Polygon Study: Variability in soil biogeochemistry and biodiversity

Summary

Abstract: 

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. We found that soil biogeochemical properties and biodiversity vary over multiple spatial scales from fine (less than 10 m) to broad (greater than 10 km) scales. Differences in biogeochemistry were most pronounced at broad scales among the major lake basins of Taylor Valley corresponding to differences in geology and microclimate, while variation in invertebrate biodiversity and abundance occurred at landscape scales of 10-500 m, and within individual soil polygons. Variation in biogeochemistry and invertebrate communities across these scales reflects the influence of physical processes and landscape development over ecosystem structure in the dry valleys. The development of soil polygons influences the spatial patterning of soil properties such as soil organic matter, salinity, moisture, and invertebrate habitat suitability. Nematode abundance and life history data indicate that polygon interiors are more suitable habitats than soils in the troughs at the edges of polygons. These data suggest that physical processes (i.e. polygon development) and biogeochemistry are an important influence on the spatial variability of biotic communities in dry valley soil ecosystems.

Date Range: 

November 29, 1994 to December 8, 1994
Data Citation
Wall, D.H., Virginia, R.A. 2014. Polygon Study: Variability in soil biogeochemistry and biodiversity. Environmental Data Initiative. DOI: 10.6073/pasta/b9626a149c2f168bad27f68d87433d9e. Dataset accessed 28 March 2024.
Dataset(s)

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Unique identifier for the table in the MCM LTER database
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
DATE_TIME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Date when sample was acquired
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
BASIN
  • Label:
  • Definition: the basin where the sample was located (Fryxell, Hoare, Bonney)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
UNIT
  • Label:
  • Definition: The # assigned to the 3-polygon cluster from where the sample was collected.
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
POLYGON
  • Label:
  • Definition: The number assigned to the polygon from where the sample was collected.
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
DISTANCE
  • Label:
  • Definition: distance in meters from the polygon crack or trough
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: meter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values: None specified
MOISTURE
  • Label:
  • Definition: The gravimetric soil water content
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: percent g/g
  • Maximum: 100
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
Chlorophyll a
  • Label:
  • Definition: The chlorophyll a content of the sample expressed per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: mg chl-a/kg soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SML
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living male Scottmema lindsayae adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SMD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead male Scottmema lindsayae adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SFL
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living female Scottmema lindsayae adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SFD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead female Scottmema lindsayae adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SJL
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living juvenile Scottmema lindsayae adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SJD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead juvenile Scottmema lindsayae adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SA
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living and dead Scottmema lindsayae adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SJ
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living and dead Scottmema lindsayae juvenile nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
STL
  • Label:
  • Definition: total number of living Scottmema lindsayae (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
STD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead Scottmema lindsayae (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
ST
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of live + dead Scottmema lindsayae (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SMORT
  • Label:
  • Definition: Mortality, the ratio of dead to live Scottmema lindsayae (juvenile and adults) nematodes.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SFECUND
  • Label:
  • Definition: Fecundity, the ratio of juvenile to female Scottmema lindsayae (juvenile and adults) nematodes.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SSEX
  • Label:
  • Definition: Sex ratio, the ratio of male to female Scottmema lindsayae (juvenile and adults) nematodes.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EML
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living male Eudorylaimus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EMD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead male Eudorylaimus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EFL
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living female Eudorylaimus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EFD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead female Eudorylaimus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EJL
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living juvenile Eudorylaimus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EJD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead juvenile Eudorylaimus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EA
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living and dead Eudorylaimus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EJ
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living and dead Eudorylaimus juvenile nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
ETL
  • Label:
  • Definition: total number of living Eudorylaimus (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
ETD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead Eudorylaimus (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
ET
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of live + dead Eudorylaimus (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EMORT
  • Label:
  • Definition: Mortality, the ratio of dead to live Eudorylaimus (juvenile and adults) nematodes.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
EFECUND
  • Label:
  • Definition: Fecundity, the ratio of juvenile to female Eudorylaimus (juvenile and adults) nematodes.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
ESEX
  • Label:
  • Definition: Sex ratio, the ratio of male to female Eudorylaimus (juvenile and adults) nematodes.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PFL
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living female Plectus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PFD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead female Plectus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PJL
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living juvenile Plectus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PJD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead juvenile Plectus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PA
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living and dead Plectus adult nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PJ
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of living and dead Plectus juvenile nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PTL
  • Label:
  • Definition: total number of living Plectus (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PTD
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of dead Plectus (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PT
  • Label:
  • Definition: The total number of live + dead Plectus (juvenile and adults) nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
total_rotifers
  • Label:
  • Definition: total number of rotifers per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent present in a sample
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
total_tardigrades
  • Label:
  • Definition: total number of tardigrades per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent present in a sample
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
LIVENEMS
  • Label: Live nematodes
  • Definition: The total number of living nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent (#/kg soil).
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
DEADNEMS
  • Label: Dead nematodes
  • Definition: The total number of dead nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent (#/kg soil).
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
TOTALNEM
  • Label: Total nematodes
  • Definition: The total number of living and dead nematodes extracted from the soil sample in number of organisms per kg soil oven dry weight equivalent (#/kg soil).
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: # kg/soil
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
TC
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total carbon (% C by wt.), the carbon content of the unacidified soil.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SIC
  • Label:
  • Definition: Soil inorganic carbon (% C by wt.), the carbon content of unacidified soil minus the carbon content of the acidified soil.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SOC
  • Label:
  • Definition: Soil organic carbon (% C by wt.), the carbon content of acidified soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
TN
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total soil nitrogen (% N by wt.), the nitrogen content of the unacidified soil
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
CN
  • Label: C:N
  • Definition: The ratio of soil organic carbon to total nitrogen
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: dimensionless
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
PH
  • Label:
  • Definition: The inverse of the log the hydrogen ion concentration of a 1:2 soil-water paste -- the pH --
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: pH
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
SALINITY
  • Label:
  • Definition: The electrical conductivity of a 1:5 soil-water dilution
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: uS/cm
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • Null = None given
COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: Comments
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

Short name: 

Poly

Dataset ID: 

4006
People

Principal Investigator(s): 

Contact: 

Associated Personnel: 

Associated Researcher
Field Crew
Data Manager