lterdb57 - damage by Hurricane Hugo on the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP)

LUQ LTER DATA SETS DOCUMENTATION FORM

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(Data, Abstract, Methods, Variables)

NOTES:

Add rows to tables or lines to paraghaphs as you need them for entering your data.
Contact emelendez@lternet.edu, if you have any question.

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

Eda C. Melendez-Colom

emelendez@lternet.edu

DATA SET IDENTIFIER: Tree damage by Hurricane Hugo on the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico

PROJECT TITLE: Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot - Community Structure and Disturbance in a Tropical Forest.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The processes that determine the plant species diversity and structure of tropical forest are still uncertain despite many years of investigation. A tropical forest characteristically has few common species and many rare species, with conspecifics often widely distributed throughout the forest. The potential for inter and intra-specific interactions are numerous, and it is difficult to determine which factors maintain species diversity or how rare species survive in the population. Factors that we believe contribute to tropical forest structure and composition include the physical environment and past history of the forest, species-specific physiological requirements for light, nutrients and water necessary for growth, survival and reproduction, and pathogens and herbivores. Despite the substantial amount of information available about these factors, we are still unable to accurately model the current composition of tropical forest or to predict its future response to human and natural disturbances.

The Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), previously known as the Hurricane Recovery Plot (Zimmerman et. al. 1994) and the Luquillo long-term ecological research grid (Soil Survey 1995), is a 16-ha forest plot (SW corner 18° 20’ N, 65° 49’ W) located near El Verde Field Station. The plot is 500 m N-S and 320 m E-W and is divided into 400 20 x 20 m quadrats, with each quadrat sub divided into 16 5 x 5 m sub-quadrats. The field station and LFDP are in the Luquillo Mountains of northeastern Puerto Rico, approximately 35 km southeast of San Juan. Information from the LFDP contributes to the efforts of the Center for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS, Smithsonian) network of large tropical forest plots in order to improve our understanding of tropical forest and to predict its future. Large plots (typically 50 ha) are required to cover local environmental variation, include sufficient numbers of individuals of both the common and rare species, and to determine plant spatial relationships. Population monitoring is required over many years to elucidate tree life histories, species interactions and population changes in order to determine the forest response to environmental changes and disturbance.

The LFDP is unique among the CTFS sites as it has a history of land use disturbance and also hurricane damage. These two disturbance types interact and influence the community dynamics and species composition in the LFDP. The Northern area (approximately two thirds of the plot) was disturbed by tree felling and farming until 1934 when the land was purchased by United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. The Southern third was not farmed and only suffered relatively light disturbance from selective logging. Aerial photographs taken in 1936 show differences in canopy cover caused by the patterns of land use history. Clear patterns in the distribution of some species reflect this land use history (Thompson et. al. in press). The distribution of species as a result of the land use history interacts with hurricane disturbance, as those species colonizing the northern part of the LFDP are more susceptible to hurricane damage (Zimmerman et. al. 1994). Major hurricanes struck the forest area of the LFDP in 1928 and 1932 and after a 66 year period with relatively little hurricane damage, the forest was struck by Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Georges in 1998, both hurricanes causing significant damage.

LFDP CENSUS HISTORY.

The LFDP was established in 1990 and the censuses are carried out in accordance with CTFS protocol (Condit 1998) with only minor variations. The first assessment of stems >= 10 cm D₁₃₀ (diameter at breast height [DBH] of 130 cm from the ground) consisting of stems damaged by Hurricane Hugo (September 1989) was carried out from August 1990 to September 1991 (Everham 1996). The first complete census of all stems >=1 cm D₁₃₀ lasted from August 1990 to September 1993. This first census was divided into three surveys with the first survey (August 1990 to February 1992) comprising all free standing (excluding lianas) woody stems >= 10 cm D₁₃₀. The second survey (overlapping the third survey) consisted of checks on a small number of quadrats in which a few large stems >= 10 cm D₁₃₀ were found that had been "missed" during the first survey. The third survey of woody stems >= 1 cm <10 cm D₁₃₀was carried out between April 1992 and September 1993. During Census 1 surveys 2 and 3 stems were found that were >=10 cm D₁₃₀ and, therefore, were most likely to have been present in the forest at the time of Census 1 survey 1. In addition in Census 2 (November 1994 to October 1996), stems were found >=3 cm D₁₃₀ (>=5 cm D₁₃₀for Cecropia schreberiana and Schefflera morototoni) which may have been missed in Census 1. In order to include these "missed" stems in the appropriate census and survey we calculated what diameter the stem would have been at the time the quadrat in which it was located was initially assessed. These "missed" stems were allocated to earlier censuses and census surveys based either upon the actual growth rate of that stem, if more than one measurement was available, or the median growthrate for that species. The median growthrate was calculated for two size classes of stems >=1, <10 cm, or >=10 to 30 cm D₁₃₀. Using the most appropriate growthrate the diameter of the "missed" stem was extrapolated back in time to estimate the stem diameter at the correct survey time in Census 1. If the calculated diameter matched the size class for an earlier survey the stem was allocated to it with its estimated diameter. Information for stems >=10 cm D₁₃₀ damaged during Hurricane Hugo was combined with data for stems >=10 cm D₁₃₀, in census 1 survey 1 together with "missed" stems recorded in later surveys to reconstruct the forest as it was at the time of Hurricane Hugo. The reconstruction to represent the forest at the time of Hurricane Hugo did not include diameter extrapolations back to September 1989, but to the time at which the appropriate size class of stems were measured between August 1990 and September 1993. The palm Prestoea acuminata was allocated to earlier census surveys based upon the height of the point of measurement and additional observations. Further details on the procedures for allocating these "missed" stems to the appropriate census surveys can be found in the descriptions in the relevant data files. The last corrections to the Census 1 this data were made in May 2001.

In all censuses individual stems of the specified size were tagged, identified and measured for D₁₃₀. On multiple stemmed plants, all stems were individually tagged and the group of stems representing an individual plant was recorded. In the first and second census stems >=10 cm D₁₃₀ were mapped. Following CTFS protocol we are conducting the censuses at 5 year intervals. The second census (November 1994 to October 1996) consisted of only one survey with all stems >=1 cm D₁₃₀ censused at the same time, although only stems >=10 cm D₁₃₀were mapped. The third census (funded by the Andrew Mellon Foundation) started in July 2000 and is expected to finish in April 2002. In this third census, in addition to mapping stems >=10 cm D₁₃₀, we are also mapping the location of stems >=1 cm D₁₃₀.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

We are grateful for the work of many people who helped inventory the LFDP. In particular, technicians: R. DeLeon, J. Bithorn, M. Aponte, A.-L. Méndez, M. Estades, A. Estrada, S. Matta, plant taxonomist B. Boom, and data manager Eda Melendez. Many volunteers, too numerous to mention, were also a tremendous help with the census. We thank the United States Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA for the soil survey. The International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) gave us access to their historical records and timber cruise surveys, and we thank Dr. Frank Wadsworth and Octavio Jodan who helped interpret them. John Thomlinson helped prepare the digital maps of stem locations and the soil map. The aerial photographs were analyzed at The Harvard Forest, Harvard University.

LTER CORE AREAS: (Annotate all that apply)

Population Dynamics

Disturbance Patterns

Primary Productivity

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

Recovery After Disturbance

Disturbance Regime

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

LFDP Tree damage by Hurricane Hugo

LFDPHurricaneDamage.txt

August 1990

Once after Hurricane Hugo

September 1993

2

LFDP Tree damage by Hurricane Hugo (with calculated diameter)

LFDPHurricaneDama-a.txt

August 1990

Once after Hurricane Hugo

September 1993

Note: If for some reason you have problems accessing and downloading the data through the forms, send us a message to emelendez@lternet.edu in which you give us a brief statement of the purpose to use the data.

RESEARCH LOCATION:Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP, southwest plot corner 18° 20’ N, 65° 49’ W), El Verde Research Area, Luquillo Experimental Forest, Caribbean National Forest, Puerto Rico.

INVESTIGATORS:

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS E-MAIL address

Jill Thompson

Jill@coqui.net

Jess Zimmerman

jzimmerman@lternet.edu

Nicholas Brokaw

nbrokaw@lternet.edu

OTHER RESEARCHERS E-MAIL address

Robert B. Waide

rwaide@lternet.edu

Wyn M. Everham III

eeverham@fgcu.edu

D. Jean Lodge

DJLodge@coqui.net

Charlotte M. Taylor

Diana Garcia-Monteil

Marcheterre Fluet

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

Jill Thompson
Jill@coqui.net

787-380-3220

Nicholas Brokaw

nbrokaw@lternet.edu

1-787-764-0000 x 4940

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR): The LFDP was established with funds from a National Science Foundation (NSF) SGER grant, BSR-9015961 to the University of Puerto Rico (UPR). This work was also supported by LTER grants BSR-8811902 and BSR-8811764 from NSF to the Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies, UPR, and to IITF, as part of the Long-Term Ecological Research Program in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. The U.S. Forest Service (Dept. of Agriculture) and UPR gave additional support. Funds were also provided through grants RII-880291 and HRD-9353549 from NSF to UPR’s Center for Research Excellence in Science and Technology. Funding for current work on the LFDP comes from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

DATA SET ABSTRACT: Hurricane Hugo struck the Caribbean national forest in September 1989. Files LFDP_HURRDAM.TXT and LFDP_HURRDAMa.TXT contain data on the damage to trees caused by the hurricane collected by Mr. R. DeLeon between August 1990 and September 1991. Mr. DeLeon walked throughout the plot to find stems >= 10 cm diameter that had apparently been damaged or killed by the hurricane in an effort to collect information before the damaged stems rotted. The information on these stems was later combined with the results of the first census to reconstruct the forest, as it would have appeared, at the time of Hurricane Hugo. This file contains the hurricane damage data collected for stems damaged by Hurricane Hugo combined with data for the stems recorded subsequently in the first complete LFDP census starting in 1990. Some stems that were measured in Census 1 survey 2 and survey 3 or Census 2 that were believed to have been missed in Census 1 survey 1, are also included (see census history above) and are assumed to have been undamaged by Hurricane Hugo. The structure of the data files is the same for both files LFDP_HURRDAM.TXT and LFDP_HURRDAMa.TXT but the diameter of the trees in LFDP_HURRDAMa.TXT have been calculated by extrapolating diameters backwards from subsequent measurements to the time of the Census 1 survey 1. Diameters in file LFDP_HURRDAMa.TXT can not be used for growth measurements. For our publications we treat files LFDP_HURRDAM.TXT and LFDP_HURRDAMa.TXT as one data set.

The National Science Foundation requires that data from projects it funds are posted on the web two years after any data set has been organized and "cleaned". The data from each census of the LFDP will be updated at intervals as each survey of the LFDP shows errors in the previous data collection. After posting on the web, researchers who are not part of the project are then welcome to use the data. Given the enormous amount of time, effort and resources required to manage the LFDP, obtain these data, and ensure data accuracy, LFDP Principal Investigators request that researchers intending to use this data comply with the requests below. Through complying with these requests we can ensure that the data are interpreted correctly, analyses are not repeated unnecessarily, beneficial collaboration between users is promoted and the Principle Investigators investment in this project is protected.

Please comply with the following requests:

Submit to the LFDP PIs a short (1 page) description of how you intend to use the data; · Invite LFDP PIs to be co-authors on any publication that uses the data in a substantial way (some PIs may decline and other LFDP scientists may need to be included);
If the LFDP PIs are not co-authors, send the PIs a draft of any paper using LFDP data, so that the PIs may comment upon it;
In the methods section of any publication using LFDP data, describe that data as coming from the “Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot, part of the Luquillo Experimental Forest Long-Term Ecological Research Program”;
Acknowledge in any publication using LFDP data the “The Luquillo Experimental Forest Long-Term Ecological Research Program, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the University of Puerto Rico, and the International Institute of Tropical Forestry”;
· Supply the LFDP PIs with 10 reprints of any publication using LFDP data.
· Accept that the LFDP PIs can not guarantee that the LFDP data you intend to use, has not already been submitted for publication or published.

DATA SET METHODS: Mr. R. DeLeon walked throughout the LFDP, and in each 20 m x 20 m quadrat flagged and gave temporary numbers to all stems of woody plants >= 10 cm D130 , that were assessed as having been killed or damaged by Hurricane Hugo. The species were identified, a diameter measured, and information such as the type of damage, cause of death, substrate on which the stem was standing, and direction the stem was thrown by the wins was recorded. Although many stems were damaged and sometimes dead when assessed, Mr. DeLeon was able to identify many of them from form and bark characteristics. The data for diameter is that recorded in Census 1 survey 1 (even if the stem was dead by this time). Tip directions in this file are also those recorded during Census 1 survey 1 and not those recorded by Mr. DeLeon. In addition, the substrate data and some additional comments as to what might have caused the stem damage are not present in this data file.

The temporary numbers given my Mr. DeLeon were changed to permanent numbers when the subsequent full Census 1 survey 1 recording of stems >=10 cm D130 was carried out.

REFERENCES:
Brown, S., A. E. Lugo, S. Silander, and L. Liegel. 1983. Research history and opportunities in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report SO-44, Southern Forest Experiment Station, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Condit, R. 1998. Tropical Forest census Plots. Springer, Berlin

Everham, E. M. III 1996. Hurricane disturbance and recovery: An empirical and simulation study of vegetation dynamics in the Luquillo Experimental Forest. PhD. State University of New York.

Soil Survey Staff. 1995. Order 1 Soil Survey of the Luquillo Long-Term Ecological Research Grid, Puerto Rico. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

Zimmerman, J. K., E. M. Everham, III, R. B. Waide, D. J. Lodge, C. M. Taylor, and N. V. L. Brokaw. 1994. Responses of tree species to hurricane winds in subtropical wet forest in Puerto Rico: implications for tropical tree life histories. Journal of Ecology 82:911-922.

CROSS-REFERENCES (other data sets related to this one): LTERDBAS46: Elevation at grid points on the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico; LTERDB47: Physical environment of the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico, LTERDB57: Tree damage by Hurricane Hugo at the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico, LTERDB60: Tree Map for Census at the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico; LTERDB62: Canopy height profile starting 1992, 1994 and 1996 of the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico; LTERDB118: Species names and codes of the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico; LTERDB119: Census of species, diameter and location at the Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot (LFDP), Puerto Rico; LTERDB129: Temperature and humidity in the LFDP (40 points)

SAMPLE LOCATION: N/A

STORAGE SITES (of data files): Paper and computer files at ITES; Computer files at El Verde Field Station

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: Luquillo Forest Dynamics Plot, LFDP, Hurricane Recovery Plot, plant community composition, plant diversity, Luquillo Experimental Forest, El Verde Field Station, Puerto Rico.

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table): EL VERDE, LFDP (EV Big Grid), MOIST, TABONUCO, COMMUNITY COMPOSITION, DISTURBANCE, HUMAN, HURRICANE, ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES, POPULATION DYNAMICS , PRIMARY PRODUCTION, TREE GROWTH, HIGHER PLANTS, FERNS, HERBS, PALMS, SHRUBS, TREES , PEER REVIEWED JOURNAL

PUBLICATIONS:
Brokaw, N., Fraver, S., Rear, J.S., Thompson, J., Zimmerman, J.K., Waide, R. B., Everham, E.M., Hubbell, S.P., Condit, R. and Foster, R.B. In press. Disturbance and Canopy structure in two tropical forests. In R. Condit, and J. Lafrakie (eds) Tropical forest diversity and dynamism: results from a network of large plots. Smithsonian Institution.

Brokaw, N. and Thompson. J. 2000. The H for DBH. Forest Ecology and Management 129:89-91.

García-Montiel, D. C. In press. La presencia humana en los bosques neotropicales húmedos. In M. Guariguata and G. Kattan, editors. Ecología de Bosque Lluvioso Neotropical. Editorial Agroamérica, San José, Costa Rica.

Thompson, J., N. Brokaw, J. K. Zimmerman, R. B. Waide, E. M. Everham, III, D. J. Lodge, C. M. Taylor, D. Garc&icute;a-Montiel, and M. Fluet. In press. Land use history, environment, and tree composition in a tropical forest. Ecological Applications.

Thompson, J., Brokaw, N., Zimmerman, J.K., Waide, R.B., Everham, E.M.. and Schaefer, D.A. In press. The Luquillo forest dynamics plot. In R. Condit, and J. Lafrakie (eds) Tropical forest diversity and dynamism: results from a network of large plots. Smithsonian Institution.

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: J. ZIMMERMAN, A. LUGO , D.J. LODGE

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 DESCRIPTION: The LFDP is within the Luquillo Experimental Forest (LEF, established in 1956) which is coterminous with the Caribbean National Forest and covers 11,330-ha of the Luquillo mountains (Brown et al. 1983). There are four different forest types within the LEF including tabonuco, colorado, palm-brake, and dwarf forest. These forest types are associated with different soil types and are roughly stratified by elevation (Brown et al. 1983). The LFDP lies within the tabonuco forest that is named after a dominant tree, Dacryodes excelsa Vahl (Burseraceae). Tabonuco forest develops best on low, protected, well-drained ridges below 600 m a.s.l. Mean canopy height in tabonuco forest is about 20 m, with tallest trees to c. 35m. Few trees in the LFDP exceed 1 m DBH. The forest in Puerto Rico is subject to hurricane damage and canopy height is lower, and canopy structure is broken, in the years after hurricanes.

CLIMATE

The climate is classified as tropical montane in Walsh’s (1996) tropical climate system, and as subtropical wet in the Holdridge life zone system (Ewel and Whitmore 1973). Annual rainfall at El Verde averages just over 3500 mm yr^-1 (1975-1999). On average there is no month with <200 mm of rain, although a drier season occurs from January through April. The highest rainfall recorded at El Verde between 1975 and 2001 (370 mm in less than 12 hours) fell on 17 April 1997. There are also severe droughts, such as in 1994, when less than 70% of the average annual rain fell, and many small streams in the forest stopped flowing entirely for two months. Daily average maximum air temperature is 25.2 ^°C, minimum is 20.5 ^°C, and average is 22.8 ^°C (Brown et al. 1983, and also see weather data on this web site). Severe hurricanes struck the LFDP forest area in 1928, 1932, 1989 and 1998.

LFDP TOPOGRAPHY AND SOIL.

Topography on the LFDP has northwest-running drainages producing steep northeast and southwest-facing slopes, with an elevation across the plot which ranges from 333 to 428 m asl. The mean slope of the plot is 17% but ranges from 3 to 60%. Soils were formed in residual volcanic ash that fell in the ocean to form volcaniclastic sandstones and siltstones, which were subsequently uplifted (F. Scatena pers. comm.). Soils are dominated by old, deeply weathered kaolinitic Oxisols (Zarzal) and Ultisols (Cristal), and young, less-developed Entisols (Coloso and Fluvaquents) and Inceptisols (Preito) in stream channels. Zarzal, Cristal and Prieto are deep clay soils, while Coloso and Fluvequents are formed from alluvium in the stream channels (Soil Survey Staff 1995).

Geographical positional system (GPS) Coordinates for each location:

location latitude longitude

South West Corner of plot
18° 19" 26' North

65° 49" 3' West

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)
1,2 1,2 1,2

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)
Tag Quad Subquad

NAME OF VARIABLE

Tag

Quadrat code number
Subquadrat number

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE
Unique number for each stem. Code represents the 20 x 20 m quadrat based upon its position in the rows and columns of the 16 ha grid. The first 2 digits form the column number counting quadrats from West to East and the second two digits form the row number counting quadrats South to North. Leading zeros are not displayed so quadrats in columns 1-9 have only 3 digits
Code representing the position each of the 16 5m by 5 m subquadrat within each 20 m x 20 m quadrat. The code consists of 2 numbers. The first is the number of the plot counting from the southwest corner of the quadrat to the east. The second is the number of the subquadrat counting from the southwest corner to the north. See arrangement below

UNIT
None None None

PRECISION
N/A N/A N/A

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES
From -127736 to 139316 with many numbers not used 0101 first quadrat in southwest corner to 2525 last quadrat in North East corner
NW 14 24 34 44 NE
13 23 33 34

12 22 32 42

SW 11 21 31 41 SE

DATA TYPE
Integer Alphanumeric Alphanumeric

MISSING DATA CODES
None None None

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)
1,2 1,2 1,2

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)
Main stem NEWSPP Palm ht

NAME OF VARIABLE
Main stem New species name Palm Height

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE
The main stem tag number is the number for an individual plant. Numbers in this field show that the stem with a tag number, in the same row of data is attached to the stem with this main stem number. A 6 letter code for the species name for this individual. First three letters are the first three letter of the genus and the second three letters the first three letters of the species name. Variations to this rule are possible. See species list file LFDP_species. The species identifications include corrections made after census 2. The height above the ground at which the palm diameter was measured.

UNIT
None None Centimeters

PRECISION
N/A N/A +/- 1 cm

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES
Potentially between -127736 to 139316 with many numbers not used See file LFDP_spp -130, 130

DATA TYPE
Integer Alphanumeric Integer

MISSING DATA CODES
A blank means that either the stem in this row of data is either a main stem itself so it does not have a main stem number in this field. Or alternatively that this stem represents an individual plant that does not have multiple stems.
Blank means no species identification was possible. Dead means tree was dead and no species identification was possible. ING? Means Inga species not determined.
-130 means we believed palm height was 130 cm from the ground but this was not recorded in the field data. Only used when species is Prestoea acuminata.

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)
1,2 1,2 1,2

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)
Fdiam Degrees 1^st Measure

NAME OF VARIABLE
"Fixed" diameter of stems measured in Census 1 (survey 1, 2 and 3) Direction of lean or tip up in degrees from North 1^st Measure

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

In file LFDP_HURRDAM.txt these are actual diameter measurements on the indicated date. LFDP_HURRDAMa.txt these diameters were calculated to give the diameter that the stem would have had, if it had not been "missed" and had been measured in the correct survey for it's size class. Date for each stem in LFDP_HURRDAMa.txt means the actual date a diameter was recorded although the diameter was calculated for an earlier time.
The direction the main stem is leaning or broken off, as a result of being tipped up, snapped off, broken at the root or bent (Values not adjusted for magnetic declination of 7.5 degrees)
This variable has two meanings depending upon the type of damage the tree received. If the tree was snapped off it means the height at which it was broken. If the tree was tipped up it means the width of the exposed root ball.

UNIT
Centimeters Degrees Meters

PRECISION
0.1 cm. Calculated diameters for stems D 10 cm may be given to 0.01 cm. Unknown - compass reading Estimated + or - 10%

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES
10.00 cm to 150.78 cm 0-360 0.5 - 24

DATA TYPE
Numeric Integer Numeric

MISSING DATA CODES
Blank means no data recorded. Only recorded when the tree received major trunk damage. A blank means tree was tipped up or bent etc. or the measurement was not taken
Only used when tree received major stem damage or tip-up. Blank means tree was undamaged, it was broken at the roots or bent. A zero is used to indicate a secondary stem in a tip-up to prevent double counting in calculations of the total disturbed area.

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)
1,2 1,2 1,2

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)
2^st Measure Br Number

NAME OF VARIABLE
2^st Measure Branches Number of branches

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE

This variable has two meanings depending upon the type of damage the tree received. If the tree was snapped off it means an estimate of the tree height before it was broken. If the tree was tipped up it means the height of the exposed root ball.
Branches >10 cm diameter broken from the tree Number of branches > 10 cm diameter that were broken off.

UNIT
meters N/A N/A

PRECISION
Estimated + or - 10% Unknown, based upon an assessment from the ground. Unknown, based upon an assessment from the ground.

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES
0.4 - 29.5 Br or blank 1 - 12

DATA TYPE
Numeric Alphanumeric Numeric

MISSING DATA CODES

Only used when tree received major stem damage or tip-up. Blank means tree was undamaged, it was broken at the roots or bent. A zero is used to indicate a secondary stem in a tip-up to prevent double counting in calculations of the total disturbed area.
Blank means this condition does not apply or the assessment was not made. Only used when variable "Br" recorded. Blank means this condition does not apply or the number of branches could not be determined.

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)
1,2 1,2 1,2

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)
S/L/P HURRDAM Dead

NAME OF VARIABLE
Standing, Leaning or Prone Hurricane damage Dead

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE
Tree was either standing, leaning at more than 45 degrees from the vertical or prone and lying on the ground The degree of damage sustained during Hurricane Hugo. Only the major category of damage is included. Tree was dead

UNIT
None None None

PRECISION
N/A N/A Unknown, temporary absence of leaves or presence of Lianas may cause an error in assessment

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES
S, L or P
U - undamaged
T - tip up
Sn- snap off
R - root break, snap at ground level
Bt- bent, damaged
D-time of death undetermined
H-tree killed immediately by the hurricane
B- trees dead before the hurricane
P-trees died after the hurricane (may or may not be related to the hurricane)
A-alive trees that appeared dead in the initial hurricane mortality survey. R-tree regenerated after the hurricane and reaching minimum diameter in time to be included in the measurement (exclusively CECSCH). Blank for a living tree.

DATA TYPE
Alphanumeric Alphanumeric Alphanumeric

MISSING DATA CODES
Blank means position not recorded None, Blank means trees that were assigned from later censuses and were assumed not damaged by Hurricane Hugo. Blank, means variable does not apply or assessment was not made.

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)
1,2 1,2

ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)
Sp Li

NAME OF VARIABLE
Sprout Lianas

DEFINITION OF VARIABLE
Stem had sprouts on the main trunk or top of a snap off. Recorded in Census 1 survey 1. 50% of the tree crown, not trunk was covered in vines. Recorded in Census 1 survey 1.

UNIT
None None

PRECISION
Not known, based upon an assessment from the ground. Not known, based upon an assessment from the ground.

RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES
Sp or blank Li or blank

DATA TYPE
Alphanumeric Alphanumeric

MISSING DATA CODES
Blank means did not apply or assessment not recorded. Blank means did not apply or assessment not recorded.

COMPUTATIONAL METHODS:

Variable Name

Formula

Calculation of "Fixed" diameter of stems given in LFDP1a.txt

1) When two stem diameters are known
(Diam at Time2 – Diam at Time1)/ (Time2 – Time1) = Growthrate;
Growthrate * (Time1 – Time0 of unknown Diam) = Growth from Time0 of unknown Diam;
Unknown Diam at Time0 = Diameter at Time 1 -Growth from Time0 of unknown diameter.
2) When only one diameter is known, substitute the median growthrate for the same species in 1) above. Use the median for the appropriate size class of stems, either >=1,<10 cm or >=10, <=30 cm.

3) If two diameters are known for time 1 and time 2 and the second is smaller than the first i.e. a negative growthrate. Substitute the smallest of the two diameters for the diameter at time 0.

FOR DATA MANAGER USE ONLY

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: Jan 13, 2005
DATE OF LAST ENTRY: January 30, 1992
STAGE OF DATA SET MANAGEMENT (dates):
RECEIVED ENTERED: 1992
FILED : 1992
ON-LINE; 2002
REVIEWED BY RESEARCHER:
FILING MEDIA:
NAME OF DOCUMENTATION FILE: lterdb46.htm
NAME OF ON - LINE CATALOG: LTERDBAS
RECORD #: 46
DOCUMENT TYPE: magnetic media (paper also)
PRIORITY TO BE ENTERED: second

Rev. date of this form: 8 June 2001

Data File No.	Data File Identifier	On-Line Filename	Starting Date	Periodicity of sample	End Period
1	LFDP Tree damage by Hurricane Hugo	LFDPHurricaneDamage.txt	August 1990	Once after Hurricane Hugo	September 1993
2	LFDP Tree damage by Hurricane Hugo (with calculated diameter)	LFDPHurricaneDama-a.txt	August 1990	Once after Hurricane Hugo	September 1993

Jill Thompson	Jill@coqui.net
Jess Zimmerman	jzimmerman@lternet.edu
Nicholas Brokaw	nbrokaw@lternet.edu

Robert B. Waide	rwaide@lternet.edu
Wyn M. Everham III	eeverham@fgcu.edu
D. Jean Lodge	DJLodge@coqui.net
Charlotte M. Taylor
Diana Garcia-Monteil
Marcheterre Fluet

Jill Thompson	Jill@coqui.net	787-380-3220
Nicholas Brokaw	nbrokaw@lternet.edu	1-787-764-0000 x 4940

location	latitude	longitude
South West Corner of plot	18° 19" 26' North	65° 49" 3' West

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1,2	1,2	1,2
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	Tag	Quad	Subquad
NAME OF VARIABLE	Tag	Quadrat code number	Subquadrat number
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Unique number for each stem.	Code represents the 20 x 20 m quadrat based upon its position in the rows and columns of the 16 ha grid. The first 2 digits form the column number counting quadrats from West to East and the second two digits form the row number counting quadrats South to North. Leading zeros are not displayed so quadrats in columns 1-9 have only 3 digits	Code representing the position each of the 16 5m by 5 m subquadrat within each 20 m x 20 m quadrat. The code consists of 2 numbers. The first is the number of the plot counting from the southwest corner of the quadrat to the east. The second is the number of the subquadrat counting from the southwest corner to the north. See arrangement below
UNIT	None	None	None
PRECISION	N/A	N/A	N/A
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	From -127736 to 139316 with many numbers not used	0101 first quadrat in southwest corner to 2525 last quadrat in North East corner	NW 14 24 34 44 NE 13 23 33 34 12 22 32 42 SW 11 21 31 41 SE
DATA TYPE	Integer	Alphanumeric	Alphanumeric
MISSING DATA CODES	None	None	None

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1,2	1,2	1,2
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	Main stem	NEWSPP	Palm ht
NAME OF VARIABLE	Main stem	New species name	Palm Height
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	The main stem tag number is the number for an individual plant. Numbers in this field show that the stem with a tag number, in the same row of data is attached to the stem with this main stem number.	A 6 letter code for the species name for this individual. First three letters are the first three letter of the genus and the second three letters the first three letters of the species name. Variations to this rule are possible. See species list file LFDP_species. The species identifications include corrections made after census 2.	The height above the ground at which the palm diameter was measured.
UNIT	None	None	Centimeters
PRECISION	N/A	N/A	+/- 1 cm
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	Potentially between -127736 to 139316 with many numbers not used	See file LFDP_spp	-130, 130
DATA TYPE	Integer	Alphanumeric	Integer
MISSING DATA CODES	A blank means that either the stem in this row of data is either a main stem itself so it does not have a main stem number in this field. Or alternatively that this stem represents an individual plant that does not have multiple stems.	Blank means no species identification was possible. Dead means tree was dead and no species identification was possible. ING? Means Inga species not determined.	-130 means we believed palm height was 130 cm from the ground but this was not recorded in the field data. Only used when species is Prestoea acuminata.

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1,2	1,2	1,2
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	Fdiam	Degrees	1^st Measure
NAME OF VARIABLE	"Fixed" diameter of stems measured in Census 1 (survey 1, 2 and 3)	Direction of lean or tip up in degrees from North	1^st Measure
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	In file LFDP_HURRDAM.txt these are actual diameter measurements on the indicated date. LFDP_HURRDAMa.txt these diameters were calculated to give the diameter that the stem would have had, if it had not been "missed" and had been measured in the correct survey for it's size class. Date for each stem in LFDP_HURRDAMa.txt means the actual date a diameter was recorded although the diameter was calculated for an earlier time.	The direction the main stem is leaning or broken off, as a result of being tipped up, snapped off, broken at the root or bent (Values not adjusted for magnetic declination of 7.5 degrees)	This variable has two meanings depending upon the type of damage the tree received. If the tree was snapped off it means the height at which it was broken. If the tree was tipped up it means the width of the exposed root ball.
UNIT	Centimeters	Degrees	Meters
PRECISION	0.1 cm. Calculated diameters for stems D 10 cm may be given to 0.01 cm.	Unknown - compass reading	Estimated + or - 10%
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	10.00 cm to 150.78 cm	0-360	0.5 - 24
DATA TYPE	Numeric	Integer	Numeric
MISSING DATA CODES	Blank means no data recorded.	Only recorded when the tree received major trunk damage. A blank means tree was tipped up or bent etc. or the measurement was not taken	Only used when tree received major stem damage or tip-up. Blank means tree was undamaged, it was broken at the roots or bent. A zero is used to indicate a secondary stem in a tip-up to prevent double counting in calculations of the total disturbed area.

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1,2	1,2	1,2
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	2^st Measure	Br	Number
NAME OF VARIABLE	2^st Measure	Branches	Number of branches
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	This variable has two meanings depending upon the type of damage the tree received. If the tree was snapped off it means an estimate of the tree height before it was broken. If the tree was tipped up it means the height of the exposed root ball.	Branches >10 cm diameter broken from the tree	Number of branches > 10 cm diameter that were broken off.
UNIT	meters	N/A	N/A
PRECISION	Estimated + or - 10%	Unknown, based upon an assessment from the ground.	Unknown, based upon an assessment from the ground.
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	0.4 - 29.5	Br or blank	1 - 12
DATA TYPE	Numeric	Alphanumeric	Numeric
MISSING DATA CODES	Only used when tree received major stem damage or tip-up. Blank means tree was undamaged, it was broken at the roots or bent. A zero is used to indicate a secondary stem in a tip-up to prevent double counting in calculations of the total disturbed area.	Blank means this condition does not apply or the assessment was not made.	Only used when variable "Br" recorded. Blank means this condition does not apply or the number of branches could not be determined.

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1,2	1,2	1,2
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	S/L/P	HURRDAM	Dead
NAME OF VARIABLE	Standing, Leaning or Prone	Hurricane damage	Dead
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Tree was either standing, leaning at more than 45 degrees from the vertical or prone and lying on the ground	The degree of damage sustained during Hurricane Hugo. Only the major category of damage is included.	Tree was dead
UNIT	None	None	None
PRECISION	N/A	N/A	Unknown, temporary absence of leaves or presence of Lianas may cause an error in assessment
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	S, L or P	U - undamaged T - tip up Sn- snap off R - root break, snap at ground level Bt- bent, damaged	D-time of death undetermined H-tree killed immediately by the hurricane B- trees dead before the hurricane P-trees died after the hurricane (may or may not be related to the hurricane) A-alive trees that appeared dead in the initial hurricane mortality survey. R-tree regenerated after the hurricane and reaching minimum diameter in time to be included in the measurement (exclusively CECSCH). Blank for a living tree.
DATA TYPE	Alphanumeric	Alphanumeric	Alphanumeric
MISSING DATA CODES	Blank means position not recorded	None, Blank means trees that were assigned from later censuses and were assumed not damaged by Hurricane Hugo.	Blank, means variable does not apply or assessment was not made.