Forest biomass, structure and tree microhabitats surveys in eastern Cansiglio - LIFE SPAN project
The dataset includes tree data tables describing respectively sites (LIFESPAN intervention sites and control areas), trees (species and their measured traits), and microhabitats at 25 Saproxylic Habitat Sites (SHS) and 11 control sites of the Cansiglio Forest (Italy). Measurements were carried out within circular plots established within different sections of the sites, representing habitat creation, thinning, and gap, to assess forest structure and composition. A total number of 5067 trees, belonging to six species, were identified and measured (e.g. height, crown width) and tree microhabitats were counted and identified based on the classification reported in Bütler et al., 2020. Reference: Bütler R., Lachat T., Krumm F., Kraus D., Larrieu L. (2020) Field guide to tree-related microhabitats. Descriptions and size limits for their inventory. Birmensdorf: Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL. 58 p. Download: 2nd revised edition.
Default
IdentificationAbout this resource
- Alternate Identifier
-
8d6078a4-f6ec-4c95-bad9-181ec12d7015
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-31
- Title
-
Forest biomass, structure and tree microhabitats surveys in eastern Cansiglio - LIFE SPAN project
- Abstract
-
The dataset includes tree data tables describing respectively sites (LIFESPAN intervention sites and control areas), trees (species and their measured traits), and microhabitats at 25 Saproxylic Habitat Sites (SHS) and 11 control sites of the Cansiglio Forest (Italy). Measurements were carried out within circular plots established within different sections of the sites, representing habitat creation, thinning, and gap, to assess forest structure and composition. A total number of 5067 trees, belonging to six species, were identified and measured (e.g. height, crown width) and tree microhabitats were counted and identified based on the classification reported in Bütler et al., 2020. Reference: Bütler R., Lachat T., Krumm F., Kraus D., Larrieu L. (2020) Field guide to tree-related microhabitats. Descriptions and size limits for their inventory. Birmensdorf: Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL. 58 p. Download: 2nd revised edition.
- Dataset Language
-
English
- Dataset Creator
- Dataset Creator
- Dataset Creator
- Dataset Creator
- Metadata Provider
- Metadata Provider
- Metadata Provider
- Associated Party
- Associated Party
- Dataset Contact
- Keywords (INRAE Thesaurus)
-
-
saproxylic organism
-
- Keywords (Annex I habitats for Natura 2000)
-
-
Illyrian Fagus sylvatica forests (Aremonio-Fagion)
-
Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests
-
- Keywords (Soil Food Web Ontology)
-
-
dead wood
-
- Keywords (Environmental Thesaurus)
-
-
terrestrial ecosystem
-
silviculture
-
microhabitat diversity
-
forest management
-
Geographic Coverage
- Geographic Description
-
Eastern Pre-Alps, Cansiglio Forest
Bounding Box
- West Bounding Coordinate
-
12.41950
- East Bounding Coordinate
-
12.43942
- North Bounding Coordinate
-
46.04720
- South Bounding Coordinate
-
46.07304
Bounding Altitudes
- Minimum
-
936
- Maximum
-
1446
- Unit
-
meter
Temporal Coverage
Range of Dates
- Begin Date
-
2021-06-01
- End Date
-
2023-06-01
Taxonomic Coverage
Taxonomic Classification
- Taxonomic Rank Name
-
Species
- Taxonomic Rank Value
-
Abies alba
- Taxon ID
-
4HQ2V
Taxonomic Classification
- Taxonomic Rank Name
-
Species
- Taxonomic Rank Value
-
Acer pseudoplatanus
- Taxon ID
-
94HF
Taxonomic Classification
- Taxonomic Rank Name
-
Species
- Taxonomic Rank Value
-
Fagus sylvatica
- Taxon ID
-
3DSK5
Taxonomic Classification
- Taxonomic Rank Name
-
Species
- Taxonomic Rank Value
-
Fraxinus excelsior
- Taxon ID
-
6JMBM
Taxonomic Classification
- Taxonomic Rank Name
-
Species
- Taxonomic Rank Value
-
Picea abies
- Taxon ID
-
4HPZF
Taxonomic Classification
- Taxonomic Rank Name
-
Species
- Taxonomic Rank Value
-
Salix caprea
- Taxon ID
-
6XCBJ
resourceLicensesLicense Information
- Intellectual Rights
-
Free for use, including sharing and adaptation, by all individuals provided that the owners are acknowledged in any use or publication.
Resource License
- License Name
-
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Distribution
Online
- A brief description of the the content of online URL.
-
DOI
Online
- A brief description of the the content of online URL.
-
Info and download page on LifeWatch Italy Data Portal
Project
• Project
- Title
-
LIFE SPAN project (LIFE19 NAT/IT/000104)
Personnel
Individual Name
- Given Name
-
Bruno
- Surname
-
De Cinti
- Organization Name
-
National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystem (IRET)
- Position Name
-
Technologist
- User ID
-
0000-0002-7277-6081
- Role
-
Principal Investigator
- Abstract
- Funding
Study Area Description
- Descriptor
-
The study area is located in the ‘Foresta del Cansiglio’, mainly in the Natura 2000 Site (IT3310006) in North-Eastern Italy. The reserve covers approximately 2,713 ha. The Cansiglio plateau is a typical karstic system, known as a polje (from Slavic languages “field”), which appears as a vast plain bordered by a crown of mountains with squared and very steep sides. The entire system emerges from the Venetian-Friulian plain, in the orographic unit of the South-Eastern Prealps. In the bottom of the Cansiglio plateau the Picea abies forest develops, while climbing along the rugged slope of the Friulian side the Fagus sylvatica forest mixed with Abies alba occurs, and, still proceeding upward until the subalpine plane is the terminal pure Fagus sylvatica forest.
Methods
• Method
Method Step
- Description
-
The surveys of forest biomass, forest structure and microhabitats were carried out within the 25 SHS (Saproxylic Habitat Sites) and in 11 control areas (5 in managed forests and 6 in integral reserves). Each SHS is composed of three sections: H, T, and G (Habitat creation, Thinning, Gap). Circular plots are established in each section to assess forest structure and composition. In sections H and T, permanent plots with a radius of 20 meters are placed, while in section G, a slightly larger plot with a 22-meter radius is used. The centre of the plot in section G is located at the centre of the gap. In contrast, plots in sections H and T are positioned randomly, with the only constraint being a minimum distance of 10 meters from the edge of the SHS. As regards the control plots, they are all circular with a radius of 20 metres except for one square plot of 2500 mq. Within each survey plot, for each tree with a diameter greater than 7.5 cm, the following were measured: diameter at 1.30 m (DBH), total height, crown insertion height, and height of maximum crown expansion (the height of trees in the Gap section, used to estimate clearing volume, was derived from a hypsometric curve based on a 20% subsample of the clearing trees). Each standing living tree has been visually inspected to record the presence of tree-related microhabitats (i.e, presence on each living tree of the different categories). For their description and size limits has been followed Bütler et al (2020), which complements the previous catalogue, developed by Kraus et al (2016), adding size thresholds and descriptions of associated species and functions of the different structures. Seven macro-categories, have been considered in the survey: 1. Cavities: Woodpecker breeding cavities; Rot-holes; Insect galleries; Concavities. 2. Tree injuries and exposed wood: Exposed sapwood only; Exposed sapwood and heartwood. 3. Crown deadwood 4. Excrescences: Twig tangles; Burrs and cankers. 5. Fruiting bodies of saproxylic fungi and slime moulds: Perennial fungal fruiting bodies; Ephemeral fungal fruiting bodies and slime moulds. 6. Epiphytic and epixylic structures: Epiphytic and parasitic crypto- and phanerogams; Nests; Microsoils. 7. Exudates: Fresh exudates.
- protocol
-
Field guide to tree-related microhabitats
unknown
Data Tables
• Data Table
- Name
-
CansiglioForest_siteInformation_20260225.csv
Physical
- Object Name
-
CansiglioForest_siteInformation_20260225.csv
- Size
-
13739
- Authentication
-
MD5:3a2da3b1a70cb4b2c85faeae6bf32fa2
Data Format
- textFormat
-
1
column
,
Attribute List
Attribute
- Name
-
parentEventID
- Label
-
Parent Event ID
- Definition
-
Identifier of the Saproxilic Habitat Site or Control area in which nested plots were established, each with its own eventID.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
eventID
- Label
-
Event ID
- Definition
-
Identifier of the plot established within each Saproxilic Habitat Site or Control area.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
eventDate
- Label
-
Event Date
- Definition
-
The date-time or interval during which a dwc:Event occurred.
Measurement Scale
Date time
- Format String
-
YYYY-MM-DD
Attribute
- Name
-
country
- Label
-
Country
- Definition
-
The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the dcterms:Location occurs.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
verbatimLocality
- Label
-
Verbatim Locality
- Definition
-
The original textual description of the place.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
locality
- Label
-
Locality
- Definition
-
The specific description of the place.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
decimalLatitude
- Label
-
Decimal Latitude
- Definition
-
The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system WGS84) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
degree
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
decimalLongitude
- Label
-
Decimal Longitude
- Definition
-
The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system WGS84) of the geographic center of a dcterms:Location.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
degree
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
plotSurface
- Label
-
Plot Surface
- Definition
-
The total area of an experimental plot
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meterSquared
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
site
- Label
-
Site
- Definition
-
The description of the site used in the experimental design. It can be an intervention site or a control site.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
management
- Label
-
Management
- Definition
-
Planning of forest utilization for wood production, conservation purposes, fauna and flora protection, recreation and water supply.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
treatment
- Label
-
Treatment
- Definition
-
A process in which the act is intended to modify or alter some other material entity. It specifies the type of intervention used for each EventID.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
forestType
- Label
-
Forest Type
- Definition
-
Description of the forest type.
Measurement Scale
ordinal
nonNumericDomain
enumeratedDomain
- codeDefinition
-
Beech forest
-
- codeDefinition
-
Norway spruce forest
-
- codeDefinition
-
Mixed forest
A forest composed of several tree species
- numberOfRecords
-
86
• Data Table
- Name
-
CansiglioForest_treeInformation_20260225.csv
Physical
- Object Name
-
CansiglioForest_treeInformation_20260225.csv
- Size
-
1003090
- Authentication
-
MD5:9f4a4c6c047a0fbb6640eac5333f5962
Data Format
- textFormat
-
1
column
,
Attribute List
Attribute
- Name
-
eventID
- Label
-
Event ID
- Definition
-
Identifier of the plot established within each Saproxilic Habitat Site or Control area.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
organismID
- Label
-
Organism ID
- Definition
-
An identifier for the dwc:Organism instance. Identifies the tree within the dataset.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
decimalLatitude
- Label
-
Decimal Latitude
- Definition
-
The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system WGS84) of the geographic center of the dwc:Organism instance.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
degree
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
decimalLongitude
- Label
-
Decimal Longitude
- Definition
-
The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system WGS84) of the geographic center of the dwc:Organism instance.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
degree
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
treatment
- Label
-
Treatment
- Definition
-
Type of silvicultural intervention for the creation of microhabitats: Basal slit; Tree cavity; Pollard; Uprooted; Laying dead trees; Basal slit and tree cavity; Pollard and tree cavity; Girdled A (removal of bark and furrows above and below); Girdled B (only removal of bark); Girdled C (removal of barck with release of a 3.5 cm bark cord).
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
treeDiameterAtBreastHeight
- Label
-
tree diameter at breast height
- Definition
-
Domain protocol for measuring the diameter of a tree. Measured at a specified, average distance from the ground, eg 4.5 ft (or average person's breast height).
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
centimeter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
scientificName
- Label
-
Scientific Name
- Definition
-
The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known. When forming part of a dwc:Identification, this should be the name in lowest level taxonomic rank that can be determined.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
acceptedNameUsage
- Label
-
Accepted Name Usage
- Definition
-
The full scientific name, with authorship and date information if known, of the accepted (botanical) or valid (zoological) name in cases where the provided dwc:scientificName is considered by the reference indicated in the dwc:nameAccordingTo property, or of the content provider, to be a synonym or misapplied name.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
acceptedNameUsageID
- Label
-
Accepted Name Usage ID
- Definition
-
An identifier for the name usage (documented meaning of the name according to a source) of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) taxon.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
- source
-
Catalogue of Life
Attribute
- Name
-
taxonRank
- Label
-
Taxon Rank
- Definition
-
The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the dwc:scientificName.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
status
- Label
-
status
- Definition
-
Social Rank classification. Trees are classified into social classes based on their crown position relative to the main canopy, determining light access and growth potential. Classes: Dominant (main crop layer); Codominant (main crop layer); Dominated (main crop layer); Overtopped (subsidiary layer).
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
survival
- Label
-
survival
- Definition
-
Tree health classification. For each tree whose diameter at breast height is measured. Classes: Live; Dead; Snag.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
stemQuality
- Label
-
stemQuality
- Definition
-
Stem quality classification. For each stem whose diameter at breast height is measured. Classes: High, Mean, and Low.
Measurement Scale
ordinal
nonNumericDomain
enumeratedDomain
- codeDefinition
-
High
Straight stem without branches for more than 4 m and not too tapered without technological imperfections
-
- codeDefinition
-
Mean
Straight stem with few branches for more than 4 m without critical technological imperfections
-
- codeDefinition
-
Low
Without previous characteristics
-
Attribute
- Name
-
treeType
- Label
-
Tree Type
- Definition
-
Tree type classification. For each tree whose diameter at breast height is measured. Classes: High forest; Shoot; Standard; Undeterminable.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
totalHeight
- Label
-
tree height
- Definition
-
Tree height is the vertical distance between the base of the tree and the tip of the highest branch on the tree. The base of the tree is where the projection of the pith (center) of the tree intersects the existing supporting surface upon which the tree is growing or where the acorn sprouted.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
heightToBranchInterserction
- Label
-
height to first branch interserction
- Definition
-
Tree height to the insertion of the first live branch.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
heightToMaxCrownWidth
- Label
-
height to maximum crown width
- Definition
-
Tree height at maximum crown width.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
crownRadiusNorth
- Label
-
crown radius north
- Definition
-
The North radius of the tree crown projection measured in 4 radii.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
crownRadiusEast
- Label
-
crown radius east
- Definition
-
The East radius of the tree crown projection measured in 4 radii.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
crownRadiusSouth
- Label
-
crown radius south
- Definition
-
The South radius of the tree crown projection measured in 4 radii.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
Attribute
- Name
-
crownRadiusWest
- Label
-
crown radius west
- Definition
-
The West radius of the tree crown projection measured in 4 radii.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
meter
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
real
- numberOfRecords
-
5067
• Data Table
- Name
-
CansiglioForest_microhabitatInformation_20260225.csv
Physical
- Object Name
-
CansiglioForest_microhabitatInformation_20260225.csv
- Size
-
151527
- Authentication
-
MD5:05e35a6fce14792ab3fda6c857f30fac
Data Format
- textFormat
-
1
column
,
Attribute List
Attribute
- Name
-
eventID
- Label
-
Event ID
- Definition
-
Identifier of the plot established within each Saproxilic Habitat Site or Control area.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
organismID
- Label
-
Organism ID
- Definition
-
An identifier for the dwc:Organism instance. Identifies each tree within the dataset.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
Attribute
- Name
-
microhabitatType
- Label
-
microhabitat type
- Definition
-
Type of microhabitat identified within the tree.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
- source
-
Kraus, D., Bütler, R., Krumm, F., Lachat, T., Larrieu, L., Mergner, U., Paillet, Y., Rydkvist, T., Schuck, A., and Winter, S., 2016. Catalogue of three microhabitats – Reference field list. Integrate+ Technical Paper. 16p.
Attribute
- Name
-
microhabitatCode
- Label
-
microhabitat code
- Definition
-
Alphanumeric code associated to each microhabitat type identified within the tree.
Measurement Scale
nominal
nonNumericDomain
textDomain
- Definition
-
Any Text
- source
-
Kraus, D., Bütler, R., Krumm, F., Lachat, T., Larrieu, L., Mergner, U., Paillet, Y., Rydkvist, T., Schuck, A., and Winter, S., 2016. Catalogue of three microhabitats – Reference field list. Integrate+ Technical Paper. 16p.
Attribute
- Name
-
microhabitatNumber
- Label
-
microhabitat number
- Definition
-
The number of microhabitats identified in the tree per type.
Measurement Scale
Ratio
Unit
- standardUnit
-
number
Numeric domain
- Number type
-
natural
- numberOfRecords
-
2968
