Data product containing litterfall, decomposition, and leaf area index data for "Surface Fuel Litterfall and Decomposition in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA"

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Keane, Robert
Originator: Gray, Kathy
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:
Data product containing litterfall, decomposition, and leaf area index data for "Surface Fuel Litterfall and Decomposition in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA"
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2008-0002
Description:
Abstract:
This data publication contains the collected field data for the following publication: "Surface Fuel Litterfall and Decomposition in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA" by Robert E. Keane (see Cross-Reference section in the metadata document). Data include 11 years of surface fuel litterfall and decomposition from 28 plots that represent a number of major forest types that span a wide range of biophysical environments in the northern Rocky Mountains. Litterfall was measured using semi-annual collections of fallen biomass sorted into six fuel components (fallen foliage, twigs, branches, large branches, logs, and all other material). Decomposition of fine fuels (foliage, twigs, branches and large branches) were measured and monitored for biomass loss for 3-6 years. Monthly leaf area index (LAI) as well as stand characteristics were measured for 28 plots across seven different sites in the northern Rocky Mountains.
Purpose:
The study was specifically designed to quantify fuel dynamics parameters, for a number of forest types across the northern Rocky Mountains, for use in complex landscape models of fire and vegetation dynamics. This included the calculation of deposition rates for the surface fuel components, as well as percent mass loss and decomposition rate of fuel components. We also wanted to correlate decomposition rates and litterfall rates with stand and vegetation characteristics, and document any major changes in forest canopy as a function of leaf area index during the study.
Supplemental_Information:
This study originated from two previous studies that explored the use of ecosystem modeling and gradient analysis to create digital maps of current and future landscape characteristics. See the Cross-Reference section for publications with more details.

Original metadata date was 9/15/2008. Metadata modified on 02/07/2011 to adjust citation to include the addition of a DOI (digital object identifier). Minor changes made to metadata on 02/07/2013 when this data publication became available through R&D Data Archive.

Minor metadata updates on 12/20/2016.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 1993
Ending_Date: 2005
Currentness_Reference:
ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
There are 2 sites in western Idaho and 5 sites in eastern or central Montana.
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -116.5
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -110.8
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 48.9
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.4589
Bounding_Altitudes:
Altitude_Minimum: 942
Altitude_Maximum: 2302
Altitude_Distance_Units: meters
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: biophysical controls
Theme_Keyword: canopy fuel
Theme_Keyword: decomposition rate
Theme_Keyword: fuel
Theme_Keyword: fuel accumulation
Theme_Keyword: fuel decomposition
Theme_Keyword: fuel dynamics
Theme_Keyword: LAI
Theme_Keyword: leaf area index
Theme_Keyword: litterfall
Theme_Keyword: litter
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: biota
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Fire
Theme_Keyword: Fire ecology
Theme_Keyword: Forest Products
Theme_Keyword: Bioenergy and biomass
Theme_Keyword: Inventory, Monitoring, & Analysis
Theme_Keyword: Monitoring
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: USA
Place_Keyword: Northern Rockies
Place_Keyword: Montana
Place_Keyword: Idaho
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:

Keane, Robert; Gray, Kathy. 2008. Data product containing litterfall, decomposition, and leaf area index data for "Surface Fuel Litterfall and Decomposition in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA". Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2008-0002
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Robert Keane
Contact_Organization: Fire Science Lab
Contact_Position: Research Forester
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 5775 W. Broadway St.
City: Missoula
State_or_Province: MT
Postal_Code: 59808
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 406-329-4846
Native_Data_Set_Environment:
Data were originally entered into a spreadsheet and then converted to comma-delimited ASCII text files.
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Keane, Robert E.
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:
Surface fuel litterfall and decomposition in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: RMRS-RP-70
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
Other_Citation_Details:
22 p.
Online_Linkage: https://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/29449
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Keane, R.E.
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:
Biophysical controls on surface fuel litterfall and decomposition in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Canadian Journal Forest Research
Issue_Identification: 38:1431-1445
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
Publisher: NRC Research Press
Online_Linkage: https://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/30831
Back to Top
Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
See the Cross-Reference section for publications with a complete discussion of data accuracy.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
For the decomposition data we checked for outliers and erroneous data at three levels. First we checked the data as they were measured and weighted from the oven to ensure consistency with previous weighings. Then we double checked the data entry of the measured values. Then we perform a variety of statistical tests to ensure entered values did not exceed thresholds measured from other sites.

Kathy Gray performed extensive logical and quantitative error checks with the data and my crews performed data checks as they entered the data.
Completeness_Report:
During the study it was determined that little decomposition occurred during the hot, dry months of summer. Hence, instead of sampling monthly, starting in 2002 the plots were only visited directly after snowmelt and just before the first autumnal snows, which were deemed the most ciritcal times for sampling.

There is missing data in the stand.csv file when the attribute was unavailable or could not be measured.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
Each of the seven study sites consists of 4 plots established along the major topographic gradients of elevation and aspect. At each plot we measured a number of topographic, vegetation, and ecosystem characteristics on 0.1 acre (0.04 hectare) circular plots using the ECODATA sampling methodology (see references in the Methodology Citation). The most important variables measured were: the inventory of all trees within the plot to compute basal area, leaf area, and stand density and a network of 30 meter fuel transects to estimate fuel loadings for the five fuel components used in this study.

At each plot there were 7 to 9 litter traps that were visited once a month during snow-free periods. An estimate of leaf area index was also recorded during these visits.

Each plot also contained 3 sets of 3 litterbags for the three fine woody fuel components (1, 10, and 100 hr timelag) and 3 sets of 6 bags for the foliage material. Decomposition was measured over 3 years by taking one foliage bag from each set every 6 months and one woody bag from each woody fuel set every 12 months.

See Methodology Citation below for more details.
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Keane, Robert E.
Publication_Date: 2008
Title:
Surface fuel litterfall and decomposition in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Research Paper
Issue_Identification: RMRS-RP-70
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station
Other_Citation_Details:
22 p.
Online_Linkage: https://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/29449
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
No process steps have been described for this data set.
Process_Date: Unknown
Back to Top
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
The comma-delimited ASCII text file DECOMP.CSV contains the data collected in order to determine decomposition rate. The following gives the variable name (units) and description:
1. Site = site number (1=Coram forest, 2=Keating Ridge, 3=Red Mountain, 4=Red River, 5=Snowbowl, 6=Spar Lake, 7=Tenderfoot)
2. Plot = plot number
3. SubPlot = subplot location (1=East, 2=Northeast, 3=North, 4=Northwest, 5=Plot center,6=Southeast, 7=South, 8=Southwest, 9=West)
4. DateStart (yyyymmdd) = date litter bag was placed at plot
5. FuelType = fuel component (1=One hundred hour, 2=foliage, 4=One hour, 5=ten hour)
6. TagNumber = unique tag number to identify litter bag
7. WgtStart (grams) = initial weight of material plus litter bag
8. WgtBag (grams) = weight of bag
9. DateEnd (yyyymmdd) = date which bag was removed from plot
10. WgtEnd (grams) = weight of dried material and bag
11. WgtLoss (grams) = amount of dried weight loss of material while at plot
12. PercentLoss (percent) = percent of weight loss while at plot (after accounting for bag weight)

The comma-delimited ASCII text file LAI.CSV contains the leaf area index (lai) measurements taken monthly at the study sites. The following gives the variable name (units) and description:
1. Site = site number (1=Coram forest, 2=Keating Ridge, 3=Red Mountain, 4=Red River, 5=Snowbowl, 6=Spar Lake, 7=Tenderfoot)
2. Plot = plot number
3. CATDate (yyyymmdd) = date measurement was taken
4. LAI (meters squared per square meter) = estimate of projected LAI (Leaf Area Index) taken with a LiCor LAI-2000
5. LAI_X error (meters squared per square meter) = estimated error of the LAI measurement in column 4
6. Cover = cover type of plot (DF=Douglas fir, WC=Western red cedar, SF=subalpine fir, WP=Whitebark Pine, GF=Grand fir, PP=Ponderosa pine, LP=Lodgepole pine, WL=Western larch)

The comma-delimited ASCII text file LITTERFALL.CSV contains the accumulation amounts when the material was removed from the litter traps. The following gives the variable name (units) and description:
1. StartDate (yyyymmdd) = date the litter trap is emptied and placed at the subplot
2. EndDate (yyyymmdd) = date the material is removed from the plot
3. Site = site number (1=Coram forest, 2=Keating Ridge, 3=Red Mountain, 4=Red River, 5=Snowbowl, 6=Spar Lake, 7=Tenderfoot)
4. Plot = plot number
5. Subplot = subplot location (1=East, 2=Northeast, 3=North, 4=Northwest, 5=Plot center,6=Southeast, 7=South, 8=Southwest, 9=West)
6. FuelType = fuel component (1=One hundred hour fuels, 2= Litter, 3=One thousand hour fuels, 4=one hour fuel, 5=ten hour fuel, 6=other fuel)
7. DT = number of days that littertrap was receiving litter
8. Accum (grams) = dry weight of fuel component during interval

The comma-delimited ASCII text file STAND.CSV contains the estimated accumulation rates and decomposition rates at the stand level as well as site and vegetation characteristics. (See Methdology Citation for more information on DAYMET, BIOME-BGC, ECODATA, ). The following gives the variable name (units) and description:
1. Site = site number (1=Coram forest, 2=Keating Ridge, 3=Red Mountain, 4=Red River, 5=Snowbowl, 6=Spar Lake, 7=Tenderfoot)
2. Plot = plot number
3. Klitter (per year) = estimated (from regression techniques) value for k (which is the rate of decay) for foliage
4. K001hour (per year) = estimated value for k for 1 hour fuels
5. K010hour (per year) = estimated value for k for 10 hour fuels
6. K100hour (per year) = estimated value for k for 100 hour fuels
7. FoliageRate (kilograms per square meter per year) = average accumulation rate for subplots at each plot for foliage
8. Accum0001Rate (kilograms per square meter per year) = average accumulation rate for subplots at each plot for one hour fuels
9. Accum0010Rate (kilograms per square meter per year) = average accumulation rate for subplots at each plot for ten hour fuels
10. Accum0100Rate (kilograms per square meter per year) = average accumulation rate for subplots at each plot for hundred hour fuels
11. Accum1000rate (kilograms per square meter per year) = average accumulation rate for subplots at each plot for thousand hour fuels
12. OtherRate (kilograms per square meter per year) = average accumulation rate for subplots at each plot for other fuels
13. Tmax (degrees celsius) = average annual maximum temperature estimated using DAYMET
14. Tmin (degrees celsius) = average annual minimum temperature estiamted using DAYMET
15. Tday (degrees celsius) = average annual day temperature estimated using DAYMET
16. Prcp (centimeters) = average annual precipitation estimated using DAYMET
17. VPD (Mbar) = average annual vapor pressure deficit estimated using DAYMET
18. SRad (kilojoule per square meter per day)-average annual daily solar radiation estimated using DAYMET
19. Fuel Loading (kilograms per square meter) = estimated fuel loading using ECODATA tree list
20. BArea (meters squared per hectare) = overstory basal area estimated using ECODATA tree list
21. SAPArea (meters squared per hectare) = sapling basal area estimated using ECODATA tree list
22. SnagBA (meters squared per hectare) = snag basal area estimated using ECODATA tree list
23. TPH (trees per hectare) = trees per hectare estimated using ECODATA tree list
24. SAPPH (trees per hectare) = saplings per hectare estimated using ECODATA tree list
25. SPH (trees per hectare) = snags per hectare estimated using ECODATA tree list
26. DomDBH (centimeters) = dominant diameter at base height estimated using ECODATA tree list
27. AvgDBH (centimeters) = average diameter at base height estimated using ECODATA tree list
28. SnagDBH (centimeters) = snag diameter at base height estimated using ECODATA tree list
39. DomHt (meters) = dominant tree height estimated using ECODATA tree list
30. AvgHt (meters) = average tree height estimated using ECODATA tree list
31. Age (years) = average tree age estimated using ECODATA tree list
32. MaxAge (years) = maximum tree age estimated using ECODATA tree list
33. LAI (meters squared per square meter) = Leaf area index estimated using ECODATA tree list
34. SoilDepth (meters) = soil depth for 90% rooting zone estimated using ECODATA tree list
35. PercentSand (%) = percent sand in soil
36. PercentSilt (%) = percent silt in soil
37. PercentClay (%) = percent clay in soil
38. NPPAvg (kilograms of C per square meter) = average net primary production estimated using Biome-BGC
39. OutflowAvg (kilograms of H2o per square meter) = average soil water outflow estimated using Biome-BGC
40. ElevaM (meters) = elevation estimated from ECODATA
41. Aspect (degrees) = Direction of exposure estimated from ECODATA
42. SlopePct (%) = slope of plot estimated from ECODATA
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
See Methodology Citation or Cross-References.
Back to Top
Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of December 2016. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2008-0002
Distribution_Liability:
This metadata document has been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. The data are considered to satisfy the Rocky Mountain Research Station's quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, the Forest Service cannot assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the Forest Service for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the Forest Service of the issues. Additional information is available at https://www.fs.fed.us/qoi.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ASCII
Format_Version_Number: See Format Specifications
Format_Specification:
Comma-delimited ASCII text file
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped with WinZip 14.0.
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2008-0002
Fees: none
Back to Top
Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20161220
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person: Robert Keane
Contact_Organization: Fire Science Lab
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 5775 W. Broadway St.
City: Missoula
State_or_Province: MT
Postal_Code: 59808
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 406-329-4846
Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
Back to Top