Data Citation

Coupland, R. T. 1999. NPP Grassland: Matador, Canada, 1968-1971. Data set. Available on-line [http://www.daac.ornl.gov] from Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Description

This study was part of a total ecosystem study (the Matador Project), the objective of which was to measure energy flow of a grassland ecosystem by investigating its structure and function. As part of the International Biological Programme (IBP), the Matador Project was funded by the National Research Council of Canada and headquartered at the University of Saskatchewan. Other studies at the same site examined biomass and activity of all groups of flora, fauna and microorganisms, as well as abiotic factors that affect energy flow and nutrient cycling.

The 8 km2 Matador Field Station (50.70 N 107.72 W) is located approximately 47 km north of the city of Swift Current in southern Saskatchewan Province, approximately 180 km SSW of Saskatoon, at the northern limit of the "mixed prairie" portion of the North American Great Plains. This area is in the bed of a former glacial lake, which has been cut by the South Saskatchewan River; the construction of a dam upstream has created Diefenbaker Lake immediately to the south. The principal study area for plant production, located within "Section 16", was 400 m x 60 m in size, and sampling took place within 4 m x 4 m subplots. A secondary study area ("Section 10") was initiated in 1970. The effect of grazing by cattle on the plot areas, which began in 1905 and was mostly limited to the winter months, was minimal or absent. Maximum leaf area index was reported as 1.5 in July 1970 and 1.0 in July 1971.

All data and documentation have been checked by the Principal Investigator.

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