Final survey results are also available on the LBA Ecology web page. For more information on survey design and implementation, view transect map and survey methods . For more detailed measurements of incremental growth, metal dendrometer bands were placed on a random stratified sub-sample of 1000 trees in December of 1999. Dendrometers are currently measured every six weeks and so far show a strong seasonal pattern of growth. Some preliminary results in power point poster format can be found in our data exchange .
Litter is collected biweekly and sorted, dried and weighed.
Dendrometer bands wrap like a belt around a tree at breast height. A spring secures the ends and two measuring points are punched where the band overlaps. As the tree grows, the spring stretches, and the measuring points are pulled apart. By measuring this increasing distance between points, we can accurately determine the increase in the tree s diameter, which can be scaled up to whole tree growth. Most trees have only one dendrometer, but this tree is being used to test different dendrometer styles.