Location of Sampling Stations: There are four exclosures on Florence soils and four exclosures on Tully soils in each of the following grazed watersheds: N01a, N01b, N04a, N04d (total=32). Exclosures in N01a and N04a were erected in March,1988 and were first sampled in 1992. Exclosures in N01b and N04b were erected in April, 1992 and were first sampled in 1995.
Frequency of Sampling: Once per year at peak biomass (September to October).
Variable Measured: Aboveground biomass of grass, forbs and woody and p.dead.
Methods: An exclosure is 5 m x 10 m and constructed of fence posts and sturdy cattle paneling. One half (5 m x 5m) has been designated as the permanently ungrazed treatment; it has not been grazed since 1988 (N01a and N04a) or 1992 (N01b and N04d). It is marked with pink poles. The other half is the grazed section; it is marked with blue poles. Every six years a new grazed area is closed off and animals will not have access to this section for six years. At the end of six years, this section will be reopened to grazing and a new section is closed off. The grazed section moves in a clock-wise pattern around the permanently ungrazed section.
Sampling methods are identical to PAB01 except five 0.1m2 plots randomly located within each section, grazed vs. ungrazed; total 10 samples per exclosure. Grazed and ungrazed sides of the exclosure are clipped at the same time. The plant biomass for each clipped plot is bagged, dried at 60° C and weighed. Samples are not kept for further analysis.
