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913 results for “Niwot Ridge”
Historical photos from Niwot Ridge, 1948 - 2005.
Historical photos provide a unique insight into vegetation and land use change. This dataset contains three georeferenced images from Niwot Ridge showing vegetation change between 1949 and 2005.
Alpine plant seed microbiomes, germination, and plant-soil feedbacks, Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley, 2018.
Seed and soil microbiomes strongly affect plant performance, and these effects can scale-up to influence plant community structure. However, seed and soil microbial community composition are variable across landscapes, and different microbial communities can differentially influence multiple plant metrics (biomass, germination rate), and community stabilizing mechanisms. We measured how microbiomes inside seeds and in soils varied among alpine plant species and communities that differed in plant species richness and density. Across 10 common alpine plant species, we found a total of 318 bacterial and 128 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) associated with seeds, with fungal richness affected by plant species identity more than sampling location. However, seed microbes had only marginally significant effects on plant germination success and timing. In contrast, soil microbes associated with two different plant species had significant effects on plant biomass, and their effect depended both on the plant species and the location the soils were sampled from.
ReESH_US-NR3: Niwot Ridge Alpine (T-Van West)
This data package contains metadata for, and links to the Regional Ecosystem Soil Hydraulic (ReESH) sampling at US-NR3 (Tvan West). The Regional Ecosystem Soil Hydraulic (ReESH) project expands the representation of soil water potential data for both the AmeriFlux and wider flux community. This dataset contains the summary of the soil hydraulic characteristics that were measured including soil texture and water retention curves, which enable the conversion of soil water content to soil water potential. The published data may be found on zenodo at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17555020 and are not re-published here.
Saddle snowfence grid points, Niwot Ridge LTER, Colorado
Point coverage of Saddle snow fence point grid. 1:500 scale. The Saddle snow fence is a 60-meter long, 2.6-meter high fence erected annually in the fall for manipulating winter snowpack and snow drift along a topoedaphic gradient. The fence was first installed in fall of 1993 and is taken down every summer to avoid influencing summer ambient wind. The fence is oriented along a north-south axis, as prevailing winds on Niwot Ridge come from the west, and delineates shrub and moist meadow communities on the windward (west) side and dry meadow communities on the leeward (east) side. The snowfence grid exists within a 60m x 125m area that contains the snowfence. Of the 146 points in the snowfence grid dataset, 84 are located on the leeward (east) side of the snowfence, 56 are located on the windward (west) side of the snowfence, and 6 are control locations outside of but near the snowfence experiment area. See Fig. 4 in Walker et al. (1999) for graphical depiction of the Saddle snow fence grid, snow fence, and vegetation communities within. Snow depth is measured annually at the snow fence grid points, and the grid has been used for locating experimental plots and instrumentation (e.g. see Walker et al. 1993b, Brooks et al. 1995, Walker et al. 1999). This dataset is part of the Saddle grid geographic information system (GIS). Additional information concerning the Niwot Ridge LTER hierarchical GIS can be found in Walker et al. (1993a).
Saddle grid boundary, Niwot Ridge LTER, Colorado
Polygon boundary coverage for Saddle grid. 1:500 scale. This dataset is part of the Saddle grid geographic information system (GIS). Additional information concerning the Niwot Ridge LTER hierarchical GIS can be found in Walker et al. (1993).
Saddle grid stake points, Niwot Ridge LTER, Colorado
Point coverage with the GPS data points for each of the 88 Saddle grid points. 1:500 scale. This dataset is part of the Saddle grid geographic information system (GIS). Additional information concerning the Niwot Ridge LTER hierarchical GIS can be found in Walker et al. (1993).
1:10,000 Vegetation, Niwot Ridge LTER Project Area, Colorado
Vegetation coverage digitized from 1:10,000 map. Vegetation classification follows Komarkova's (1979) classification system (Braun-Blanquet) units. See Peddle and Duguay (1995) for additional information on digitization and map production for this vegetation coverage. See Braun-Blanquet (1964), Komarkova and Webber (1978), and Komarkova (1979, 1980) for additional information on vegetation classification used in this dataset.
Landmarks, Niwot Ridge LTER Project Area, Colorado
Point shapefile of commonly referenced locations at Niwot Ridge, Green Lakes Valley, and surrounding area.
Snow horizon chemistry data for Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley, 1993 - ongoing.
Snow pits were excavated at various locations on Niwot Ridge and within the Green Lakes Valley. Temperature and snow density were measured at various depths throughout the snow cover profiles in order to characterize the temperature and snow water equivalent (SWE) of the snowpack throughout the year. Snow density was measured at 10-cm intervals using a 1000-ml cutter. Data on snow grain qualities were collected beginning in the 1994-95 snow season. Snow samples were collected and analyzed for cations and anions at the Mountain Research Station's Arikaree (formerly Kiowa) Laboratory.
Single-point CLM simulations with hillslope hydrology at Niwot Ridge, CO
In this study, we ran ecosystem-scale Community Land Model (CLM) simulations with a novel hillslope hydrology configuration to represent topographically heterogeneous alpine tundra vegetation across a moisture gradient at Niwot Ridge, Colorado, USA. We used local observations to evaluate our simulations and investigated the role of topography and aspect in mediating patterns of snow, productivity, soil moisture and temperature, as well as the potential exposure to climate change across an alpine tundra hillslope. This dataset contains output files from single-point CLM simulations with the hillslope hydrology for the manuscript titled 'Topographic Heterogeneity and Aspect Moderate Exposure to Climate Change Across an Alpine Tundra Hillslope'. Local observations from Niwot Ridge, CO were used to force and evaluate these simulations to represent alpine tundra vegetation across a moisture gradient. Our control simulations were modified to represent a site at Niwot Ridge referred to as the 'Saddle', with an east and west facing knoll and a lowland area between them. Three columns represent distinct moist, wet, and dry meadow vegetation communities. We used the same model setup to run additional experiments on north- and south-facing slopes. Simulations were run using input data from 2008-2021 (historical) and then extended to year 2100 (future) using an anomaly forcing protocol.
Subsurface Temperature Data from Seven Rock Glaciers in Rocky Mountain National Park and Niwot Ridge LTER, Colorado, USA, 2018-2019
HOBO temperature-sensing data loggers (hereafter, sensors) were placed under the surface of seven rock glaciers predicted to have the presence (n=4) or absence (n=3) of sub-surface ice in Rocky Mountain National Park and near Niwot Ridge Long-term Ecological Research site in Colorado. Sub-surface temperatures were recorded to evaluate habitat differences among American pika populations. All sensors (model H08 pro, H08, or H02; Onset Computer Corporation, onsetcomp.com) recorded temperature (±0.2° Celsius) every one or two hours for one year starting in September 2018. Each rock glacier received at least one sensor, positioned near the center and near pika sign. Three rock glaciers received an additional sensor positioned near the edge of the rock glacier near pika sign. Sensors were placed at similar depths (~0.75 m) and similar aspects.
Soil microarthropod density data for saddle snowfence and S slope of Niwot Ridge, 1992 - 1993.
These data were used in this publication: O'Lear, H.A., and T.R. Seastedt. 1994. Landscape patterns of litter decomposition in alpine tundra. Oecologia 99: 95-101. doi: 10.1007/BF00317088 Microarthropod densities in the upper 5 cm of soil were estimated for different alpine communities on Niwot Ridge in the Front Range of Colorado. Densitites were higher than previously reported and averaged 111,200 individualsgm2. Acari dominated this group and composed 80-90% of the fauna; Collembola composed an average of 15%. Oribatid mites composed 23-58% of total densities, while Prostigmatid mites composed 32-54%. The relative abundance of the Oribatid and Prostigmatid mites varied significantly across the landscape, with Prostigmatids more abundant in the xeric sites. Composition of the detritus-based food web appear to change substantially across the snow depth gradient found in the alpine tundra. NOTE: The LTER data portal display does not display important maintenance/log information or other EML metadata features. Please be sure to view the EML file (a text file that contains XML tags) which is included in the zip archive (click on "Download zip archive") pertaining to each dataset. The EML file name will have the following format: knb-lter-nwt.[3 digit dataset number].[version number].xml. Most web browsers can parse the EML so it's easier to read.
Fungal root endophytes colonization of moist meadow forbs in 2017 at Niwot Ridge LTER site
Fungal root endophytes play an important role in plant nutrition, helping plants acquire nutrients in exchange for photosynthates. We sought to characterize the progression of root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), dark septate endophytes (DSE), and fine root endophytes (FRE) over an alpine growing season, and to understand the role of the host plant and environment in driving colonization levels. We sampled four forbs on a regular schedule from June 26th – September 11th from a moist meadow (3535 m.a.s.l) on Niwot Ridge, Rocky Mountain Front Range, Colorado, USA. We quantified the degree of root colonization by storage structures, exchange structures, and hyphae of all three groups of fungi. AMF and FRE percent colonization fluctuated significantly over time, while DSE did not. All AMF structures changed over time, and the degree of change in vesicles differed by plant species. FRE hyphae, AMF arbuscules and AMF vesicles peaked late in the season as plants produced seeds. AMF hyphae levels started high, decreased, and then increased within 20 days, highlighting the dynamic nature of plant-fungal interactions. Overall, our results show that AMF and FRE, not DSE, root colonization rapidly changes over the course of a growing season and these changes are driven by plant phenology and seasonal changes in the environment.
Soil lysimeter chemistry data from various locations on Niwot Ridge and in the Green Lakes Valley 1994 - 2013.
Water was collected from soil lysimeters at key sites across Niwot Ridge and the Green Lakes Valley in the tundra and subalpine forest. Zero-tension soil lysimeters in the City of Boulder Watershed were deployed in the mid-1980’s. Additional zero-tension lysimeters were installed at Subnivean and Soddie sites in 1997. At c1 in 2010, 12 Tension lysimeters (Soil Moisture Equipment Corp Model 1900 Soil Water Sampler ) were installed at C1.SO, C1.ST and C1.SW sites, with four lysimeters at each site. In 2012, 15 additional zero tension lysimeters were installed in the City of Boulder Watershed at Gl5, Arikaree, and D1 locations (with 5 lysimeters at each site).
N and P addition experiment colonization data for Niwot Ridge from 2015 to 2019, yearly
In 2014 we established 20 experimental plots (25 x 25 cm) at four Snowbed Experiment sites (Arikaree, D1, Martinelli, and Soddie) in order to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) nutrient additions on plant colonization in snowbed areas with a recently diminishing persistence of summer snow cover. Plots were established in areas of persistent snow cover where there was only bare soil and no plants growing. Treatments included (1) control (no nutrient additions), (2) N addition, (3) P addition, and (4) N + P addition. At each site, plots were grouped into five blocks, with one of each of the four treatment plots present in each block (4 sites x 5 blocks x 4 treatments = 80 plots). Treatments were assigned randomly (without replacement) within blocks.
Topographic heterogeneity mediates patterns of vegetation response to climate change across a mountain landscape, Niwot Ridge, Colorado, 1972-2008
The distributions of biomes worldwide are predicted to shift as vegetation tracks climate change. Ecologists often use coarse-scale climate models to predict these shifts along broad elevational and latitudinal gradients, but these assessments could fail to capture important dynamics by ignoring fine-scale heterogeneity. We ask how the elevational ranges of vegetation types have changed in a mountainous landscape, and investigate the influence of fine-scale topographic, snowpack, and soil properties on vegetation change. We manually classified vegetation from high-resolution repeat aerial photographs from 1972 and 2008 at Niwot Ridge, Colorado, USA, and generally found that trees and shrubs colonized tundra, while tundra colonized barren soils. Only shrubs expanded their elevational range. Several fine-scale topographic, soil and snow characteristics, including elevation, slope, solar radiation, soil bulk density, and interannual snowpack variability, modulated where plant establishment occurred. Each vegetation type had a unique suite of variables best predicting its establishment in new areas. We suggest that fine-scale heterogeneity may strongly control how plants in mountainous regions respond to climate change, and different vegetation types may be sensitive to different aspects of this heterogeneity. An improved understanding of the factors controlling vegetation change gives us a broader understanding of ecosystem response to climate change, nitrogen deposition, and release from grazing.
Permanent forest plot data from 1982-2019 at Niwot Ridge, Colorado
The permanent forest plots at Niwot Ridge were installed in subalpine forests in the Colorado Front Range by Dr. Thomas T. Veblen in the early 1980s. The goal was to establish a set of long-term forest plots to monitor tree populations and stand dynamics over time. Ten large permanent plots (i.e., from 21 x 54m to 54 m x 54 m) were installed to monitor ~ 400 trees per plot. An additional thirty smaller ‘gap’ plots (i.e. approximately 10 m x 10 m) were installed in canopy openings adjacent to three of the large permanent plots to monitor gap dynamics (c. 40 trees per plot). Three new plots (42x42 m) were installed in 2016 (MRS11,13) or 2017 (MRS12) following the protocol for the large permanent plots. The plots are located across gradients in elevation and site moisture conditions. Plots include the following subalpine tree species: lodgepole pine (“Pinus contorta”), limber pine (“Pinus flexilis”), Engelmann spruce (“Picea engelmannii”), subalpine fir (“Abies lasiocarpa”), and aspen (“Populus tremuloides”). When the plots were installed, all living and standing dead trees were permanently tagged, and the following was measured for all live and dead trees less than 4 cm dbh: species, diameter at breast height (1.4 m), height class, and status (live or dead). Censuses of tree mortality were conducted roughly every three years, except the period 1994-2007, and a complete re-measurement (e.g. dbh measurements) was conducted in 2016 (see methods for details) and a status check (live/dead) was conducted in 2019. Counts of juvenile trees (less than 4 cm dbh) by species were conducted when the plots were installed and in 2017. This database includes three datasets: 1) description of plots (e.g. elevation, aspect, size), 2) tree data (e.g. dbh, height class, status) for all trees (greater than 4 cm dbh) monitored from early 1980s to 2019, and 3) counts of juvenile trees (less than 4 cm) by species in early 1980s and 2017.
Physiological stress of American pika (Ochotona princeps) and associated habitat characteristics for Niwot Ridge, 2018 - 2019
Temporal variation in a metric of stress might signify changes in an organism’s internal or external environment, but spatial variation in stress response could also signify spatial variation in habitat quality. Any stress response to habitat quality can be complicated or modulated, however, by strategies like escape in space (e.g., animal movements) or time (e.g., seed banks) that allow access to different conditions. Spatial and temporal variation in response to potential stressors has received little study in wild animals, especially at scales appropriate for relating stress to specific habitat characteristics. Here, we use the American pika (Ochotona princeps), a highly territorial small mammal, to investigate stress response within and among territories. For individually territorial animals such as pika, differences in habitat quality should lead to differences in the levels of stress exhibited by territory owners. In this study, we indexed stress by measuring stress hormone metabolites in feces collected non-invasively from pika territories. Feces were collected from 20 territories every two weeks from June to September of 2018 (pika_fecal_glut.aw.data.csv). In 2019, habitat metrics were recorded at each territory (pika_fecal_glut_habitat.aw.data.csv).
25cm NDVI data from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge Saddle Catchment, 2017
Data collected as part of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/drone campaign during Summer 2017. Investigating snow depth variability and spatiotemporal variations and controls on vegetation productivity within the Niwot Ridge LTER Saddle Catchment.
Geodetic snow depth from UAV campaign at Niwot Ridge, 2017
Geodetic snow depth for of Niwot Ridge from UAV campaign in June 2017. Data collected as part of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)/drone campaign during Summer 2017, investigating snow depth variability and spatiotemporal variations and controls on vegetation productivity within the Niwot Ridge LTER Saddle
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