BEF-China | Main Experiment: Leaf demography in the Main Experiment

Show: Main Experiment: Leaf demography in the Main Experiment - 2011

Title:

Main Experiment: Leaf demography in the Main Experiment - 2011

Access rights:

Free within projects

Usage rights:

No information available

Published:

Emmerth, D. 2012. Effects of tree species richness on leaf demography in a Chinese subtropical forest. MSc thesis, University of Zurich

Abstract:

Several field studies have shown the positive effect of diversity on primary productivity in grasslands. However, little is known about forest ecosystems, which are responsible for more than 50 % of global net primary productivity (NPP). In these ecosystems, a major proportion of the aboveground net primary production is fine litter fall. Therefore, in this project we will investigate the relationship between tree diversity and leaf demography during the initial development of forest communities in the Main Experiment. Leaf cohorts were marked on randomly selected branches of the 4x4 central tree individuals in the VIP and VIP replicate plots in site A and site B (128 plots in total; 6 diversity levels -from 1 to 24 species per plot). The cohorts were monitored four times from early spring to late summer. Every visit we put a mark (wire ring) below the leaf closest to the apical meristem and we recorded the estimated number of total leaves in the tree, the number of new leaves in the marked branch (since the last visit), the number of leaves in the selected branch (old and new leaves), the number of leaves which show some herbivory damage and the herbivory score (a scale based on the percentage of the leave area that was damaged).

Design:

Leaf cohorts were marked on randomly selected branches of the 4x4 central tree individuals in the VIP and VIP replicate plots. The cohorts were monitored four times from early spring to late summer. Every visit we put a mark (wire ring) below the leaf closest to the apical meristem and we recorded the estimated number of total leaves in the tree, the number of new leaves in the marked branch (since the last visit), the number of leaves in the selected branch (old and new leaves), the number of leaves which show some herbivory damage and the herbivory score (a scale based on the percentage of the leave area that was damaged).

Spatial extent:

Main experiment 29°08'-29°11'N 117°90'-117°93'E The VIP and VIP replicate plots (128 plots) are located in the Main Experiment. It consists of two sites (A & B) located near to the village Xingangshan in Dexing County, Jiangxi province. Each site covers 256 1-mu plots (after excluding all plots from the F and G scenarios and all plots with 0- tree species richness). Each plot comprises 400 trees (planted as 20x20 grid).

Temporal extent:

The leaf cohorts were monitored four times from early spring to late summer in 2011.

Taxonomic extent:

The central 4x4 tree individuals of all VIP and VIP replicate plots in site A& B.

Measurement cirumstances:

No information available

Data analysis:

We will estimate the leaf birth rate, leaf mortality rate and the herbivory rate. Effects of species richness on the mortality rates and the birth rates will be analyzed on the plot level as well as on the level of the individual species. In addition, we will test if different traits (deciduous vs evergreen and single vs composite leaves) show significant effects on the mortality rates and the birth rates.

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Dataset column

Name:

PTAG

Definition:

Plot ID across CSP, MainA & MainB. See BEF-database for further details.; Source: BEF research plot name

Unit:

Datagroup:

PTAG

Keywords:

Main Experiment, Site A, Site B

Values:

p105240
p105320
p103320
p105230
p105310

Contributors:

BEF research plot name

Dataset column

Name:

IDtree

Definition:

Identification code used by SP1e/SP2E during the inventory. This ID code was written on the plastic labels attached to the trees and refers to their position within the plot (e.g. 8.8: row 8, column 8 in the 20*20 plot grid). Note that this code was given by SP1e/SP2 e students and does not always coincide always with the labels (barcode paper labels in 2011 or metal labels from 2012) that were later attached to the trees by Z1.

Unit:

Datagroup:

Individual position within plot in Site A or B (given by SP1/SP2)

Keywords:

No information available

Values:

id10.10
id11.10
id10.11
id10.8
id10.9

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

species

Definition:

species name of the individual; Datagroup description: Scientific plant species name

Unit:

Datagroup:

Scientific plant species name

Keywords:

species

Values:

Ailanthus altissima
Betula luminifera
Castanea henryi
Alniphyllum fortunei
Acer davidii

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

time

Definition:

number of visit and assesment of the leaf cohorts

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Time series

Keywords:

leaf demography

Values:

t0
t2
t1
t3

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

date

Definition:

day of year number when the visit/assesment was done

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Date time information

Keywords:

leaf demography

Values:

109
107
105
118
104

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

tree.leaves

Definition:

estimated number of leaves in the whole tree

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Leaf demography

Keywords:

leaf demography

Values:

1
1000
10
100
0

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

branch.leaves

Definition:

number of leaves in the marked branch (from the first mark to the apical meristem)

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Leaf demography

Keywords:

leaf demography

Values:

10
0
12
11
1

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

new.leaves

Definition:

number of new leaves in the marked branch since the previous visit/assessment

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Leaf demography

Keywords:

leaf demography

Values:

12
10
11
1
0

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

damaged.leaves

Definition:

number of leaves in the marked branch that show some sign of herbivory

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Herbivore load

Keywords:

herbivory, leaf demography

Values:

11
12
1
10
0

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

herbivory.score

Definition:

estimated herbivory damage. It refers to the percentage of the leaf area that has been lost or damaged due to herbivory

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Herbivore damage

Keywords:

herbivory, leaf demography

Values:

3
1
4
2
0

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

leaves.above

Definition:

number of leaves that are above the metal ring (mark). During every assesment, the mark was put below the last 1-3 apical leaves so it would not fall later. This should be considered when calculating the birth rate or mortality of leaves

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Leaf demography

Keywords:

leaf demography

Values:

12
1
0
11
10

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

leaf.length

Definition:

length of a randomly chose leaf of the marked branch

Unit:

Datagroup:

Leaf demography

Keywords:

leaf demography

Values:

0.5
0
0.7
0.9
0.8

Contributors:

No information available

Dataset column

Name:

comments

Definition:

comments

Unit:

No information available

Datagroup:

Leaf demography

Keywords:

No information available

Values:

dead/missing
dead/missing (data lost?)
dead is almost dead, all leaves are dried
dead/missing; big tree alive, not sure if it is then 11.15?
dead/missing; it is alive and it K. Bipinnata (no C. Eyrei), no marks