In arctic tundra near Toolik Lake, Alaska, we incubated a common substrate in a snow addition experiment to test whether snow accumulation around arctic deciduous shrubs altered the environment enough to increase litter decomposition rates. We compared the influence of litter quality on the rate of litter and N loss by decomposing litter from four different plant functional types in a common site. We used aboveground net primary production values and estimated k values from our decomposition experiments to calculate community-weighted mass loss for each site.
Data Set Results
In arctic tundra, near Toolik Lake, Alaska, we quantified net N-mineralization rates under ambient and manipulated snow treatments at three different plant communities that varied in abundance and height of deciduous shrubs.
GroMeteorological parameters were measured hourly adjacent to thermokarst features in the region around Toolik Field Station. Pressure, rainfall, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, air temperature and relative humidity were all measured at 1-3m above the ground surface with an Onset U30 weather station connected to all sensors.
Ground temperatures were measured hourly at ~20-50cm intervals below the ground surface inside and adjacent to thermokarst features in the region around Toolik Field Station. Ground temperatures were measured using Hobo thermistors. Temperatures at 0 and 20cm depths were measured directly in the ground whereas 40cm and deeper measurements were logged from dry wells installed in summer 2009. NE14_TS02dot02_temp is located in the old NE14 thermokarst, upslope.
Ground temperatures were measured hourly at ~20-50cm intervals below the ground surface inside and adjacent to thermokarst features in the region around Toolik Field Station. Ground temperatures were measured using Hobo thermistors. Temperatures at 0 and 20cm depths were measured directly in the ground whereas 40cm and deeper measurements were logged from dry wells installed in summer 2009. TRTK_GT01dot05_temp is located outside the TRTK thermokarst, midslope.
Ground temperatures were measured hourly at ~20-50cm intervals below the ground surface inside and adjacent to thermokarst features in the region around Toolik Field Station. Ground temperatures were measured using Hobo thermistors. Temperatures at 0 and 20cm depths were measured directly in the ground whereas 40cm and deeper measurements were logged from dry wells installed in summer 2009. IM2_GT01dot06_temp is located inside of the I-Minus-2 Gulley thermokarst, downslope.
Hourly data from the Toolik Moist Non-acidic Tussock Experimental plots (MNT). In 1999 a Campbell CR10x data logger was installed in block 2 of the experimental plots. The plots are located on a hillside near Toolik Lake (68 38' N, 149 36'W). Sensors were placed in control and greenhouse sites. Soil temperature profiles are reported in another file (1999-present_MNTsoil).
Soil temperature at 5cm and 10cm depth [°C], volumetric water content (VWC) [%] and depth of thaw [cm] for 14 shrub canopy flux plots measured in vicinity of the Toolik Field Station, AK in 2012.
Soil moisture and temperature were recorded at the Anaktuvuk River burn area during the summers from 2010 to 2013. Six sensors were deployed and measured temperature on half-hourly intervals over the summer and into the fall depending on battery function. Sensors were place in a hexagonal shape around a central datalogger. Note that over time sensor depths changed due to frost heave and other environmental factors. All data contained should be treated as suspect where sensors may have been at surface. These sensors were removed August 20, 2013, no replacement sensors were installed.
Soil moisture and temperature were recorded at the Anaktuvuk River burn area during the summers from 2010 to 2013. Six sensors were deployed and measured temperature on half-hourly intervals over the summer and into the fall depending on battery function. Sensors were place in a hexagonal shape around a central datalogger. Note that over time sensor depths changed due to frost heave and other environmental factors. All data contained should be treated as suspect where sensors may have been at surface. These sensors were removed August 23, 2013, no replacement sensors were installed.
Soil moisture and temperature were recorded at the Anaktuvuk River burn area during the summers from 2010 to 2013. Six sensors were deployed and measured temperature on half-hourly intervals over the summer and into the fall depending on battery function. Sensors were place in a hexagonal shape around a central data logger. Note that over time sensor depths changed due to frost heave and other environmental factors. All data contained should be treated as suspect where sensors may have been at surface. These sensors were removed August 20, 2013, no replacement sensors were installed.
Hourly weather data from the Arctic Tundra LTER wet sedge experimental site at Toolik Lake. The following parameters are measured every minute and averaged every hour: control plot air temperature and relative humidity at 3 meters and greenhouse plot air temperature and relative humidity at 1 meters (inside the greenhouse).
Daily summary of 10 cm soil temperatures in the Arctic LTER moist acidic experimental plots for the control (CT), greenhouse (GH), greenhouse plus nitrogen and phosphorus (GHNP) and nitrogen and phosphorus (NP) plots. Soil temperature probes in the tundra soil were problematic with frost heaving causing the depth of measurements to change. In order to provide a consistent year to year temperature record notes on changes in depths were used to select the temperature sensor that was within + or – 3 cm of the 10 cm and then averaged daily.
Soil temperature data collected every 4 hours from a wet sedge site at the Arctic Tundra LTER site at Toolik Lake. Temperatures are measured every 3 minutes and averaged every 4 hours in control, nitrogen alone, phosphorus alone, nitrogen and phosphorus, and greenhouse experimental plots soil temperatures.
Air and soil temperatures from iButtons located at reciprocal transplant gardens at Toolik Lake, Coldfoot, and Sagwon in 2015 and 2016. The reciprocal transplant gardens at Coldfoot (CF), Toolik Lake (TL), Sagwon (SG) Each plot contains three tussocks, 30-50 centimeters apart
Soil and canopy temperature data from the Arctic LTER 1989 Moist Acidic Tussock Experimental plots(MAT89). The station was established in 1990 in block 2 of a 4 block random block design. The plots are located on a hillside near Toolik Lake, Alaska (68 38' N, 149 36'W). Treatments include - control (CT), greenhouse (GH), greenhouse plus nitrogen and phosphorus (GHNP) shade (SH), shade plus nitrogen and phosphorus (SHNP) and nitrogen and phosphorus (NP). Profiles include above and within canopy, 10, 20 and 40 centimeter soil depths. Not all treatments have a complete profile.
Soil temperature data from the 1989 LTER Moist Acidic Tussock (MAT89) Experimental plots. The logging station was installed in 1990 in block 2 of a four block experimental block design. The plots are located on a hillside near Toolik Lake (68 38' N, 149 36'W). Two replicates depth profiles (10, 20 ,40 centimeters) were installed in each block 2 experimental plots. Frost heaving has caused uncertain depths of measurements for many of the profiles. This data set contains only the control profiles from 2008 to 2020.