CTFS.datafiles {CTFS} | R Documentation

## Overview of Data File Structure for CTFS Package

### Description

Provides an overview of the structure of datafiles that is required for use with the CTFS Package. This includes the standard format for all CTFS datafiles and discussion of what aspects of the structure are flexible for use with non-CTFS datasets.

### List of Data Files

The general format of census data files names is:

siteyear.type

`tst.bci90.full` Tree based dataset (dataframe) containing information from a single census (1990).

`tst.bci90.spp` Tree based dataset (list) containing informatin from a single census (1990) composed of dataframes of all trees within a single species.

`tst.bci90.quad` Tree based dataset (list) containing information from a single census (1990) composed of dataframes of all trees within a single quadrate.

`tst.bci90.mult` Stem based dataset (dataframe) containing the dbh measurement of all secondary stems from trees with multiple stems. Multiple stems of each main stem are provided sequentially which means a tree tag number can occur many times in the data file.

Datasets that are based on information that is valid for all censuses do not have a “year” designation. The general format for these data file names is:

sitetype.info

`bcispp.info` Species based dataset (dataframe) containing information for each species ever recorded in plot, eg. growth form, breeding system, full latin name, etc.

`bciquad.info` Quadrate based dataset (dataframe) containing information on each quadrate (20 x 20 m), eg. elevation, habitat designation, etc.

`bcielev.info` Dataset (dataframe) containing elevation measures for x, y coordinates. At BCI this is on a 5 x 5 m scale.

### Information about Data Files

Each census data contains exactly the same number of records, one for each tree ever recorded in the plot. As new enumerations are completed and trees are added to the census due to recruitment, these records are added to previous census files as well as the file for the year they were recruited into the plot. Trees that die, break or have been lost track of (by error) are retained in all census files. Variable values are given as appropriate for such trees (see details on structure of each type of data file).

`bcispp.info` contains a record for every species ever recorded in the plot. As species names are changed due to taxonomic updates, the names are changed in this datafile and if this requires a change in species codes in the census data, then the changes are done for all census files. New information about species can be added to this file, even if not available for every species. New variables can be used for new analyses.

`bciquad.info` contains a record for each 20 x 20 m quadrate in a plot. The total number varies according to the plot shape. The basic information is elevation, slope and convexity but other information can be added. Retaining the value for `habitat` in this file makes analyses using this variable very easy. Multiple versions of a `habitat` variable can all be stored here.

`bcielev.info` contains the x, y coordinates of each point that was surveyed for creating a topographic map of the plot. This was done to different degrees of accuracy in each plot. This information is used for drawing topographic maps and for providing values in `bciquad.info` .

To see the details on the contents of each file and its variable values, lengths, etc., see the help pages for the named file or click on the links above.

### References

http://www.ctfs.si.edu

### See Also

`CTFS.main`

[Package CTFS version 1.00 Index]