Marcell Experimental Watersheds 1968 vegetation survey data

Vegetation on six research watersheds (catchments) at the Marcell Experimental Forest in Minnesota were surveyed during 1968. Tree and sapling density per area, stand crown density, percent brushiness, and percent plant cover were estimated on milacre plots at nodes of sampling grids on each catchment. Within the timber types of each catchment, the ages, heights, and site index were estimated on at least five dominant or co-dominant trees. These data were used to estimate cords and cubic feet per acre for each type and catchment. This data publication includes the full report associated with these 1968 data, as well as the data in ASCII text format.
Overstory and shrub-layer vegetation were surveyed in the six research watersheds at the Marcell Experimental Forest to establish “benchmark” vegetation conditions as a basis for interpreting both hydrologic and vegetation changes following various watershed treatments (e.g. clearcutting, stripcutting, grazing, prescribed fire, fertilization, herbicide treatment) and natural changes (e.g. hail damage, windthrow, forest succession).
The catchments and environmental monitoring at the Marcell Experimental Forest are part of a long-term research program on the hydrology and biogeochemistry of catchments with uplands and northern peatlands (Kolka et al. 2011). Sites and catchments are described in Sebestyen et al. (2011). Kolka, Randall K.; Sebestyen, Stephen D.; Bradford, John B. 2011. An evolving research agenda at the Marcell Experimental Forest. In: Kolka, Randall K.; Sebestyen, Stephen D.; Verry, Elon S.; Brooks, Kenneth N., eds. Peatland biogeochemistry and watershed hydrology at the Marcell Experimental Forest. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press: 73-91. https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/37980 Sebestyen, Stephen D.; Dorrance, Carrie; Olson, Donna M.; Verry, Elon S.; Kolka, Randall K.; Elling, Art E.; Kyllander, Richard. 2011. Long-term monitoring sites and trends at the Marcell Experimental Forest. In: Kolka, Randall K.; Sebestyen, Stephen D.; Verry, Elon S.; Brooks, Kenneth N., eds. Peatland biogeochemistry and watershed hydrology at the Marcell Experimental Forest. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press: 15-71. https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/37979 These data were published on 03/26/2018. On 05/02/2022 minor metadata updates were made.