Moss nutrient plasticity and stoichiometry

Summary

Abstract: 

    The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica is one of the coldest and driest habitats on the planet. As vascular plants are absent in this region, moss is the main form of above-ground primary production with a potentially important contribution to biogeochemical cycling, yet little is known about their ecological role. To determine the relationship between moss and soil properties relevant to biogeochemistry, we sampled both from a variety of locations in the Dry Valleys. Moss presence was compared to soil properties, and we measured the plasticity of moss stoichiometry (C:N:P) across gradients in nutrient availability. Results demonstrate that many soil properties significantly differed with moss presence, particularly conductivity and pH, but there is no strong evidence that this is caused by the  moss presence and not the conditions inherent to the microsites where moss was found. There is great variability in moss stoichiometry, with some significant differences between sites, but generally variability within sites is larger than variation among sites. Results suggest that the main source of moss nutrients is from the soil, rather than water, but correlations with any one nutrient source are weak, suggesting a great deal of plasticity in moss stoichiometry and nutrient uptake.
    
    Related Publication citation: Ball, B. and R. Virginia. 2014. The ecological role of moss in a polar desert: implications for aboveground-belowground and terrestrial-aquatic linkages. Polar Biology 37:651-664. 
    

Date Range: 

Saturday, December 1, 2007 to Monday, January 31, 2011
CSV file Moss Nutrients

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Unique identifier for the table in the MCM LTER database - SOILS_MOSS_NUTRIENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SITE
  • Label:
  • Definition: The 3- or 4-letter code for the location of the moss sample
  • Type: Code list
  • Codes:
    • AIK = Aiken Creek
    • AND = Anderson Creek
    • BOH = Bohner Creek
    • CAN = Canada Glacier ASPA
    • CPCR = Cape Crozier
    • CPRO = Cape Royds
    • CRES = Crescent Stream
    • DEL = Delta Stream
    • GAR = Garwood Valley
    • GRN = Green Creek
    • HARN = Harnish Creek
    • HUEY = Huey Creek
    • LB = Lake Bonney (south shore)
    • LKCHD = Lake Chad (south shore)
    • LF = Lake Fryxell (south shore)
    • LH = Lake Hoare (north shore)
    • LSC = Lost Seal Creek
    • LYONS = Lyons Stream
    • MCK = McKnight Creek
    • OBH = Observation Hill
    • PRISC = Priscu Stream
    • SNOW = Snow Patch north of Lake Fryxell
    • VONG = Von Guerard Stream
    • WHAR = Wharton Creek
  • Missing values: None specified
LOCATION_NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Name of the location were the sample was acquired
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label: DATE_TIME
  • Definition: The date (MM/DD/YY) the moss and soil samples were collected from the field
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
MOSSC
  • Label: MossC
  • Definition: Total carbon content of the moss - percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
MOSSN
  • Label: MossN
  • Definition: Total nitrogen content of the moss - percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
MOSSP
  • Label: MossP
  • Definition: Total phosphorous content of the moss - percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILAMMO
  • Label: SoilAmmo
  • Definition: Extractable ammonia concentration in the soil - in micrograms per gram of soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerGram
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILNITR
  • Label: SoilNitr
  • Definition: Extractable nitrate concentration in the soil - in micrograms per gram of soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerGram
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILPHOS
  • Label: SoilPhos
  • Definition: Extractable phosphate concentration in the soil - in micrograms per gram of soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerGram
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILC
  • Label: SoilC
  • Definition: Total carbon content of the unacidified soil -percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILN
  • Label: SoilN
  • Definition: Total nitrogen content of the unacidified soil -percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILCORG
  • Label: SoilCorg
  • Definition: Soil organic carbon content determined as the carbon content of acidified soil -percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SWC
  • Label: Swc
  • Definition: The gravimetric soil water content -per unit weight % g/g
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
GROUNDNITR
  • Label: GroundNitr
  • Definition: Nitrate concentration in the groundwater - micrograms per Liter
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerLiter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
GROUNDAMMO
  • Label: GroundAmmo
  • Definition: Ammonia concentration in the groundwater - micrograms per Liter
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerLiter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
GROUNDPHOS
  • Label: GroundPhos
  • Definition: Phosphate concentration in the groundwater - micrograms per Liter
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerLiter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
STREAMNITR
  • Label: StreamNitr
  • Definition: Nitrate concentration in the stream water - micrograms per Liter
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerLiter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
STREAMAMMO
  • Label: StreamAmmo
  • Definition: Ammonia concentration in the stream water - micrograms per Liter
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerLiter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
STREAMPHOS
  • Label: StreamPhos
  • Definition: Phosphate concentration in the groundwater - micrograms per Liter
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerLiter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
CSV file for Soil Transects

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Unique identifier for the table in the MCM LTER database - SOILS_MOSS_NUTRIENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
LOCATION_NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Name of the location were the sample was acquired
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SITE
  • Label:
  • Definition: The 3- or 4-letter code for the location of the moss sample
  • Type: Code list
  • Codes:
    • CS1 = Canada Stream #1
    • CS3 = Canada Stream #3
    • DS = Delta Stream
    • GV = Garwood Valley
    • GC = Green Creek
    • HC1 = Huey Creek #1
    • HC2 = Huey Creek #2
    • LS = Lost Seal Stream
    • MC = McKnight Creek
    • SP1 = Snow Patch #1
    • SP2 = Snow Patch #2
    • SP3 = Snow Patch #3
    • SP4 = Snow Patch #4
    • SP5 = Snow Patch #5
    • VG = Von Guerard Stream
  • Missing values: None specified
TRANSECT
  • Label:
  • Definition: The letter representing the replicate transect at that site (A, B, or C)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
POSITION
  • Label:
  • Definition: The number representing the position of the soil sample along the transect (1, 2, 3 or 3b, 4 or 4b)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
DEPTH
  • Label:
  • Definition: The upper 0-2 cm soil sample (U) or lower 2-7 cm soil sample (L).
  • Type: Code list
  • Codes:
    • U = upper 0-2 cm soil sample
    • L = lower 2-7 cm soil sample
  • Missing values: None specified
MOSS
  • Label:
  • Definition: Presence/Absence of moss in the sample
  • Type: Code list
  • Codes:
    • Y = Yes, there was moss present above that soil sample
    • No = No, there was no moss present and the soil sample did not come from under moss.
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label: DATE_TIME
  • Definition: The date (MM/DD/YY) the moss and soil samples were collected from the field
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
NH4
  • Label: NH4
  • Definition: Extractable ammonia concentration in the soil - in micrograms per gram of soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerGram
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
NO3
  • Label: NO3
  • Definition: Extractable nitrate concentration in the soil - in micrograms per gram of soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerGram
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
PO4
  • Label: PO4
  • Definition: Extractable phosphate concentration in the soil - in micrograms per gram of soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerGram
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILC
  • Label: SoilC
  • Definition: Total carbon content of the unacidified soil -percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILN
  • Label: SoilN
  • Definition: Total nitrogen content of the unacidified soil -percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SOILCORG
  • Label: SoilCorg
  • Definition: Soil organic carbon content determined as the carbon content of acidified soil -percent by weight
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
PH
  • Label: pH
  • Definition: The inverse of log of the hydrogen ion concentration of a 1:2 soil water paste - dimensionless number that may range from 0 to 14.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
EC
  • Label: EC
  • Definition: The electrical conductivity in microSiemens/cm of a 1:5 soil:deionized water solution.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microSiemensPerCentimeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
SWC
  • Label: Swc
  • Definition: The gravimetric soil water content -per unit weight % g/g
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
BMASS
  • Label: Bmass
  • Definition: The Microbial biomass carbon in micro grams of carbon per gram of soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: microgramsPerGram
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified

DOI: 

10.6073/pasta/7de39d6f2feec6b636d3e0988b50ebcf

Short name: 

Moss Nutrients

Dataset ID: 

4015
People

Principal Investigator(s): 

Becky A. Ball

Contact: 

Associated Personnel: 

Associated Researcher
Data Manager