of data displays totals of a specific group of individuals observed, when applicable x coordinates of the 40 X 40 at Bisley (120, 160, 200, 240, 280, 320, 360) or the 16 X 25 grid at El Verde (3, 6, 9, 12, 15) where observation was performed

y coordinates of the 40 X 40 at Bisley (400, 440, 480, 520, 560, 600, 640) or the 16 X 25 grid at El Verde (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24) where observation was performed

The 5m X 5m subquadrat designation of the 400 quadrats of the El Verde Grid where observation was performed

Date of measurement

Time of measurement. Original data type is integer.

UNIT

           

PRECISION

           

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

First Night Data = total of frogs or predator of a particular type observed in the first night the grid point was visited, Second Night Data = total of frogs or predator of a particular type observed in the second night the grid point was visited, Third Night Data = total of frogs or predator of a particular type of a particular kind observed in the third night the grid point was visited, Total = total of frogs or predator of a particular type observed in all three nights. 120, 160, 200, 240, 280, 320, 360, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 400, 440, 480, 520, 560, 600, 640, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24 37, 40, 43, 46, 49, 88, 91, 94, 97, 100, 139, 142, 145, 148, 151, 190, 193, 196, 199, 202, 241, 244, 247, 250, 253, 292, 295, 298, 301, 304, 343, 346, 349, 352, 355, 394, 397, 400, 403, 406    

DATA TYPE

alphabetic integer integer integer

datetime

datetime

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

GridPointSPL GridPointRh GridPointFoliage GridPointLitter Otherfrognumber
Otherfrogspp

NAME OF VARIABLE

Sound pressure level

Relative Humidity

Foliage moisture

Litter moisture

Other frog number

Other frog species

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Minimum SPL reding on realistic SPL meter set to slow response and C weighting.   Sound is metered for ˜30 seconds in each of 4 directions .  Then the 4 minima are average.

Wet and dry bulb reading off a sling psychrometer (can be converted to %Rh with standard tables)

Description of availability of liquid water on foliage surfaces

Description of water content of leaf litter in forest floor

Number of calling males of other species of frogs besides E. coqui that were heard calling in an estimated area of 20m around the grid point.

Species of calling males of other species of frogs besides E. coqui that were heard calling in an estimated area of 20m around the grid point.

UNIT

Decibel

Fahrenheit

       

PRECISION

0.5

.2

       

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

<60, 60-69

72-78

Wet, spotted, dry

Wet, damp, dry

 

 

DATA TYPE

alphanumeric

alphanumeric

alphabetic

alphabetic

alphanumeric

alphanumeric

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

Adultcoquies_sex Adultcoquies_cond Adultcoquies_size Juvenile6-10 Juvenile11-15 Juvenile16-20_Anolis_gun

NAME OF VARIABLE

Adult coqui sex

Adult coqui condition

Adult coqui size

Number of juvenile coquies in size class 6 - 10 mm

Number of juvenile coquies in size class 11-15mm

Number of juvenile juvenile Anolis gundlachi coquies in size class 16-20 mm

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Codes the sex of each of the adult frogs observed in the grid point

Codes the reproductive status of each of the adult frogs observed in the grid point

Codes the body size (snout to vent length - SVL) of each of the adult frogs observed in the grid point

Number of juvenile coquies that measure from 6 to 10 mm in length observed in the grid point in a particular visit

Number of juvenile coquies that measure from 11 to 15 mm in length observed in the grid point in a particular visit

Number of Anolis gundlachi juvenile coquies that measure from 16 to 20 mm in length observed in the grid point in a particular visit

UNIT

    millimeter      

PRECISION

           

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

M = male, F = female

1 = sex not evident,
2 = inmature eggs in female; baggy throat in male,
3 = ground female; calling male

 

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

DATA TYPE

alphabetic

alphanumeric

alphanumeric

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

Juvenile21-25 JuvenileTotal PredatorsPhrynus Predatorstarantula Predatorsscorpion Predatorsstassina

NAME OF VARIABLE

Number of juvenile coquies in size class 21 - 25 mm

Total number of juvenile coquies

Number of Phrynus predators

Number of tarantula predators

Number of scorpion predators

Number of stassina predators

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Number of juvenile coquies that measure from 21 to 25 mm in length observed in the grid point in a particular visit

Total number of juvenile coquies in all size classes observed in the grid point in a particular visit

Counts of all Phrynus invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

Counts of all tarantula invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

Counts of all scorpion invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

Counts of all stassina invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

UNIT

number number number number number number

PRECISION

           

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

DATA TYPE

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

Predatorslandcrab Predatorswolfspider Predatorsother_list PredatorsTotal Preycockroach

NAME OF VARIABLE

Number of landcrab predators

Number of wolfspider predators

List or number of other predators

Number of all predators

Number of cockroach preying on frog

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Counts of all landcrab invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

Counts of all wolfspider invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

List or counts of all other invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

Counts of all invertebrates known or suspected to  prey on E. coqui in the grid point in a particular visit

Counts the number of cockroaches preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

UNIT

number number number number number

PRECISION

         

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

DATA TYPE

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

Preyredroach Preycricket Preycavecricket

Preyredcricket

Preyother_list

Preytigercriket

Preyblackbug

NAME OF VARIABLE

Number of edroach preying on frog

Number of crickets preying on frog

Number of cavecrickets preying on frog

Number of redcrickets preying on frog

List or number of other invertebrates preying on frog

Number of tigercrikets preying on frog

Number of blackbugs preying on frog

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Counts the number of edroaches preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Counts the number of crickets preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Counts the number of cavecrickets preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Counts the number of redcrickets preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

List or counts of the number of other invertebrates preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Counts the number of tigercrikets preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Counts the number of blackbugs preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

UNIT

number number number number number number number

PRECISION

             

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

DATA TYPE

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

1-3

1-3

1-3

1-3

4

4

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

Preybrownbug

Preybrownroach

Preygreencricket

PreyTotal

Cc
Nt

NAME OF VARIABLE

Number of brownbugs preying on frog

Number of brownroaches preying on frog

Number of greencrickets preying on frog

Total number of invertebrates preying on frog

Number of Caracolla caracollus frogs in plot Number of Nenia tridens frogs in plot

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Counts the number of brownbugs preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Counts the number of brownroaches preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Counts the number of greencrickets preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Sum of all the number of invertebrates preying on coqui that occur an foliage and litter surfaces

Number of individual of Caracolla caracollus counted in the plot Number of individual of Nenia tridens counted in the plot

UNIT

number number number number number number

PRECISION

           

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

DATA TYPE

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

4

4

4

4

4

4

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

Lp Ai Pa Og Da Py

NAME OF VARIABLE

Number of Lamponius portoricensis frogs in plot Number of Agememnon ifemedia frogs in plot Number of Polidontes acutangula frogs in plot Number of Oleacina glabra frogs in plot Number of D a frogs in plot Number of Pseudobacteria yersiniana frogs in plot

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Number of individual of Lamponius portoricensis counted in the plot Number of individual of Agememnon ifemedia counted in the plot Number of individual of Polidontes acutangula counted in the plot Number of individual of Oleacina glabra counted in the plot Number of individual of D a counted in the plot Number of individual of Pseudobacteria yersiniana counted in the plot

UNIT

number number number number number number

PRECISION

           

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

DATA TYPE

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

 

 

 

 

 

 

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)

4

4

4

4

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)

As Gn Aa
Cm

NAME OF VARIABLE

Number of Alcadia striata frogs in plot Number of Garotis nigrolineata frogs in plot Number of Alcadia alta frogs in plot Number of Caracolla morginella frogs in plot

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

Number of individual of Alcadia striata counted in the plot Number of individual of Garotis nigrolineata counted in the plot Number of individual of Alcadia alta counted in the plot Number of individual of Caracolla morginella counted in the plot

UNIT

number number number number

PRECISION

       

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

0, ...

DATA TYPE

integer

integer

integer

integer

MISSING DATA CODES

       

COMPUTATIONAL METHODS:
Variable Name Formula

Observation: Wet and dry bulb temperatures can be converted to % RN with standard tables.

FOR DATA MANAGER USE ONLY

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: March 17, 2010
DATE OF LAST ENTRY: 1993
STAGE OF DATA SET MANAGEMENT (dates) :
RECEIVED ENTERED: 1993
FILED 1993 ON-LINE 2001
REVIEWED BY RESEARCHER
FILING MEDIA:
NAME OF DOCUMENTATION FILE: lterdb45.doc,htm
NAME OF ON - LINE CATALOG: LTERDBAS
RECORD #: 45
DOCUMENT TYPE: paper (magnetic media also)
PRIORITY TO BE ENTERED: N/A

Rev. date of this form: 25 January 2001