Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)/HFR006: Hurricane Simulation

HFR006: Trees will be pulled down to simulate hurricane damage in two mixed hardwood plots: (1) 0.35 ha, September 1989; (2) 0.6 ha, September 1990. In the first plot, the extent of damage, changes in microtopography, and vegetation regeneration will be measured. In the second plot, vegetation will be measured and mapped before the pulldown. After the pulldown, selected areas will be treated with chronic nitrogen addition and/or deer exclosure. Measurements will include the extent of damage, changes in microtopography, micrometeorological conditions, vegetation regeneration, litter chemistry, and trace gas fluxes. The Harvard Forest LTER site (HFR) is primarily Eastern deciduous forest. Research topics include: long-term climate change; disturbance history and vegetation dynamics; comparison of community, population, and plant architectural responses to human and natural disturbances; forest-atmosphere trace gas fluxes; organic matter accumulation, decomposition and mineralization; element cycling, fine root dynamics and forest microbiology. Information about LTER is also available on-line at 'http://lternet.edu/'