Ecological Survey of Central Arizona: soil chemistry and soil properties in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and surrounding Sonoran desert, survey year 2000

The Ecological Survey of Central Arizona (ESCA) is an extensive field
survey and integrated inventory designed to capture key ecological
indicators of the CAP LTER study area consisting of the urbanized,
suburbanized, and agricultural areas of metropolitan Phoenix, and the
surrounding Sonoran desert. The survey is conducted every five years
at approximately 200 sample plots (30m x 30m) that were located
randomly using a tessellation-stratified dual-density sampling design.
Study plots cover habitats throughout the CAP LTER study area ranging
from native Sonoran desert sites to residential yards to an airport
tarmac. Measurements include an inventory of all plants (identified to
the lowest possible taxonomic unit, typically species), plant
biovolume, soil coring for physicochemical properties, arthropod
sweep-net sampling, photo documentation, and a visual survey of site
and area characteristics. The objectives of the survey are to (1)
characterize patches in terms of key biotic, physical, and chemical
variables, and (2) examine relationships among land use, general plant
diversity, native plant diversity, plant biovolume, soil nutrient
status, and social-economic indices along an indirect urban gradient. This data set focuses specifically on soil chemistry and soil
properties assessed during the 2000 survey year. Investigators
interested in soil data from more recent surveys or other measured
variables should search the data catalog for 'ecological survey of
central arizona' or 'survey 200' to locate those and other data
related to the CAP LTER's ESCA.

亚利桑那中部生态调查（Ecological Survey of Central Arizona, ESCA）是一项大规模野外调查与集成编目项目，旨在获取CAP长期生态研究区（CAP LTER）的关键生态指标。该研究区涵盖凤凰城大都会区域的城市化、郊区化与农业区域，以及周边的索诺兰荒漠。
本调查每五年开展一次，共设置约200个30米×30米的调查样地，样地采用镶嵌分层双密度抽样设计随机布设。
调查样地覆盖CAP LTER研究区内的全部生境类型，从原生索诺兰荒漠生境、住宅庭院直至机场停机坪均有涉及。
本次调查的测量指标包括：所有植物的编目（鉴定至尽可能低的分类学单元，通常为物种水平）、植物生物体积、用于理化性质分析的土壤钻孔采样、节肢动物扫网采样、影像记录，以及样地与区域特征的目视调查。
本调查的核心目标为：（1）基于关键生物、物理与化学变量对研究斑块进行特征刻画；（2）探究沿间接城市梯度的土地利用、总体植物多样性、本土植物多样性、植物生物体积、土壤养分状况与社会经济指数之间的关联。
本数据集专门聚焦2000年调查年度所获取的土壤化学与土壤属性数据。
如需获取近年调查的土壤数据或其他测量变量，研究者可在数据目录中检索"亚利桑那中部生态调查（ecological survey of central arizona）"或"Survey 200"，以定位与CAP LTER的ESCA相关的此类及其他数据集。