Barry Clinton

Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory 3160 Coweeta Lab Road Otto North Carolina 28763 USA

(828) 524-2128 bclinton@sparc.ecology.uga.edu bclinton@fs.fed http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/piprofiles/pro_clinton.html James M. Vose

Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory 3160 Coweeta Lab Road Otto North Carolina 28763 USA

(828) 524-2128 jvose@sparc.ecology.uga.edu jvose@fs.fed http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/piprofiles/pro_vose.html LTER Gap Project Overview | Fact: Tree mortality at small spatial scales represents background levels of forest disturbance in the southern Appalachians, and is the dominant and most frequent initiator of change in terrestrial ecosystems. | Hypothesis: Large-scale and rare episodic events (i.e., hurricanes, ice, etc.)may do more to influence tree replacement and stand composition in the long-run than do small scale tree mortality events. | Overall Question: What is the ecological significance of small scale mortality events with respect to biotic and abiotic responses. | Approach: Experimentally create typical (less than 300 m2) canopy gaps (girdling and herbicides) at two elevations in Rhododendron and non-Rhododendron areas. | Measurements: | -automated micro-environmental measurements (air and soil temperature), photosynthetically active radiation, %WC. | -hemispherical photography | -dendrometer bands and repeated measurements | -population dynamics and seedling physiology | -in situ closed core N mineralization and nitrification | -small and large mammal seed and plant herbivory using exclosures | Specific Questions: | 1)How are microclimate and nutrient (N) cycling affected by small scale canopy removal? | 2)What are the physiological and productivity responses of advanced regeneration? | 3)Whate is the productivity response of non-gap-maker trees (dominants, co-dominant, and saplings)? | 4)What strategy for recovery is most likely (seedling recruitment, sapling ingrowth, canopy closure)? | 5)How do all of the above relate to/regulate each other? | 6)What is the effect of elevation on response? | 7)How do responses differ in Rhododendron versus non-Rhododendron areas? Soil and Air Temperatures | Thermocouples were installed at 1m above the forest floor (air temperature) and 10 cm below the forest floor surface (soil temperature) and were co-located at 11 locations along permanent transects in all non-Rhododendron gaps and 1 Rhododendron gap at each elevation. Only 1 Rhododendron gap was instrumented at each elevation because of the presumed lower variability in temperature beneath Rhododendron sub-canopies compared to ares without Rhododendron. The air temperature thermocouples were placed in a PVC shield to prevent artificial heating from direct solar radiation. Copper-Constantine wire (Type T) was used. Data were recorded automatically though a multiplexed system controlled by a CR10 data logger and down loaded periodically as needed. Data were scanned for obvious problems such as deteriorated thermocouples and repairs were made in the field as needed. The reason for monitoring soil and air temperature was to detect changes in understory microclimatic conditions due to the creation of the canopy gap. Coweeta LTER canopy gap microclimate air temp soil temp Must adhere to the Coweeta LTER Data Policy (See http://coweeta.ecology.uga.edu/webdocs/3/static/datapolicies.html). http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/summaries/summary1032.html WS18 and WS27 1993-05-01 2005-01-01 Coweeta LTER Information Manager

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

(828) 524-2128 Ted Gragson

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

tgragson@earthlink.net principalInvestigator James Vose

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

jvose@fs.fed.us principalInvestigator Brian Kloeppel

Institute of Ecology University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602 USA

kloeppel@sparc.ecology.uga.edu principalInvestigator The Coweeta LTER Research Program has evolved since 1980 from a site-based to a site- and region-based project examining the effects of disturbance and environmental gradients on biogeochemical cycling, and the underlying watershed ecosystem processes that regulate and respond to those cycles. The objective for the 2002-2008 research is to advance scientific understanding of the spatial, temporal, and decision-making components of land use and land-use change in the southern Appalachian Mountains over the last 200 years, and forecast patterns into the future 30 years. This will be accomplished by addressing ecological and socioeconomic aspects of land-use change while continuing long-term studies of environmental gradients and natural disturbance regimes. The result will be a more complete understanding of ecological dynamics in the southern Appalachian Mountains that makes possible the development of reasonable forecasts of its future ecological state. | The guiding hypothesis for the proposed research is that the frequency, intensity, and extent of land use represents human decision-making in response to socioeconomic and bio-geophysical conditions with consequences that cascade through ecosystems. The research activities are organized into three initiatives: (1) Characterization of the Socio-Natural Template, (2) Ecosystem Responses to the Socio-Natural Template, and (3) Forecasting Ecosystem Responses to Changes in the Socio-Natural Template. The integrated scientific research will provide both a description as well as an explanation of the underlying causes of land use and the consequences of land-use change for southern Appalachian ecosystems and society. It thus recognizes the complexity of land use as a process and the research needs as defined in the LTER Program and the broader scientific community. National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. uid=cwt,o=lter,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org all public read 1032m93_csv.zip 1032m93_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032m93_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032m94_csv.zip monthly microclimate for 1994 1032m94_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032m94_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032m95_csv.zip monthly microclimate 1995 1032m95_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032m95_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032m96_csv.zip monthly microclimate 1996 1032m96_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032m96_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032m97_csv.zip monthly microclimate 1997 1032m97_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032m97_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032d93_csv.zip 1032d93_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032d93_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value PLot Plot Sampling plot Sampling plot identifier number . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value JDAY JDAY Julian day DDD . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032d94_csv.zip 1032d94_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032d94_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value PLot Plot Sampling plot Sampling plot identifier number . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value JDAY JDAY Julian day DDD . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032d95_csv.zip 1032d95_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032d95_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value PLot Plot Sampling plot Sampling plot identifier number . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value JDAY JDAY Julian day DDD . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032d96_csv.zip 1032d96_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032d96_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value PLot Plot Sampling plot Sampling plot identifier number . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value JDAY JDAY Julian day DDD . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032d97_csv.zip 1032d97_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032d97_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value PLot Plot Sampling plot Sampling plot identifier number . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value JDAY JDAY Julian day DDD . Missing Value MONTH MONTH month MM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032h93_csv.zip 1032h93_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032h93_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value PLot Plot Sampling plot Sampling plot identifier number . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value JDAY JDAY Julian day DDD . Missing Value Time Time time HHMM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L2 L2 temperature 4m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L1 L1 temperature 2m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L0 L0 temperature center of gap celsius real . Missing Value L_1 L_1 temperature 2m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_2 L_2 temperature 4m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_3 L_3 temperature 6m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_4 L_4 temperature 8m west of center celsius real . Missing Value L_5 L_5 temperature 18m west of center celsius real . Missing Value 1032h94_csv.zip 1032h94_csv.zip 0 \n \n column , http://cwt33.ecology.uga.edu/data/1032h94_csv.zip ID ID identifier number identifier number SITE SITE codes for site type hna High Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp hns High Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp hra High Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp hrs High Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp lna Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Air-Termp 3 lns Low Elevation Non-rhododendron Soil-Temp lra Low Elevation Rhododendron Air-Termp lrs Low Elevation Rhododendron Soil-Temp . Missing Value PLot Plot Sampling plot Sampling plot identifier number . Missing Value YEAR YEAR year YYYY . Missing Value JDAY JDAY Julian day DDD . Missing Value Time Time time HHMM . Missing Value L5 L5 temperature 18m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L4 L4 temperature 8m east of center celsius real . Missing Value L3 L3 temperature 6m east of center