Identification

Title

Vascular plant and bryophyte survey from a 33-year chronosequence on bare chalk, Dorset, 2019-2020

Abstract

[This dataset is embargoed until April 1, 2024]. Vascular plant and bryophyte survey data from a 33-year chronosequence on bare chalk, used to investigate primary succession. The bare chalk plots were created from archaeological excavations on Down Farm, north Dorset, between the years 1986 and 2018, resulting in 13 different plots. The vascular plant survey was carried out in July 2019 using 50 cm x 50 cm quadrats. Quadrats were recorded every 1 m along a 16 m transect in each of the 13 plots. The bryophyte survey was carried out in February 2020 using 20 cm x 20 cm quadrats, along the same transects for 11 of the 13 plots. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/358eb380-74a0-4acd-9df2-696fdf13a6d7

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/358eb380-74a0-4acd-9df2-696fdf13a6d7

codeSpace

doi:

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Land Cover

originating controlled vocabulary

title

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Keyword set

keyword value

vascular plant

bryophyte

succession

chalk

Dorset

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-2.007

East bounding longitude

-2.001

North bounding latitude

50.933

South bounding latitude

50.929

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2019-01-01

End position

2020-12-31

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2023-05-30

Frequency of update

Quality and validity

Lineage

A total of 13 transects (16 m in length) were set up in July 2019, with one in each of the excavated blocks dated 1986, 2004–2008, and 2013–2018 (2 blocks were excavated in 2016). The percentage cover of vascular plant species were recorded in 50 cm x 50 cm quadrats every 1 m along each of the 13 transects, giving a total of 208 quadrats. Vascular plants were identified to species level, with the exception of Taraxacum microspecies. The percentage cover of bryophytes were recorded in February 2020 using the same methodology, but with a 20 cm x 20 cm quadrat. Two plots were not recorded for bryophytes, the first of which (excavated in 2006) was due to rubble left on the plot, which would have influenced the colonisation of bryophytes and the second plot (excavated in 2016) was excluded due to time constraints, as there was already another plot recorded of this age. Bryophytes were identified to species level, with the exception of a few small and/or infertile individuals, where it was only possible to classify specimens to a group level (affecting some Didymodon and Bryum species). Data were collected by experienced field ecologists. Paper data sheets were digitised into Excel and were checked for any anomalies.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services

pointOfContact

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Environmental Information Data Centre

full postal address

Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg

Lancaster

LA1 4AP

email address

info@eidc.ac.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2023-06-02T13:31:20

Metadata language

eng