Part of UKCEH UKCEH logo
UKCEH website
Ridding, L.E. et al

Vegetation and soil data recorded at Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve in 1970, 1990 and 2016

Download/Access
PLEASE NOTE: By accessing or using this dataset, you agree to the terms of the relevant licence agreement(s). You will ensure that this dataset is cited in any publication that describes research in which the data have been used.

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

Download the data
https://doi.org/10.5285/ffc06839-e64c-4844-aae7-db3b0a012e2e
This dataset contains vascular plant species abundance, average sward height, and soil analysis data from Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve (NNR), in southern England, in 1970, 1990 and 2016. Vascular plant species abundance and average sward height were recorded for each quadrat located along one of four transects. The transects were located in a CG2 Festuca ovina – Avenula pratensis grassland which dominates the majority of the site. Soil samples were also taken from various points along each transect and subsequently analysed for pH, loss-on-ignition, exchangeable potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphate and total nitrogen. The dataset was created for a study which examined long-term vegetation change at the nature reserve.
Publication date: 2019-04-11
21 downloads *
643 views *

More information

View numbers valid from 01 June 2023 Download numbers valid from 20 June 2024 (information prior to this was not collected)

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
1970-05-18    to    1970-05-22
1990-08-20    to    1990-08-21
2016-06-27    to    2016-06-30

Provenance & quality

Each survey was carried out by experienced botanical surveyors working in pairs (or threes), using the same recording methods and equipment, including one surveyor who was involved in both the 1970 and 2016 re-survey. The plant data were collected using 20 cm x 20 cm quadrats located every 3 feet along 4 transects. For each quadrat, vascular plant species abundance were recorded using the Domin scale and average sward height was recorded using a metre ruler. Twenty-two soil samples were taken at various points along each transect at two depths, 0-5 cm and 5-10 cm. Soil analyses was conducted using standardised protocols, detailed within the supporting documentation. Wooden stakes from the 1970 survey allowed the original transects to be found in 1990. However, the stakes were no longer present in 2016 so transects were accurately re-located by geo-referencing the original survey maps using GIS (geographic information system) methods, detailed within the supporting documentation.

Licensing and constraints

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

Cite this dataset as:
Ridding, L.E.; Hawes, P.; Walls, R.; Wells, T.; Cox, R.; Williamson, J.; Pereira, M.G.; Thacker, S.A.; Keenan, P.O.; Pywell, R.F. (2019). Vegetation and soil data recorded at Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve in 1970, 1990 and 2016. NERC Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/ffc06839-e64c-4844-aae7-db3b0a012e2e

© UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Supplemental information

A long-term National Capability programme, jointly funded by NERC and BBSRC. With support from the farming industry, ASSIST will meet the challenge of feeding growing populations without causing unacceptable environmental damage.

Correspondence/contact details

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

Authors

Ridding, L.E.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Hawes, P.
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Walls, R.
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Wells, T.
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Cox, R.
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Williamson, J.
The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology
Pereira, M.G.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Thacker, S.A.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Keenan, P.O.
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Pywell, R.F.
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
biota
geoscientificInformation
INSPIRE themes
Habitats and Biotopes
Protected Sites
Soil
Keywords
ASSIST , Biodiversity , Environmental survey , Parsonage Down National Nature Reserve , Soil
Funding
Natural Environment Research Council Award: NE/N018125/1
Last updated
13 February 2024 08:31