Diana H. WallRoss A. Virginia 2014-11-11 tabular digitial data McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER 10.6073/pasta/2ad4bcbaa562af15a9da6a0ec9e34947 https://mcm.lternet.edu/content/soil-depth-effects-soil-biota Investigation of the effect of soil depth on soil biota and properties was part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project. The number of soil organisms (nematodes, rotifers and tardigrades), divided by species, sex and maturity was monitored at various soil depths in Taylor Valley in order to accomplish this. The study began in the austral summer of 1993/1994. Samples were taken on 20-Dec-1993, 6-Jan-1994, 21-Nov-1994 and 26-Dec-1994. 1993-01-01 1994-12-31 ground condition Enhanced in 2016 using DEIMS, Inigo. This file was created by Mark St. John on 14 Oct 1998, using raw data from the Excel workbooks '9312dpso.raw', '9411dpso.raw', and '9412dpso.raw'. The file format was suggested by the LTER data manager, to conform with the relational database structure. On 19 Oct 1998, the file was submitted to Denise Steigerwald, the MCM LTER data manager, located at INSTAAR, University of Colorado.                          Upon arrival at INSTAAR, the data manager combined the 3 data files, removed columns for latitude and longitude, and updated the location names to match those provided in the "soil measurement locations" file (from which latitude and longitude can be found). In addition, a column for depth range was added in order to make it possible to compare soil moisture, chlorophyll-a, and soil nematode densities found at a given depth, but stored in different data files (dpca94, dpah94, dpso9394, and dpwo9394 files). The resulting file was reformatted to present in ascii, comma delimited text and MS-DOS text (table layout) on the MCM LTER web site. Both of these files are linked to this web page above.                        On 28-Oct-1998, Andy Parsons discovered an error in the documentation of the storage temperature used for the soil samples collected. He informed the data manager of this error, resulting in an update from -8C to +5C in the methods portion of the page above.   As needed Location at the north shoreof Lake Hoare 162.889100000000 162.889100000000 -77.624600000000 -77.624600000000 LTER Core Areas population dynamics None <cntorg>McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER</cntorg> <onlink>http://mcmlter.org/</onlink> <span property="dc:title" content="McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER" class="rdf-meta element-hidden"></span> Name: Byron J. Adams Role: associated researcher Name: Andy Parsons Role: lab crew Name: Denise Steigerwald Role: data manager Name: Inigo San Gil Role: data manager Not Applicable Not Applicable Field and/or Lab Methods    Soil samples were taken for organism enumeration and moisture content analysis as follows: Sampling bags were prepared with one sterile 'Whirlpak' bag and clean plastic scoop per sample.  Centers of 8 polygons were found and labelled "A" to "H".  Samples were taken from within a 10 cm diameter circular area of each plot.  The location of the sampling was recorded each year so that areas were not re-sampled.  A hole approximately 20 cm deep was dug at the center of each polygon.  Samples were taken at depths 0-2.5 cm, 2.5-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm by digging in from the sides.  Very large rocks (&gt;20 mm diameter) were excluded from the sample.  The soil was shoveled into the 'Whirlpak' bag until three quarters full (about 1.5 kg soil). The soil was mixed well in the bag, then the bag was closed tightly, expelling as much air as possible.  The soil samples were stored in a cooler for transportation.  On return to the laboratory (within 8 hours of sampling), the soils were stored at +5 degrees C until further processing.     In the laboratory, soil samples were handled in a laminar flow hood to prevent contamination.  The Whirlpak bags of soil were mixed thoroughly prior to opening.  Approximately 200cm3 of soil was placed in a pre-weighed 800mL plastic beaker.  Rocks greater than 3-4mm in diameter were removed from the sample.  A sub-sample of approximately 50g was removed and placed in a pre-weighed aluminum dish, and weighed on a balance accurate to 0.01g.  This sample was dried at 105 degrees C for 24 hours.  The sample was removed, placed in desiccator to cool down, and re-weighed.  These data were used to calculate water content of the soil and to express data as numbers of soil organisms per unit dry weight of soil.       The remaining soil in the plastic beaker was weighed.  Cold tap water was added up to 650 mL.  The soil suspension was stirred carefully (star stir or figure of 8) for 30 seconds, using a spatula.  Immediately the liquid was poured into wet screens - a stack of 40 mesh on top of a 400 mesh.  The screens were rinsed gently with ice cold tap water (from a wash bottle) through the top of the stack, keeping the screens at an angle as the water filtered through.  The water was kept on ice at all times.  The top screen was removed, and the lower screen rinsed top down, never directly on top of the soil, but at the top of the screen and from behind.  The water was allowed to cascade down and carry the particles into the bottom wedge of the angled screen.  The side of the screen was tapped gently to filter all the water through.  The suspension was rinsed from the front and the back, keeping the screen at an angle and not allowing the water to overflow the edge of the screen.  The soil particles were backwashed into a 50mL plastic centrifuge tube, tipping the screen into the funnel above the tube and rinsing the funnel gently.  The suspension was centrifuged for five minutes at 1744 RPM.  The liquid was decanted, leaving a few mL on top of the soil particles.  The tube was filled with sucrose solution (454g sucrose per liter of tap water, kept refrigerated) up to 45mL.  This was stirred gently with a spatula until the pellet was broken up and suspended.  The suspension was centrifuged for one minute at 1744 RPM, decanted into a wet 500 mesh screen, rinsed well with ice cold tap water and backwashed into a centrifuge tube. Samples were refrigerated at 5 degrees C until counted.     Samples were washed into a counting dish and examined under a microscope at x10 or x20 magnification.  Rotifers and tardigrades were identified and counted. Nematodes were identified to species and sex, and counted.  Total numbers in each sample were recorded on data sheets.  All species of nematode, and all rotifers and tardigrades found in the sample were recorded.  Data were entered in to Excel files, printed, and checked for errors.      Soil samples were taken for organism enumeration and moisture content analysis as follows: Sampling bags were prepared with one sterile 'Whirlpak' bag and clean plastic scoop per sample.  Centers of 8 polygons were found and labelled "A" to "H".  Samples were taken from within a 10 cm diameter circular area of each plot.  The location of the sampling was recorded each year so that areas were not re-sampled.  A hole approximately 20 cm deep was dug at the center of each polygon.  Samples were taken at depths 0-2.5 cm, 2.5-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm by digging in from the sides.  Very large rocks (>20 mm diameter) were excluded from the sample.  The soil was shoveled into the 'Whirlpak' bag until three quarters full (about 1.5 kg soil). The soil was mixed well in the bag, then the bag was closed tightly, expelling as much air as possible.  The soil samples were stored in a cooler for transportation.  On return to the laboratory (within 8 hours of sampling), the soils were stored at +5 degrees C until further processing.  In the laboratory, soil samples were handled in a laminar flow hood to prevent contamination.  The Whirlpak bags of soil were mixed thoroughly prior to opening.  Approximately 200cm3 of soil was placed in a pre-weighed 800mL plastic beaker.  Rocks greater than 3-4mm in diameter were removed from the sample.  A sub-sample of approximately 50g was removed and placed in a pre-weighed aluminum dish, and weighed on a balance accurate to 0.01g.  This sample was dried at 105 degrees C for 24 hours.  The sample was removed, placed in desiccator to cool down, and re-weighed.  These data were used to calculate water content of the soil and to express data as numbers of soil organisms per unit dry weight of soil.    The remaining soil in the plastic beaker was weighed.  Cold tap water was added up to 650 mL.  The soil suspension was stirred carefully (star stir or figure of 8) for 30 seconds, using a spatula.  Immediately the liquid was poured into wet screens - a stack of 40 mesh on top of a 400 mesh.  The screens were rinsed gently with ice cold tap water (from a wash bottle) through the top of the stack, keeping the screens at an angle as the water filtered through.  The water was kept on ice at all times.  The top screen was removed, and the lower screen rinsed top down, never directly on top of the soil, but at the top of the screen and from behind.  The water was allowed to cascade down and carry the particles into the bottom wedge of the angled screen.  The side of the screen was tapped gently to filter all the water through.  The suspension was rinsed from the front and the back, keeping the screen at an angle and not allowing the water to overflow the edge of the screen.  The soil particles were backwashed into a 50mL plastic centrifuge tube, tipping the screen into the funnel above the tube and rinsing the funnel gently.  The suspension was centrifuged for five minutes at 1744 RPM.  The liquid was decanted, leaving a few mL on top of the soil particles.  The tube was filled with sucrose solution (454g sucrose per liter of tap water, kept refrigerated) up to 45mL.  This was stirred gently with a spatula until the pellet was broken up and suspended.  The suspension was centrifuged for one minute at 1744 RPM, decanted into a wet 500 mesh screen, rinsed well with ice cold tap water and backwashed into a centrifuge tube. Samples were refrigerated at 5 degrees C until counted.   Samples were washed into a counting dish and examined under a microscope at x10 or x20 magnification.  Rotifers and tardigrades were identified and counted. Nematodes were identified to species and sex, and counted.  Total numbers in each sample were recorded on data sheets.  All species of nematode, and all rotifers and tardigrades found in the sample were recorded.  Data were entered in to Excel files, printed, and checked for errors.  unknown DPWO Definition of variables and units used for the spreadsheet containing the DPWO data DATASET_CODE Dataset Code used to identify the data in the databases. The data provider Dataset Code used to identify the data in the databases. LOCATION Location where data was collected. The data provider Location where data was collected. DATE_TIME Date when samples were collected The data provider calendar date/time MM/DD/YYYY gregorian calendar DEPTH_RANGE_CM Range of depths where samples were collected in centimeters The data provider Range of depths where samples were collected in centimeters SAMPLE_NUMBER alphanumeric identifier for the sample The data provider alphanumeric identifier for the sample TYPE_OF_ORGANISM The type of organism The data provider Nematode an antarctic nematode The data provider Rotifer a rotifer The data provider Tardigrades A tardigrade The data provider SPECIES The species The data provider Eudorylaimus Eurorylaimus The data provider Plectus Plectus The data provider Scottnema Scottnema The data provider Combined A mix The data provider Unknown Not known The data provider SEX SEX of the organism The data provider Male male The data provider Female female The data provider Combined A mix The data provider Undetermined Unknown or undetermined The data provider LIVE_DEAD_COMBINED Living status The data provider Live Alive The data provider Dead Dead The data provider Combined Mix of dead and alive The data provider Undetermined Cannot or did not determine living status The data provider ADULT_JUVENILE_COMBINED Lifecycle stage The data provider Adult Adult stage The data provider Juvenile Juvenile stage The data provider Combined Mix of adult and juvenile The data provider Undetermined Did not determine stage The data provider TOTAL_NUM_PER_KG_DRY_SOIL biomass in numbers per kilogram of dry soil The data provider numberPerKilogram FILE_NAME The provenance file name The data provider The provenance file name McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER The data distributor shall not be liable for innacuracies in the content http 1 0 1 column , https://mcm.lternet.edu/sites/default/files/data/DPWO.csv None 2014-11-11 2014-11-11 McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER http://mcmlter.org/ Biological Data Profile of the Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata devised by the Federal Geographic Data Committee. Drupal Ecological information Management Systems, version D7, Biological Data Profile module