Data Package Metadata View Summary

Forest Community Dynamics in Hemlock Overlook, Virginia: A Ten-Year Student-Collected Forest Plot Dataset

General Information

Data Package:
Local Identifier:	edi.353.2
Title:	Forest Community Dynamics in Hemlock Overlook, Virginia: A Ten-Year Student-Collected Forest Plot Dataset
Alternate Identifier:	DOI PLACE HOLDER
Abstract:	During a ten-year observation period three plots in Hemlock Overlook Regional Park were regularly sampled and the count DBH values and identities of all trees in the plots were recorded. In total there were 94 sampling events across the ten years with a total of 4536 trees counted and measured. This dataset adds to the literature a longitudinal consistent sampling dataset that can be used for forestry and forest ecology research.
Publication Date:	2020-05-11

Time Period

Begin:

2007-04-15

End:

2017-04-15

People and Organizations
Contact:	Garretson, Alexis C (George Mason University) [ email ]
Creator:	Crerar, Lorelei (George Mason University)
Creator:	Garretson, Alexis C (George Mason University)
Creator:	Rockwood, Larry R (George Mason University)
Creator:	Undergraduate Ecology and Evolution Students
Creator:	Graduate Ecology and Evolution Teaching Assistants
Associate:	Garretson, Alexis C (George Mason University, Data Archiver)

Data Entities
Data Table Name:	Tree Plot Data
Description:	Full Tree Plot Sampling Data
Data Table Name:	Counts of Samplings and Trees per Plot
Description:	Count of Saplings and Total Trees

Detailed Metadata

Data Entities

Data Table


Data:	https://pasta-s.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/edi/353/2/92a0567a241a0b42cf86eca07cfa552f
Name:	Tree Plot Data
Description:	Full Tree Plot Sampling Data
Number of Records:	4535
Number of Columns:	15

Table Structure

Object Name:

TreePlots.csv

Size:

571905 bytes

Authentication:

4135d01de6e0e581d210cdcbe40a3f25 Calculated By MD5

Text Format:

Number of Header Lines:

Record Delimiter:

\r\n

Orientation:

column

Simple Delimited:

Field Delimiter:

Table Column Descriptions

Column Name:

PlotID

Year

Season

Plot

Replicate

Latitude

Longitude

Elevation

DistRiver

Species

Scientific

Rank

Citation

ITIS

DBH

Definition:

The ID of the plot for the measurements constructed from year season plot replicate seperated by underscores

The year of survey data collection

The season of survey data collection

The plot of survey data collection

If the plot was surveyed more than once within a season this column designates the letter code for the sampling event

The latitude of the center of the plot of data collection

The longitude of the center of the plot of data collection

The elevataion of the point at the center of the plot surveyed

The minimum distance from the center of the plot to the river

The taxonomic grouping of the measured tree

The scientific name for the taxonomic grouping of the measured name

The taxonomic rank of the tree taxonomic identifier

The citation for the taxonomy for the measured tree

The taxonomic serial number from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System for the measured tree

The diameter of the tree measured at breast height

Storage Type:

string

date

string

float

string

float

Measurement Type:

nominal

dateTime

nominal

ratio

nominal

ratio

Measurement Values Domain:

Definition

The ID of the plot for the measurements constructed from year season plot replicate seperated by underscores

Format	YYYY
Precision

Allowed Values and Definitions

Enumerated Domain

Code Definition

Code	Summer
Definition	Collection of data occurred between May and August of the indicated year
Source

Code Definition

Code	Spring
Definition	Collection of data occurred between January and April of the indicated year
Source

Code Definition

Code	Fall
Definition	Collection of data occurred between September and December of the indicated year
Source

Definition

The plot of survey data collection

Definition

If the plot was surveyed more than once within a season this column designates the letter code for the sampling event

Unit	dimensionless
Type	real
Min	38.761907
Max	38.765821

Unit	dimensionless
Type	real
Min	-77.410953
Max	-77.408651

Unit	meter
Type	real
Min	77.42
Max	83.82

Unit	meter
Type	real
Min	187.44
Max	373.65

Allowed Values and Definitions

Enumerated Domain

Code Definition

Code	Beech
Definition	American Beech, Fagus grandifolia
Source

Code Definition

Code	Tulip Poplar
Definition	Liriodendron tulipifera
Source

Code Definition

Code	Other
Definition	Non-grouped tree
Source

Code Definition

Code	Maple
Definition	Acer sp.
Source

Code Definition

Code	Oak
Definition	Quercus sp.
Source

Code Definition

Code	Pine
Definition	Pinus sp.
Source

Definition

The scientific name for the taxonomic grouping of the measured name

Definition

The taxonomic rank of the tree taxonomic identifier

Definition

The citation for the taxonomy for the measured tree

Unit	dimensionless
Type	natural
Min	18086
Max	500028

Unit	centimeter
Type	real
Min	1.6
Max	252

Missing Value Code:

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Accuracy Report:

Accuracy Assessment:

Coverage:

Methods:

Data Table


Data:	https://pasta-s.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/edi/353/2/4531feb24a07a73c2a16cd7cfa67de8f
Name:	Counts of Samplings and Trees per Plot
Description:	Count of Saplings and Total Trees
Number of Records:	186
Number of Columns:	8

Table Structure

Object Name:

Saplings_Trees.csv

Size:

8670 bytes

Authentication:

6ca8271022a30800e0fa39a52f236cf3 Calculated By MD5

Text Format:

Number of Header Lines:

Record Delimiter:

\r\n

Orientation:

column

Simple Delimited:

Field Delimiter:

Table Column Descriptions

Column Name:

PlotID

Type

Beech

Maple

Oak

Other

Pine

TulipPoplar

Definition:

The ID of the plot for the measurements constructed from year season plot replicate seperated by underscores

Categorical indicator of whether the counts are for the total number of trees or the number of saplings

The count of beech trees or saplings in the plot

The count of maple trees or saplings in the plot

The count of oak trees or saplings in the plot

The count of other trees or saplings in the plot

The count of pine trees or saplings in the plot

The count of tulip poplar trees or saplings in the plot

Storage Type:

string

float

Measurement Type:

nominal

ratio

Measurement Values Domain:

Definition

The ID of the plot for the measurements constructed from year season plot replicate seperated by underscores

Allowed Values and Definitions

Enumerated Domain

Code Definition

Code	Sapling
Definition	Total number of saplings defined as trees with a DBH measure less than or equal to 10
Source

Code Definition

Code	Total
Definition	Total number of trees measured in the plot on that year and replicate. This count includes the count of saplings.
Source

Unit	dimensionless
Type	whole
Min	0
Max	44

Unit	dimensionless
Type	whole
Min	0
Max	12

Unit	dimensionless
Type	whole
Min	0
Max	21

Unit	dimensionless
Type	whole
Min	0
Max	19

Unit	dimensionless
Type	whole
Min	0
Max	26

Unit	dimensionless
Type	whole
Min	0
Max	30

Missing Value Code:

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Code	NA
Expl	not collected

Accuracy Report:

Accuracy Assessment:

Coverage:

Methods:

Data Package Usage Rights

This data package is released to the "public domain" under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 "No Rights Reserved" (see: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). It is considered professional etiquette to provide attribution of the original work if this data package is shared in whole or by individual components. A generic citation is provided for this data package on the website https://portal.edirepository.org (herein "website") in the summary metadata page. Communication (and collaboration) with the creators of this data package is recommended to prevent duplicate research or publication. This data package (and its components) is made available "as is" and with no warranty of accuracy or fitness for use. The creators of this data package and the website shall not be liable for any damages resulting from misinterpretation or misuse of the data package or its components. Periodic updates of this data package may be available from the website. Thank you.

Keywords

By Thesaurus:
LTER Controlled Vocabulary	tree, succession
(No thesaurus)	DBH, forestry, forest plot, community ecology, hardwood forest, virginia

Methods and Protocols

These methods, instrumentation and/or protocols apply to all data in this dataset:

Methods and protocols used in the collection of this data package

Description:

Three habitats of interest were identified at Hemlock Overlook Regional Park (13220 Yates Ford Road, Clifton, VA 20124): the valley bottom, mid-slope, and ridge top. In each habitat, 50x20 meter (m) plots were set. Each plot was divided into 4 subplots using 50m and 20m tapes and the four corners of each plot were flagged. The 50 m tape was laid perpendicular to the slope of the hill, and the 20-meter tape was used to measure 10 m on either side of the center. The valley bottom plot was centered at 38.765821o latitude -77.410953o longitude at an elevation of 77.42 m. The mid-slope plot was centered at 38.765462o latitude -77.410459o longitude at an elevation of 77.56 m. The ridge top plot was centered at 38.761907 o latitude -77.408651 longitude at an elevation of 83.82 m. Students enrolled in Foundations of Ecology and Evolution used DBH tapes to measure trees in three tree stands designated in Hemlock Overlook Regional Park in Virginia over 10 years. Students changed each year, but plot locations and protocols remained the same. Students received instruction on how to use DBH tapes to measure trees, and were instructed to collect measurements of all trees over 3 centimeters DBH within each plot. Trees were not identified to species level by students, but were identified as tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipfera), red maple (Acer rubrum), oaks (Quercus spp.), beech (Fagus grandifolia), pines (Pinus spp.), or other (all other species). The study occured in Hemlock Overlook Regional Park, a small (161.87 ha) regional park located in northern Virginia. Hemlock Overlook, named for a grove of hemlock trees in the northern region of the park, is one of several parks lining Bull Run River, including Fountainhead Park and Bull Run Regional Park. Bull Run is a 52.8-km-long tributary that flows south to the Occoquan River. An area 185 square miles, including 10.93% impervious surfaces, drains to the closest point on the stream to the study location (StreamStats). The park is heavily forested with land cover typical of Virginia Piedmont Forests. The plots were sampled at least once per year each year from 2007 through 2017. The plots were sampled in the fall spring or summer semesters - as indicated in the dataset. The fall semester extends from September to December the spring semester extends from January to April and the summer semester extends from May to August. During some semesters plots were sampled more than once indicated by replicate number.

People and Organizations

Creators:

Individual:

Lorelei Crerar

Organization:

George Mason University

Email Address:

lcrerar@gmu.edu

Individual:

Alexis C Garretson

Organization:

George Mason University

Email Address:

alexis@garretson.net

Id:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7260-0131

Individual:

Larry R Rockwood

Organization:

George Mason University

Email Address:

lrockwood@gmu.edu

Individual:

Undergraduate Ecology and Evolution Students

Individual:

Graduate Ecology and Evolution Teaching Assistants

Contacts:

Individual:

Alexis C Garretson

Organization:

George Mason University

Email Address:

alexis@garretson.net

Id:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7260-0131

Associated Parties:

Individual:

Alexis C Garretson

Organization:

George Mason University

Email Address:

alexis@garretson.net

Id:

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7260-0131

Role:

Data Archiver

Temporal, Geographic and Taxonomic Coverage

Temporal, Geographic and/or Taxonomic information that applies to all data in this dataset:

Time Period

Begin:

2007-04-15

End:

2017-04-15

Geographic Region:

Description:

Students enrolled in Foundations of Ecology and Evolution used DBHtapes to measure trees in three tree stands designated in Hemlock Overlook Regional Park in Virginia over 10 years. Students changedeach year, but plot locations and protocols remained the same.Students received instruction on how to use DBH tapes to measuretrees, and were instructed to collect measurements of all trees over 3inches in DBH within each plot. Trees were not identified to specieslevel by students, but were identified as pines (Pinus), maples (Acer), oaks (Quercus), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), American beech (Fagus grandifolia) or Other by graduate instructors or supervising professors.

Bounding Coordinates:

Northern:	38.765821	Southern:	38.761907
Western:	-77.410953	Eastern:	-77.408651

Taxonomic Range:

Classification:

Rank Name:

kingdom

Rank Value:

Plantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

subkingdom

Rank Value:

Viridiplantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

infrakingdom

Rank Value:

Streptophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

superdivision

Rank Value:

Embryophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

division

Rank Value:

Tracheophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

subdivision

Rank Value:

Spermatophytina

Classification:

Rank Name:

class

Rank Value:

Magnoliopsida

Classification:

Rank Name:

superorder

Rank Value:

Rosanae

Classification:

Rank Name:

order

Rank Value:

Fagales

Classification:

Rank Name:

family

Rank Value:

Fagaceae

Classification:

Rank Name:

genus

Rank Value:

Fagus

Classification:

Rank Name:	species
Rank Value:	Fagus grandifolia

Classification:

Rank Name:

kingdom

Rank Value:

Plantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

subkingdom

Rank Value:

Viridiplantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

infrakingdom

Rank Value:

Streptophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

superdivision

Rank Value:

Embryophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

division

Rank Value:

Tracheophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

subdivision

Rank Value:

Spermatophytina

Classification:

Rank Name:

class

Rank Value:

Magnoliopsida

Classification:

Rank Name:

superorder

Rank Value:

Magnolianae

Classification:

Rank Name:

order

Rank Value:

Magnoliales

Classification:

Rank Name:

family

Rank Value:

Magnoliaceae

Classification:

Rank Name:

genus

Rank Value:

Liriodendron

Classification:

Rank Name:	species
Rank Value:	Liriodendron tulipifera

Classification:

Rank Name:

unknown

Classification:

Rank Name:

kingdom

Rank Value:

Plantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

subkingdom

Rank Value:

Viridiplantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

infrakingdom

Rank Value:

Streptophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

superdivision

Rank Value:

Embryophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

division

Rank Value:

Tracheophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

subdivision

Rank Value:

Spermatophytina

Classification:

Rank Name:

class

Rank Value:

Magnoliopsida

Classification:

Rank Name:

superorder

Rank Value:

Rosanae

Classification:

Rank Name:

order

Rank Value:

Sapindales

Classification:

Rank Name:

family

Rank Value:

Sapindaceae

Classification:

Rank Name:	genus
Rank Value:	Acer

Classification:

Rank Name:

kingdom

Rank Value:

Plantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

subkingdom

Rank Value:

Viridiplantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

infrakingdom

Rank Value:

Streptophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

superdivision

Rank Value:

Embryophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

division

Rank Value:

Tracheophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

subdivision

Rank Value:

Spermatophytina

Classification:

Rank Name:

class

Rank Value:

Magnoliopsida

Classification:

Rank Name:

superorder

Rank Value:

Rosanae

Classification:

Rank Name:

order

Rank Value:

Fagales

Classification:

Rank Name:

family

Rank Value:

Fagaceae

Classification:

Rank Name:	genus
Rank Value:	Quercus

Classification:

Rank Name:

kingdom

Rank Value:

Plantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

subkingdom

Rank Value:

Viridiplantae

Classification:

Rank Name:

infrakingdom

Rank Value:

Streptophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

superdivision

Rank Value:

Embryophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

division

Rank Value:

Tracheophyta

Classification:

Rank Name:

subdivision

Rank Value:

Spermatophytina

Classification:

Rank Name:

class

Rank Value:

Pinopsida

Classification:

Rank Name:

subclass

Rank Value:

Pinidae

Classification:

Rank Name:	order
Rank Value:	Pinales

Project

Maintenance

Maintenance:

Description:	completed
Frequency:

Additional Info


Additional Information:
	The DBH tapes used in the sampling have inches on one side of the tape and centimeters on the other. Though sudents were instructed in the use of these tapes the range in some values recorded may be due to confusion with the data collection equiptment. The authors acknoweledge and thank the work and attention of the numerous undergraduate students who assisted in the collection of these data. We also thank the Graduate Teaching Assistants and instructors who have supported course from 2007-2017: Amy E Johnson, Arndt F Laemmerzahl, Blake A Klocke, Brendan Burns McAndrew, Christina Melinda Gleason, Cody W Edwards, Craig Beatty, Dana Nicole McCoskey, Elizabeth S Collins, Herlitz A Davis, Jason R O’Bryhim, Jeffery Francis Warner, Jilian Marie Fazio, Jonathan W Witt, Joseph A Smith, Karin R Schwartz, Katherine Elisa Gentry, Kathryn Wiley Patterson, Lenore Kyleigha Pedicord, Lisa Schreffler, Mark Anthony Thomas, Mary McKenzie Means, Meadhbh Marie Molloy, Megan Christine Baker, Melissa Therese Roberts Hawkins, Michael T Hallworth, Olivia M Taylor, Rachel Golden Kroner, Ryan Clark Richards, Ryan G Valdez, Samantha Rene Oester, Sarah Dougher, Sarah M Farinelli, Susan A Heath.

Other Metadata

Copyright 2024 Environmental Data Initiative. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grants #2223103 and #2223104. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Please contact us with questions, comments, or for technical assistance regarding this web site or the Environmental Data Initiative. Please read our privacy policy to know what information we collect about you and to understand your privacy rights.

EDI is a collaboration between the University of New Mexico and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Center for Limnology:

Data Package Metadata View Summary

Forest Community Dynamics in Hemlock Overlook, Virginia: A Ten-Year Student-Collected Forest Plot Dataset

Data Entities

Data Table

Data Table

Data Package Usage Rights

Keywords

Methods and Protocols

These methods, instrumentation and/or protocols apply to all data in this dataset:

People and Organizations

Temporal, Geographic and Taxonomic Coverage

Project

Maintenance

Additional Info

Recently Added

Recently Updated

Data Package Metadata View Summary

Forest Community Dynamics in Hemlock Overlook, Virginia: A Ten-Year Student-Collected Forest Plot Dataset

+/- Data Entities

Data Table

Data Table

+/- Data Package Usage Rights

+/- Keywords

+/- Methods and Protocols

These methods, instrumentation and/or protocols apply to all data in this dataset:

+/- People and Organizations

+/- Temporal, Geographic and Taxonomic Coverage

+/- Project

+/- Maintenance

+/- Additional Info

Data Entities

Data Package Usage Rights

Keywords

Methods and Protocols

People and Organizations

Temporal, Geographic and Taxonomic Coverage

Project

Maintenance

Additional Info