Litterfall in Simulated Hurricane Experiment at Harvard Forest since 1989

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.