In January 2001, we surveyed streams and ponds above 300 m asl in Taylor Valley, South Victoria Land, Antarctica. One pond was examined in detail. Organic materials covered nearly 100% of the adjacent soil to 5-20 m from the shore, with intermittent patches to 80 m. Organic matter averaged 257 gC/m2, and totaled 1388 kg organic C on the soil around the pond. Soil moisture content (0.56 to 12.41%) decreased with distance from shore, whereas pH (7.8 to 10.8) increased with distance. Electrical conductivity was lowest in the soils less than 10 m from the pond (416 +- 94 uS/cm).
Dataset Results
2001-01-01 to 2001-01-31
10.6073/pasta/b74ce9bc2c28808eb13847967ef1d1a0
4009
In the Antarctic Dry Valleys, soil polygons are prominent features of the landscape and may be key units for scaling local ecological information to the greater region. We examined polygon soils in each of the 3 basins of Taylor Valley, Antarctica. Our objectives were to characterize variability in soil biogeochemistry and biodiversity at local to regional scales, and to test the influence of soil properties upon invertebrate communities.
Date Range:
1994-11-29 to 1994-12-08
Data sources:
DOI:
10.6073/pasta/b9626a149c2f168bad27f68d87433d9e
Dataset ID:
4006
Soil communities in the McMurdo Dry Valleys are subject to many limitations, including resource limitations. However, the nutrients that are predominantly limiting to growth and diversity of soil biota are not known. Additionally, landscape history (N deposition, P weathering) and native N and P content (glacial till provenance) may influence the ability of soil communities to respond to nutrient additions or changes in nutrient availability associated with environmental change.
Date Range:
2007-01-15 to 2016-01-15
Data sources:
DOI:
10.6073/pasta/4da6e17a7a8d1e575241b3d79c047f08
Dataset ID:
4013
This data package includes ecological parameters of biocrust and soil from samples collected in-situ within the Lake Fryxell Basin of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica during December of 2019. Parameters include biological (ash-free dry mass, pigment concentration, and counts of soil invertebrates), physical (water content, electrical conductivity, and pH), and chemical properties (inorganic nitrogen, inorganic phosphorous, total nitrogen, and total organic carbon) of the surface soil, biocrust, and underlying soil.
Date Range:
2019-12-21 to 2019-12-28
Data sources:
DOI:
10.6073/pasta/a34f2a95ddae3f471fea0cab90a1e287
Dataset ID:
270