Stream Transects - Chlorophyll-A Concentration

Summary

Abstract:

Investigation of the effect of hydrological and biogeochemical linkages in the transition zone between streams and surrounding soils on invertebrate community structure as part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project. The invertebrate community structure with relation to soil moisture, salinity, and chlorophyll-a was determined. The study took place on 28 November 1997 and 31 December 1997.

Date Range:

Friday, November 28, 1997 to Wednesday, December 31, 1997

Comma delimited spreadsheet containing the rsca data described here

Variables:

LOCATION

Label:
Definition: Name of area where measurement was made
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

DATE_TIME

Label: Date
Definition: Date on which sample was gathered
Type: Date/time
Date format: mm/dd/yyyy
Missing values: None specified

SAMPLE #

Label:
Definition: Sample ID
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

CHL-A (uG/G SOIL)

Label: CHLOROPHYLL A (MICROG/G SOIL)
Definition: Chlorophyll a concentration found in soil
Type: Physical quantity
Unit: microgramsPerGram
Maximum: Not specified
Minimum: Not specified
Precision: Not specified
Missing values: None specified

COMMENTS

Label:
Definition: Helpful hints about the sample
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

FILE NAME

Label:
Definition: Name of file in which data was stored
Type: Nominal
Missing values: None specified

Download Data: rsca.csv [1] (3.31 KB)

Short name:

rsca

Data set ID:

257

People

Principal Investigator(s):

Diana Wall [2]

Contact:

McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER [3]

Associated Personnel:

Associated Researcher

Data Manager

Methodology

Methods:

Approximately 1500g of soil or sediment were collected into Whirl-Pak(tm) bags with clean plastic scoops from 5 sections (0, 8, 16, 24, and 32 m away from the stream) along each transect. Five grams of sediment/soil were also collected from the top 1 cm for measurement of chlorophyll-a concentrations. Samples were mixed within the bags, placed into insulated coolers, and transported for analysis to the McMurdo laboratories. Until processing, the soils were stored in a 4_C refrigerator. Samples were analyzed by ASA Analytical Services on January 6th 1998.

Extraction of chlorophyll from the soil. All procedures were carried out in the dark or very low irradiance to avoid degradation of the chlorophyll. The soil samples were mixed thoroughly in the vials, and a sample of approximately 5 g was weighed out in to a 50 mL plastic centrifuge tube with a screw-top cap. 10 mL of a 50:50 DMSO/90% acetone solution was added to each sample and they were mixed thoroughly on a bench-top Vortex mixer for about 5 seconds. The vials were placed in a -4C constant temperature room, in the dark, and left for 12-18 hours.

Determination of chlorophyll a concentration. This was determined fluorometrically using a Turner model 111 fluorometer. A calibration using a known concentration of chlorophyll was carried out prior to sample analysis. The machine was blanked using a 50:50 DMSO/90% acetone solution. Each vial was mixed thoroughly, then centrifuged for 5 minutes at about 1800 RPM. A sample of approximately 4mL of the DMSO/acetone solution was taken from the top of the sample with a pipette, being careful not to get any soil particles in the solution. The sample was placed in a cuvette, in to the fluorometer and the fluorescence was recorded . This was done fairly quickly in order to prevent light from breaking down the chlorophyll. This measurement is called Fo, the initial fluorescence. After taking this reading, 0.1 mL of 1N HCl was added directly to the cuvette and the cuvette was gently agitated. After 20 seconds, the fluorescence was re-measured.

(During this step, the acid converts the chlorophyll to phaeophytin by releasing a magnesium ion in an acidic environment). This measurement is called Fa, the fluorescence after acidification. The solution was discarded in to a waste container, and the cuvette rinsed 3 times with DMSO/90% acetone solution before proceeding with the next sample. Data were received at NREL on disk and hard copy in the spring of 1998.

Research Section:

Soils [7]

Core Areas:

populations [8]

MCM Keywords:

Antarctica [9]
chlopophyl-A [10]
chlorophyll [11]
LTER [12]
soil [13]
soil biota [14]