BNZ-LTER Metadata Catalog

Title:

Tree densities of black and white spruce in the Brooks Range, Alaska
Contacts:

Fastie, Christopher
Telephone (primary): (802) 352-9028
Telephone (secondary): NA
FAX: NA
Email (primary): cfastie@middlebury.edu
Email (secondary): NA
Web URL: NA
Address:
Department of Biology Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753
United States

Lloyd, Andrea
Telephone (primary): (802) 443-3165
Telephone (secondary): NA
FAX: (802) 443-2072
Email (primary): lloyd@middlebury.edu
Email (secondary): NA
Web URL: NA
Address:
Department of Biology Middlebury College Old Chaple 207
Middlebury, VT 05753
United States
Abstract:

Although black spruce is the dominant treeline species in the eastern boreal forest, its distribution stops several kilometers short of treeline in the Brooks Range in Alaska, and white spruce is the dominant treeline species. The explanation for this distribution is not known, but two hypotheses are plausible. First, black spruce may be less tolerant of climatic conditions near treeline than white spruce. Second, black spruce may be unable to regenerate successfully near treeline due to long intervals between fires. We are establishing permanently marked study plots along a transect from the Yukon River basin, where black spruce is the dominant species, to the foothills of the Brooks Range, where it reaches its distributional limit. We are reconstructing recruitment history of both black and white spruce at our study sites, and are reconstructing recent fire history from analysis of fire scars and stand age structures. These data are being used to parameterize matrix population models, with which we are describing patterns of population stability.
Methods:

Experimental Design:

None on file.
Supplemental Documentation:

None on file.
Corrections:

None on file.
Supplemental Acknowledgements:

None on file.
Keywords:

black spruce, Brooks Range, distribution, fires, Picea mariana, recruitment
Categories:

Climate, Stand Structure
Study Period:

2003-06-01 to 2003-09-30
Sampling Frequency:

unknown
Bounding Box:

West Longitude: -149.8358167°
North Latitude: 67.55345°
East Longitude: -149.8358167°
South Latitude: 67.55345°
Datum:

Site References:

Site ID: DH200
Description: Site DH200 is part of a series of sites established near the northern range limit of black spruce. This is one of 3 sites located along a 3 mile stretch of the Dalton Hwy. There are 3 permanently marked study plots at each site in which all trees and seedlings are tagged.
Directions: East side of Dalton Hwy @ milepost 200. Plots are along uppermost edge of forest patch.
Site History: Plots were established and all trees were cored in 2002.
Location: Brooks Range, Dalton Highway, Alaska, USA
Data Columns:

Column: 1
Variable Name: Site
Description: Site ID
Units: NA
Type: string
Measurement Scale: nominal
Value Codes: NA
Error Codes: NA
Minimum Valid Value: NA
Maximum Valid Value: NA
Output Precision: 0.0000
Calculations:

Column: 2
Variable Name: Plot
Description: Plot ID
Units: NA
Type: integer
Measurement Scale: nominal
Value Codes: NA
Error Codes: NA
Minimum Valid Value: NA
Maximum Valid Value: NA
Output Precision: 1.0000
Calculations:

Column: 3
Variable Name: Black Spruce Adults
Description: Number of Black Spruce Adults
Units: NA
Type: integer
Measurement Scale: ratio
Value Codes: NA
Error Codes: NA
Minimum Valid Value: NA
Maximum Valid Value: NA
Output Precision: 1.0000
Calculations:

Column: 4
Variable Name: Black Spruce Seedlings
Description: Number of Black Spruce Seedlings
Units: NA
Type: integer
Measurement Scale: ratio
Value Codes: NA
Error Codes: NA
Minimum Valid Value: NA
Maximum Valid Value: NA
Output Precision: 1.0000
Calculations:

Column: 5
Variable Name: White Spruce Adults
Description: Number of White Spruce Adults
Units: NA
Type: integer
Measurement Scale: ratio
Value Codes: NA
Error Codes: NA
Minimum Valid Value: NA
Maximum Valid Value: NA
Output Precision: 1.0000
Calculations:

Column: 6
Variable Name: White Spruce Seedlings
Description: Number of White Spruce Seedlings
Units: NA
Type: integer
Measurement Scale: ratio
Value Codes: NA
Error Codes: NA
Minimum Valid Value: NA
Maximum Valid Value: NA
Output Precision: 1.0000
Calculations:

Public Release:

2005-11-07