Vegetation and fuels data from the Fire & Fire Surrogate Study in western Montana: 20-year summary

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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

Below you will find a list and description of the files included in this data publication.


VARIABLE DESCRIPTION FILE (1)

1. \Data\_variable_descriptions.csv: Comma-separated values (CSV) file containing a list and description of variables found in all data files. (A description of these variables is also provided in the metadata below.)

Columns include:

Filename = name of data file
Variable = name of variable
Units = units (if applicable)
Precision = precision (if applicable)
Description = description of variable


DATA FILES (6)

1. \Data\carbon_potentialfireseverity.csv: CSV file containing aboveground carbon stocks and potential fire severity by block, treatment, plot, and year.

Variables include:

BLOCK = block number (three blocks in the study)

TRT = treatment. In Hood et al. (2024) the treatment codes correspond to:
co = untreated control
bo = burn only (fire)
to = thin only (mechanical)
tb = thin-burn (mechanical + fire)

PLOT = number of plot

PTORCH = probability of torching estimated using FFE-FVS’s default “severe” fire weather scenario (4% 10-h [hour] fuel moisture, 21.1 degrees Celsius [°C] ambient temperature, and 32.2 km h⁻¹ [kilometers per hour] wind speed at 6.1 meters [m]).

MORTALITY = probability of tree mortality

ABOVEGROUND_LIVECARBON = aboveground live carbon stock (megagrams per hectare [Mg/ha])

CANOPY = canopy fuels (Mg/ha). Includes all live foliage and live wood fuels < 7.62 centimeter (cm) diameter (i.e., 1-, 10-, and 100-hour fuels).

STABLECARBON = estimate of aboveground live carbon stock (megagrams per hectare [Mg/ha]) in the event of a wildfire based on FFE-FVS’s default “severe” fire weather scenario (4% 10-h fuel moisture, 21.1°C ambient temperature, and 32.2 km h⁻¹ wind speed at 6.1 m).

YEAR = year that data were collected:
2002 = one year post-treatment
2022 = 20 years post-treatment


2. \Data\fuels.csv: CSV file containing surface and ground dead fuel loading by block, treatment, plot, and year.

Variables include:

BLOCK = block number (three blocks in the study)

TRT = treatment. In Hood et al. (2024) the treatment codes correspond to:
co = untreated control
bo = burn only (fire)
to = thin only (mechanical)
tb = thin-burn (mechanical + fire)

PLOT = number of plot

LOAD.1HR = average plot 1-hour fuel loading (Mg/ha).

LOAD.10HR = average plot 10-hour fuel loading (Mg/ha).

LOAD.100HR = average plot 100-hour fuel loading (Mg/ha).

LOAD.S1000HR = average plot sound 1000-hour fuel loading (Mg/ha).

LOAD.R1000HR = average plot rotten 1000-hour fuel loading (Mg/ha).

LOAD.FLOOR = average plot rotten forest floor (duff and litter) fuel loading (Mg/ha).

FWD = average plot fine woody debris (1-hour, 10-hour, and 100-hour) fuel loading (Mg/ha).

YEAR = year that data were collected:
2002 = one year post-treatment
2010 = eight years post-treatment
2016 = 14 years post-treatment
2022 = 20 years post-treatment


3. \Data\saplings.csv: CSV file containing sapling density data by block, treatment, plot, species, size class, and year.

Variables include:

BLOCK = block number (three blocks in the study)

PLOT = number of plot

SIZE = diameter size class of sapling, where:
small = 0.1 cm ≤ DBH < 3 cm
medium = 3 cm ≤ DBH < 6 cm
large = 6 cm ≤ DBH < 10.16 cm

TRT = treatment. In Hood et al. (2024) the treatment codes correspond to:
co = untreated control
bo = burn only (fire)
to = thin only (mechanical)
tb = thin-burn (mechanical + fire)

SPECIES = four letter species code, where first two letters are the first two letters of the genus and second two letters are the first two letters of the species:
JUSC = Juniperus scopulorum
LAOC = Larix occidentalis
PIPO = Pinus ponderosa
PICO = Pinus contorta
POTR = Populus tremuloides
PSME = Pseudotsuga menziesii
NONE = no species found

DENSITY_HA = average plot sapling density per hectare.

YEAR = year that data were collected:
2002 = one year post-treatment
2022 = 20 years post-treatment


4. \Data\seedlings.csv: CSV file containing seedling density data by block, treatment, plot, and year. Seedlings were tallied on twenty, 1 square meter subplots per plot and values were averaged to the plot level.

Variables include:

BLOCK = block number (three blocks in the study)

TRT = treatment. In Hood et al. (2024) the treatment codes correspond to:
co = untreated control
bo = burn only (fire)
to = thin only (mechanical)
tb = thin-burn (mechanical + fire)

PLOT = number of plot

SPECIES = four letter species code, where first two letters are the first two letters of the genus and second two letters are the first two letters of the species:
JUSC = Juniperus scopulorum
LAOC = Larix occidentalis
PIPO = Pinus ponderosa
PICO = Pinus contorta
POTR = Populus tremuloides
PSME = Pseudotsuga menziesii

DENSITY_ha2002 = number of seedlings per hectare in 2002.

DENSITY_ha2022 = number of seedlings per hectare in 2022.


5. \Data\trees.csv: CSV file containing information on each 0.1 hectare plot of trees ≥ 10 centimeters diameter at breast height (DBH) in each block and treatment combination. Attributes include tree DBH, species, status, height, and crown fuel base height at different timesteps.

Variables include:

BLOCK = block number (three blocks in the study)

TRT = treatment. In Hood et al. (2024) the treatment codes correspond to:
co = untreated control
bo = burn only (fire)
to = thin only (mechanical)
tb = thin-burn (mechanical + fire)

PLOT = number of plot

PLOTID = unique four number tree code, where first two numbers are the unit number and last two numbers are the plot number.

TREE_NO = tag number of tree

SPECIES = four letter species code, where first two letters are the first two letters of the genus and second two letters are the first two letters of the species:
JUSC = Juniperus scopulorum
LAOC = Larix occidentalis
PIPO = Pinus ponderosa
PICO = Pinus contorta
POTR = Populus tremuloides
PSME = Pseudotsuga menziesii

STAT01 = tree status in 2001, pre-treatment. Status codes:
0 = alive
1 = cut
2 = dead
3 = killed by fire

STAT02 = tree status in 2002, immediately after treatment. Status codes:
0 = alive
1 = cut
2 = dead
3 = killed by fire

STAT03 = tree status in 2003, 1 year after treatment. Status codes:
0 = alive
1 = cut
2 = dead
3 = killed by fire

STAT05 = tree status in 2005, 4 years after treatment. Status codes:
0 = alive
1 = cut
2 = dead
3 = killed by fire

STAT12 = tree status in 2012, 10 years after treatment. Status codes:
0 = alive
1 = cut
2 = dead
3 = killed by fire

STAT20 = tree status in 2020, 19 years after treatment. Status codes:
0 = alive
1 = cut
2 = dead
3 = killed by fire

DOWN12 = standing status of tree in year 2012. Status codes:
0 = standing and taller than 1.37 m
1 = broken below 1.37 m

DOWN20 = standing status of tree in year 2020. Status codes:
0 = standing and taller than 1.37 m
1 = broken below 1.37 m

DBH_01 = DBH (cm) in 2001

DBH_05 = DBH (cm) in 2005

DBH_12 = DBH (cm) in 2012

DBH_20 = DBH (cm) in 2020

HT01 = tree height (m) in 2001

HT20 = tree height (m) in 2020

CrFBH01 = crown fuel base height (m) in 2001

CrFBH20 = crown fuel base height (m) in 2020


6. \Data\understory.csv: CSV file containing percent cover of understory vegetation by block, treatment, plot, genus, lifeform, origin, and year. Species cover was recorded on tallied by height class on twelve, 1 square meter subplots per plot and values were averaged to the plot level.

Variables include:

BLOCK = block number (three blocks in the study)

TRT = treatment. In Hood et al. (2024) the treatment codes correspond to:
co = untreated control
bo = burn only (fire)
to = thin only (mechanical)
tb = thin-burn (mechanical + fire)

PLOT = number of plot

GENUS = genus of plant

LFCODE = life form of the plant: forb, graminoid, or shrub

ORIGIN = origin of plant:
Native = native species to Montana, USA
Exotic = exotic species that is not native to Montana, USA

COVER = plot average percent cover (0-100) of plant.

YEAR = year that data were collected:
2002 = one year post-treatment
2010 = eight years post-treatment
2016 = 14 years post-treatment
2022 = 20 years post-treatment


SUPPLEMENTAL FILES (1)

1. \Supplements\FFS_plotlayout.jpg: Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image file containing the Whittaker plot design used in this study, which is a modification of Metlen and Fiedler (2006).

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

Hood, Sharon M.; Crotteau, Justin S.; Cleveland, Cory C. 2024. Long-term efficacy of fuel reduction and restoration treatments in Northern Rockies dry forests. Ecological Applications. e2940. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.2940

Brown, James K. 1974. Handbook for inventorying downed woody material. General Technical Report. INT-16. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 24 p. https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/28647

Metlen, Kerry L.; Fiedler, Carl E. 2006. Restoration treatment effects on the understory of ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir forests in western Montana, USA. Forest Ecology and Management. 222(1-3): 355-369. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2005.10.037

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20240117

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station

Contact_Person: Sharon Hood

Contact_Position: Research Ecologist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: Fire Sciences Lab

Address: 5775 Hwy 10 West

City: Missoula

State_or_Province: MT

Postal_Code: 59808

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 406-329-4818

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: sharon.hood@usda.gov

Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of original publication date. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999