Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative

The Ecological Significance of Sun/Shade Plasticity in Balsam Fir, Red Spruce, and Paper Birch along Elevational Gradients in the Northeastern United States: Needle Physiology

Download Metadata
View Metadata in XML Format

Metadata Provider

  • Forest Ecosystem Monitoring Cooperative

    • Address:
      705 Spear Street
      South Burlington, Vermont 05403
      United States of America

      Phone: (802) 391-4135
      Email: femc@uvm.edu
      Website: www.uvm.edu/femc

Abstract

    To better understand the relationship between plants and their abiotic environment, by using the response of three different tree species growing at different elevations, to light.

People

  • Andrew Richardson: Principal Investigator

Keywords

  • balsam fir, elevation, foliage, red spruce,

Geographic Coverage

  • Coordinates

Data Table

  • Title: Needle Physiology
  • Start Date: 2000-06-01
  • End Date: 2002-09-30
  • Description: Measurements of mass, area, length and physiological characteristics

  • Purpose: To better understand the relationship between plants and their abiotic environment, by using the response of three different tree species growing at different elevations, to light.

  • Condensed Title: Z0128_NeedlePhys

  • Object Name: VMC.128.173

  • Data Type: mySQL
  • Citation: Andrew Richardson. 2002. Needle Physiology. FEMC. Can be found at: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/data/archive/project/the-ecological-significance-sunshade-plasticity-balsam/dataset/needle-physiology/overview

  • Online Distribution: https://www.uvm.edu/femc/data/archive/project/the-ecological-significance-sunshade-plasticity-balsam/dataset/needle-physiology

Attribute List

    Attribute Name: Observation
    • Label: Observation
    • Description: Observation ID Number
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Species
    • Label: Species
    • Description: Species (spruce or fir)
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: elev
    • Label: Elevation
    • Description: Elevation level (low, mid and high)
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Crownposition
    • Label: Crown Position
    • Description: Crown position (sun or shade)
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Tree
    • Label: Tree ID
    • Description: Tree ID
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Transect
    • Label: Transect
    • Description: Transect ID
    • Storage Type: int
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Mountain
    • Label: Mountain
    • Description: Name of mountain where study site is located
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: SampleCode
    • Label: Sample Code
    • Description: Code unique to sample
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal
    Attribute Name: Needlemass
    • Label: Needle Mass
    • Description: Mass of needle
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: milligram
    • Precision: 0.0001
    • Unit: milligram
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Needlearea
    • Label: Needle Area
    • Description: Area of needle
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: squareCentimeters
    • Precision: 0.001
    • Unit: squareCentimeters
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Needlelength
    • Label: Needle Length
    • Description: Length of needle
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: centimeter
    • Precision: 0.01
    • Unit: centimeter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Fv_m
    • Label: Chlorophyll Fluorescence
    • Description: Chlorophyll fluorescence
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: meter
    • Precision: 0.001
    • Unit: meter
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: PRI
    • Label: Photochemical Reflectance Index
    • Description: Photochemical reflectance index; a measure of photosynthetic radiation use efficiency
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ordinal
    Attribute Name: Red_edge
    • Label: Red Edge Position
    • Description: Chlorophyll measure
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ordinal
    Attribute Name: ChINDI
    • Label: ChI NDI
    • Description: Chlorophyll-based difference index
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ordinal
    Attribute Name: Asat
    • Label: Asat
    • Description: unknown
    • Storage Type: decimal
    • Measurment Type: ratio
    • Standard Unit: unknown
    • Precision: 0.01
    • Number Type: real
    Attribute Name: Comments
    • Label: Comments
    • Description: Comments
    • Storage Type: text
    • Measurment Type: nominal

Methods

  • Current Methods
    • Experimental design
      • Started: 0001-01-01
      • Method Description: A split-split plot experimental design was used on the plots, split by species (balsam vs fir) first and then samples were split by crown position (sun vs shade). After sample processing, three needles from each sample were used for anatomical measurements.
        • Instrumentation: R:FR meter (Skye instruments); Software: Leica Q500MC and QWin V1.00 (Leica Cambridge Ltd.)

    • Photosynthetic rates
      • Method Description: Photosynthesis measurements were made on detached shoots with their ends immersed in vials of water. Projected needle area and dry mass were measured and then used to convert the measured photosynthetic rates to projected needle area. Chl NDI and PRI indices were used to obtain physiological insights from the chlorophyll fluorescence and spectral reflectance of dark-adapted foliage.
        • Instrumentation: OS-500 Modulated Fluorometer UniSpec Spectral Analysis System

    • Foliar C-13 analysis
      • Method Description: Using a pool of three samples from each site x crown position x species combination, an analysis of foliar C-13 was conducted by a commercial laboratory.
        • Instrumentation: Europa Scientific ANCA-GSL elemental analyzerQuality Control Measures: Two replicated of every fifth sample were analyzed sequentially. All samples were run against a flour standard and results are expressed in relation to the PDB standard.


Sampling Equipment

  • No sampling equipment recorded for this dataset

Site Characteristics

  • Site Description: Sampling sites were located on three mountains (Whiteface Mt., Mt. Mansfield and Mt. Moosilauke), along two transects on each mountain (eastern and southern), at three elevations on each transect (low, mid and high elevation), for two species (red spruce and balsam fir) and two crown positions (sun and shade).