Vegetation in the West Twin Creek Watershed: Tree Population Dynamics, Growth and Mortality in Old-Growth Forests in the Western Olympic Mountains, Washington

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
• Spatial_Reference_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Edmonds, R.L., T. B. Thomas and K. Maybury

Publication_Date: 1993

Title:

Vegetation in the West Twin Creek Watershed: Tree Population Dynamics, Growth and Mortality in Old-Growth Forests in the Western Olympic Mountains, Washington

Series_Information:

Series_Name: Canadian Journal of Forest Research

Issue_Identification: vol 23: pp512-519

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Ottawa, Canada

Publisher: National Research Council of Canada

Description:

Abstract:

Plant communities were classified and relationships between the environment and vegetation were examined in old-growth forests in a small watershed in the Hoh River valley of western Olympic National Park; West Twin Creek (58 ha, 180-850 m). Detrended correspondence analysis (DECORANA) was used to ordinate the data. Elevation and slope were the primary environmental gradients. Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) was used to classify the data. Five distinct community types were classified and described in West Twin Creek watershed. The most widespread community in the lower watershed was the Tsuga heterophylla/Polystichum munitum/Oxalis oregana type which had two variants. The second type in the lower watershed was the Tsuga heterophylla/Gaultheria shallon type. Three community types occurred in the upper watershed (Tsuga heterophylla-Abies amabilis/Vaccinium alaskaense, Tsuga heterophylla/Oxalis oregana and Tsuga heterophylla-Abies amabilis/Depauparate. Community composition was highly variable in the West Twin Creek Watershed (2-16 understory species/0.1 ha plot). Tree density was greatest in disturbed communities caused by windfelled trees at West Twin Creek.

Purpose:

The objectives of this study were to describe and classify the vegetation in a low (West Twin Creek) elevation old-growth forested watershed in the Hoh River Valley, Washington and examine relationships between the environment and plant communities.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1985

Ending_Date: ongoing

Currentness_Reference: Observed

Status:

Progress: In Work

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Every 5 years

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

West Twin Creek watershed in the Olympic National Park, Washington

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -124.05

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -123.93

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.87

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 47.83

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: vegetation

Theme_Keyword: plant communities

Theme_Keyword: old-growth forest

Theme_Keyword: temperate rainforest

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: USA

Place_Keyword: Washington

Place_Keyword: Olympic Peninsula

Place_Keyword: Hoh River Valley

Place_Keyword: West Twin Creek Watershed

Stratum:

Stratum_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Temporal:

Temporal_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Taxonomy:

Taxonomic_Keywords: Plants

Taxonomic_Keywords: Multiple Species

Taxonomic_Keywords: Tsuga heterophylla

Taxonomic_Keywords: Polystichum munitum

Taxonomic_Keywords: Oxalis oregana

Taxonomic_Keywords: Gaultheria shallon

Taxonomic_Keywords: Abies amabilis

Taxonomic_Keywords: Vaccinium alaskaense

Taxonomic_Keywords: Tsuga heterophylla

Taxonomic_Keywords: Oxalis oregana

Taxonomic_Keywords: Polystichum munitum

Taxonomic_Keywords: Tsuga heterophylla

Taxonomic_Keywords: Gaultheria shallon

Taxonomic_Keywords: Abies amabilis

Taxonomic_Keywords: Vaccinium alaskaense

Taxonomic_Coverage:

Specific_Taxonomic_Information:

Kingdom: Plant

Division-Phylum: Coniferophyta

Class: Pinopsida

Order: Pinales

Family: Pinaceae

Genus: Tsuga

Species: Tsuga heterophylla

Applicable_Common_Names: pacific hemlock

Taxonomic_Coverage:

Specific_Taxonomic_Information:

Kingdom: Plant

Division-Phylum: Polypodiophyta

Class: Filicopsida

Order: Polypodiales

Family: Dryopteridaceae

Genus: Polystichum

Species: Polystichum munitum

Applicable_Common_Names: western swordfern

Taxonomic_Coverage:

Specific_Taxonomic_Information:

Kingdom: Plant

Division-Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Geraniales

Family: Oxalidaceae

Genus: Oxalis

Species: Oxalis oregana

Applicable_Common_Names: Oregon oxalis

Taxonomic_Coverage:

Specific_Taxonomic_Information:

Kingdom: Plant

Division-Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Ericales

Family: Ericaceae

Genus: Gaultheria

Species: Gaultheria shallon

Applicable_Common_Names: salal

Taxonomic_Coverage:

Specific_Taxonomic_Information:

Kingdom: Plant

Division-Phylum: Coniferophyta

Class: Pinopsida

Order: Pinales

Family: Pinaceae

Genus: Abies

Species: Abies amabilis

Applicable_Common_Names: pacific silver fir

Taxonomic_Coverage:

Specific_Taxonomic_Information:

Kingdom: Plant

Division-Phylum: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Ericales

Family: Ericaceae

Genus: Vaccinium

Species: Vaccinium alaskaense

Taxonomic_Coverage:

Specific_Taxonomic_Information:

General_Taxonomic_Coverage: Vegetation was identified to species.

Access_Constraints: Must obtain data from author.

Use_Constraints: Must cite author if using data in publication.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Georgia Murray

Contact_Organization: University of Washington

Contact_Position: Research Scientist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: University of Washington

Address: PO Box 352100

City: Seattle

State_or_Province: WA

Postal_Code: 98195

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 543-8242

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gmurray@u.washington.edu

Security_Information:

Security_Classification_System: None

Security_Classification: None

Security_Handling_Description: None

Cross_Reference:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Robert L. Edmonds

Originator: Roger D. Blew

Originator: James L. Marra

Originator: Amy K. Barg

Originator: Georgia Murray

Originator: Ted B. Thomas

Publication_Date: In press

Title:

Vegetation Patterns, Hydrology, and Water Chemistry in Small Watersheds in the Hoh River Valley, Olympic National Park

Series_Information:

Issue_Identification: Scientific Monograph NPSD/NRUSGS/NRSM - 98/02

Publication_Information:

Publisher:

United States Department of Interior, National Park Service

Analytical_Tool:

Analytical_Tool_Description: DECORANA (Hill 1979)

Tool_Access_Information:

Tool_Contact:

Tool_Citation:

Analytical_Tool_Description: TWINSPAN (Hill 1979).

Tool_Access_Information:

Tool_Contact:

Tool_Citation:

Analytical_Tool_Description:

DECORANA - used for Detrended correspondence analysis

Tool_Access_Information:

Tool_Contact:

Tool_Citation:

Analytical_Tool_Description:

TWINSPAN - was used to classify the data in two-way indicator species analysis

Tool_Access_Information:

Tool_Contact:

Tool_Citation:

Data_Quality_Information:

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Field

Methodology_Identifier:

Methodology_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Methodology_Keyword: vegetation sampling

Methodology_Description:

One hundred and sixty seven circular reconnaissance (500 m2) and 6 circular permanent sampling plots (1000 m2) were established in the West Twin Creek watershed in 1984. The 6 permanent sample plots were located in homogeneous areas within a distinct plant community (Figure 2). Plots 1, 2 and 5 were in the lower watershed, while 3, 4 and 6 were in the upper watershed. From approximately mid-slope baselines at West Twin Creek, transects were positioned upslope and downslope. Plots were spaced at 100 m intervals up to the ridge top and down to creek level. This design assured that the full range of plant communities were sampled. Nested circular plots were used within the larger plots. Seedling presence by species was determined in four 20 m2 subplots; in 50 m2 subplots percent cover of herbs, shrubs, moss lichen, bare soil, litter and rocks (>8 cm) were recorded. Trees were measured and coded in 500 m2 (250 m2 in reconnaissance plots) and large trees (>50 cm dbh) and all snags were measured within the 1000 m2 plots (500 m2 reconnaissance plots). Percent slope, aspect, elevation, topographic shape, and slope position was determined for each plot at plot center.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), an ordination technique, was used to analyze the data. Species and sample ordinations were calculated by DECORANA (Hill 1979a). The samples scores were weighted means of the species scores within each sample. Data were classified using the two-way indicator analysis program TWINSPAN (Hill 1979b).

Process_Date: Unknown

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Georgia Murray

Contact_Organization: University of Washington

Contact_Position: Research Scientist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: University of Washington

Address: PO Box 352100

City: Seattle

State_or_Province: WA

Postal_Code: 98195

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 543-8242

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gmurray@u.washington.edu

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Georgia Murray

Contact_Organization: University of Washington

Contact_Position: Research Scientist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address

Address: University of Washington

Address: PO Box 352100

City: Seattle

State_or_Province: WA

Postal_Code: 98195

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (206) 543-8242

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: gmurray@u.washington.edu

Resource_Description: Excel spreadsheet

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 19990210

Metadata_Review_Date: 19990329

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: Olympic Natural Resources Center

Contact_Position: GIS Specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing address

Address: PO Box 1628

City: Forks

State_or_Province: WA

Postal_Code: 98331

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 360.374.3220 x258

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 360.374.3336

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: onrc@u.washington.edu

Hours_of_Service: M-F 8-5

Contact_Instructions: Email preferred

Metadata_Standard_Name:

Content Standards for National Biological Information Infrastructure Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version:

NBII Draft of December 1995, Based FGDC of June 8, 1994

Metadata_Access_Constraints: None

Metadata_Use_Constraints: None

Metadata_Security_Information:

Metadata_Security_Classification_System: None

Metadata_Security_Classification: Unclassified

Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: None