Biocomplexity at North Temperate Lakes LTER; Coordinated Field Studies: Littoral Plots 2001 - 2009

In 2001 - 2004 the abundance of coarse wood and other aspects of the physical structure of the littoral zone were surveyed along transects that followed the 0.5 m depth contour at 488 sites in Vilas County. These data were collected as part of the "cross-lake comparison" segment of the Biocomplexity Project (Landscape Context - Coordinated Field Studies). The study explored the links between terrestrial and aquatic systems across a gradient of residential development and lake landscape position. Specifically, this project attempted to relate the abundance of Coarse Wood in the littoral zone with abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic features of the adjacent shoreline. Each of the 488 sites was a 50 m stretch of shoreline. The transects started and ended at the beginning and end of the site; the length of each transect, therefore, varied. Logs which were at least 150 cm in length were counted; more detailed descriptions were taken of logs at least 10 cm in diameter and 150 cm long. Information on littoral and shoreline substrate was also collected. Sampling Frequency: each site sampled once Number of sites: 488 sites on 61 Vilas County lakes were sampled from 2001-2004 (approximately 15 different lakes each year; eight sites per lake).

2001年至2004年间，研究人员沿维拉斯县（Vilas County）内488个采样点位处的0.5米等深线布设样带，对沿岸带（littoral zone）的粗木质残体（coarse wood）丰度及其他物理结构特征开展调查。本数据集为生物复杂性项目（Biocomplexity Project）中“跨湖泊对比（cross-lake comparison）”子模块的采集成果，该子模块隶属于“景观背景-协同野外研究（Landscape Context - Coordinated Field Studies）”。本研究探究了陆地与水生生态系统之间的关联，该关联沿住宅开发梯度及湖泊景观位置梯度呈现梯度变化。具体而言，本项目旨在阐明沿岸带粗木质残体丰度与邻近岸线的非生物、生物及人为特征之间的联系。本次研究的488个采样点位均为一段50米长的岸线，样带以点位起点为始、点位终点为终，因此每条样带的长度各不相同。研究人员对长度不小于150厘米的原木进行计数；对于直径不小于10厘米且长度不小于150厘米的原木，则采集更为详尽的描述信息。本研究同时收集了沿岸带及岸线基质的相关数据。采样频率：每个点位仅采样1次。采样概况：2001年至2004年间，共对维拉斯县61个湖泊的488个点位完成采样，其中每年约采样15个不同湖泊，每个湖泊布设8个采样点位。