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).