2015 Hydrologic and soil data collected in limestone cedar glades at Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee
Dates
Publication Date
2015-07-23
Citation
Cartwright, J.M., 2015, Hydrologic and soil data collected in limestone cedar glades at Stones River National Battlefield, Tennessee: U.S. Geological Survey data release, http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7NV9G9C.
Summary
This collection of geospatial datasets includes 16 point feature class files and associated FGDC-compliant metadata representing data collected in 2012 and 2013 as part of a study of the hydrology and soil biology of limestone cedar glades. Data was collected at quadrat locations within 12 study glades at Stones River National Battlefield outside Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The ground surface was characterized by assessing quadrat percentages of gravel, cobbles, flagstones, bare soil, exposed bedrock, graminoids, forbs, shrubs, trees, lichens, and Nostoc cyanobacteria. Canopy coverage was estimated using zonal analysis of digital photographs. Observations of soil water content were made using portable time-domain reflectometry (TDR) probes [...]
Summary
This collection of geospatial datasets includes 16 point feature class files and associated FGDC-compliant metadata representing data collected in 2012 and 2013 as part of a study of the hydrology and soil biology of limestone cedar glades. Data was collected at quadrat locations within 12 study glades at Stones River National Battlefield outside Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The ground surface was characterized by assessing quadrat percentages of gravel, cobbles, flagstones, bare soil, exposed bedrock, graminoids, forbs, shrubs, trees, lichens, and Nostoc cyanobacteria. Canopy coverage was estimated using zonal analysis of digital photographs. Observations of soil water content were made using portable time-domain reflectometry (TDR) probes and by collecting soil samples for thermogravimetric analysis. Temperature and relative humidity were measured at the ground surface and soil temperature was measured at 4 cm depth. Soil respiration (Co2 efflux) was measured with a Li-Cor Infrared Gas Analyzer. Precipitation values were spatially interpolated based on precipitation measurements from four rain gages installed at Stones River National Battlefield. Soil samples were collected for laboratory analysis of soil pH, soil organic matter as determined by loss-on-ignition, and soil nitrate levels. Additionally, soil samples were used to perform plate-dilution frequency assays (to generate a most probable number of culturable heterotrophic microbes per gram of dry soil) and were inoculated onto BiologTM EcoPlates (to derive substrate utilization profiles for soil microbial communities). Based on community level physiological profiling (CLPP), average well color development (AWCD) was calculated as an overall indicator of microbial substrate utilization and the Shannon Diversity Index was calculated to represent the diversity of substrate utilization. Detailed descriptions of study design, field sampling, laboratory techniques, and data analysis are available in the metadata for the relevant files, and are also presented in Cartwright (2014). Use of trade, firm, or product names is for the purpose of identification only and implies no endorsement by the U.S. Government.
References
Cartwright, J. (2014). Soil ecology of a rock outcrop ecosystem: abiotic stresses, soil respiration, and microbial community profiles in limestone cedar glades. Ph.D. dissertation, Tennessee State University.
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Purpose
The purpose of this dataset is to characterize the hydrologic and soil characteristics of a set of point locations within limestone cedar glades at Stones River National Battlefield near Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Rights
Although this data set has been used by the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the U.S. Geological Survey as to the accuracy of the data and related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the U.S. Geological Survey in the use of this data, software, or related materials. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
