Southeast Alaska old-growth forest stem map data collected in 1964 on ten 1.42 hectare plots

This data publication includes data used in "Spatial aspects of structural complexity in Sitka spruce – western hemlock forests, including evaluation of a new canopy gap delineation method" by Schneider and Larson (2017). These data represent trees and plots from a study led by Vernon LaBau for his M.S. Thesis at Oregon State University, which he completed in 1967. Data were collected in 1964 on ten, 1.42 hectare plots (laid out as 5 by 7 chains). Data include tree location within subplots, tree species, diameter at breast height, and height in logs.
Data were originally collected to assess the utility of clustered point (prism) sampling to quantify old-growth forest structure in the unique rainforests of southeast Alaska. LaBau wrote: "This study was a test of eight basal area factors and five point sampling cluster patterns in a computer oriented sampling study of coastal Alaska old-growth spruce-hemlock stands. It was an attempt to learn which basal area factor and which type of point sample cluster pattern should be used in such stands. A test of the effect of stand density on point sampling was also made." This data continues to be valuable for research and has been most recently used to assess spatial pattern of old-growth forests in southeast Alaska.
These data were originally published on 04/01/2020. Minor metadata updates were made on 07/21/2022.