Study Number: 

3008

Project Title:

Leaf decomposition along the Ball Creek / Coweeta Creek elevational gradient.

Investigator(s):

E. F. Benfield  E-Mail | Tel. 540.231.5802 | Biographical Sketch
J.R.  Webster
 E-Mail | Tel. 540.231.5802 | Biographical Sketch
Affiliated Institution(s): Virginia Tech
Address: Biology Department
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia 24061   USA
Study Category: Aquatic
Project Type: Type 1
Study Period:

11/1991 - 07/1992

Notes:

 

Funding Source(s):

National Science Foundation, Grants DEB-9632854 (Text Version) and DEB-0218001 (Text Version) to Coweeta LTER.

Abstract: The goal of this study was to understand how organic matter processing varied over space and time in the context of an elevational and stream size gradient. We investigated in-stream leaf decomposition in different habitat patches using leaf species that varied in their speed of processing along a first fourth-order stream gradient.
Location(s), Described: Ball Creek and Coweeta Creek.
Location(s), Download GPS: ArcView Shape Files (shp.):  Decimal Degrees | UTM, NAD83, Zone 17
Location(s), Online Map(s): Online Map
Methods/Experimental Design: Rhododendron, white oak, and tulip poplar leaves were collected just prior to abscission, air-dried, and placed in large mesh bags. Bags were placed in stream, collected monthly, and brought to lab. Leaves were washed of debris and invertebrates, oven dried, weighed and ground. Three sub-samples were taken and ashed at 550C to determine ash-free-dry-mass (AFDM).

Variable Formats:
I3 DAYS_IN no count
A3 SITE yes
A1 PATCH yes
A2 SPECIES yes
F7.3 AFDM no % g AFDM

Sampling Frequency: None Available
Data Columns: DAYS_IN - number of days in stream when samples collected
SITE - site locations
PATCH - patch/habitat where leaves were located
SPECIES - leaf species collected
AFDM - total % of AFDM remaining

Missing Data Codes:  . (Period)
Publications:

Benfield, E. F. and J. R. Webster. 1991. Effects of forest disturbance on leaf breakdown in southern Appalachian streams. Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinlgung fur Theoretische und Angewandte Linmonogie 24: 1678-1690.

Data Restrictions: Users must adhere to the Coweeta LTER Data Policy.
Metadata: EML Format (XML Schema) | Information about EML
Data Downloads: Microsoft® Excel (.xls)
Text Comma Delimited (.csv)
DBase (.dbf)