Hobbie E and Moore J. 2017. Carbon and nitrogen isotopes and concentrations in terrestrial plants from a six-year (2006-2012) fertilization experiment at the Arctic LTER, Toolik Field Station, Alaska. Download

General

2012_MAT_06_NP_NC_Isotopes_EAH
knb-lter-arc.20036.8
doi:10.6073/pasta/011d1ba5f14fc9057dd67ff201174543  (https://doi.org) 

The data set describes stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and carbon and nitrogen concentrations from an August 2012 pluck of a fertilization experiment begun in 2006. Fertilization was with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Fertilization levels included control, F2, F5, and F10, with F2 corresponding to yearly additions of 2 g/m2 N and 1 g/m2 P, F5 corresponding to yearly additions of 5 g/m2 N and 2.5 g/m2 P, and F10 corresponding to yearly additions of 10 g/m2 N and 5 g/m2 P. After harvest, plants were separated by species and then by tissue. Tissues were then dried, ground and analyzed for stable isotopes and concentrations at the University of New Hampshire stable isotope laboratory.

Core Areas

KeywordType
primary production
inorganic nutrients

LTER Controlled Vocabulary

KeywordType
plants
productivity
isotopes
carbon
nitrogen
production
disturbance

Arctic LTER Vocabulary

KeywordType
moist acidic tundra
2017-03-30
English

People and Associated Parties

Erik Hobbie
Complex Systems Center,University of New Hampshire,
Durham, 03824 US
Erik.Hobbie@unh.edu
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1629-6307
John Moore
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory,200 West Lake Street,
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1499 US
john.moore@colostate.edu
Arctic_LTER Information Manager
Arctic Long Term Ecolocial Research
7 M B L St,
Woods Hole, MA 02536 US
(508) 548-3705 (voice)
arc_im@mbl.edu
Laura Gough
Towson University
Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University,
Towson, MD 21252 US
lgough@towson.edu
https://www.towson.edu/fcsm/departments/biology/facultystaff/lgough.html
http://cid.org/0000-0002-9312-7910
Associated researcher
Rodney Simpson
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory,200 West Lake Street,
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1499 US
rodney.simpson@colostate.edu
Associated researcher
Arctic LTER MBL
7 M B L St.,
Woods Hole, MA 02543 US
arc_im@mbl.edu
Arctic LTER MBL
7 M B L St.,
Woods Hole, MA 02543 US
arc_im@mbl.edu

Geographic Region

Low Nutrient Moist Acidic Tussock Tundra (LMAT) Northeast corner Block 1
68.6229  degrees
68.6229  degrees
-149.609  degrees
-149.609  degrees
758  meter
758  meter

Temporal Coverage

2012-07-31
2012-08-31

Taxonomic Range

species
Carex bigelowii
species
Eriophorum vaginatum
species
Calamagrostis lapponica
species
Betula nana
species
Salix pulchra
species
Salix phlebophylla
species
Vaccinium uliginosum
species
Vaccinium vitis-idaea
species
Cassiope tetragona
species
Ledum palustre
species
Andromeda polifolia
species
Empetrum nigrum
species
Rubus chamaemorus
species
Polygonum bistorta
genus
Pedicularis
genus
Sphagnum

Project Information

Modeling and Isotopes Link Mycorrhizal Fungi to Soil Carbon and Organic Nitrogen Use.
Erik Hobbie
Complex Systems Center,University of New Hampshire,
Durham, 03824 US
Erik.Hobbie@unh.edu
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1629-6307
Originator

Birch, willow, and other shrubs in the Arctic are increasing in response to warming at the expense of grasses and sedges. This increased shrub cover may enhance winter snow capture, increase winter soil temperatures, deepen summer soil thawing, and increase the release of old carbon and nitrogen. The increased flux of sugars from shrubs to shrub-associated symbiotic fungi (termed mycorrhizal fungi) could stimulate decomposition of thawing organic matter and release organic nitrogen for plant uptake previously locked up for millennia. This mycorrhizally-mediated priming of decomposition may influence carbon balances and nutrient availability for further shrub growth. To test this, researchers will use long-running experiments in Arctic Alaska that are examining plant responses to warming in different tundra types. Researchers will use natural levels of carbon and nitrogen isotopes to track the incorporation of new soil-derived organic nitrogen into shrubs and associated mycorrhizal fungi. With the new methodologies developed, organic nitrogen use can be assessed across ecosystems. Models derived from planned measurements can then predict consequences of shrub expansion for ecosystem processes, such as soil energy balances, permafrost melting, and the release and cycling of old soil organic matter. Archived samples of fungi and plants from Alaska and across the Arctic will expand the temporal and geographic relevance of the studies. The project will provide education and research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. Researchers will also work with local high school teachers to use fungi as a tool to teach biology and to expand their work in outdoor classrooms.

Modeling and Isotopes Link Mycorrhizal Fungi to Soil Carbon and Organic Nitrogen Use.

1108074

1637459

1026843

Methods & Sampling

Step 1 

In August 2012, plant and soil samples were collected from control and N+P plots from within a set of treatments in Moist Acidic Tundra plots established in 2006. See experimental design section below. At harvest, turf samples approximately 20 cm x 20 cm were harvested to the depth of the mineral soil. The samples were then taken to the lab and all plants were then collected by hand and grouped by species and tissue. See Shaver, G.R. and F.S. Chapin, III. 1991. Roots were similarly collected by soil horizon, although without for the most part species-level taxonomic resolution. Samples were then dried and ground. A subset of these samples were then sent to the University of New Hampshire stable isotope lab, where they were analyzed for carbon and nitrogen concentrations and stable isotope ratios using a Delta-Plus Thermo isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Isotopic and elemental concentrations were referenced against concurrently run standards of pine needles (NIST 1575a), apple leaves (NIST 1515), and two internal lab standards, ground tuna and ground mushrooms.

Step 2 

Experimental design: The 1996 LTER moist acidic tussock (96LMAT) site was set up in 1996. The experimental design is four blocks of 5 x 20 meter plots with randomly assigned treatments within each block. Each plot is separated by a 2 meter walkway. Treatments include a gradient of fertilization of N and P additions: 0.5, 1, 2, 5, or 10 g N per meter with P being half of the N amount added and plots of nitrate or ammonium alone at 5gN/m2 and 2.5 g/m2 of P. An additional set of plots were set aside upon establishment for future experiments, and are noted as H. Reference citations: Shaver, G.R. and F.S. Chapin, III. 1991. Production/biomass relationships and element cycling in contrasting arctic vegetation types. Ecological Monographs 61:1-31.

Data Table, Image, and Other Data Details

2012_MAT_06_NP_NC_Isotopes_EAH_csv
Comma delimited data file for "Carbon and nitrogen isotopes and concentrations in terrestrial plants from a six-year (2006-2012) fertilization experiment at the Arctic LTER, Toolik Filed Station, Alaska".
2012_MAT_06_NP_NC_Isotopes_EAH.csv
https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-arc/20036/8/58ea279a915035de63dd49efe5199b91
46372 bytes
Number of Header Lines1
Number of Footer Lines0
Record Delimiter\r\n
Attribute Orientationcolumn
Simple Text
Field Delimeter,
Quote Character'

Attribute Information

Variables
Location
Growth Form
Species
Treatment
Block
Tissue
Dry Wt (g)
Run #
Wt
CNCODE
d15N
%N
d13C
%C
C/N
Ampl 28
Ampl 44
# replicates
Location
PLACEHOLDER
Location  
Harvest location: Abgr (aboveground), Osoil (organic horizon), Tsoil (transition horizon), Msoil (mineral horizon)
string  
nominal
DefinitionHarvest location: Abgr (aboveground), Osoil (organic horizon), Tsoil (transition horizon), Msoil (mineral horizon)
 
 
 
 
 
Growth Form
PLACEHOLDER
Growth Form  
Growth form: Graminoid, Deciduous, Evergreen, Forbs, Mosses, Misc. (miscellaneous)
string  
nominal
DefinitionGrowth form: Graminoid, Deciduous, Evergreen, Forbs, Mosses, Misc. (miscellaneous)
 
 
 
 
 
Species
PLACEHOLDER
Species  
Plant genus and species
string  
nominal
DefinitionPlant genus and species
 
 
 
 
 
Treatment
PLACEHOLDER
Treatment  
Control, no fertilization; F2, fertilization with 2 g N/m2/year and 1 g P/m2/year; F5, fertilization with 5 g N/m2/year and 2.5 g P/m2/year; fertilization with 10 g N/m2/year and 5 g P/m2/year.
string  
nominal
DefinitionControl, no fertilization; F2, fertilization with 2 g N/m2/year and 1 g P/m2/year; F5, fertilization with 5 g N/m2/year and 2.5 g P/m2/year; fertilization with 10 g N/m2/year and 5 g P/m2/year.
 
 
 
 
 
Block
PLACEHOLDER
Block  
Arctic LTER blocks number
string  
nominal
DefinitionArctic LTER blocks number
 
 
 
 
 
Tissue
PLACEHOLDER
Tissue  
Plant component: blade, new leaves, above, below, or fine roots
string  
nominal
DefinitionPlant component: blade, new leaves, above, below, or fine roots
 
 
 
 
 
Dry Wt (g)
PLACEHOLDER
Dry Wt (g)  
Harvest weight of that tissue x species x block.
 
ratio
Unitgram
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
Run #
PLACEHOLDER
Run #  
ID for isotope ratio mass spectrometer
string  
nominal
DefinitionID for isotope ratio mass spectrometer
 
 
 
 
 
Wt
PLACEHOLDER
Wt  
Weight in mg of analyzed sample
 
ratio
Unitmilligram
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
CNCODE
PLACEHOLDER
CNCODE  
Code for CN analyses from CSU
string  
nominal
DefinitionCode for CN analyses from CSU
 
 
 
 
 
d15N
PLACEHOLDER
d15N  
d15N in per mil of sample
 
ratio
UnitpartPerThousand
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
%N
PLACEHOLDER
%N  
nitrogen concentration in tissue
 
ratio
Unitpercent
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
d13C
PLACEHOLDER
d13C  
carbon isotope (13C) concentration in tissue
 
ratio
UnitpartPerThousand
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
%C
PLACEHOLDER
%C  
carbon concentration in tissue
 
ratio
Unitpercent
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
C/N
PLACEHOLDER
C/N  
carbon to nitrogen ratio in tissue
 
ratio
Unitdimensionless
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
Ampl 28
PLACEHOLDER
Ampl 28  
peak signal strength for N
 
ratio
Unitmillivolt
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
Ampl 44
PLACEHOLDER
Ampl 44  
peak signal strength for C
 
ratio
Unitmillivolt
Typereal
CodeExplanation
-9999missing
 
 
 
 
# replicates
PLACEHOLDER
# replicates  
Number of replicates of the same CNCODE sample, or designated as replicate
string  
nominal
DefinitionNumber of replicates of the same CNCODE sample, or designated as replicate
 
 
 
 
 
2012_MAT_06_NP_NC_Isotopes_EAH_excel
Data Object Type: document
Excel file with sheets for metadata and data for datset "Carbon and nitrogen isotopes and concentrations in terrestrial plants from a six-year (2006-2012) fertilization experiment at the Arctic LTER, Toolik Filed Station, Alaska."
Physical Structure Description:
2012_MAT_06_NP_NC_Isotopes_EAH.xlsx
184635 bytes
Format Nameapplication/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet
https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-arc/20036/8/3d01ac18a00f43002baab41784029ca7

Data Set Usage Rights

Data Policies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

The re-use of scientific data has the potential to greatly increase communication, collaboration and synthesis within and among disciplines, and thus is fostered, supported and encouraged. Permission to use this dataset is granted to the Data User free of charge subject to the following terms:

  • Citation. It is considered a matter of professional ethics to acknowledge the work of other scientists. Thus, the Data User should properly cite the Data Set in any publications or in the metadata of any derived data products that were produced using the Data Set.

  • Acknowledgement. The Data User should acknowledge any institutional support or specific funding awards referenced in the metadata accompanying this dataset in any publications where the Data Set contributed significantly to its content. Acknowledgements should identify the supporting party, the party that received the support, and any identifying information such as grant numbers. For example: Data sets were provided by the Arctic LTER. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants #ARC-1107593, 1107707, 0632139 and #DEB-1026843.

  • Notification. The Data User will notify the Data Set Contact when any derivative work or publication based on or derived from the Data Set is distributed. The Data User will provide the data contact with two reprints of any publications resulting from use of the Data Set and will provide copies, or online access to, any derived digital products. Notification will include an explanation of how the Data Set was used to produce the derived work.

  • Collaboration. The Data Set has been released in the spirit of open scientific collaboration. Data Users are thus strongly encouraged to consider consultation, collaboration and/or co-authorship with the Data Set Creator.

  • Disclaimer. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and documentation contained in this Data Set, complete accuracy of data and metadata cannot be guaranteed. All data and metadata are made available "as is". The Data User holds all parties involved in the production or distribution of the Data Set harmless for damages resulting from its use or interpretation.

Access Control

https://pasta.edirepository.org/authentication
allowFirst
PermissionPrincipal
[all] uid=ARC,o=LTER,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
[read] public

Additional Metadata

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