uid=HFR,o=lter,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
all
public
read
doi:10.6073/pasta/963eab624f7936115a89122c39e3bc77
Land Use on the Southern New England and New York Coasts 1600-2001
David
Foster
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1171-3762
Betsy
Von Holle
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3116-3027
Tim
Parshall
Robert
Eberhardt
Researcher
Brian
Hall
Researcher
Jon
Harrod
Researcher
Dana
MacDonald
Researcher
Glenn
Motzkin
Researcher
2023
English
The widespread influence of land use and natural disturbance on population, community, and landscape dynamics and the long-term legacy of disturbance on modern ecosystems requires that a historical, broad-scale perspective become an integral part of modern ecological studies and conservation assessment and planning. In previous studies, the Harvard Forest Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program has developed an integrated approach of paleoecological and historical reconstruction, meteorological modeling, air photo interpretation, GIS analyses, and field studies of vegetation and soils, to address fundamental ecological questions concerning the rates, direction, and causes of vegetation change, to evaluate controls over modern species and community distributions and landscape patterns, and to provide critical background for conservation and restoration planning. In the current study, we extend this approach to investigate the link between landscape history and the abundance, distribution, and dynamics of species, communities and landscapes of the Cape Cod to Long Island coastal region, including the islands of Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and Block Island. The study region includes many areas of high conservation priority that are linked geographically, historically, and ecologically. Despite the compelling rationale for examining this coastal region as a whole and for comparing its related, though distinctive geographic areas, an integrated and comprehensive study of the region has never been undertaken.
We are investigating regional controls over landscape patterns and community distribution and will focus in detail on the dynamics of sandplain communities, including grasslands, heathlands, barrens, and woodlands, which are unique components of this region and high priorities for conservation. In order to determine the historical and modern abundance and distribution of these community types, and to relate these to historical patterns of land use, fire, windstorms and other disturbances, we are developing: (1) GIS-based, spatially explicit maps of land use, land cover, environment, hurricane characteristics, and cultural features across the region for the historical period (17th C to present), (2) pollen and charcoal diagrams for critical areas where data are currently unavailable and an integrated analysis of data from all studies across this region, (3) analysis of the relationship between high priority communities (sandplain grasslands, heathlands, barrens, and related communities), rare species, and disturbance history, (4) revised conceptual ecological models for sandplain communities and recommendations for ecological goals and management approaches.
forest disturbance
land use
soil chemistry
vegetation dynamics
LTER controlled vocabulary
inorganic nutrients
disturbance
land use
human-environment
LTER core area
Harvard Forest
HFR
LTER
USA
HFR default
This dataset is released to the public under Creative Commons CC0 1.0 (No Rights Reserved). Please keep the dataset creators informed of any plans to use the dataset. Consultation with the original investigators is strongly encouraged. Publications and data products that make use of the dataset should include proper acknowledgement.
Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal
https://spdx.org/licenses/CC0-1.0.html
CC0-1.0
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/exist/apps/datasets/showData.html?id=hf044
Southern New England Coast, New York Coast. Coordinates based on WGS84 datum.
-74.0
-70.1
+42.0
+40.7
0
118
meter
1600
2001
complete
Information Manager
Harvard Forest
324 North Main Street
Petersham
MA
01366
USA
(978) 724-3302
hf-im@lists.fas.harvard.edu
Harvard Forest
324 North Main Street
Petersham
MA
01366
USA
(978) 724-3302
(978) 724-3595
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu
Species List
The data file lists all taxa recorded in the sample plots. Taxonomy follows Gleason and Cronquist (1991). In general, codes are formed by taking the first four letters of the genus name and the first three letters of the species name. Where this causes confusion, an eight letter code unique to each taxon is used.
Plot Locations
Plots are identified by a general location code (2-3 letters) and a plot number (1-999). These two identifiers are also combined into a single six-character code. Because the plots were sampled from a larger set of potential plot locations, plot numbers are not necessarily sequential.
Total number of plots = 776 (270 in 1999, 389 in 2000, 117 in 2001).
Soil Chemistry
For plots sampled in 1999 (CJ series), the two pairs of 0-15 and 15-30 cm samples were subsampled (1/8 cup per sample) and combined to make a single composite sample representing the plot, which was then sent to Brookside Labs. For plots sampled in 2000, only one set of 0-15 and 15-30 cm samples was collected, and ¼ cup of each was mixed to produce a composite 0-30 cm sample sent for analysis.
In some samples, concentrations of certain cations were below the detection limit of the analytical equipment; in these cases, concentrations are listed as “less than x ppm.” Before the soils data can be analyzed quantitatively, these entries will need to be replaced by numerical values.
There are no lab soils data for two plots sampled in 2000 (MT 50 and PB 14).
Plant Cover
Cover of all vascular plant species rooted within the 20 x 20 m plot (also total lichen and bryophyte cover) was estimated on an eight-point scale.
Tree Diameters
Diameters of all live trees at least 2.5 cm dbh and all standing dead stems at least 10 cm dbh were measured in all plots. Only truly arboreal species were measured; shrubs such as scrub oak and viburnum were not, although individuals of these species routinely exceeded 2.5 cm dbh.
Tree Cores
One to three cores of the largest sound trees were sampled in plots with trees greater than 5 cm dbh. Cores were taken at 30 cm above the ground. Most cores were mounted, sanded, and counted under a hand lens or microscope. Some cores of young trees were counted in the field and not collected.
Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research
Harvard Forest
324 North Main Street
Petersham
MA
01366
USA
(978) 724-3302
(978) 724-3595
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu
https://ror.org/059cpzx98
pointOfContact
The Harvard Forest Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program examines ecological dynamics in the New England region resulting from natural disturbances, environmental change, and human impacts.
National Science Foundation LTER grants: DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, DEB-1237491, DEB-1832210.
hf044-01-species-list.csv
species list
hf044-01-species-list.csv
12982
1fcec6551f9c39c19088c5c31ba5ae91
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p04/hf044/hf044-01-species-list.csv
code
species code
species code
genus
genus name
genus name
species
species name
species name
notes
field notes
field notes
429
hf044-02-plots.csv
plot locations
hf044-02-plots.csv
897
308ba5b3dece9fcd8fa44d3a12017818
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p04/hf044/hf044-02-plots.csv
code
location code
location code
location
region
region
plots
number of plots sampled
number
1
natural
NA
missing value
year
year sampled
YYYY
notes
location description
location description
17
hf044-03-environ.csv
environment
hf044-03-environ.csv
95197
2de85bd9515a6965b9f24faa13c12e46
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p04/hf044/hf044-03-environ.csv
location
location code (see plot locations)
location code
plot
plot number
plot number
code
plot code
plot code
x.g83
plot longitude in NAD83
degree
0.0001
real
NA
missing value
y.g83
plot latitude in NAD83
degree
0.0001
real
NA
missing value
date
date of sampling (not entered for 1999 data)
YYYY-MM-DD
NA
missing value
fire
evidence of fire
0
no
1
yes
landuse
provisional land-use classification made in the field
provisional land-use classification made in the field
final.landuse
most conservative landuse designation
plowed
Clear Ap horizon. Landuse category = cultivated
disturbed
A horizon disturbed less than 10cm. Includes sites with non-agricultural soil disturbance, including storm overwash, military disturbance, open dunes, etc. Landuse categories = young dune, disturbed
open
No evidence of soil disturbance and historical maps indicated areas that were formerly open. Landuse categories = pasture, open
woodlot
No soil disturbance and historical maps indicate closed-canopy forest. Landuse categories = mature dune, woodland
Free text (unrestricted)
.*
ultimate.landuse
derived by comparing soils and vegetation data with the photos of soil profiles
plowed
Clear Ap horizon. Landuse category = cultivated
disturbed
A horizon disturbed less than 10cm. Includes sites with non-agricultural soil disturbance, including storm overwash, military disturbance, open dunes, etc. Landuse categories = young dune, disturbed
open
No evidence of soil disturbance and historical maps indicated areas that were formerly open. Landuse categories = pasture, open
woodlot
No soil disturbance and historical maps indicate closed-canopy forest. Landuse categories = mature dune, woodland
Free text (unrestricted)
.*
slope
slope position
1
valley/depression
2
lower slope
3
midslope
4
upper slope
5
ridge/crest
99
flat upland
aspect
aspect in degrees. Flat plots with no aspect were arbitrarily assigned 0.
degree
1
whole
NA
missing value
tsi
terrain shape index calculated following McNab (1989)
number
0.001
real
NA
missing value
lfi
landform index calculated following McNab (1993)
number
0.001
real
NA
missing value
oi.max
depth of top of OI layer above top of mineral soil
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
oe.max
depth of top of OE layer above top of mineral soil
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
oa.max
depth of top of OA layer above top of mineral soil
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
a.max
depth of top of A layer above top of mineral soil
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
a.bound
A layer boundary characteristics (abbrev. of USDA terms)
A layer boundary characteristics (abbrev. of USDA terms)
ap
presence of plow layer
0
absent
1
present
e.max
depth of top of E layer above top of mineral soil
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
e.bound
e layer boundary characteristics (abbreviations of standard USDA terms)
e layer boundary characteristics (abbreviations of standard USDA terms)
surf.stone
percent surface stone for entire plot
percent surface stone for entire plot
NA
missing value
gravel
percent gravel in face of soil pit
percent gravel in face of soil pit
NA
missing value
cobble
percent cobble in face of soil pit
percent cobble in face of soil pit
NA
missing value
stone
percent stone in face of soil pit
dimensionless
1
whole
NA
missing value
notes
notes. Includes unusual soil profiles.
notes. Includes unusual soil profiles.
776
hf044-04-soil.csv
soil chemistry
hf044-04-soil.csv
62719
48a23b3c9aec763715997f4b3850e50e
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p04/hf044/hf044-04-soil.csv
code
plot code (see plot locations)
plot code
clay
percent clay
dimensionless
0.01
real
NA
missing value
silt
percent silt
dimensionless
0.01
real
NA
missing value
silt.clay
percent silt clay
dimensionless
0.1
real
NA
missing value
sand
percent sand
dimensionless
0.1
real
NA
missing value
tec
total exchange capacity (M.E./100g)
number
0.01
real
NA
missing value
ph
pH (H20 1:1)
number
0.1
real
NA
missing value
om
total organic matter (% humus)
total organic matter (% humus)
NA
missing value
s.ppm
soluble sulfur (ppm)
number
1
natural
NA
missing value
ee.ppm
easily extractable P in ppm of P
number
1
natural
NA
missing value
ca.pct
base saturation % Ca
dimensionless
1
whole
NA
missing value
mg.pct
base saturation % MG
dimensionless
1
real
NA
missing value
k.pct
base saturation % K
base saturation % K
NA
missing value
na.pct
base saturation % Na
dimensionless
1
real
NA
missing value
b.ppm
ppm minor cations
ppm minor cations
NA
missing value
fe.ppm
ppm Fe
number
1
natural
NA
missing value
mn.ppm
ppm Mn
ppm Mn
NA
missing value
cu.ppm
ppm Cu
ppm Cu
NA
missing value
zn.ppm
ppm Zn
ppm Zn
NA
missing value
al.ppm
ppm Al
number
1
natural
NA
missing value
774
hf044-05-cover.csv
plant cover
hf044-05-cover.csv
6644315
c0e790f6ba2ded62fd346dce495b5b8b
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p04/hf044/hf044-05-cover.csv
plot.code
plot code
plot code
species
species code
species code
cover.code
cover code
1
less than 1%
2
1-3%
3
3-5%
4
6-15%
5
16-25%
6
26-50%
7
51-75%
8
more than 75%
381016
hf044-06-tree-diam.csv
tree diameter
hf044-06-tree-diam.csv
737205
11c62d50630dcdb2e15f991a31cfb54f
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p04/hf044/hf044-06-tree-diam.csv
location
location code (see plot locations)
location code
plot
plot number
plot number
code
plot code
plot code
species
species code
species code
tree.id
tree ID number
tree ID number
dbh
diameter
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
coppice
coppice
N
no
Y
yes
dead
dead
N
no
Y
yes
21609
hf044-07-tree-core.csv
tree core
hf044-07-tree-core.csv
30178
39d33a34ed3d466dab6eaa1ee319adc6
1
\r\n
column
,
https://harvardforest.fas.harvard.edu/data/p04/hf044/hf044-07-tree-core.csv
location
location code (see plot locations)
location code
plot
plot number
plot number
core
core number
core number
species
species code (see species list)
species code
dbh
diameter
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
dbh2
diameter 2
centimeter
0.1
real
NA
missing value
rings
number of annual rings actually visible. No correction was made for cores that did not intersect the pith.
number
1
natural
NA
missing value
notes
notes
notes
971
community
regional
soil
short-term measurement