Plant biomass in heath tundra experimental plots, 1996, Arctic LTER, Toolik Lake, Alaska.

Abstract: 

Plant biomass in arctic heath experimental plots. Plots set up in 1989 with nitrogen, phosphorus, nitrogen plus phosphorus and a shade treatment were harvested for above ground biomass. Root mass was also measured on a smaller subsample.

Project Keywords: 

Data set ID: 

1384

EML revision ID: 

8
Published on EDI/LTER Data Portal

Citation: 

Shaver, G. 1998. Plant biomass in heath tundra experimental plots, 1996, Arctic LTER, Toolik Lake, Alaska. Environmental Data Initiative. http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/4dcc09fd3ea2d757794d13c4727542aa
People

Owner/Creator: 

Contact: 

Additional People: 

Associated Researcher
Dates

Date Range: 

Wednesday, July 24, 1996 to Thursday, August 1, 1996

Publication Date: 

1998

Methods: 

The Arctic LTER heath plots are located in a dry dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra near the north end of Toolik Lake. They are laid out in three blocks of randomized 5x20 m plots. Each block contains the following treatments: control (CT), nitrogen plus phosphorus (NP), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Shade (SH) and shade plus nitrogen and phosphorus (SHNP) are replicated in only 2 blocks (SHNP was not harvested). The plots were established in June 1998. Nitrogen and/or phosphorus plots receive an annual treatment of 10 g/m2 nitrogen (as NH4NO3) and/or 5 g/m2 phosphorous (as triple superphosphate). Shade houses, simple 'A' frames covered with 50% light reducing shade cloth, are covered annually in late May or early June and uncovered at the end of August or early September.

Calculations: Units; Tissue mass data are expressed in g/quadrat (400 cm2). Multiply by 25 to get g/m2.

Reference Citations: Shaver, G. R., and F. S. Chapin. 1991. Production biomass relationships and element cycling in contrasting arctic vegetation types. Ecological Monographs 61:1-31.

Sampling Description.

In N, P, NP, and CT plots, five quadrats (20 cm x 20 cm) were located at random along a 10 m transect that was about 40 cm from the south edge of the east end. In the shade plots, quadrats were located haphazardly in the eastern third of each shade frame by tossing a knife, spinning, into the plot and taking a quadrat at the point of the knife. Each quadrat was harvested to a depth of about 10 to 15 cm, which included most roots. Aboveground biomass was considered "within" the quadrat if it was associated with a meristem that was within the quadrat. All vascular plants were sorted to species while mosses and lichens were lumped. Categories included: new above, old above, and below ground stems/rhizomes. Leaves and stems for the new or old category were not separated. Only the green mass of the mosses and the total live mass of the lichens were sorted. Coarse roots (greater than 1 mm in diameter) were separated in all quadrats. To estimate fine root mass, a 50-100 g sample of homogenized loose soil from each quadrat in block 1 was taken and all the fine roots were separated, dried and weighed. Weights of the total soil, the subsample and the dried roots were recorded.
All samples were dried at 50-70 degrees C for several days and weighed to nearest milligram. Samples were then returned to Woods Hole for archiving and future nutrient analysis. Details are given in Shaver and Chapin (Ecological Monographs, 61(1), 1991, pg. 1.)

Version Changes: 

Log of changes:
                
5Mar00 Separated comma delimited data from Excel file. JL
27Oct04 completed the variable description and update the  file name to 1996. JL
 
For Archival Use:
                
 
     DATE RECEIVED: Sept 1996
     DATA FILE ENTERED BY: Jim Laundre
     DATA FILE VALIDATION:  
          NAME: Jim Laundre, Gus Shaver
          DATE: 8Oct91
Version 2: Added attribute table.  Jiml
Version 3: Added LTERNET Data Access server proxy for Excel and comma delimited data files.
Version 4: Update LTERNET Data Access server proxy link for Excel and comma delimited data files. Changed from knb to das in url.
Version 5: Updated the metadata form to new version and eml to 2.1.0 JimL 9Jul2012
Version 6: Taxonomic coverage data updated. Updated metadata to newer form (with sites sheet). CH March 2013.
Version 7: Checked keywords against the LTER network preferred list and replaced non-preferred terms. Jim L 27Jan14
Version 8: Changed Distribution URL since the LTER network DAS system is being discontinued.  JimL 9Apr2015

Sites sampled.

Full Metadata and data files (either comma delimited (csv) or Excel) - Environmental Data Initiative repository.

Use of the data requires acceptance of the data use policy --> Arctic LTER Data Use Policy