Hemlock History Plots

• Investigators: Audrey Barker Plotkin, David Foster, Jason McLachlan
• Contact: Audrey Barker Plotkin
• Start date: 1995-01-01
• End date: ongoing
• Location: Prospect Hill Tract, Slab City Tract (Harvard Forest)
• Latitude: +42.45 to +42.55
• Longitude: -72.22 to -72.18
• Elevation: 250 to 350 meters
• Taxa: Tsuga canadensis (eastern hemlock)
• Keywords: forest dynamics, hemlock, land use, tree maps
• Release date: 2006
• EML version: knb-lter-hfr.53.2
• Revisions:
• Abstract:

  Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) forests in New England are changing rapidly with the invasion of the hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges tsugae), an exotic insect pest that kills hemlock trees. The adelgid is just beginning to be observed at Harvard Forest, making this the right moment to begin intensive physiological, ecological and monitoring studies of our hemlock forests. We gathered detailed baseline information for several hemlock stands across Harvard Forest. We surveyed community vegetation structure and composition, and began to monitor soil nitrogen cycling. These measurements will allow us to link the long-term history of these hemlock stands to other current studies of hemlock response to adelgid infestation, and will provide the basis for intensive study of hemlock dynamics with the stands' anticipated decline.

• Methods:

  Four, 30m x 30m plots were established in 1995. Species, crown class, size (diameter at breast height) were determined. Trees were mapped using INTERPT software (HF023). Trees were remeasured in 2002 and hemlock trees rated for vigor.

• Use:

  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. For more information on LTER Network data access and use policies, please see: http://www.lternet.edu/data/netpolicy.html.

• Related datasets: HF036 HF048