Windsor, F.M.; Vaughan, I.P.; Durance, I.; Cuff, J.P.; Ormerod, S.J.
Stable isotope and community abundance data from freshwater macroinvertebrates collected during a mesocosm-based drought experiment
Cite this dataset as:
Windsor, F.M.; Vaughan, I.P.; Durance, I.; Cuff, J.P.; Ormerod, S.J. (2025). Stable isotope and community abundance data from freshwater macroinvertebrates collected during a mesocosm-based drought experiment. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/a62a2f1c-2ed4-4ec9-b22c-c3b340a63ca5
Download/Access
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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
https://doi.org/10.5285/a62a2f1c-2ed4-4ec9-b22c-c3b340a63ca5
The dataset contains stable isotope concentration (d13C and d15N) and community abundance data for a range of aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa measured during a mesocosm drought experiment. The aquatic macroinvertebrates were sampled from four mesocosm system blocks at the Llyn Brianne Experimental Observatory. There were three experimental treatments included within each block (100% [control], 50%, and 10% of the baseflow discharge). Samples were collected before the treatments, and after 30 days of exposure to the treatments. Taxa were identified down to family level for abundance measurements.
The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/X010597/1), as part of a study to understand ecosystem responses to environmental change through quantifying ecological interactions in freshwater systems.
The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NE/X010597/1), as part of a study to understand ecosystem responses to environmental change through quantifying ecological interactions in freshwater systems.
Publication date: 2025-01-27
View numbers valid from 27 January 2025 Download numbers valid from 27 January 2025 (information prior to this was not collected)
Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Provenance & quality
The mesocosm experiment followed a Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) design (Stewart-Oaten & Bence, 2001), and included a 6-month colonisation period (January to July 2023). Discharge treatments were generated by adjusting intake valves on the individual mesocosms, measuring the depth of the water and using pre-existing stage-discharge curves to calculate reductions in flow. Hess samplers (165cm2, 500um mesh gauge) were used to collect macroinvertebrates at each sampling point.
Stable isotope data were generated at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and reformatted for archiving. Concentrations of d13C and d15N were measured using a Flash EA 1112 Series Elemental Analyzer connected via a Conflo III to a DeltaPlus XP IRMS (Thermo Finnigan, Bremen, Germany).
International reference materials USGS40 and USGS41a (both L-glutamic acid) were used as standards for d13C and d15N and duplicated with each batch of samples. Additionally, the USGS40 was used as a reference material for carbon and nitrogen concentrations.
Stable isotope data were generated at UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UKCEH) and reformatted for archiving. Concentrations of d13C and d15N were measured using a Flash EA 1112 Series Elemental Analyzer connected via a Conflo III to a DeltaPlus XP IRMS (Thermo Finnigan, Bremen, Germany).
International reference materials USGS40 and USGS41a (both L-glutamic acid) were used as standards for d13C and d15N and duplicated with each batch of samples. Additionally, the USGS40 was used as a reference material for carbon and nitrogen concentrations.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence
Cite this dataset as:
Windsor, F.M.; Vaughan, I.P.; Durance, I.; Cuff, J.P.; Ormerod, S.J. (2025). Stable isotope and community abundance data from freshwater macroinvertebrates collected during a mesocosm-based drought experiment. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/a62a2f1c-2ed4-4ec9-b22c-c3b340a63ca5
Correspondence/contact details
Windsor, F.M.
Cardiff University
Law Building, Museum Ave
Cardiff
CF10 3AX
UNITED KINGDOM
windsorfm@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff
CF10 3AX
UNITED KINGDOM
Authors
Other contacts
Rights holder
Cardiff University
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Additional metadata
Keywords
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/X010597/1
Last updated
27 January 2025 16:26