Summary Information
Litter Fall Collection Study in Pinyon-Juniper, Cottowood, and Spruce-Fir-Aspen Forests at the Sevilleta NWR, Bosque del Apache NWR, and the Cibola National Forest, New Mexico (1992-1993)
Creator: Individual: Robert Parmenter Organization: Valles Caldera National Preserve Physical Address: Delivery Address: P.O. Box 359, 090 Villa Louis Martin City: Jemez Springs Locality: NM Postal Code: 87025 Phone: US Email: bparmenter@vallescaldera.gov
Metadata Provider: Individual: Information Manager Sevilleta LTER Physical Address: Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Phone: (505) 277-2109 Phone: (505) 277.5355 Email: data-use@sevilleta.unm.edu
Associated Party: Individual: Robert Parmenter Organization: Valles Caldera National Preserve Physical Address: Delivery Address: P.O. Box 359, 090 Villa Louis Martin City: Jemez Springs Locality: NM Postal Code: 87025 Phone: US Email: bparmenter@vallescaldera.gov Role: data manager
Associated Party: Individual: John Craig Physical Address: Delivery Address: Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Email: jcraig@sevilleta.unm.edu Role: data manager
Associated Party: Individual: Robert Parmenter Organization: Valles Caldera National Preserve Physical Address: Delivery Address: P.O. Box 359, 090 Villa Louis Martin City: Jemez Springs Locality: NM Postal Code: 87025 Phone: US Email: bparmenter@vallescaldera.gov Role: field crew
Associated Party: Individual: Sandra Brantley Physical Address: Phone: US Email: sbrantlye@lternet.edu Role: field crew
Associated Party: Individual: John Craig Physical Address: Delivery Address: Department of Biology, MSC03 2020, University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Email: jcraig@sevilleta.unm.edu Role: lab crew
Publication Date:	2011-02-17
Language:	English
Abstract: The litterfall study was designed to assess the quantity of biomass (leaves, twigs, reproductive materials) falling from tree species in different ecosystem types. Three study sites selected were:  (1) the pinyon-juniper woodland site near Cerro Montoso on the Sevilleta NWR; (2) the cottonwood forest LTER site along the Rio Grande at Bosque del Apache NWR; and (2) the old-growth spruce-fir-aspen site near South Baldy in the Magdalena Mountains (Cibola National Forest).  The study was conducted over two years (1992-1993) to compare litterfall rates and quantities among sites, seasons and years.
Keywords: Keyword: organic matter Keyword: primary production Keyword Thesaurus: Core Areas
Keywords: Keyword: aboveground biomass Keyword: litterfall Keyword: production Keyword: forest ecosystems Keyword: trees Keyword Thesaurus: LTER Controlled Vocabulary
Additional Information: Magdalen Mountains Site, Cibola National Forest: - Soil: rocky soils, with high organic matter (litter) below tree canopies. - Slope/Aspect:  Various, ranging from flat to 30 degrees.  Easterly aspect. - Vegetation Community: Mixed-species conifer forest with aspens. - Terrain/Physiography: Mountainous - Geology/Lithology:  Magdalena Mountains, derived from volcanic activity. - Hydrology - surface/groundwater:  Virtually no runoff during storms due to deep litter layer. - Size:  sampling area covered approximately 1 ha - History (if known):  Old growth forest, no logging and no fire history. - Elevation: 3,243 meters at weather station (station #46). - Climate (general):  A summary of the meteorological data from the Langmuir Laboratory weather station in the Magdalena Mountains is shown below. For further climate details and data, consult the Sevilleta Meteorology databases.
Intellectual Rights: Data Policies This dataset is released to the public and may be freely downloaded. Please keep the designated contact person informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation or collaboration with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset must include proper acknowledgement of the Sevilleta LTER. A copy of any publications using these data must be supplied to the Sevilleta LTER Information Manager.
Distribution: Online: URL: http://sevdeims-d.lternet.edu/data/sev-22
Coverage: Geographic Goverage: Geographic Description: The Cerro Montosa Pinyon-Juniper site has been the location of major Sevilleta LTER research since 1989. Meteorological trends, net primary productivity, rodent and ground-dwelling arthropod populations, mycorrhizal responses to fertilizer, pinyon-juniper fruit and nut production, and pinyon mortality are all being investigated at this site. Previous studies have included analyses of pinyon tree rings for regional climate reconstruction. Bounding Coordinates: West Bounding Coordinates: -106.535 East Bounding Coordinates: -106.535 North Bounding Coordinates: 34.368 South Bounding Coordinates: 34.368 Bounding Altitude: Altitude Minimum: 1976 Altitude Maximum: 1976 Altitude Units: meter Temporal Coverage: Date Range: Begin Date: Calendar Date: 1992-07-09 End Date: Calendar Date: 1993-09-15
Purpose:
To assess differences in rates and quantities of leaf, twig, reproductive parts (nuts, seeds, berries) of litterfall from tree species in various ecosystems studied by the Sevilleta LTER Program.
Contact: Position Title: Information Manager Organization: LTER Network Office Physical Address: Delivery Address: UNM Biology Department, MSC03-2020 Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Locality: NM Postal Code: 87131-0001 Phone: USA Phone: 505 277-2535 Phone: 505 277-2541 Email: tech-support@lternet.edu URL: http://www.lternet.edu
Contact: Individual: Information Manager Sevilleta LTER Physical Address: Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Phone: (505) 277-2109 Phone: (505) 277.5355 Email: data-use@sevilleta.unm.edu
Publisher: Individual: Information Manager Sevilleta LTER Physical Address: Delivery Address: 1 University of New Mexico City: Albuquerque Postal Code: 87131 Phone: US Phone: (505) 277-2109 Phone: (505) 277.5355 Email: data-use@sevilleta.unm.edu
Publication Place:	Sevilleta LTER
Method Step: Description: Sampling Design:  A total of 120 litterfall baskets were distributed among the 3 study sites.  In the Sevilleta's Cerro Montoso site, 30 baskets were placed under juniper trees, and 30 were placed under pinyon trees.  At the Bosque del Apache site, 30 baskets were placed in 3 transect lines of 10 baskets each, at 10 meter intervals, through the cottonwood forest.  At the Magdalena Mountain site, 30 baskets were placed in 3 transect lines of 10 baskets each, at 10 meter intervals (as in the Bosque site). Sample Unit: Each basket was considered a sample unit.  Frequency of Sampling: During the same times as arthropod pitfall collections (several times/year) Sample Size: 120 baskets total.  Each basket was a rubber basin with a small (5 mm) hole drilled in the bottom to allow rainwater and snowmelt to drain out. Basket dimensions were circular, with a diameter of 41.5 cm at the top rim, tapering inward to a diameter of 35 cm at the basket bottom.  The basket height was 12.5 cm. Measurement Techniques: Litterfall baskets were place under tree canopies to catch falling leaves, twigs, and reproductive parts.  In the Bosque del Apache and Magdalena Mountain sites, the baskets were placed systematically in 3 transect lines through the forest (which generally had a closed canopy).  In the Pinyon-Juniper site on SNWR, the baskets were placed under individual trees (basket locations were halfway between the trunk and the edge of the canopy) due to the patchiness of tree locations. Hence, the results for this site are for a "per tree" basis, and should be scaled up to reflect different tree densities in various Pinyon-Juniper sites. Litterfall samples were collected by placing all litter into plastic zip-lock bags, marking each bag with the basket tag number, and taking the bags back to the laboratory. If samples were wet from rain/snowfall, the sample bags were opened and allowed to air-dry for several days.  Litter was then sorted by category (leaf, twig, reproductive part, or "miscellaneous" if the part could not be recognized) and by species.  The sorted litter was then oven dried at 60 degrees Centigrade for one week, and weighed on a Mettler top-loading balance.
Data Table: Entity Name: sev022_litterfall_09072011.txt Entity Description: Data for SEV022 Object Name: sev022_litterfall_09072011.txt Size: 79135 Data Format: Text Format: Number of Header Lines: 1 Number of Footer Lines: 0 Record Delimiter: \r\n Attribute Orientation: column Simple Delimited: Field Delimiter: , Distribution: Online: URL: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-sev/22/95310/2dd9ed4be8c5c9c3ac9b74250cb27256 Coverage: Temporal Coverage: Date Range: Begin Date: Calendar Date: 1992-03-10 End Date: Calendar Date: 1993-09-15 Attribute List: Attribute Name: date Attribute Label: date Attribute Definition: The date on which data or a sample was collected. Storage Type: date Measurement Scale: Datetime: Format String: MM/DD/YY Missing Value Code: Code: -999 Code Explanation: missing Attribute Name: basket Attribute Label: basket Attribute Definition: Tag number from each basket Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Text Domain: Definition: Tag number from each basket Attribute Name: litter Attribute Label: litter Attribute Definition: Litter type Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: l Definition: leaf Code Definition: Code: t Definition: twig Code Definition: Code: r Definition: reproductive parts Code Definition: Code: m Definition: miscellaneous Code Definition: Code: n Definition: lichens Code Definition: Code: ? Definition: undetermined Attribute Name: species Attribute Label: species Attribute Definition: Species measured Storage Type: string Measurement Scale: Nominal: Non Numeric Domain: Enumerated Domain: Code Definition: Code: cottonwood Definition: Populus deltoides Code Definition: Code: saltcedar Definition: Tamarix ramosissima Code Definition: Code: pinon Definition: Pinus edulis Code Definition: Code: juniper Definition: Juniperus monosperma Code Definition: Code: douglasfir Definition: Pseudotsuga menziesii Code Definition: Code: spruce Definition: Picea engelmannii Code Definition: Code: aspen Definition: Populus tremuloides Code Definition: Code: cholla Definition: Opuntia imbricata Code Definition: Code: unknown Definition: species id could not be identified Attribute Name: mass Attribute Label: mass Attribute Definition: Mass of dried material, an individual, etc. Measurement Scale: Ratio: Unit: Custom Unit: grams Precision: 0.01 Numeric Domain: Number Type: real