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Long-Term Monitoring of the Forest Ecosystem at the Cary Institute

Gary M. Lovett
Clive G. Jones
Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

We monitor key aspects of forest productivity and nutrient cycling at our research site in Millbrook, New York. The table below shows variables measured and the length of the measurement period. Click on the link to access each data set. If you wish to use these data sets, please email Gary Lovett with a brief explanation of how you intend to use them.



Data set Start date Method
Gypsy moth egg mass density
   metadata .pdf   data .xls
1980 direct counts on sample plots



Nutrient Cycling    
Wet deposition 1984 wet-only collectors
Dry deposition 1988 filter packs + deposition velocity model
Throughfall
   metadata .pdf   data .xls
1993 (through 1999) funnel/bottle collectors
B horizon soil solution
   metadata .pdf   data .xls
1993 constant tension lysimeters
Potential N mineralization
   metadata .pdf   data .xls
1994 laboratory incubation
Foliar N concentration
   metadata .pdf   data .xls
1994 C-N analyzer



Julie Hart collecting soil solution using a suction lysimeter.

Trends in Nitrogen and Sulfur Deposition.

We have observed a decline in total (wet + dry) atmospheric deposition of both nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) since we began measurements in 1988 (Kelly et al 2002). There have been corresponding declines in fluxes of N and S in throughfall and of S in soil leachate (see graphs below). The fact that S leaching is substantially higher than S deposition suggests that mineral weathering contributes S to this ecosystem. There is minimal leaching of N, suggesting almost complete retention of N under current deposition conditions. With addition of nitrogen through experimental fertilization, nitrate leaching is accelerated, the soils become acidified, and tree mortality increases (Wallace et al. 2007).



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footer:  Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York   (845) 677-5343