Desert Fertilization Experiment: inventory and biovolume of perennial plants in study plots within desert preserves in and around the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, spring 2012
Publication date: 2018-06-04
Bounding Coordinates:
Longitude:-112.547375174279 to -111.482761068522
Latitude:33.7267711478719 to 33.013262396669
PO Box 875402,Tempe
caplter.data@asu.edu
Author(s):
- Jonathan Allen, Allen Analytics LLC
- Nancy Grimm, Arizona State University
- Sharon Hall, Arizona State University
- Jason Kaye, Penn State
Abstract:
Launched in 2006 with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and leveraged by the CAP LTER, the Carbon and Nitrogen deposition (CNdep) project sought to answer the fundamental question of whether elemental cycles in urban ecosystems are qualitatively different from those in non-urban ecosystems. Ecosystem scientists, atmospheric chemists, and biogeochemists tested the hypothesis that distinct biogeochemical pathways result from elevated inorganic nitrogen and organic carbon deposition from the atmosphere to the land. To test the hypothesis, scientists examined the responsiveness of Sonoran desert ecosystems to nutrient enrichment by capitalizing on a gradient of atmospheric deposition in and around the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Fifteen desert study sites were established, with five locations each west and east of the urban core, and in the urban core in desert preserves. In addition to the gradient of atmospheric deposition in and around the urban core, select study plots at each of the fifteen desert locations receive amendments of nitrogen, phosphorus, or nitrogen + phosphorus fertilizer. Measured variables include soil properties, perennial and annual plant growth, and atmospheric deposition of nitrogen. At the close of the initial grant period, the CAP LTER assumed responsibility for the project, renamed the Desert Fertilization Experiment, which provides a remarkable platform to study the long-term effects of nutrient enrichment on ecosystem properties.
This data set features an inventory and estimates of biovolume of perennial plants in control and nitrogen-amended study plots at project study sites. This assessment was conducted in spring 2012 and has not been repeated. As such, this particular set of data is published independently of on-going measurements at the study locations. Investigators interested in other Desert Fertilization Experiment data should search the data repository for 'desert fertilization experiment'.
Keywords:
plants, vegetation, nitrogen deposition, atmospheric deposition, community composition, plant cover, plant species composition, fertilizer, fertilization population studies, parks and rivers cap lter, cap, caplter, central arizona phoenix long term ecological research, arizona, az, arid land, desert preserve, desert fertilization experiment
Temporal Coverage:
2012-02-28 to 2012-04-03Geographic Coverage:
Geographic Description: desert and desert-remnant regional parks in the CAP LTER study areaBounding Coordinates:
Longitude:-112.547375174279 to -111.482761068522
Latitude:33.7267711478719 to 33.013262396669
Contact:
Data Manager, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University,PO Box 875402,Tempe
caplter.data@asu.edu
Methods used in producing this dataset: Show
Data Files (2) :
Tabular: 656_perennials_37e8985e7fdfeea9c54e9ab204995a0e.csv
Description: Inventory and biovolume of perennial plants at select Desert Fertilization Experiment plots measured in spring 2012
Temporal Coverage: 2012-02-28 to 2012-04-03
Column | Description | Type | Units |
---|---|---|---|
site_code | plot quadrant in which plant is located |
string |
Enumeration:
|
treatment_code | plot quadrant in which plant is located |
string |
Enumeration:
|
plot | plot quadrant in which plant is located |
string | |
quadrant | plot quadrant in which plant is located |
string |
Enumeration:
|
sample_date | measurement date |
date | Format: YYYY-MM-DD |
Plant | type of plant |
string | |
N_S | maximum extent of plant along N-S axis |
float | meter |
E_W | maximum extent of plant along E-W axis |
float | meter |
H | maximum height of plant |
float | meter |
N | relative distance north from reference plot corner |
float | meter |
E | relative distance east from reference plot corner |
float | meter |
notes | notes |
string | |
distance | for tall plants (some trees, Saguaros), the distance from the base of the plant to the point of measurement |
float | meter |
Top | for tall plants (some trees, Saguaros), degrees to the apex of the plant |
float | degree |
Base | for tall plants (some trees, Saguaros), degrees to the apex of the plant |
float | degree |
File: 656_desert_fertilization_sampling_sites_831acc7f333ecb80d147ca8e07874f9f.kml
Description: approximate location of desert fertiliztion long-term study sites