Field Site
University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center NEON / UNDE
Core Terrestrial, MI, D05: Great Lakes
About Field Sites
UNDE is a terrestrial NEON sampling site located at the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC), found between Northern Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula on the southwestern edge of Ottawa National Forest. NEON samples 29.39 km2 (7262 acres) of area within UNDERC. This NEON site is very distinct from NEON's other terrestrial sites in this area, Treehaven and Steigerwaldt, because of its minimal forest management. The landscape at the site features primarily second-growth mixed forest dominated by red and sugar maple, aspen, and birch. It also contains 30 different lakes, including the NEON aquatic site at Crampton lake. UNDE is located within the Great Lakes Domain (D05), which includes northern Ohio, Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and parts of Indiana and Illinois. D05 hosts four other NEON field sites: two aquatic and two terrestrial, located in Wisconsin and Michigan. [1] [2]
Climate
The climate of northern Wisconsin is characterized by bitterly cold winters and generally cool summers with brief times of excessive heat. Precipitation varies from year to year, with the majority of precipitation usually falling during the warmer part of the year. Snowfall also varies from year to year, however, the very northern portion of the state can see heavy snowfall due to lake effect events along the southern shore of Lake Superior. The area can also be subject to severe winter storms and thunderstorms. NEON’s UNDE field site is typically cool for most of the year with an average yearly temperature of 4.3°C (40°F). The average precipitation per year in this area is 802 mm (31.6 in.). [6] [13] [14]
Geology
The geology of the site consists of migmatitic gneiss and amphibole. The bedrock is composed of Precambrian slate, greywacke, and gneiss. Much of this area’s geology has been affected by glacial activities, as late Wisconsin glacial deposits cover the bedrock. Additionally, the parent materials at this site consist of supraglacial and subglacial till and outwash. [5] [9]
Soils
The soils at UNDERC are primarily spodosols within the subgroup Argic Fragiaquods. The particle size control sections show that this site’s texture is dominantly sandy with small proportions of coarse-loamy, sandy or sandy-skeletal, coarse-silty, and coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal. [5]
Hydrology
UNDE and the surrounding area are covered in open water areas from lakes, ponds, vernal ponds, and wetlands. The numerous open water areas are thought to be the result of ice block depressions formed by glacial activity in the area. [4] [5]
Vegetation
The dominant vegetation type at this NEON site is primarily second-growth Northern mesic forest. The dominant species of the area are red and sugar maple (Acer rubrum and saccharum), aspen (Populus tremuloides and P. grandidentata), and paper birch (Betula papyrifera). The evergreen forests are typically made up of balsam fir (Abies balsamea) but may include hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Around this site you can also find wet areas that are home to cedar (Thuja accidentalis) and black spruce (Picea mariana). Some areas within the site are poorly drained, which can lead to open, acidic sphagnum bogs that contain tamarack (Larix laricina) and black spruce. [1]
Fauna
UNDERC East is located right on the border of Wisconsin and Michigan beside Ottawa National Forest. The proximity to the national forest provides a great abundance of wildlife habitat. This area is home to many species such as the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), fox (Vulpes), and grey wolf (Canis lupus). NEON’s target species are typically small mammals such as the southern red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi), North American deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), and the woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis). [3] [10]
Past Land Management and Use
The main portion UNDERC East was donated to the University of Notre Dame in the 1930s by Martin J. Gillen. This area was marked by clearcutting from 1880 until the 1960s. Starting in the 1940s, there was an increase in frequency of clearcutting, which peaked in the 1950s. Since that time, the amount of cutting has decreased until the most recent logging operation in 1968; since then, there has been no large-scale cutting in UNDERC East. In the past, the most desirable wood to be harvested from this area was eastern white pine (Pinus strobus). This preference led to the clearing of large stands of trees just to reach the white pines. [7]
Current Land Management and Use
This site is currently maintained by the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC). A long history of clearcutting until the 1960s has resulted in a landscape dominated by a mixture of successional forest regrowth, with large portions of secondary growth. Since the last clearcutting, the forest has been minimally managed in order to maintain access for recreational, education and research goals. Much of the management of this area is to support the extensive aquatic systems on the land. They are focused on providing a unique research opportunity for systems, such as their aquatic ecosystem, that have a very limited amount of disturbance from the public. [1] [8]
NEON Site Establishment
UNDE had its initial sampling readiness review for terrestrial sampling in May 2014 but did not get cleared for TOS and TIS sampling until December 2014. The plot establishment took place in May 2015. TIS phase 3 was begun in February 2017.
Additional Resources
[1] Terrestrial Observation System (TOS) Site Characterization Report: Domain 05. NEON.DOC.003889vB
[2] https://underc.nd.edu/underc-east/the-environment/maps/
[3] https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/ottawa/about-forest
[4] Terrestrial Instrument System (TIS, FIU) Site Characterization Supporting Data: Domain 05. NEON.DOC.011057vB
[5] Parsley, J. (2016) NEON site-level plot summary univerisyt of notre dam environmental research center (UNDE). USDA.
[6] https://underc.nd.edu/underc-east/the-environment/
[7] Mahon, Brian. July 22, 2003. “A Clearcutting History Survey of the UNDERC Property”. University of Notre Dame.
[8] https://underc.nd.edu/about/history/
[9] U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia. https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/
[10] TOS Protocol and Procedure: Small Mammal Sampling, NEON.DOC.000481vM
[12]Group 34 list of D05 endangered and threatened species was used as well)
[13] https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/wi/
[14] PRISM Climate Group., Oregon State University, http://prism.oregonstate.edu, created 4 Feb 2004.
Field Site Information
Latitude/Longitude
46.23391, -89.537254
Geodetic Datum
WGS84
Location
Gogebic County
MI, US
Elevation
Mean: 521m
Minimum: 501m
Maximum: 538m
Mean Annual Temperature
4.3°C
Dominant Wind Direction
SSW
Mean Canopy Height
24.0m
Dominant NLCD Classes
Deciduous Forest, Mixed Forest, Woody Wetlands
Colocated Research
University of Notre Dame - Environmental Research Center
Ameriflux
Field Operations Office
7647 Notre Dame Lane
Land O Lakes, WI 54540
Research Access
Non-NEON research activities are allowed in this area. Researchers must obtain their own permits with the site host(s).
Observation Types
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing surveys of this field site collect lidar, spectrometer and high-resolution RGB camera data.
Meteorological Measurements
This site has a flux/meteorological tower that is 39 m (128 ft) tall with four measurement levels. The tower top extends above the vegetation canopy to allow sensors mounted at the top and along the tower to capture the full profile of atmospheric conditions from the top of the vegetation canopy to the ground. The tower collects physical and chemical properties of atmosphere-related processes, such as humidity, wind, and net ecosystem gas exchange. Precipitation data are collected by a tipping bucket at the top of the tower, a Double Fence Intercomparison Reference (DFIR) near the tower, and a series of throughfalls located in the soil array.
Phenocams
One phenocam is attached to the top and the bottom of the tower. Here we show the images from the most recent hour. The full collection of images can be viewed on the Phenocam Gallery - click on either of the images below.
Tower top
Tower bottom
Soil Sensor Measurements
This site has five soil plots placed in an array within the airshed of the flux tower. Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) at soil surface, soil heat flux, solar radiation, and throughfall are measured at the soil surface in each soil plot. Soil moisture, soil temperature, and CO2 concentration are measured at multiple depths in each soil plot.
Observational Sampling
At terrestrial sites, field ecologists observe birds and plants, and sample ground beetles, mosquitoes, small mammals, soil microbes, and ticks. Lab analyses are carried out to provide further data on DNA sequences, pathogens, soils, sediments, and biogeochemistry. Learn more about terrestrial observations or explore this site's data products.
Field Site Data
Site
Site Host
University of Notre Dame
Site Access Allowed
Yes
Site Access Details
UNDERC encourages research; subject to evaluation based on potential for scientific advancement, impact on the site, and consistency and compatibility with other designated, non-research, uses of the property.
Operations Office
NEON Field Operations Office
Domain 05 Support Facility
NEON Field Operations Address
7647 Notre Dame Lane
Land O Lakes, WI 54540
NEON Field Operations Phone
906.842.2119
Location
Latitude
46.23391
Longitude
-89.537254
Geodetic Datum
WGS84
UTM Northing
5123162.89m
UTM Easting
304366.95m
UTM Zone
16N
County
Gogebic
State
MI
Country
US
Mean Elevation
521m
Minimum Elevation
501m
Maximum Elevation
538m
Climate
Mean Annual Temperature
4.3°C
Mean Annual Precipitation
802mm
Dominant Wind Direction
SSW
Vegetation
Mean Canopy Height
24.0m
Dominant NLCD Classes
Deciduous Forest, Mixed Forest, Woody Wetlands
Average number of green days
165
Average first greenness increase date
120 DOY
Average peak green date
170 DOY
Average first greenness decrease date
215 DOY
Average minimum greenness date
285 DOY
Tower
Tower Height
39m
Number of Tower Levels
6
Soils
Megapit Soil Family
Coarse-loamy - mixed - superactive - frigid Argic Fragiaquods
Soil Subgroup
Argic Fragiaquods
No Video
Related Field Sites
Other Domain D05 Field Sites
Core Aquatic | |
Gradient Aquatic | |
Gradient Terrestrial | |
Gradient Terrestrial |