increment core sampling

Knowledge graph centered on increment core sampling with 76 nodes and 164 connections. Top connected: Delphinium, Spruce, Asteraceae, Populus, elevational gradients.

Method synopsis

Standard increment boring technique to extract tree cores for measuring annual ring widths, then calculating basal area increment over specific time periods to quantify stem growth.

Synthesized from method descriptions across 9 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 — Controls on radial growth of mountain big sagebrush and implications for climate change (2009), Western North American Naturalist. The protocol was originally introduced by Devising an ageing technique for <i>Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana</i> near Crested Butte, Colorado (2007). Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Site selection and plant sampling
   Selected study site just south of Almont within the Gunnison Basin, Colorado at coordinates 38.655°N, 106.861°W at 2460 m elevation, located about 200 m from the East River on a slight, southeast slope with moderate cattle grazing. Site dominated by mountain big sagebrush 30-70 cm in height with forbs and grasses underneath and between shrubs and scattered Juniperus scopulorum.
   Quantities: 14 variously aged plants sampled, ranging from 2-59 years old, with only 5 plants ultimately providing usable cross-sections with clear chronologiesDuration: Not specifiedConditions: Slight southeast slope with moderate cattle grazing, elevation 2460 m
   Equipment: cutting tools for collecting plant samples
2. Laboratory preparation of cross-sections
   Cut cross sections at the thickest and most intact portion of the main stem of each sampled plant. Sanded each cross section to allow individual growth rings to be seen clearly for measurement and analysis.
   Quantities: Cross sections prepared from 5 plants that had sufficiently clear ring patterns for cross-datingDuration: Not specifiedConditions: Laboratory conditions
   Equipment: cutting tools, sandpaper

Typical Equipment

• Haglöf 2-Thread Increment Borer
• labeled plastic straws
• drying oven
• microscope
• precision digital calipers

Output Measurements

• ring width
• basal area growth
• annual growth increment

Papers Using This Protocol (9)

Species Studied With This Protocol