Long-term Vegetation Dynamics in Southwestern New Hampshire

• Investigators: David Foster, Peter Schoonmaker
• Contact: David Foster
• Start date: 13000 BP
• End date: present
• Location: Pisgah State Forest (Winchester NH)
• Latitude: +42.83
• Longitude: -72.44
• Elevation: 350 meters
• Taxa: Acer (maple), Betula (birch), Castanea (chestnut), Fagus (beech), Pinus (pine), Quercus (oak), Tsuga (hemlock)
• Keywords: ecology, fire, landscape, paleoecology, pollen, tree ring, wind
• Release date: 2003
• EML version: knb-lter-hfr.77.2
• Revisions:
• Abstract:

  The paleoecological record allows contemporary ecologists to put current phenomena into the context of a longer time-frame, thereby providing the opportunity to evaluate the importance of slowly operating processes, past cyclic or unusual events, disturbance regimes, and historically constrained phenomena. We briefly outline the environmental history of the Quaternary, discuss the spatial and temporal resolution of the paleoecological evidence for biotic change, and summarize data relevant to such current issues as the nature of the biotic community, the role of disturbance, stability versus rapid change, evolutionary theory, explanations of species diversity, and refugia theory. Finally, we offer examples of the utility of paleoecological techniques for ecologists and environmental scientists.

• Methods:

  Bog sediment cores were obtained with a modified Livingstone corer. The cores were cut into 1-cm intervals, and selected samples were processed for pollen using standard procedures. The cores were dated by pollen stratigraphic markers and radiocarbon isotopes, and pollen grains and microscopic charcoal were counted.

• 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: HF041