Study Number: 

2011

Project Title:

Litter decomposition in the hillslope-riparian study.

Investigator(s):

David C. Coleman  Biographical Sketch  (Retired)
Mitchell Zuckerman

Note: Researcher is retired. For further information regarding this project, please contact:

Coweeta LTER
Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory
3160 Coweeta Lab Road
Otto, North Carolina 28763 USA
Telephone: 828.524.2128 | FAX: 828.369.6768
Affiliated Institution(s): University of Georgia
Address: University of Georgia
Ecology Annex
Athens Georgia 30602-2360  USA
Study Category: Riparian
Project Type: Type 1
Study Period:

12/1998 - 12/2001
Status/Notes:

 
Funding Source(s):

National Science Foundation, Grants DEB-9632854 (Text Version) and DEB-0218001 (Text Version) to Coweeta LTER.
Abstract: To measure possible differences in abiotic and biotic conditions in the hillslope riparian zone, we placed air-dried Rhododendron and Chestnut oak leaf litter, weighed, in 1 mm mesh litterbags, at 1, 5 and 15 m. above the stream. The bags were individually tagged and set out anchored with pink plastic flags on metal rods. The bags will be retrieved every three months for three years, oven-dried, weighed, and measured for ash-free dry mass, % N and C, and compared with previous years decomposition rate studies. Retrieval scheme is: three bags taken at random from each elevation, and in both the cut and storm treatment areas. Thus there will be 18 bags retrieved every time for each species, or 36 total per time. total number of bags emplaced is thus 36 x 12 = 432. These results will enable us to follow the long-term changes in forest-floor conditions in our hillslope riparian study.
Location(s), Described: Watersheds 55 and 56.
Location(s):
Elevation
 Decimal Degrees
 UTM, Zone 17, NAD83
 		GPS landmark coordinates:
Control coordinates based on corner of footbridge, instrumented side of creek, downstream edge: 0,0
Lat 350 03`57.70805`N Long 830 25` 52.33338`W MSL 775.321m (RO90415A)
Treatment coordinates GPS`d: downstream end (35,0)
Lat : 35003`56.46524" N Long: 83025`50.03931`W MSL: 754.731 m (RO82216A)
Treatment coordinates GPS`d: upstream end (0,0)
Lat: 350 03`57.38320" N Long: 830 25` 50.85767`W MSL: 763.545 m (R082217A)
Marker up TDR slope above boardwalks: (10, 50)
Lat: 350 03`56.61363" N Long: 830 25` 51.97495`W MSL: 787.12 m (RO9O415B)
Marker up TDR slope w/org-grn-org paint (w/flags sticking in it): (8.1, 92.2)
Lat: 350 03`56.53161"N Long: 830 25`53.49741" W MSL: 810.718m (R090416A)
Marker top of TDR slope above hpX, Y, and Z: (-21.3, 136.7) (6-sided iron stake)
Lat: 350 03`56.16060`N Long: 830 25` 55.09659` W MSL: 827.475m (R090614A)

X and Y Coordinates
Leaf Decomposition squares (4" x 4") # 2011

 
Trtmnt site x y
dwnstrm end 17.3 4.9
upstrm end 14.2 4.6
dwnstrm end 13.7 13
upstrm end 7.6 11.8
dwnstrm end 0 45
upstrm end -4.35 45

 
Hurricane (cntrl) site x y
dwnstrm end . .
upstrm end . .
dwnstrm end . .
upstrm end . .
dwnstrm end . .
upstrm end . .

Location(s), Download GPS: ArcView Shape Files (shp.):   UTM, NAD83, Zone 17  |  Lat/Lon 
Location(s), Online Map(s): Online Map
Methods/Experimental Design: 432 bags set out along lines of either chestnut oak or Rhododendron, at three elevations in each of two sites. Each bag is individually weighed and labeled with an aluminum tag. Retrieval is random numbers for each species in each treatment.
Sampling Frequency: Quarterly.
Data Columns: Not applicable. Note: Dissertation serves as data for this project.
Publications:

Pavao-Zuckerman, Mitchell A. 2003. Soil ecology along an urban to rural gradient in the southern Appalachians. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Georgia.
Data Restrictions: Users must adhere to the Coweeta LTER Data Policy.
Metadata: EML Format (XML Schema) | Information about EML
Data Downloads: Note: Dissertation serves as data for this project.

Pavao-Zuckerman, Mitchell A. 2003. Soil ecology along an urban to rural gradient in the southern Appalachians. Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Georgia.