SERC's Forest Chronosequence
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center | Dr. John Parker
Overview
Introduction
The SERC Forest Chronosequence is a collection of 50 plots located at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, MD, USA ranging in age from 4 to 266 years old. The objective of the Chronosequence project is to understand patterns of community and structural development in mid-Atlantic temperate forests as they undergo succession. The original plots were established by Dr. Geoffrey Parker (SERC Forest Ecology Lab) starting in 1987. New plots have been added over time to capture young forests as they establish and to add to the diversity of communities and successional stages being studied.
The Chronosequence project is a hybrid of a classical chronosequence approach (stands of many ages sampled at one time) and a long-term study (one stand sampled over time) - Geoffrey Parker
Dr. Geoffrey Parker (SERC Forest Ecology Lab)
Many of the plots have been repeatedly resampled up until the present time. This sampling entails identifying and measuring all standing woody stems over 2 cm in diameter, including trees, shrubs, and vines. In some plots, we measure other important variables, such as soil carbon content and microbial communities, leaf litterfall, insect herbivory, and wildlife use, among others.
We encourage collaboration! Please contact current Chronosequence manager Dr. John Parker if you would like to visit and do research on this project.
Determining Stand Age
Aerial photography isn’t available prior to 1938, so we estimate the age of plots established before then by counting the number of annual tree rings in tree cores taken from several of the largest (i.e., oldest) trees in each plot. Tree ring counting is from the field of dendrology, which you can learn more about here .
Tree core with rings showing annual growth. Tree age can be determined by counting the number of rings on a core. Image by Elena Woodworth.
Canopy Height
Given their difference in age, the chronosequence plots capture a range of forest canopy heights and complexity as shown in this LIDAR image. Use the swipe feature in the image below to see how some of our tallest forests (dark green areas) compare to shorter forests and fields (red areas). The tallest trees at SERC are over 150 ft tall! Canopy height data are collected annually by the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON).
Land-use Change
Land cover in the Mid-Atlantic region has changed dramatically over the years, with many forests cut down in the Colonial Era to make way for tobacco farming and cattle. Over time, many of these areas have been abandoned and allowed to naturally regenerate back to forested ecosystems. For example, since SERC was established in 1965, many of the original pastures and fields have reverted to natural forests, resulting in a patchwork of forest stands with different ages. This presents a unique opportunity for scientists to study forest succession in what is called a ‘space for time’ approach, whereby forests of different ages are present on the same landscape with generally similar growing conditions. Below is a timeline of aerial and satellite images taken of SERC and the surrounding area from 1938 to the present. Use the arrow buttons to see how land cover has changed throughout the years.
Plots
The SERC forest chronosequence is comprised of 50 plots that range in age from 4 to 266 years old. The plots vary in plant community composition and land-use history. Click on the plot locations or names below to read about each plot. A comprehensive summary of plot data can be found here.
RIVTHK (River Thicket)
Plot 51
Plot 71
FARFLD (Far Field)
PETPLT (Pet Plot)
TPEDGE (Tulip Poplar Edge)
NPEAST (Nancys Plot East)
NPWEST (Nancy's Plot West)
ENTRD2 (Entrance Road 2)
CRNFLA (Corn Field A)
CRNFLB (Corn Field B)
CRNFLC (Corn Field C)
ENTRD1 (Entrance Road 1)
STVNF1 (Steven's Field 1)
KPH__1
STVNF4 (Steven's Field 4)
STVNF2 (Steven's Field 2)
CARBN2 (Carbon Plot 2)
DSCTRL (Discovery Trail)
CARBN1 (Carbon Plot 1)
STVNF3 (Steven's Field 3)
STRCO2 (Star Company 2)
IVYN_2 (Ivy Neck 2)
USR18_
VINEL2 (Vine Land 2)
STRCO1 (Star Company 1)
VINEL1 (Vine Land 1)
OLDLOB (Old Loblolly)
IVYN_1 (Ivy Neck 1)
HORSE1 (Horseshoe1)
CUMBR1 (Cumberstone 1)
MDCRK1 (Muddy Creek 1)
MDCRK2 (Muddy Creek 2)
RIDGE1 (Ridge 1)
IVYN_3 (Ivy Neck 3)
LETTS1 (Camp Letts 1)
BIGI_N (Big Island North)
CUMBR2 (Cumberstone 2)
BIGI_S (Big Island South)
RIDGE2 (Ridge 2)
FROGC1 (Frog Canyon 1)
FROGC2 (Frog Canyon 2)
TEACH1 (Teacher Plot 1)
WYR108 (Weir 108)
CORNI2 (Corn Island 2)
CORNI1 (Corn Island 1)
KPH_3A
KPH_3B
FOX_PT (Fox Point)
HOGISL (Hog Island)
RIVTHK (River Thicket)
Year of stand establishment: 2018
First census: 2019
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua
Plot 51
Year of stand establishment: 2013
First census: 2019
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua
Plot 71
Year of stand establishment: 2013
First census: 2019
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
FARFLD (Far Field)
Year of stand establishment: 2007
First census: 2020
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua
PETPLT (Pet Plot)
Year of stand establishment: 2003
First census: 2008
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus taeda
TPEDGE (Tulip Poplar Edge)
Year of stand establishment: 1994
First census: 2020
Dominant species: Liriodendron tulipifera
NPEAST (Nancys Plot East)
Year of stand establishment: 1990
First census: 1997
Dominant species: Liriodendron tulipifera
NPWEST (Nancy's Plot West)
Year of stand establishment: 1990
First census: 1997
Dominant species: Liriodendron tulipifera
ENTRD2 (Entrance Road 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1981
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Liriodendron tulipifera
CRNFLA (Corn Field A)
Year of stand etablishment: 1978
First census: 1989
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum
CRNFLB (Corn Field B)
Year of stand establishment: 1978
First census: 1989
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
CRNFLC (Corn Field C)
Year of stand establishment: 1978
First census: 1989
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
ENTRD1 (Entrance Road 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1977
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Liriodendron tulipifera
STVNF1 (Steven's Field 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1976
First census: 1993
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
KPH__1
Year of stand establishment: 1972
First census: 1990
Dominant species: Liriodendron tulipifera, Lindera benzoin
STVNF4 (Steven's Field 4)
Year of stand establishment: 1972
First census: 1993
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua
STVNF2 (Steven's Field 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1966
First census: 1993
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
CARBN2 (Carbon Plot 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1966
First census: 1990
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
DSCTRL (Discovery Trail)
Year of stand establishment: 1958
First census: 1989
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Lindera benzoin, Liriodendron tulipifera
CARBN1 (Carbon Plot 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1954
First census: 1990
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua
STVNF3 (Steven's Field 3)
Year of stand establishment: 1952
First census: 1993
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
STRCO2 (Star Company 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1948
First census: 1991
Dominant species: Liriodendron tulipifera, Liquidambar styraciflua, Sassafras albidum
IVYN_2 (Ivy Neck 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1947
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Ulmus rubra, Asimina triloba
USR18_
Year of stand establishment: 1946
First census: 2013
Dominant species: Carpinus caroliniana, Fagus grandifolia
VINEL2 (Vine Land 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1946
First census: 1991
Dominant species: Acer rubrum, Lindera benzoin, Liquidambar styraciflua
STRCO1 (Star Company 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1943
First census: 1989
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Liriodendron tulipifera
VINEL1 (Vine Land 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1940
First census: 1991
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Lindera benzoin
OLDLOB (Old Loblolly)
Year of stand establishment: 1940
First census:
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Pinus taeda
IVYN_1 (Ivy Neck 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1935
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Asimina triloba, Liquidambar styraciflua
HORSE1 (Horseshoe1)
Year of stand establishment: 1934
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Asimina triloba, Lindera benzoin, Liriodendron tulipifera
CUMBR1 (Cumberstone 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1932
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Acer rubrum
MDCRK1 (Muddy Creek 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1930
First census: 1992
Dominant species: Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida
MDCRK2 (Muddy Creek 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1923
First census: 1992
Dominant species: Liquidambar styraciflua, Rhus radicans, Acer rubrum, Liriodendron tulipifera
RIDGE1 (Ridge 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1922
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Fagus grandifolia, Ilex opaca
IVYN_3 (Ivy Neck 3)
Year of stand establishment: 1916
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Ilex opaca
LETTS1 (Camp Letts 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1914
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Ilex opaca, Fagus grandifolia
BIGI_N (Big Island North)
Year of stand establishment: 1910
First census: 2016
Dominant species: Acer rubrum, Pinus virginiana
CUMBR2 (Cumberstone 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1902
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Ulmus rubra, Acer rubrum
BIGI_S (Big Island South)
Year of stand establishment: 1896
First census: 2016
Dominant species: Quercus prinus, Acer rubrum
RIDGE2 (Ridge 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1885
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Ilex opaca
FROGC1 (Frog Canyon 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1880
First census: 1989
Dominant species: Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia
FROGC2 (Frog Canyon 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1880
First census: 1989
Dominant species: Fagus grandifolia, Acer rubrum, Cornus florida, Liriodendron tulipifera
TEACH1 (Teacher Plot 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1874
First census: 1993
Dominant species: Carpinus caroliniana, Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia
WYR108 (Weir 108)
Year of stand establishment: 1869
First census: 2021
Dominant species: Fagus grandifolia
CORNI2 (Corn Island 2)
Year of stand establishment: 1859
First census: 2016
Dominant species: Pinus virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus prinus
CORNI1 (Corn Island 1)
Year of stand establishment: 1850
First census: 2016
Dominant species: Acer rubrum, Ilex opaca
KPH_3A
Year of stand establishment: 1837
First census: 1990
Dominant species: Cornus florida, Lindera benzoin, Fagus grandifolia
KPH_3B
Year of stand establishment: 1837
First census: 1990
Dominant species: Cornus florida, Fagus grandifolia
FOX_PT (Fox Point)
Year of stand establishment: 1819
First census:
Dominant species: Cornus florida, Nyssa sylvatica, Liquidambar styraciflua
HOGISL (Hog Island)
Year of establishment: 1756
First census: 2016
Dominant species: Acer rubrum, Nyssa sylvatica
Publications
- Duncanson, L. I.; Dubayah, R. O.; Cook, B. D.; Rosette, J.; Parker, Geoffrey G. (2015). The importance of spatial detail: Assessing the utility of individual crown information and scaling approaches for lidar-based biomass density estimation . Remote Sensing of Environment, 168, 102-112. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2015.06.021
- Lemoine, Nathan P.; Shue, Jessica; Verrico, Brittany; Erickson, David L.; Kress, W. John; Parker, John D. (2015). Phylogenetic relatedness and leaf functional traits, not introduced status, influence community assembly . Ecology, 96 (10), 2605-2612. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/14-1883.1
- McMahon, Sean M.; Parker, Geoffrey G.; Miller, Dawn R. (2010). Evidence for a recent increase in forest growth . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 107 (8), 3611-3615. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0912376107
- Parker, Geoffrey G.; Harding, D. J.; Berger, M. (2004). Portable LIDAR system for rapid determination of forest canopy structure . Journal of Applied Ecology, 41, 755-767.
- Parker, Geoffrey G.; Russ, Mary E. (2004). Canopy surface and stand development: assessing forest canopy structure and complexity with near-surface altimetry . Forest Ecology and Management, 189, 307-315.
- Nelson, R.; Parker, Geoffrey G.; Horn, M. (2003). A portable airborne laser system for forest inventory . Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing, 69 (3), 267-273.
- Lefsky, M.A.; Harding, D.; Cohen, W.B.; Parker, G.; Shugart, H.H. Shugart. 1999. Surface LIDAR remote sensing of basal area and biomass in deciduous forests of eastern Maryland, USA . Remote Sensing of Environment. 67, 83-98. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(98)00071-6
- Brown M.J.; Parker, G.G. 1994. Canopy light transmittance in a chronosequence of mixed-species forests. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 24, 1694-1703. https://doi.org/10.1139/x94-219
Data
Data collected by Dr. Geoffrey Parker from the SERC Forest Chronosequence is publicly available. Click on the projects below to view these datasets on figshare. Currently, research in the Chronosequence plots is being overseen by Dr. John Parker of the SERC Terrestrial Ecology lab , who can be contacted for further details on these data.
