Diana H. Wall 2014-11-12 tabular digitial data McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER 10.6073/pasta/e5ec56ba721c4c01bbb8783439e63294 https://mcm.lternet.edu/content/high-nutrient-influences-soil-biota Investigation of the effect of penguins (high C and N inputs) on soil biota 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 Cape Crozier in order to accomplish this. Samples were gathered on December 5, 1997 from Cape Crozier. 1997-12-05 ground condition      This file was created by Mark St. John at Colorado State University on 2-Nov-1998 using raw data from the Excel workbook '9712prwo.raw'. The file format was suggested by the LTER data manager, to conform with the relational database structure. On 4-Nov-1998, the files were submitted to Denise Steigerwald, the MCM LTER data manager, located at INSTAAR, University of Colorado.                             Upon arrival at INSTAAR, the data manager 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). 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.      In 2014, this data and metadata were moved to the Drupal Ecological Information Managements system instance for McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER by San Gil. As needed Moss Sample 130 @ Cape Crozier 169.200103759766 169.200103759766 -77.456802368164 -77.456802368164 LTER Core Areas disturbance 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: Denise Steigerwald Role: data manager Name: Inigo San Gil Role: data manager Not Applicable Not Applicable Field and/or Lab Methods  Eleven 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.  The location of the sampling was recorded each year so that areas were not re-sampled.  Using the plastic scoop, soil was collected to a 10 cm depth.  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 a 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 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 into Excel files, printed, and checked for errors.    Eleven 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.  The location of the sampling was recorded each year so that areas were not re-sampled.  Using the plastic scoop, soil was collected to a 10 cm depth.  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 a 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 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 into Excel files, printed, and checked for errors.  unknown 9712prwo Comma delimited spreadsheet with Units and Column Descriptions for 9712prwo LOCATION Name of area where measurement was made The data provider Name of area where measurement was made SAMPLE # Sample ID The data provider Sample ID DATE_TIME Date on which sample was gathered The data provider calendar date/time mm/dd/yyyy gregorian calendar TYPE OF ORGANISM Family associated with organism The data provider Nematode Nematodes The data provider Rotifer Rotifers The data provider Tardigrades Tardigrades The data provider SPECIES Species found in soil The data provider Scottnema Scottnema The data provider Eudorylaimus Eudorylaimus The data provider Plectus Plectus The data provider Combined Combined Species The data provider Unknown Unknown The data provider SEX Gender of organism (male vs. female) The data provider Male Males The data provider Female Females The data provider Combined Combined Sex The data provider Undetermined Undetermined Sex The data provider LIVE/DEAD/COMBINED Survival Status (living, dead, or both) The data provider Survival Status (living, dead, or both) ADULT/JUVENILE/COMBINED Maturity (adult, juvenile, or both) The data provider Adult Adult stage The data provider Juvenile Juvenile Stage The data provider Combined Combined Stage The data provider Undetermined Undetermined Stage The data provider TOTAL (#/KG DRY SOIL) Number of organisms found in that category The data provider #/KG DRY SOIL COMMENTS Helpful hints about the sample The data provider Helpful hints about the sample FILE NAME Name of file in which data was stored The data provider Name of file in which data was stored McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER The data distributor shall not be liable for innacuracies in the content http 1 0 \n 1 column , https://mcm.lternet.edu/sites/default/files/9712prwo.csv None 2014-11-12 2014-11-12 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