Simulated Hurricane Experiment litterfall since 1989
- HF-ID: HFS1989-02
- Category: Research Samples
- Creator: Aber, John D., Barker Plotkin, A.
- Associated Person: Magill, A., Bowden, Richard
- Date: 1989 to 2025
- Location: Tom Swamp Tract (Harvard Forest)
- Media: Samples - litter
- Contents:
- Leaf Litter stored in bags (boxes 1-7) and plastic cups. 14 boxes.
- Box 1: 1989;
- Box 2: 1996 (Jun);
- Box 3: 1996 (Sep);
- Box 4: 1996 (Nov, part 1);
- Box 5: 1996 (Nov, part 2);
- Box 6: 1997 (Jun);
- Box 7: 1997 (Oct);
- Box 8: 1997 (Nov), 1998 (Jun, Sep, Nov), 1999 (Jun, Sep, Nov);
- Box 9: 2000 (May, Sep, Nov), 2002 (May, Sep, Nov); 2003 (Jun, Sep, Nov);
- Box 10: 2004 (June, Sep, Nov – control plot only), 2005 (May), 2006 (Jun – combination of Nov 2005 and June 2006, Sep, Nov), 2007 (Jun, Sep), 2008 (June – control plot only, Sep);
- Box 11: 2008 (Dec), 2009 (Jun, Sep, Dec), 2010 (Jun, Sep, Dec), 2011 (Jun, Sep, Dec), 2012 (Sep, Jun, Dec);
- Box 12: 2013 (Jun, Sep, Dec), 2014 (Jun, Sep, Dec). 2015 (June – 12 baskets, August – special collection, Sep, Dec) 2016 (Jun, Sep, Dec);
- Box 13: 2017 (Jun, Sep), 2018 (Jun, Sep, Dec), 2019 (Sep, Nov, Dec), 2020 (Sep), 2022 (Jun);
- Box 14: 2020 (Dec), 2021 (Jun, Sep, Dec), 2022 (Jun, Sep, Nov), 2023 (Jun, Sep, Dec), 2024 (Dec), 2025 (Jun, Sep, Dec)
- Keywords: biomass, hurricane damage, litterfall
- Abstract:
- The hurricane site contains two plots - the blowdown (treatment) and the control - TSB and TSC respectively. The control plot contains 12 baskets and the blowdown 13. Litter baskets were placed in both the blowdown and control plots in Sept 1989. TSB-13 was originally part of an AVIRIS overflight study and was not included in the data collections until 1990. The litterfall year begins approximately September 20 each year. Years are designated with the fall date, e.g., Sept 1989-Sept 1990 is the 1989 litter year. Litter was collected 2x/year (Nov and the following Sep) in 1989 and 1990 and 3x/year in all subsequent years (Nov, June and Sep). Baskets were removed from the blowdown plot in fall 1990 while the experimental manipulation was underway. Only control plot baskets were collected for the 1990-1991 litterfall year. Nov. 2005 and June 2006 are combined as early snow in Nov. 2005 precluded collection. Litter was not sorted by species in all years and in most cases only the Nov collections were sorted from 1989 through 1993, 2000 and 2006. In other years, a total unsorted litter weight for each basket was recorded. Unsorted litter is indicated as unsorted species type.
- Related Items:
- Archives Location: Sample Archive, Bay 1, stack 1, shelf 7 and 8
- Access: Active
- Administrative Notes:
- September 2022 - Renamed from Tom Swamp Ground Litter 1989 to Simulated Hurricane Experiment litterfall since 1989.
- August 2015 - G. Dow using leaves to test for stomatal density
- Boxes returned September 1, 2015 to Sample Archives. Leaves sampled by G. Dow: LTS C 11/1007; LTS C 11/1998; LTS C 11/1999; LTS C 11/2000; LTS C 11/2001; LTS C 11/2003; LTS C 11/2004; LTS C 11/2005; LTS C 11/2006; LTS C 9/2007; LTS C 12/2008; LTS C 12/2009; LTS C 12/2010; LTS C 12/2011; LTS C 12/2012.
- Summer 2013 - Numerous boxes from other years condensed and litter samples converted from paper bags to plastic 16 and 32 oz. cups. 1989-02 record now encompasses all boxes for project and prior records. As of Sept 2013, a few more boxes from early 1990s to be done to complete the record.
- HFS1989-03, HFS1996-03, HFS1996-04, HFS1996-05, HFS1996-06a-b, HFS1996-07a-b, HFS1997-21, HFS1997-22, HFS2000-29, HFS2000-30a-c, HFS2000-31, HFS2000-32, HFS2001-08a-c, HFS2001-09a-b, HFS2001-10, HFS2001-11, HFS2004-03, HFS2006-05 were reboxed into this collection.
- August 2009 - Per A. Barker Plotkin: December 2007 litter was removed and donated for Frey student study, 8/31/09 (rationale: previous year litter was sorted to species).