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McCracken, M.E. et al

Carbon and nitrogen content in soils and vegetation from calcareous grassland, heathland and woodland sites in Dorset, 2017-2018

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This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

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https://doi.org/10.5285/ea43c2d1-88f5-4692-a09d-0ef4d96e0f35
This dataset contains carbon and nitrogen data from soils and vegetation from 13 calcareous grassland, 13 heathland and 12 woodland sites within Dorset, UK. The sites were selected to represent a range of habitat types across a condition gradient as measured by levels of degradation from the original habitat. The original habitats were identified as being calcareous grassland, heathland or woodland from a survey conducted in the 1930s. Within each site, 15cm deep soil cores were taken and analysed for total nitrogen, total carbon and bulk density. Within the same area for each site, vegetation samples were taken from five 50cm quadrats and separated into herbacous or shrub layers before analysis for total carbon, total nitrogen and dry weight. Heathland and calcareous grassland sites were visited in summer 2017 and woodland sites were visited in summer 2018.
Publication date: 2021-02-24
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Format

Comma-separated values (CSV)

Spatial information

Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid

Temporal information

Temporal extent
2017-05-01    to    2018-06-30

Provenance & quality

Sample squares (50m x 50m plots) were randomly assigned within the original Good survey site prior to visit, using ArcGIS. Within each sample square, four 15cm deep soil cores were taken. Two were air dried and sieved through a 2mm soil sieve, amalgamated and analysed by Lancaster Laboratories, UKCEH for total carbon and total nitrogen. Bulk density was assessed in the additional two soil samples and averaged for the site. Vegetation samples were collected from five 50cm quadrats across the sample square. All layers of vegetation were sampled where they were present. All samples were dried and weighed. Dried vegetation was sent to the Centralised Lancaster Laboratories, UKCEH for analysis. Data were collected by experienced field ecologists, the same ecologists carried out all surveys. Data are consistent and reliable. Data were recorded into the spreadsheet as recorded in the field. Data were checked for any anomalies.

Licensing and constraints

This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence

Cite this dataset as:
McCracken, M.E.; Bullock, J.M.; Ridding, L.E.; Hulmes, L.; Hulmes, S.; Newton, A.C.; Watson, S.C.L.; Pereira, G.M.; Hunt, A.; Keenan, P. (2021). Carbon and nitrogen content in soils and vegetation from calcareous grassland, heathland and woodland sites in Dorset, 2017-2018. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/ea43c2d1-88f5-4692-a09d-0ef4d96e0f35

Related

This dataset is included in the following collections

Data from provision of ecosystem services across habitat degradation gradient

Correspondence/contact details

McCracken, M.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Maclean Building, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 8BB
UNITED KINGDOM
 enquiries@ceh.ac.uk

Authors

McCracken, M.E.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Bullock, J.M.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Ridding, L.E.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Hulmes, L.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Hulmes, S.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Newton, A.C.
University of Bournemouth
Watson, S.C.L.
University of Portsmouth
Pereira, G.M.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Hunt, A.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Keenan, P.
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Other contacts

Rights holder
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Custodian
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk
Publisher
NERC Environmental Information Data Centre
 info@eidc.ac.uk

Additional metadata

Topic categories
environment
INSPIRE theme
Environmental Monitoring Facilities
Keywords
bulk density , calcareous grassland , carbon , dry weight , Environmental survey , grassland , heathland , nitrogen , Soil , woodland
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/P007716/1
Last updated
15 March 2024 12:31