10-year Allegheny hardwood forest type regeneration data

This data publication contains regeneration surveys in an experiment investigating the independent and synergistic effects of both white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browsing and hay-scented fern (Dennstaedtia punctilobula) competition on tree regeneration in a 10-year experiment that ran from 2001 to 2010 in three hardwood forest sites in Pennsylvania, USA. Treatments included fencing (+/-) to examine the role of browsing and the hay-scented fern cover (+/-) to examine the role of competing vegetation. Data were collected in 1 meter squared plots within each experimental unit. Seedling tallies were done to identify both established seedlings, new germinants, as well as height of the tallest seedling, by species.The experiment was designed to examine how tree seedling establishment, growth, and composition are filtered by fern cover versus fern removal (gaps), browser presence versus absence (exclosures), and their combined effects over ten years at three hardwood forest sites in Pennsylvania, USA.These data were published on 09/02/2021. Minor metadata updates were made on 11/08/2024.

本数据集包含一项为期10年（2001年至2010年）的野外实验的树木更新调查数据，该实验在美国宾夕法尼亚州3处硬木林样地开展，旨在探究白尾鹿（Odocoileus virginianus）啃食与香蕨（Dennstaedtia punctilobula）竞争对树木更新的独立效应与协同效应。实验设置两类处理：围栏调控（有/无）以探究植食啃食的影响，香蕨盖度控制（有/无）以探究竞争植被的作用。数据采集于每个实验单元内的1平方米样方中。研究人员针对各物种完成了幼苗计数，统计了定居幼苗与新萌发幼苗的数量，并测定了单株最高幼苗的株高。本实验旨在明确：在宾夕法尼亚州3处硬木林样地中，香蕨盖度与香蕨移除（林隙）、植食动物存在与否（围栏排除样地）分别以及二者的协同效应，如何在10年周期内调控树木幼苗的定居、生长与群落组成。本数据集于2021年9月2日正式发布，并于2024年8月11日完成了次要元数据更新。