Abiotic Protocols
Many abiotic attributes of an ecosystem are crucial to comparative studies or to standardize background variables so that other parameters can be considered. Some abiotic attributes are necessary to provide linkages to other programs like the International Tundra Experiment (ITEX)or to the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites and their international counterparts (ILTER) in the United States and elsewhere. Still others are necessary to monitor stressors that act on a regional level. Abiotic measures which should be considered include the following in addition to those which may form part of an experimental hypothesis:
Spatial/temporal referencing
- global positioning reference (preferably differentially corrected) of latitude and longitude expressed as decimal degrees, and altitude.
- slope.
- aspect.
- height of trap above surface or depth extracted below surface.
- date of sample collection.
Climate Monitoring (ITEX Protocols)
- daily, preferably hourly, maximum temperature.
- daily, preferably hourly, minimum temperature.
- daily soil temperature (max., mins.) at surface, 5cm, and 10cm depths.
- millimetres of precipitation.
- depth of snow cover.
- date of nearest lake ice breakup.
- date of nearest lake ice formation.
Soil Parameters
a) All Studies
- soil organic carbon.
- bulk density.
- pH.
b) Management impact studies
- soil structure.
- rooting depth.
- soil carbon levels.
- biomass carbon.
c) Soil Fauna Distribution Studies
- soil moisture.
- particle size distribution.
- electrical conductivity.
- soil temperature (max., mins.) at surface, 5cm, and 10cm depths.
- exchangeable Ca status.
Associated Biotic Protocols
Vegetation
a) Co-dominant species over sampling period.
b) Height of community.
c) Density of community.
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