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Harvard Forest Data Archive

HF196

Impacts of Land Use on Japanese Barberry Invasion in Central Massachusetts 2005

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Data

Overview

  • Lead: Brian DeGasperis, Glenn Motzkin
  • Investigators:
  • Contact: Information Manager
  • Start date: 2005
  • End date: 2005
  • Status: complete
  • Location: Quabbin Reservoir
  • Latitude: +42.38 degrees
  • Longitude: -72.35 degrees
  • Elevation:
  • Datum: WGS84
  • Taxa: Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)
  • Release date: 2023
  • Language: English
  • EML file: knb-lter-hfr.196.5
  • DOI: digital object identifier
  • EDI: data package
  • DataONE: data package
  • Related links:
  • Study type: short-term measurement
  • Research topic: invasive plants, pests and pathogens
  • LTER core area: population studies, disturbance patterns
  • Keywords: agriculture, invasive species, land use, species abundance, timber harvest
  • Abstract:

    Despite the recognized importance of historical factors in controlling many native species distributions, few studies have incorporated historical landscape changes into models of invasive species distribution and abundance. We explore the possibility that the current distribution of invasive species may reflect legacies of historical land use despite nearly a century of forest succession and subsequent disturbances. We evaluated the modern distribution and abundance of Berberis thunbergii DC. (Japanese barberry), a problematic non-native shrub in forests of the northeastern U.S., relative to two distinct periods of historical land use, modern forest harvesting activity, and environmental and edaphic characteristics. Species questions addressed in this study include: (1) Do patterns of historical land use influence modern barberry distribution and abundance? (2) What is the influence of disturbance type and timing relative to the timing of introduction on current barberry distribution and abundance? (3) Which disturbance, environmental and edaphic variables best predict modern barberry distribution and abundance?

    Japanese barberry occurred more frequently and was more abundant in sites historically cleared for agriculture than in historically wooded sites. This relationship was strongest for areas in agriculture in the early 20th century after barberry was introduced to the region. The strong relationship between modern distribution patterns and prior land use suggests historical colonization of abandoned agricultural lands and persistence through subsequent reforestation. Contrary to our expectations, recent forest harvesting did not influence the occurrence or abundance of barberry. Our results indicate that interpretations of both native community composition and modern plant invasions must consider the importance of historical landscape changes and the timing of species introduction along with current environmental and edaphic conditions.

  • Methods:

    Site Selection

    Currently forested areas were selected following a stratified random sampling design, with field sites stratified by pre-introduction (1830) land use, post-introduction (1927) land use, and recent harvesting activity (harvested versus unharvested since 1984). Based upon the availability of suitable sites, we randomly sampled 9-11 polygons at least 0.5 ha in each of the resulting strata. Polygons dominated by hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and spruce were excluded.

    Field Sampling

    159 polygons were sampled for B. thunbergii abundance and environmental and edaphic characteristics. Within each polygon, a series of 2 x 2 m plots (10/ha), separated from each other and the polygon boundary by at least 20 m, were sampled along transects oriented based on polygon shape. Within each plot, the percent cover of B. thunbergii was estimated using a modified Braun-Blaunquet scale and the number of B. thunbergii stems was recorded. If B. thunbergii occurred within a polygon but did not fall into any of the sampled plots, its presence was noted.

    To characterize overstory vegetation and light conditions, basal area was determined using an angle gauge (10 factor) and canopy cover was measured using a convex spherical densiometer in the southwest corner of transect plots. We measured organic soil (O-horizon) depth and collected samples of 0-15 cm mineral soil from five locations in each polygon. Mineral soils were sampled with a 5 cm x 15 cm cylindrical steel corer. In the laboratory, samples were air dried and sieved to less than 2.0 mm. Mineral samples were analyzed for pH, percent organic matter, exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Na, total exchange capacity, and Mehlich III extractable P, Mn, Zn, B, Cu, Fe and Al. Soil texture (% sand, silt, and clay) was determined using a hydrometer. Subsamples were ground to less than 250 μm, oven dried at 80 deg C for 24 hours and analyzed for total C and N.

  • Organization: Harvard Forest. 324 North Main Street, Petersham, MA 01366, USA. Phone (978) 724-3302. Fax (978) 724-3595.

  • Project: 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. (ROR).

  • Funding: National Science Foundation LTER grants: DEB-8811764, DEB-9411975, DEB-0080592, DEB-0620443, DEB-1237491, DEB-1832210.

  • Use: 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.

  • License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0)

  • Citation: DeGasperis B, Motzkin G. 2023. Impacts of Land Use on Japanese Barberry Invasion in Central Massachusetts 2005. Harvard Forest Data Archive: HF196 (v.5). Environmental Data Initiative: https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/ff6e4abe4b47a86ed20eed78ca9b0d2f.

Detailed Metadata

hf196-01: environment

  1. polygon.id: identification code for each polygon
  2. lulc.1830: land use status in 1830
    • O: open
    • W: wooded
  3. lulc.1927: land use status in 1927
    • A: arable
    • P: pasture
    • S: sproutland (young, regenerating forest)
    • W: wooded
  4. harvested: whether or not a polygon was selectively logged between 1984 and 2005
    • N: no
    • Y: yes
  5. date: date polygon was sampled
  6. harv.year: year polygon was logged
  7. harv.intensity: logging intensity (unit: meterCubedPerHectare / missing value: NA)
  8. area: area of sampled polygon (unit: squareMeter / missing value: NA)
  9. stand.type: dominant tree canopy composition
    • 1: white pine
    • 2: white pine/hemlock
    • 3: white pine/hardwood
    • 4: white pine/oak
    • 7: hemlock/hardwood
    • 11: red pine
    • 12: red oak
    • 13: oak/hardwood
    • 14: mixed oak
    • 16: black birch/red maple/black cherry
    • 22: northern hardwood
    • 35: red maple
    • 36: red pine/hardwood
    • 37: white pine/red pine
  10. drainage: mean soil class for polygon; ranges from 1 (excessively drained) to 5 (poor to very poorly drained
  11. slope: mean slope of polygon (unit: degree / missing value: NA)
  12. aspect: mean aspect of polygon (compass degrees) (unit: degree / missing value: NA)
  13. dist.bldgs: mean distance to 1927 buildings (unit: meter / missing value: NA)
  14. dist.roads: mean distance to 1927 roads (unit: meter / missing value: NA)
  15. dist.lub: mean distance to land-use boundaries (stonewalls and fences) (unit: meter / missing value: NA)
  16. dist.streams: mean distance to streams and wetlands (unit: meter / missing value: NA)

hf196-02: soils

  1. polygon.id: identification code for each polygon
  2. lulc.1830: land use status for 1830
    • O: open
    • W: wooded
  3. lulc.1927: land use status
    • A: arable
    • P: pasture
    • S: sproutland (young, regenerating forest)
    • W: wooded
  4. harvested: whether or not a polygon was selectively logged between 1984 and 2005
    • N: no
    • Y: yes
  5. soil.type: soil sample type
    • M: mineral
    • O: organic
  6. tec: total exchange capacity (me/100g) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  7. ph: soil ph (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  8. org.mat: percent organic matter (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  9. sol.s: soluble sulfur (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  10. p: phosphorus (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  11. ca: calcium (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  12. mg: magnesium (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  13. k: potassium (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  14. na: sodium (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  15. base.sat: percent base saturation (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  16. b: boron (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  17. fe: iron (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  18. mn: manganese (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  19. cu: copper (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  20. zn: zinc (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  21. al: aluminum (ppm) (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  22. sand: percent sand (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  23. silt: percent silt (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  24. clay: percent clay (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)

hf196-03: organic depth

  1. polygon.id: identification code for each polygon
  2. lulc.1830: land use status in 1830
    • O: open
    • W: wooded
  3. lulc.1927: land use status in 1927
    • A: arable
    • P: pasture
    • S: sproutland (young, regenerating forest)
    • W: wooded
  4. harvested: whether or not a polygon was selectively logged between 1984 and 2005
    • N: no
    • Y: yes
  5. date: date polygon was sampled
  6. org.depth: organic soil (o-horizon) depth (unit: centimeter / missing value: NA)

hf196-04: trees

  1. polygon.id: identification code for each polygon
  2. lulc.1830: land use status in 1830
    • O: open
    • W: wooded
  3. lulc.1927: land use status in 1927
    • A: arable
    • P: pasture
    • S: sproutland (young, regenerating forest)
    • W: wooded
  4. harvested: whether or not a polygon was selectively logged between 1984 and 2005
    • N: no
    • Y: yes
  5. date: date polygon was sampled
  6. canopy.cover: percent canopy cover (unit: dimensionless / missing value: NA)
  7. basal.area: total tree basal area (unit: meterSquaredPerHectare / missing value: NA)

hf196-05: barberry

  1. polygon.id: identification code for each polygon
  2. lulc.1830: land use status in 1830
    • O: open
    • W: wooded
  3. lulc.1927: land use status in 1927
    • A: arable
    • P: pasture
    • S: sproutland (young, regenerating forest)
    • W: wooded
  4. harvested: whether or not a polygon was selectively logged between 1984 and 2005
    • N: no
    • Y: yes
  5. date: date polygon was sampled
  6. cover: percent barberry cover in a 2 x 2 m sampled plot
    • 0: 0%
    • 1: <1%
    • 2: 1-3%
    • 3: 3-5%
    • 4: 5-15%
    • 5: 15-25%
    • 6: 25-50%
    • 7: 50-75%
    • 8: >75%
  7. stems: number of barberry stems in a 2 x 2 m sampled plot (unit: number / missing value: NA)

hf196-06: Prescott gis

  • Compression: zip
  • Format: Esri shapefile
  • Type: vector GIS