Identification

Title

Forest structure, composition and bird counts in windblown and control sites in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, UK, May-July 2022

Abstract

[This dataset is embargoed until November 15, 2024]. Data containing information on a study of the impact of Storm Arwen on biodiversity and forest structure of Kielder Forest (Northumberland), May-July 2022. The following are included: (i) fallen timber found along 100 m transects (species, tree circumference, and whether it was flat on the ground); (ii) trees found inside 10x10-m plots (species; diameter at breast height [DAP]; status [alive vs dead]; and whether the tree was still standing); (iii) plant cover and richness in 2x2 m quadrats (Braun-Blanquet cover and plant species present); (iv) spatial data (GIS layers and buffers around survey and sampling sites); and (v) bird point counts (species detected and distances to each individual recorded) Surveys were conducted at twelve control-impact pairs (24 sites in total), whereby impact sites were those severely affected by Storm Arwen. Within each site, we carried out one 100 m transect, three 10x10 m plots, three 2x2 m quadrats, and two to four bird point counts depending on the size of the site Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/9f914e5b-958d-49a8-a5bf-86c35d865257

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/9f914e5b-958d-49a8-a5bf-86c35d865257

codeSpace

doi:

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Habitats and Biotopes

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Keyword set

keyword value

Bird count

buffer

diameter at breast height

forest inventory plot

GIS

natural experiment

Picea abies

Picea sitchensis

plant quadrat

storm Arwen

timber

windblown

Norway spruce

Sitka spruce

Kielder

National Forest Estate Subcompartments England 2019

Northumberland

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-2.747

East bounding longitude

-2.324

North bounding latitude

55.296

South bounding latitude

55.071

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2022-05-01

End position

2022-07-31

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2023-04-21

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

We investigated the impact of storm Arwen (November-2021) on the forest structure and biodiversity of Kielder (Northumberland, UK) via 100-m transects, 10x10 m plots, 2x2 m quadrats, and bird point counts at twelve paired windblown and control sites (24 sites in total). All our survey site locations were obtained from a handheld GPS device. We counted and measured all fallen trees found along a 100 m transect within each site. We measured the perimeter of each fallen tree three times to allow for volume estimation. Along each transect, we deployed three 10x10-m plots where we counted and measured the diameter at breast height of trees. These plots were placed at 0-10, 50-60, and 90-100 metres along the transect. We visually estimated the cover of grasses, ferns, mosses, fungi, and lichens using the Braun-Blanquet scale inside 2x2 m quadrats at 0-2, 50-52, and 90-92 along our 100 m transects. We also inventoried plant species found within these 2x2 m quadrats. Plants, including trees, were identified using field guides and keys and supported occasionally with photographic-aided identification using the iNaturalist application (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations). For estimating bird richness and abundance, we conducted 2-4 bird point counts within each site between 6 and 10:30 am. During each count, an observer stayed in one spot for 5 minutes and recorded all birds they saw or heard, assigning them to one of five distance categories (0-10 metres; 10-20 metres; 20-30 metres; 30-40 metres; and 40-50 metres). All birds beyond 50 metres were not counted. This was done by either estimating the distance or using a Bushnell Golf Rangefinder. Only those detections that could be identified at the species level were included. All bird point counts were repeated twice to ensure the detection of all species using the survey sites.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

owner

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Environmental Information Data Centre

full postal address

Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg

Lancaster

LA1 4AP

email address

info@eidc.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2023-05-05T14:54:03

Metadata language

eng