Data Notification

Suspension of Herbaceous clip harvest (DP1.10023.001) sampling in some forested Tower plots

January 12, 2024

Beginning in the 2023 field season, the Herbaceous clip harvest (DP1.10023.001) data product is no longer generated from NEON Tower plots in forested ecosystems where herbaceous productivity is < 10% of aboveground productivity. This decision was based on analyses of annual production estimates from 2018 to 2021 that are congruent with the framework for NEON Observational Sampling Design Optimization (https://www.neonscience.org/optimizing-observational-sampling-designs). Suspension of herbaceous clip sampling in some forested Tower plots is consistent with the protocol implementation guidelines described in the Plant Biomass and Productivity Science Design document (NEON.DOC.000914), notably that vegetation types (herbaceous, woody, etc.) must contribute ≥ 10% of above-ground productivity to qualify for sampling. To be conservative, data analyses defined aboveground productivity only in terms of woody increment and herbaceous productivity, ignoring the litterfall component. Herbaceous clip harvest will be re-instated at sites following any state change that results in changes to historical levels of herbaceous plant productivity – e.g., canopy opening due to tree death, storms, etc. The Plant Biomass and Productivity Technical Working Group concurred with suspension of herbaceous clip harvest sampling at all affected sites.

Affected sites (with % of the productivity component attributable to herbaceous plants in parentheses):

  • D01 BART (1.2%)
  • D01 HARV (2.8%)
  • D02 SCBI (9.8%)
  • D02 SERC (2.5%)
  • D04 GUAN (8.9%)
  • D05 UNDE (5.3%)
  • D07 ORNL (4.4%)
  • D08 DELA (6.5%)
  • D08 LENO (2.1%)
  • D16 WREF (9.8%)
  • D20 PUUM (4.8%)

Herbaceous clip harvest data from these sites from years prior to 2023 remain available as usual via the Data Portal and API.

Please use the Contact Us form for further inquiries; please select DP1.10023.001 in the Data Product drop-down list and include the term “RITM0048437” in the body of your request.

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