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Description

Metadata record for data from AAS (ASAC) Project 3261.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Assess temporal variability in stream invertebrates on the sub-Antarctic island, Macquarie Island. This objective is to support their use as indicators of stream health due to climate change, other anthropogenic impacts and natural changes (see below).

2. Measure for the first time ecosystem functions of breakdown of organic matter and ecosystem respiration in streams of Macquarie Island.

3. Collect for the first time samples from the algae and protozoan stream communities from Macquarie Island.

The stream invertebrate communities of Macquarie Island were assumed to be temporally stable. However, sampling of these communities in the summers of 1992/93 and 2007/08 has shown an unexpected change over this period. The cause of this change is unknown. Likewise it is unknown whether this change (a) was a gradual change between the sampling points, (b) the change was abrupt or (c) if there were many changes over this period. Without information on temporal variability on the scales less than a few years it is impossible to assess potential cause of the past observed change in the stream invertebrate communities. We thus propose sampling the stream invertebrate communities in the 2009/10 summer and (if possible) over the 2010 winter. In conjunction with the 1992/93 and 2007/08 data, this new data will allow assessment of the temporal variability of the invertebrate communities at a number of scales.

Objectives 2 and 3 are to provide information of food-webs and the ecology of Macquarie Island streams so as to better understand the natural processes occurring in the stream and to assess the potential for them to be affected by climate change, other anthropogenic impacts and natural changes on the island.

Progress against objectives:
Stream samples (invertebrate and protozoan) were collected from sites 2,3,4,5,6 and 16, and invertebrate only samples from 11 and 18. These samples have been preserved and are returning to Australia on V5 where they will undergo laboratory processing, identification and statistical analysis of the data.

Dissolved oxygen and temperature loggers were installed at three sites and will be left in place until May 2010 (and returned on Voyage E1). From the data collected by these loggers it will be possible to estimate the productivity of the streams (total stream photosynthesis and respiration).

Data from this project have been archived in the Australian Antarctic Data Centre.

The download file contains a readme file, which provides details on the column headings in the spreadsheets. A map detailing site locations is also provided. The sites used in 1992, 2008 and 2010 were the same (e.g. site 2 in 1992 is also site 2 in 2010). All data contained in the "Environ_Full.xls" file were collected by Ben Kefford.

Regarding the data in the 92-08-10 file, data were collected by Richard Marchant and Peter Lilywhite in 1992, Ben Kefford in 2008, and James Doube in 2010. All invertebrates were identified by Richard Marchant.

Regarding the "Marchant 2011 macca bugs accessory pub" file, the data were collected by Ben Kefford, Richard Marchant and Jane Wasley.

Also see the metadata record "Have stream invertebrate communities of Macquarie Island changed over 15 years and are they likely to respond to climate changes or other environmental factors?" (ASAC_2918) for more information.

Quality

The values provided in temporal and spatial coverage are approximate only.

Data from this project have been provided by Ben Kefford. However, the data have not been adequately described, and should therefore be used with caution.

Access

These data are publicly available for download from the provided URL.

A copy of the referenced paper is only available for download by AAD staff.

Temporal Coverages

• Start date: 2009-09-30 - Stop date: 2010-05-31

Spatial Coverages

Science Keywords

• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/INVERTEBRATES
• EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY > GASES > DISSOLVED OXYGEN
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS > SPECIES/POPULATION INTERACTIONS > POPULATION DYNAMICS
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS > RIVERS/STREAM
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOSPHERE > ECOSYSTEMS > TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS > ISLANDS
• EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY > WATER CHARACTERISTICS > WATER TEMPERATURE
• EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > PLANTS > MICROALGAE

Use Constraints

This data set conforms to the CCBY Attribution License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Please follow instructions listed in the citation reference provided at http://data.aad.gov.au/aadc/metadata/citation.cfm?entry_id=AAS_3261 when using these data.