Subalpine plant community energetics census

Knowledge graph centered on Subalpine plant community energetics census with 71 nodes and 153 connections. Top connected: Delphinium, Spruce, Asteraceae, Potentilla, Rushes.

Method synopsis

Complete census of all individual plants in gridded plots with spatial mapping, tissue sampling, and photosynthetic area measurement for metabolic rate estimation in herbaceous plant communities.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 10 papers using this protocol.

Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Rare species do not disproportionately contribute to phylogenetic diversity in a subalpine plant community (2025), American Journal of Botany. The protocol was originally introduced by Empirical tests of within‐and across‐species energetics in a diverse plant community (2014), Ecology. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Establish study plots
   At each of three sites, establish five 1.2 × 1.2 m plots randomly placed within each site. Sites are located at elevations of 2815m, 3165m, and 3380m near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Washington Gulch.
   Quantities: 15 plots total (5 plots per site × 3 sites), each plot 1.44 m²Duration: Established once at beginning of study periodConditions: Subalpine forb community sites in Washington Gulch, East River Valley
   Equipment: measuring tape, plot markers
2. Count plant individuals
   Within each 1.2 × 1.2 m plot, count all individuals of every vascular plant species. Only count plants rooted within the plot. Identify all species and confirm identifications against RMBL Herbarium specimens and iNaturalist observations.
   Quantities: All individual plants in 15 plots, identifying to species levelDuration: Sampling occurred approximately mid July during peak growing season, depending on year and elevationConditions: Peak growing season timing varied by elevation and year
   Equipment: species identification guides, RMBL Herbarium specimens, iNaturalist mobile app

Typical Equipment

• measuring tape or grid markers
• data recording sheets
• plant identification guides
• collection bags
• cutting tools
• plastic bags
• cooler
• ice
• flatbed scanner
• ImageJ 1.46 software

Output Measurements

• individual plant locations
• species identifications
• leaf counts
• photosynthetic area
• metabolic rate estimates

Papers Using This Protocol (10)

Species Studied With This Protocol