TD021
Fine wood decay studies across western USA, North Carolina, USA, Mexico and Russia, 1989 to 2015

CREATOR(S): Mark E. Harmon

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S): Mark E. Harmon

ORIGINATOR(S): Mark E. Harmon

OTHER RESEARCHER(S): Jay M. Sexton, Becky Fasth

DATA SET CONTACT PERSON: Becky Fasth

ABSTRACTOR: Mark E. Harmon

METADATA CREATION DATE:

12 May 2005

MOST RECENT METADATA REVIEW DATE:

20 Sep 2018

KEYWORDS:

Inorganic nutrients, Organic matter, decomposition, nutrient cycling, detritus, inorganic nutrients, nutrients, wood, woody debris, fine woody debris, organic matter

PURPOSE:

This study was established to examine the loss of mass and changes in nutrient content of fine woody debris in various ecosystems. Also examined was the effect of piece size, position (aboveground, belowground, or suspended), and species on loss of mass over time.

METHODS:

Experimental Design - TD021:

Description: These are split plot designs, with 6 blocks or sites, nine species, and three sizes of fine wood (1 cm, 4 cm and 8 cm). The Andrews study also has a 2 cm size class.

Field Methods - TD021 :

Description: Fresh branchwood and twigs were cut into short lengths weighed, tagged and placed on the forest floor. The original dry weight was estimated by subsampling fresh pieces. A small subsample was taken from each piece, but they were pooled to get an average for a species and size class. The diameter of each piece was also measured. Subsamples were also taken of the original nutrient content of the branchwood. Nitrogen was done by Microkjeldahl and cations by icap by the University of Penn. lab. Periodically a set of branches/ twigs are collected and changesin mass and nutrient content are assessed.

SITE DESCRIPTION:

Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon, 865-1135 m elevation, 207-232 cm/year precipitation, 8.0-9.9 deg C mean annual temperature.

TAXONOMIC SYSTEM:

Garrison et al., 1976

GEOGRAPHIC EXTENT:

H. J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon, Cascade Head Experimental Forest, Oregon, Pringle Falls Experimental forest, Oregon, Russia, Mexico, North Carolina, USA

ELEVATION_MINIMUM (meters):

ELEVATION_MAXIMUM (meters):

MEASUREMENT FREQUENCY:

incrementally

PROGRESS DESCRIPTION:

Complete

UPDATE FREQUENCY DESCRIPTION:

irregular

CURRENTNESS REFERENCE:

Ground condition