RELEASE-2024

This data product contains the quality-controlled, native sampling resolution data from NEON's ground beetle sampling and specimen processing protocols. Ground beetle abundance and diversity are sampled via pitfall trapping at regular intervals by NEON field technicians at core and relocatable sites. Following trap collection, all beetles from the family Carabidae are sorted by NEON technicians and identified to species or morphospecies. A subset of collected Carabidae are pointed or pinned, while other specimens (non-pinned/non-pointed carabids, invertebrate bycatch, and vertebrate bycatch) are stored in 95% ethanol for archiving, and may be pooled into a single archive vial per plot. Regardless of storage method, all collections data are reported at a per trap resolution. A subset of pinned ground beetles (up to 467 per site per year) are sent to an expert taxonomist for secondary identification. Identifications performed on these individuals may be used to estimate uncertainty in parataxonomist identification by NEON technicians. Latency: The expected time from data and/or sample collection in the field to data publication is as follows, for each of the data tables (in days) in the downloaded data package. See the Data Product User Guide for more information. bet_archivepooling: 330 bet_expertTaxonomistIDProcessed: 600 bet_expertTaxonomistIDRaw: 600 bet_fielddata: 75 bet_parataxonomistID: 330 bet_sorting: 330 bet_identificationHistory: 7