Soil respiration data for 120 point locations within limestone cedar glades at Stones River National Battlefield near Murfreesboro, Tennessee

This dataset contains data collected within limestone cedar glades at Stones River National Battlefield (STRI) near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This dataset contains measurements of soil respiration at certain quadrat locations (points) within 12 selected cedar glades. Field measurements were made of soil respiration (carbon dioxide efflux) using a LICOR Infrared Gas Analyzer (IRGA), LI-6400 XT portable photosynthesis device (LICOR Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA), fitted with a soil-chamber attachment. At least 48 hours prior to soil respiration measurement, three soil collars (plastic rings of approximately 2 inches depth) were inserted into the soil surface at each point and the height of each soil collar above the soil surface was measured. Soil respiration measurements were made using a threshold set point based on ambient carbon dioxide concentration at the time of measurement, and two measurement cycles were completed at each soil collar, yielding six total respiration measurements per point. Soil respiration measurements are expressed as carbon dioxide efflux in micromoles per square meter per second and represent the mean of the six measurements per quadrat location.Detailed descriptions of experimental design, field data collection procedures, laboratory procedures, and data analysis are presented in Cartwright (2014).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.Cofer, M., Walck, J., and Hidayati, S. (2008). Species richness and exotic species invasion in Middle Tennessee cedar glades in relation to abiotic and biotic factors. The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, 135(4), 540–553.