DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6q573n64s
title: Stem data from first three censuses on the University of California Santa Cruz Forest Ecology Research Plot

description: Here we present stem-based data from the first three censuses of the 16-ha
 UC Santa Cruz Forest Ecology Research Plot, located in the Mediterranean
 climate forest of coastal central California, USA. The forest includes
 both mixed evergreen forest and redwood-dominated forest, and is
 recovering from significant logging disturbance in the early 20th century.
 Each woody stem with diameter larger than 1 cm has been mapped, tagged,
 identified, and measured, with censuses on a ~5-year interval. The first
 census (FERP1) began in 2007, and included just 6 ha. During FERP2, begun
 in 2011, the plot was expanded to 16 ha. The FERP3 census was begun in
 2017. The community includes 34 woody species, including 4 gymnosperm and
 9 angiosperm tree species, 18 species of shrubs, and 3 species of lianas.
 Across the three censuses, we report identity, size, location, and
 mortality data from 48,556 stems of 31,206 mapped individuals.
description: Methods are as described in the manuscript 
 Gilbert, G.S., S.G. Carvill, A.R. Krohn, and A.S. Jones. 2024.
 Three censuses of a mapped plot in coastal California mixed-evergreen and
 redwood forest.  Forests  15<em>:</em> 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010164 and in Gilbert et al. 2010. Beyond the tropics: forest structure in a temperate forest mapped plot. Journal of Vegetation Science 21:388-405. DOI: 10.1111/j.1654-1103.2009.01151.x
description: # Stem data from first three censuses on the University of California
 Santa Cruz Forest Ecology Research Plot Gregory S. Gilbert
 University of California, Santa Cruz Alexander
 S. Jones University of California, Santa Cruz ---
 **Abstract:** Here we present stem-based data from the first three
 censuses of the 16-ha UC Santa Cruz Forest Ecology Research Plot, located
 in the Mediterranean climate forest of coastal central California, USA.
 The forest includes both mixed evergreen forest and redwood-dominated
 forest, and is recovering from significant logging disturbance in the
 early 20th century. Each woody stem with diameter larger than 1 cm has
 been mapped, tagged, identified, and measured, with censuses on a ~5-year
 interval. The first census (FERP1) began in 2007, and included just 6 ha.
 During FERP2, begun in 2011, the plot was expanded to 16 ha. The FERP3
 census was begun in 2017. The community includes 34 woody species,
 including 4 gymnosperm and 9 angiosperm tree species, 18 species of
 shrubs, and 3 species of lianas. Across the three censuses we report
 identity, size, location, and mortality data from 48,556 stems of 31,206
 mapped individuals. The authors appreciate prior consultation over
 potential co-authorship for significant analysis and publication of the
 data. **Published in** Gilbert, G.S., S.G. Carvill, A.R. Krohn, and A.S.
 Jones. 2024. Three censuses of a mapped plot in coastal California
 mixed-evergreen and redwood forest. Forests 15: 164;
 ## Descriptions of each of the
 values included in the data: **quadrat:** Southwest corner of 20x20-m
 quadrat, designate in meters E and N of the southwest corner of the FERP.
 E.g., E080_N160 is 80 m east and 160 m north of the southwest corner.
 **tag:** Unique number for each individual tree, shrub, or liana with
 diameter larger than 1 cm. Tags are pre-stamped aluminum tags with
 sequential numbers from 1 through 37985. Tags for smaller individuals are
 tied to the base of the tree using horticultural tape; for larger trees,
 tags are nailed into the trunk at 2 m height on the north side of the
 tree. **stemtag:** Number that designates separate stems within a
 multistem individual. The stem with the tag is considered stemtag 1, but
 does not receive a physical tag. Each additional stem larger than 1 cm
 diameter receives a write-on aluminum tag sequentially numbered, beginning
 with 2 within each individual, tied near the base of the stem. Stemtags
 were given to stems beginning in the FERP2 census. **stemtag1:** For
 FERP1, each stem of multistem individuals was measured, but was not given
 a physical stemtag. These numbers are sequential, post-hoc numbers,
 beginning at 102 within each individual, to designate each of the stems
 within a multistem individual. It is not possible to confidently make a
 direct correspondence between a particular stem of multistem individual in
 FERP1 and a stem with a stemtag in FERP2. **code6:** Six-letter code
 designating the plant species. In general, the code is the first 4 letters
 of the genus and first 2 letters of the species epithet. For species with
 taxonomic name changes after the FERP1 census, the original code6 was
 retained for consistency. Species names are as follows: ACERMA *Acer
 macrophyllum* Pursh; ADENFA *Adenostoma fasciculatum* Hook. & Arn.;
 ARBUME *Arbutus menziesii* Pursh; ARCTAN *Arctostaphylos andersonii* A.
 Gray; ARCTCR *Arctostaphylos crustaceae* Eastw.; BACCPI *Baccharis
 pilularis* DC.; CEANTH *Ceanothus thyrsiflorus* Eschsch.; CORYCO *Corylus
 cornuta* subsp. *californica* Marshall (A.DC.) A.E.Murray; COTOFR
 *Cotoneaster franchetii* Bois; COTOPA *Cotoneaster pannosus* Franch.;
 CRATMO *Crataegus monogyna* Jacq.; ERIOJA *Eriobotrya japonica* (Thunb.)
 Lindl.; EUCAGL *Eucalyptus globulus* Labill.; RHAMCA
 *Frangula californica* (Eschsch.) A.Gray; HEDEHE *Hedera helix* L.; HETEAR
 *Heteromeles arbutifolia* (Lindl.) M.Roem; ILEXAQ *Ilex aquifolium* L.;
 LONIHI *Lonicera hispidula* (Lindl.) Douglas ex Torr. & A.Gray; MORECA
 *Morella californica* (Cham.) Wilbur; LITHDE *Notholithocarpus
 densiflorus* (Hook. & Arn.) Manos, C.H. Cannon & S.H.Oh; PINUAT
 *Pinus attenuata* Lemmon; PINUPO *Pinus ponderosa* var. pacifica
 J.R.Haller & Vivrette; PSEUME *Pseudotsuga menziesii* (Mirb.) Franco;
 PYRAAN *Pyracantha angustifolia* C.K.Schneid; QUERAG *Quercus agrifolia*
 Née; QUERPA *Quercus parvula* var. *shrevei* (C.H.Mull.) Nixon; RHODOC
 *Rhododendron occidentale* (Torr. & A.Gray) A.Gray; RIBEDI *Ribes
 divaricatum* Douglas; SALILA *Salix lasiandra* Benth.; SAMBNI *Sambucus
 caerulea* Raf.; SEQUSE *Sequoia sempervirens* (D.Don) Endl.; TOXIDI
 *Toxicodendron diversilobum* Greene; UMBECA *Umbellularia californica*
 (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt.; VACCOV *Vaccinium ovatum* Pursh. **east_m:**
 Number of meters east (magnetic) of the western border of the FERP
 **north_m:** Number of meters north (magnetic) of the southern border of
 the FERP **east_UTM:** Easting UTM coordinates (zone 10, WGS84)
 **north_UTM:** Northing UTM coordinates (zone 10, WGS84) **dsh1_mm:**
 Diameter (in mm) at standard height (1.3 m) of stem in FERP1 census.
 Missing data indicate stem was not included in FERP1 census and was
 measured in later censuses. **dsh2_mm:** Diameter (in mm) at standard
 height (1.3 m) of stem in FERP2 census. Missing data indicate stem was not
 either not yet included in census and was first measured in census FERP3,
 or it was dead or missing after including in FERP1 census, in which case
 status 2 would indicate “dead”. If status 2 indicates “nodata”,
 measurement of stem was inadvertently missed. **dsh3_mm:** Diameter (in
 mm) at standard height (1.3 m) of stem in FERP3 census. Missing data stem
 was dead or missing after first inclusion in FERP1 or FERP 2 census, in
 which case status3 would indicate “dead”. If status3 indicates “nodata”,
 measurement of stem was inadvertently missed. **dsh1m_mm:** Diameter (in
 mm) at standard height (1.3 m) of untagged multistems in FERP1 census.
 Used for stems designated with stemtag1. Missing data indicate this stem
 was not included in the FERP1 census. **date1:** Date of observation in
 FERP1 census. Missing data indicate stem was not included until a later
 census. **date2:** Date of observation in FERP2 census. Missing data
 indicate either that the stem was first mapped in the FERP3 census, or if
 status2 indicates “nodata”, observation of the stem was inadvertently
 missed. **date3:** Date of observation in FERP3 census. Missing data
 indicate either that the stem was declared missing or dead in FERP2 census
 as indicated by status2, or if status3 indicates “nodata”, observation of
 the stem was inadvertently missed. **status1:** Indicated as “living” if
 stem was mapped and measured in the FERP1 census. Missing data indicate
 stem was not included until a later census. **condition1:** Observation of
 status of stem during FERP1 census: “broken1.3” indicates stem is alive,
 but broken below the standard height for measurement of 1.3m “leaning”
 indicates living trunk is leaning more than 30° off vertical “prostrate”
 indicates stem is lying on the ground\ Missing data indicate that none of
 these attributes were applicable. **status2:** Survival status of stems in
 FERP2 census. “living” indicates stem was observed alive in the FERP2
 census “dead” indicates stem that was alive in FERP1 census, but found
 dead or missing in FERP2 “nodata” indicates a missing observation in FERP2
 for stems alive in FERP1 Missing data indicate stem was not included until
 FERP3 census. **condition2:** Observation of status of stem during FERP2
 census: “broken1.3” indicates stem is alive, but broken below the standard
 height for measurement of 1.3m “leaning” indicates living trunk is leaning
 more than 30° off vertical “prostrate” indicates living stem is lying on
 the ground\ “fallen” indicates the stem was found dead and found lying on
 the ground “standing” indicates the stem was found dead and erect
 “resprout” indicates the original stem was dead, with a living resprout
 not large enough to measure\ “missing” indicates stems tagged in FERP1
 could not be located after diligent search “Tagonly” indicates aluminum
 tag was found not attached to a stem, and stem could not be found. Missing
 data indicate that none of these attributes were applicable. **status3:**
 Survival status of stems in FERP3 census. “living” indicates stem was
 observed alive in the FERP3 census “dead” indicates stem that was alive in
 FERP2 census, but found dead or missing in FERP3 “nodata” indicates a
 missing observation in FERP3 for stems alive in FERP2 Missing data
 indicate that the stem was declared missing or dead in FERP2 census as
 indicated by status2. **condition3:** Observation of status of stem during
 FERP3 census: “broken1.3” indicates stem is alive, but broken below the
 standard height for measurement of 1.3m “leaning” indicates living trunk
 is leaning more than 30° off vertical “prostrate” indicates living stem is
 lying on the ground\ “fallen” indicates the stem was found dead and found
 lying on the ground “standing” indicates the stem was found dead and erect
 “missing” indicates stems tagged in FERP1 could not be located after
 diligent search Missing data indicate that none of these attributes were
 applicable. **first_census:** The first census (1, 2, or 3) at which the
 stem was measured. **irreg_dsh:** Designates “irreg_dsh” if diameter
 measurement was made at a height other than the standard 1.3 m. Missing
 data indicate tree was measured at standard height of 1.3 m. **hom_m:**
 Height in m at which diameter was measured. Standard height is 1.3 m from
 the highest location the ground meets the stem. **multi1:** “multi1”
 indicates the individual had multiple stems larger than 1 cm diameter in
 FERP1. Missing data indicates this individual was not a multistem plant
 during that census. **stems1:** Total number of stems in a multistem
 individual that were measured in FERP1. Missing data indicates this
 individual was not a multistem plant during that census or that it was not
 included until a later census. **multi2:** “multi2” indicates the
 individual had multiple stems larger than 1 cm diameter in FERP2. Missing
 data indicates this individual was not a multistem plant during that
 census or that it was not included until a later census. **multi3:**
 “multi3” indicates the individual had multiple stems larger than 1 cm
 diameter in FERP3. Missing data indicates this individual was not a
 multistem plant during that census, or that it had been declared dead or
 missing in FERP2 as indicated by status2. basalarea1_m2: For FERP1 only,
 the total basal area of all measured stems of an individual, in units of
 m2 **code6fix:** Notes that indicate that a stem identification in one
 census was corrected in a subsequent census. Missing data indicate there
 were no relevant notes for that observation. **locfix:** Indication that
 original mapping location of stem was in error, and was fixed in a
 subsequent census. “loc_fixed” indicates the stem was physically re-mapped
 to the correct location. “loc_rand_inQ” was used for 70 individuals (90
 stems) for which location coordinates are missing, but for which the
 20x20-m quadrat is known. For those stems, random easting and northing
 coordinates within the quadrat were assigned. Missing data indicate there
 were no relevant notes for that observation. **notes2:** Field notes
 indicating irregularities found in FERP2 census. Missing data indicate
 there were no relevant notes for that observation. **notes3:** Field notes
 indicating irregularities found in FERP3 census. Missing data indicate
 there were no relevant notes for that observation. ### Research domain:
 1.6 Biological sciences – Plant sciences, Ecology ### Keywords: Forest
 dynamics plot, ForestGEO, forest ecology, trees, shrubs, lianas, redwood
 forest, mixed evergreen forest, California, Douglas-fir, coast live oak,
 tanoak, coast redwood, Pseudotsuga, Quercus, Notholithocarpus, Arbutus,
 Sequoia, Mediterranean climate ### Funding information: This research was
 funded by the National Science Foundation, grant numbers DEB-0515520,
 DEB-0842059, DEB-1136626, DEB-1655896, the Pepper-Giberson Chair in
 Environmental Studies, the Robert Headley Presidential Chair for Integral
 Ecology and Environmental Justice, the UCSC Campus Natural Reserve, the
 UCSC Committee on Research, the UCSC Center for Teaching Excellence, and
 the Smithsonian Institute's Center for Tropical Forest Science
 (CTFS). The UCSC-FERP is part of the Smithsonian ForestGEO network of
 mapped forest plots. ### Methods: Methods are as described in the
 manuscript in Forests and in Gilbert et al. 2010. Beyond the tropics:
 forest structure in a temperate forest mapped plot. Journal of Vegetation
 Science 21:388-405.