Integrated measurements of soil micro-invertebrate abundance and associated physicochemical properties from the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1993–2022)

This data package compiles three decades (1993–2022) of soil micro-invertebrate abundance data and associated physicochemical measurements collected as part of the McMurdo Dry Valleys Long Term Ecological Research (MCM LTER) project in Antarctica. Variables include soil micro-invertebrate counts and species richness, along with associated soil physicochemical properties, including gravimetric moisture content, pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic carbon, ammonium, and nitrate. Data originate from both long-term core monitoring efforts and targeted opportunistic sampling campaigns across multiple valleys, including Arena, Beacon, Pearse, Taylor, Victoria, and Wright Valleys. Sampling locations span a range of geomorphic and ecological settings, providing broad spatial and temporal coverage of soil conditions across the Dry Valleys ecosystem. Data were curated to represent the most comprehensive and spatially diverse records available while minimizing sampling bias across years and study types. These integrated measurements provide a valuable resource for understanding the drivers of soil micro-invertebrate abundance and habitat suitability and serve as a foundation for future analyses of long-term ecological change and species distribution modeling in polar desert soils.