lterdb87-Germination in three R/FR light environments

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.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Light level is an environmental property monitored at LUQ. Light level, soil moisture, and temperature simultaneously increase after disturbance and may interact with the pulse of detritus to affect subsequent community and ecosystem changes. For example, increased light promotes the establishment of pioneer and shrub species, but the litter deposited by the hurricane inhibits the germination of these same species (Guzmán-Grajales & Walker 1991). (See LUQ lTER Proposal 2002 for more details.)

The L-CENTURY predicts that light is the dominant regulator of NPP along the gradient (Wang 2001) and in LUQ LTER 3 we hypothesize that the observed change in litter production results from decreased light availability at the cloud line coupled with lower temperatures with elevation.

Seed germination of seven tree species in three red (660 nm) to far-red (730 nm) light environments were studied in 1995 to determine the germination success of a number of species in different light environments.

LTER CORE AREAS: (Annotate all that apply)

Pattern and control of primary production

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

Regeneration of tree species

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): See charts

Data File No.	Data File Identifier	On-Line Filename	Starting Date	Periodicity of sample	End Period
1	Germination tests observation in day number 38	evgtd38.txt	March 6, 1995	daily	March 6, 1995
2	Germination tests observation in day number 39	evgtd39.txt	March 7, 1995	daily	March 7, 1995
3	Germination tests observation in day number 43	evgtd43.txt	March 11, 1995	daily	March 11, 1995
4	Germination tests observation in day number 46	evgtd46.txt	March 14, 1995	daily	March 14, 1995
5	Germination tests observation in day number 47	evgtd47.txt	March 15, 1995	daily	March 15, 1995
6	Germination tests observation in day number 54	evgtd54.txt	March 22, 1995	daily	March 22, 1995
7	Germination tests observation in day number 55	evgtd55.txt	March 23, 1995	daily	March 23, 1995
8	Germination tests observation in day number 58	evgtd58.txt	March 26, 1995	daily	March 26, 1995
9	Germination tests observation in day number 59	evgtd59.txt	March 27, 1995	daily	March 27, 1995
10	Germination tests observation in day number 61	evgtd61.txt	March 29, 1995	daily	March 29, 1995
11	Germination tests observation in day number 64	evgtd64.txt	April 1, 1995	daily	April 1, 1995
12	Germination tests observation in day number 65	evgtd65.txt	April 2, 1995	daily	April 2, 1995
13	Germination tests observation in day number 66	evgtd66.txt	April 3, 1995	daily	April 3, 1995
14	Germination tests observation in day number 67	evgtd67.txt	April 4, 1995	daily	April 4, 1995
15	Germination tests observation in day number 69	evgtd69.txt	April 6, 1995	daily	April 6, 1995
16	Germination tests observation in day number 70	evgtd70.txt	April 7, 1995	daily	April 7, 1995
17	Germination tests observation in day number 71	evgtd71.txt	April 8, 1995	daily	April 8, 1995
18	Germination tests observation in day number 72 (temporarily unavailable - Jan 23, 2009)	evgtd72.txt	April 9, 1995	daily	April 9, 1995
19	Germination tests observation in day number 76	evgtd76.txt	April 13, 1995	daily	April 13, 1995
20	Germination tests observation in day number 81	evgtd81.txt	April 18, 1995	daily	April 18, 1995
21	Germination tests observation in day number 100	evgtd100.txt	May 7, 1995	daily	May 7, 1995
22	Germination tests observation in day number 107	evgtd107.txt	May 14, 1995	daily	May 14, 1995
23	Germination tests observation in day number 111	evgtd111.txt	May 18, 1995	daily	May 18, 1995
24	Germination tests observation in day number 114	evgtd114.txt	May 21, 1995	daily	May 21, 1995
25	Germination tests observation in day number 116	evgtd116.txt	May 23, 1995	daily	May 23, 1995
26	Germination tests observation in day number 128	evgtd128.txt	June 4, 1995	daily	June 4, 1995
27	Germination tests observation in day number 135	evgtd135.txt	June 11, 1995	daily	June 11, 1995
28	Germination tests observation in day number 139	evgtd139.txt	June 15, 1995	daily	June 15, 1995
29	Germination tests observation in day number 142	evgtd142.txt	June 18, 1995	daily	June 18, 1995
30	Germination tests observation in day number 144	evgtd144.txt	June 20, 1995	daily	June 20, 1995
31	Germination tests observation in day number 146	evgtd146.txt	June 22, 1995	daily	June 22, 1995
32	Germination tests observation in day number 150	evgtd150.txt	June 26, 1995	daily	June 26, 1995
33	Germination tests observation in day number 152	evgtd152.txt	June 28, 1995	daily	June 28, 1995
34	Germination tests observation in day number 155	evgtd155.txt	July 1, 1995	daily	July 1, 1995
35	Germination tests observation in day number 159	evgtd159.txt	July 5, 1995	daily	July 5, 1995
36	Germination tests observation in day number 162	evgtd162.txt	July 8, 1995	daily	July 8, 1995
37	Germination tests observation in day number 171	evgtd171.txt	July 17, 1995	daily	July 17, 1995
38	Germination tests observation in day number 176	evgtd176.txt	July 22, 1995	daily	July 22, 1995
39	Summary of Light Measurements in all four sites	ltprstds.txt	February 28, 1995	daily for 81 days, three times weekly for an additional 75 days.	February 28, 1995

RESEARCH LOCATION: Site 1: Tabonuco forest near El Verde field station, BS1 (55% cover, .53 R/FR) at the top of the hill on the left-hand side of the trail to the Sonadora suspension bridge; Site 2: BS2 (80% cover, .20 R/FR) was on the same trail as it starts the ascent to the top, it too is on the left-hand side; Site 3: R (Full sun, 1.2 R/FR) was on the roof of the lab building,; Site 4: T (75% cover, .20 R/FR) was below the water tower on the hill behing the lab and dorm buildings.

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

Nicholas Brokaw

nbrokaw@lternet.edu

(787)764-0000 (1-4049)

DATA SET ABSTRACT: Experiments were conducted in the Tabonuco forest at Luquillo Experimental Forest to determine the germination success of a number of species in different light environments. Species tested included: Byrsonima spicata, Calophyllum brasiliense, Carapa sp., Choven venosa, Guarea guidonia, Manilkara bidentata, Ochroma pyramidale and an unidentified species known locally as Jobo. Seeds were collected as they fell and placed on moist towling in horticulture trays at four sites. Seeds were kept moist and germination was recorded daily for 81 days and three times weekly for an additional 75 days. Light environments included a site exposed to full sun (FS) and sites with 55%, 75% and 80% cover. Instantaneous light measurements were made with a Licor 1800 spectroradiometer to determine the Red (660 nm) to Far-red (730 nm) ratio (R/FR) (Lee, 1987). Analysis of light data indicated that the four sites chosen provided three significantly different R/FR ratio environments, and that germination of some species was affected by the light environment (Smith, H. & Whitelam, G.C. 1990). Three species failed to germinate in any of the four light environments.

Table 1. Red/Far-red ratio & Percent Germination of five species in four sites.

site	%cover	R/FR	Calophyllum	Manilkara	Ochroma	Carapa	Jobo
1	55	.53	21 %	46 %	10 %	40 %	3%
2	80	.20	16 %	48 %	14 %	16%	8%
3	FS	1.2	4 %	16 %	12%	0	0
4	75	.20	3 %	32 %	16 %	16%	3%

DATA SET METHODS: Four sites were selected to represent a range of vegetation cover from open light to shaded conditions. Frames were placed in the sites to support horticulture trays 18 inches above the forest floor. Seeds were collected as they fell from individual trees and placed in the horticultural trays which were lined with absorbent material. The trays were covered with screen to prevent predation, and the seeds were kept moist. Germination was recorded daily for 81 days and three times weekly thereafter for 75 days. Light measurements were made with a Li-1800 spectroradiometer (LI-COR, Inc. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA) placed on the surface of the frame supporting the horticulture trays containing the seeds. The Licors internal microprocessor calculated the Red to Far-red ratio.

REFERENCES:
Lee, David. 1987. The spectral distribution of radiation in two neotripical forests. Biotropica 19(2): 161-166.
Smith, H.& Whitelam. G.C. 1990. Phytochrome, a family of photoreceptors with multiple physiological roles. Plant Cell Environment 13:695-707.

SAMPLE LOCATION: Luquillo Experimental Forest: BS1 (55% cover, .53 R/FR)at the top of the hill on the left-hand side of the trail to the Sonadora suspension bridge; BS2 (80% cover, .20 R/FR) was on the same trail as it starts the ascent to the top, it too is on the left-hand side; R (Full sun, 1.2 R/FR) was on the roof of the lab building, T (75% cover, .20 R/FR) was below the water tower on the hill behing the lab and dorm buildings.

STORAGE SITES: Copies of the data set are stored in the LTER/LEF data system, and copies are kept at the University of Georgia, Athens GA

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: Seeds, Germination, Red to Far-red ratio (R/FR), Byrsonima spicata (BYRSPI), Calophyllum brasiliense (CALBRA), Carapa sp., Chione venosa (CHOVEN), Guarea guidonia (GUAGUI), Manilkara bidentata (MANBID), Ochroma pyramidale (OCHPYR)

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table): EL VERDE, TABONUCO, ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES, TREES, THESIS

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

SITES DESCRIPTIONS: Tabonuco forest near El Verde field station: BS1 (55% cover, .53 R/FR)at the top of the hill on the left-hand side of the trail to the Sonadora suspension bridge; BS2 (80% cover, .20 R/FR) was on the same trail as it starts the ascent to the top, it too is on the left-hand side; R (Full sun, 1.2 R/FR) was on the roof of the lab building, T (75% cover, .20 R/FR) was below the water tower on the hill behing the lab and dorm buildings.

Geographical positional system (GPS) Coordinates for each location:

location	latitude	longitude

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1-38	1-38	1-38	1-38
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	SITE	TRAY	SECTOR	SPECIES
NAME OF VARIABLE	Site	Tray number	Sector	Species code
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	An integer from 1 to 4 assigned to the area where the measurements where taken. There are no missing data for this variable.	An integer from 1 to 3 asigned to an horticulture tray supported by a frame placed in each site 18 inches above the forest floor. There are no missing data for this variable.	An integer from 1 to 18 assigned to a sector in a tray. There are no missing data for this variable.	A 6-letters code assigned to the species of the tree specie, where the first 3 characters belong to the Genus of the species and the last 3 to the Species of the tree. There are no missing data for this variable.
UNIT
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	1 = Tabonuco forest near El Verde field station, at the top of the hill on the left-hand side of the trail to the Sonadora suspension bridge, 2 = Tabonuco forest near El Verde field station at the bottom of hill on the left-hand side of the trail to the Sonadora suspension bridge; as it starts the ascent to the top, 3 = Tabonuco forest El Verde field station; below the water tower on the hill behing the lab and dorm buildings; on the water tower hill, 4 = Tabonuco forest El Verde field station on the roof of the lab building.	{1, 2, 3}		BYRSPI = Byrsonima spicata, CALBRA = Calophyllum brasiliense, Carapa = Carapa species, CHOVEN = Choven venosa, GUAGUI = Guarea guidonia, MANBID = Manilkara bidentata, OCHPYR = Ochroma pyramidale, JOBO = unidentified species known locally as Jobo.
DATA TYPE	integer	integer	integer	alphabetic
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1-38	1-38	1-38	1-38
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	STARTDATE-YEAR	STARTDATE-JULIANDAY	NO_SEEDS_SECTOR	NO_SEEDS_TESTED
NAME OF VARIABLE	year	day	Number of seeds per sector of tray	number of seeds per site
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	a 4-digits code representing the year. There are no missing data for this variable.	julian day	Number of seeds in each sector of a tray	Number of seeds tested at each site
UNIT
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES		1, ..., 366
DATA TYPE	numeric	numeric	numeric	numeric
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	1-38	1-38	1-38	1-38
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	OB_D	OB_GERM	TOTAL_GERM	PERCENT_GERM
NAME OF VARIABLE	observation day	number of germinated seeds	total number germinated/site	percent germination
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Given order number to the day the observation was performed. There are no missing data for this variable.	Seeds germinated on observation day. There are no missing data for this variable.	Number of seeds germinated up to this observation day	The percentage of seeds germinated up to this observation day. Percent of individual seeds, or total of individual seeds. Percent was computed by dividing the number of seeds germinated by the number of seeds in the sector or light environment. Totals are summations. The percent was rounded to the nearest whole number.
UNIT
PRECISION				1
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES				0 to 48
DATA TYPE	integer	integer	integer	integer
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

FILE NAME OR #ABOVE (all in which the variable appears)	39	39	39
ABBREVIATION (as it appears on the data file)	LIMS	LIGHT_SITECODE	LIGHT_MEASURE
NAME OF VARIABLE	LIMS	Light Measurement codes - Site codes	Light Measurements for each site
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Wavelength	A combination of the Cover Percent - R/RF (Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta: BS1, BS2, R, T ) code and the site code (S1, S2, S3, S4) used to designate the light measurements made with a Li-1800 spectroradiometer. The R/FR ratio is the ratio between radiation in the 660 nm and 730 nm wavelengths. The microprocessor in the Li-800 was used to calculate the R/FR ratio. (The Li-1800 measures radiation +-3-10 % depending on wavelength)	Light measurements made in µmol m-2 s-1 with a Li-1800 spectroradiometer (LI-COR, Inc. Lincoln, Nebraska, USA) placed on the surface of the frame supporting the horticulture trays containing the seeds
UNIT	nanometer		micro moles per second per meterSquared
PRECISION			.01
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES		BS1S1 = 55% cover-.53 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 1, BS1S2 = 55% cover-.53 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 2, BS1S3 = 55% cover-.53 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 3, BS1S4 = 55% cover-.53 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 4, BS2S1 = 80% cover-.20 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 1, BS2S2 = 80% cover-.20 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 2, BS2S3 = 80% cover-.20 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 3, RS1 = Full sun- 1.2 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 1, RS2 = Full sun- 1.2 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 2, RS3 = Full sun- 1.2 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 3, RS4 = Full sun- 1.2 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site, TS1 = 75% cover-.20 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site, TS2 = 75% cover-.20 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site, TS3 = 75% cover-.20 Red to Far-red light ratio in quanta measurement performed at site 3
DATA TYPE	integer	alphanumeric	decimal
MISSING DATA CODES

Variable Name	Formula
Percent was computed by dividing the number of seeds germinated by the number of seeds in the sector or light environment. Totals are summations.

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: April 20, 2009
DATE OF LAST ENTRY: Feb. 14, 1997
STAGE OF DATA SET MANAGEMENT (dates):
RECEIVED: Feb. 7, 1997
CATALOGUED: Feb. 7, 1997
ON-LINE: March 7, 1997
REVIEWED BY RESEARCHER:
FILING MEDIA:
NAME OF DOCUMENTATION FILE: germain95.fm*
NAME OF DATA FILE: evgtd##.wb2,wb1, tsectrst.wb2,wb1, ltprstt.wb2,wb1
NAME OF ON - LINE CATALOG: LTERDBAS RECORD # : 87
DOCUMENT TYPE: magnetic media only
PRIORITY TO BE ENTERED: N/A

Jude Jardine	judith.jardine@wv.usda.gov
Eda C. Melendez-Colom	emelendez@lternet.edu

Bruce Haines†
Elizabeth Hammond