LTER Zöbelboden, Austria, Foliage chemistry, 1992-2006

The dominant tree species Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., MEDIUM = PICE ABI) and European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L., (MEDIUM = FAGU SYL) were sampled from a subsample of the forest and soil inventory plots (SCODE < 100) distributed in a 100x100 m grid covering the entire study area (90 ha) and from the intensively monitored plots at the plateau (IP1 and IP3, SCODE = 200-300 and ##) and the slope (IP2, SCODE =##). Sampling began in the year 1992 for spruce needles and in 1993 for beech leafs. Between 36 and 52 dominant or predominant spruce trees and 16 to 17 beech trees were sampled annually until 2003. Thereafter sampling took place in the years 2004 (subsample of spruce trees), 2006, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017. In 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019, only leafs and needles of the trees at IP1 and IP3 were collected and analysed. All sample trees of the inventory plots were located as close as possible but outside the 10 (8) m circle of the forest inventory and the 100 m² vegetation plot. We chose new sample trees as close as possible to prior ones in case of damage or decreasing vitality.