| Title: |
Bartlett Cruise Plots
|
| Objective: |
1) To observe how changes in species composition over time
relate to environmental factors.
2) To determine the effects of soils and elevation on species
change with particular emphasis on trends in shade-tolerant
species. |
| Year Established: |
1931 |
| Year Completed: |
expected to continue |
| Site Description: |
Bartlett Experimental Forest, NH.
Soils are derived from granite: Berkshire, Hermon, Becket, Lyman,
Peru, Coiton Series and Haplorthods subgroups and are of fine-till,
coarse-washed till, dry compact till, bedrock, wet compact till,
outwash types.
Prior to cutting, forest was dominated by Fagus grandifolia,
Acer saccharum, Tsuga canadensis, Pinus rubens.
In 1931-1932, stands were between 100 and 150 years old based
on age-size regressions. Stands had an overstory basal area
between 20 and 30 m2 per hectare implying that cutting histories
were not extremely variable. Fire and windthrow damage to area
are unknown. Agriculture practice never existed in the area.
Elevation: 300 to 650 meters. |
| Statistical Design: |
29 0.25-acre plots that were uncut in Bartlett Experimental
Forest. |
| Likelihood of Locating Study Areas: |
80% |
| Experimental Treatments: |
500 permanent cruise plots were laid out on the Bartlett on
a 100 m x 200 m grid: 1931-1932.
Cruise plots were completely or partially cut in conducting
other timber management experiments: 1932-1984.
Relocated ~100 plots that had remained uncut and disguarded
plots where trees suffered hurricane damage during 1938. Each
plot was classified by elevation, soils, tree species composition,
and topography: 1984.
|
| Sampling Methods: |
Trees <1.5" (3.8 cm) d.b.h. were tallied by 1"(2.54 cm)
classes and tree species. Each plot was classified by elevation
and habitat (recognized by soil materials, tree species composition,
topography). |
| Variables and Sampling Frequency: |
Summer data collections:
1st remeasurements (all plots): 1939-1940.
2nd remeasurement (some plots): 1960.
All trees >1.5" (3.8 cm) d.b.h. were tallied by 1" (2.54 cm)
classes and species: 1984.
3rd remeasurement (some plots): 1991-1992. |
| QA/QC Practices: |
|
| Data Storage: |
Raw and summarized are on 6 HD diskettes organized by compartment
and plot. Backup is on tape and disc. Paradox and Microsoft
Excel are used for data record keeping. data are updated ~10
years. |
| Global Change Research Applications: |
Studies of Ecosystem Processes
Model Development and Application |
| Data Availability: |
1996 |
| Publications and Reports: |
Leak, William B. 1987. Fifty years of compositional change
in deciduous and coniferous forest types in New Hampshire. Canadian
J. Forestry research 17:388-393.
Leak, William B. 1961. development of second-growth northern
hardwoods on the Bartlett Experimental Forest - a 25-year
record. Station paper No. 155. Upper Darby, PA: U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment
Station.
Filip, Stanley; Marquis, D.A.; Leak, W.B. 1960. Development
of old-growth northern hardwoods on the Bartlett Experimental
Forest - a 22-year record. Station Paper 135. Upper Darby,
PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern
Forest Experiment Station.
|
| Contact: |
William Leak, USDA Forest Service, P.O. Box 640, Durham NH
03824. (603) 868-7655 |
| Cooperation: |
none |
