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Forests of Oregon Elevation Gradient (FOREG) 2019

The Forests of Oregon Elevation Gradient (FOREG) is a network of large sample plots, established in 2019, within the HJ Andrews Experimental Forest. The FOREG project was designed to dovetail and connect with the long-running Reference Stand study at the Andrews Forest.  FOREG is also a part of the much broader Smithsonian "Big Plot" program.  The FOREG study, run by Joseph LaManna at Marquette University, is designed to answer questions about drivers of biodiversity. 

The FOREG crew: (back row:) Matt Reala, Maggie Ross, Maddie Sutton, Ethan Torres, Adam Milenkowic, Aaron Nelson, Adam Carson, (front row:) Emily Dewald-Wang, Liam Engel, Joseph LaManna
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_001

Some of the tools for big plot work: measuring stick, calipers, pliers, nails
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_002

Tools of the trade
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_003

One of the numbered metal identification bands used to mark any woody plants within each 1m-square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_004

A plant marked with one of the metal identification bands
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_005

Joseph LaManna, lead on the project, inspects plants within a 1m-square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_006

Liam Engel enters data into a tablet
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_007

Matt Reala notes the measurement height on a PVC pipe that will be used with the survey tool to map trees
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_008

Joseph LaManna shows data from this plot, FOREG02, which contains old Reference Stand 2. The data show every mapped stem and the underlying topography.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_009

Maddie Sutton surveys vegetation within the plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_010

Joseph LaManna calibrates the laser survey tool (total station), which is used to map every stem larger than 1 cm diameter within the plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_011

A view within plot FOREG02, which contains Reference Stand 2.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_012

A view within plot FOREG02, which contains Reference Stand 2.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_013

Within each larger plot there are a series of 1m-square plots within which every stem is inventoried and recorded and within which all herbaceous plants are surveyed
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_014

Joseph LaManna (left) and Maddie Sutton (right) measure and record data on plant size and location
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_015

Matt Reala climbs through the plot and notes size, condition, and location of each stem >1cm in diameter
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_016

Joseph LaManna uses a laser survey tool (total station) to precisely map exact locations of stems within a plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_017

Matt Reala holds a PVC pipe with reflective target and rod level, used as the target for the laser survey tool (total station) in mapping stem distance and location
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_018

Matt Reala holds a PVC pipe with reflective target and rod level, used as the target for the laser survey tool (total station) in mapping stem distance and location
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_019

Matt Reala holds a PVC pipe with reflective target and rod level, used as the target for the laser survey tool (total station) in mapping stem distance and location
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_020

A tree tag, specific to the FOREG study, which provides a unique identifcation number to each tree or large shrub in the plot. This tag is on a western hemlock.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_021

Joseph LaManna (left) and Maddie Sutton (right) measure and record data on plant size and location
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_022

Liam Engel fact checks plants within the plot, to verify data recorded the day prior
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_023

Liam Engel locates trees that will then be mapped with the laser survey tool (total station)
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_024

Liam Engel (left) and Maggie Sutton (right) measure and record data on every plant with a stem diameter larger than 1 cm
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_025

Using the laser survey tool to map exact location of each stem
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_026

A tree tag, specific to the FOREG study, which provides a unique identifcation number to each tree or large shrub in the plot. This tag is on a Pacific yew tree.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_027

Joseph Lamanna (left) and undergraduate student Ethan Torres pick up supplies they'll need for establishing 1m-square vegetation survey plots
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_028

Field crew co-lead Maggie Ross uses a GPS to locate the next 1m-square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_029

Joseph LaManna and Maggie Ross move through the forest to the next survey plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_030

A view within plot FOREG38, which contains Reference Stand 38.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_031

Maggie Ross holds up the frame of the 1m-square. It will be laid down over the ground vegetation, and everything within the frame will be inventoried and recorded
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_032

Laying down the 1m-square frame over the ground vegetation. Everything within the frame will be inventoried and recorded
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_033

Hammering rebar to anchor the corners of the 1-m square plots. The corners will be flagged and their locations marked with GPS. The plots will be revisited for years to come.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_034

Maggie Ross verifies the identification of a plant using her reference guide
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_035

Maggie Ross verifies the identification of a plant (maple-leaf currant) using her reference guide
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_036

Maggie Ross verifies the identification of a plant using her reference guide
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_037

In the center is a small seedling of a cedar tree
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_038

In the center is a small seedling of a cedar tree. Note how the type of leaf changes from main stem to lateral leaves.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_039

A very small seedling of western hemlock. Each seedling is noted, recorded, measured, and tagged.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_040

A flower of a tiarella plant within the 1m-square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_041

Maggie Ross verifies the identification of a plant using her reference guide
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_042

Metal identification tags used to wrap around the stem of each plant within a 1m-square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_043

Maggie Ross uses a GPS to mark the exact location of the new 1m-squared plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_044

Wrapping a metal identification tag around the stem of a western red cedar seedling
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_045

Ethan Torres notes each plant within the 1m square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_046

Ethan Torres measures the height of a seedling
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_047

Maggie Ross and Ethan Torres identify, measure, and record each plant within the 1m square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_048

A close up of salal (Gaultheria shallon)
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_049

Joseph LaManna, Maggie Ross, and Ethan Torres survey every plant within their 1m square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_050

A 1m square plot within the larger plot FOREG31
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_051

Joseph LaManna notes that trees can have two tags where the new FOREG plots and the old Reference Stands overlap. The two studies are planned to dovetail and complement each other (e.g. measurements will be taken at both nails in future years).
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_052

Emily Dewald-Wang holds a PVC pipe which is the target for the laser survey tool (total station). She calls out the species of tree, its size, and its condition. The data are recorded into a tablet and then the tree's location is mapped with the total station laser.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_053

Joseph LaManna and Emily Dewald-Wang measure the diamater of a large Douglas fir tree.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_054

Emily Dewald-Wang holds a PVC pipe which is the target for the laser survey tool (total station). She calls out the species of tree, its size, and its condition. The data are recorded into a tablet and then the tree's location is mapped with the total station laser.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_055

Emily Dewald-Wang recording location, species, and condition of a tree within a forest dynamics plot.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_056

Adam Milenkowic uses the laser survey tool (total station) to measure the exact location of each stem within the plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_057

A map of a 12-ha section of FOREG-31 (the megaplot, with a footprint of 25 ha), showing the reference poles from which the total station maps trees and stems. The diagonal-square on the right side of the map is historic Reference Stand 31.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_058

Adam Milenkowic uses the laser survey tool (total station) to measure exact location of each stem within the plot. Data, called out from a person moving from tree to tree, is recorded in the tablet.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_059

Adam Carson sets up the target for the laser survey tool (total station).
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_060

Adam Carson paints an orange ring around a stem to mark measurement height for future censuses.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_061

Aaron Nelson looks over a 1m square plot within the larger plot FOREG 31
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_062

Aaron Nelson displays one of the metal identification tags that is placed around each stem within the 1m square plot
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_063

A metal identification tag, with a unique number, is placed around each stem within each 1m-square plot. Each plant is noted for species, size, location, and will be tracked for years to come.
Photographed by: Lina DiGregorio
Date: 7/23/2019
Photo number: aer_064