NPElement: A Database of Lichen Elemental Concentrations in the U. S. National Parks

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: James P. Bennett

Publication_Date: 2006

Title:

NPElement: A Database of Lichen Elemental Concentrations in the U. S. National Parks

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: web page

Description:

Abstract:

This data set includes chemical element concentration data for various species of lichen in National Parks. Each element concentration is accompanied by the name of the lichen species sampled; the name of the park; the location within the park; the year sampling occurred; the latitude, longitude, and elevation of the sampling location; and whether or not it was a replicate sample.

Purpose:

The objectives of collecting this data were to study air quality and air pollution in the National Park system. This was done by collecting lichens from within the park boundaries and then analyzing them for concentrations of the following chemical elements: Ag, Al, As, Ash (%), Au, B, Ba, Be, Bi, Br, Ca, Cd, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, N, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Si, Sn, Sr, Th, Ti, V, Y, Yb, Zn

Supplemental_Information:

In general terms, lichens are hand collected from various substrates in study localities, bagged in the field in perforated polyethylene bags and air dried. In the laboratory they are hand cleaned of foreign materials, and ground to a find powder by various methods. The powders are then digested with various acids and analyzed for suites of elements by ICP-OES, ICP-MS, NAA, or other analytical methods. Standard reference materials are analyzed with each sample set to check on concentration accuracy. Some studies included laboratory splits to check on laboratory precision. While data outliers are excluded from statistical analyses, they are all included in these data sets for future investigations.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 1979

Ending_Date: 2005

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

This database covers the continental United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. It does not cover international lichen distributions.

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -162.3186

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -68.04645

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 67.94178

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.14187

Bounding_Altitudes:

Altitude_Minimum: 0.914

Altitude_Maximum: 2900

Altitude_Distance_Units: meters

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: National Park Service

Theme_Keyword: U.S. Geological Survey

Theme_Keyword: lichen

Theme_Keyword: air pollution

Theme_Keyword: heavy metals

Theme_Keyword: element concentration data

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:

Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus:

None

Taxonomic_Keywords: multiple species

Taxonomic_Keywords: lichens

Taxonomic_System:

Classification_System/Authority:

Classification_System_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator: Esslinger, T. L.

Publication_Date: 199712

Title:

A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: web page

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Fargo, North Dakota

Publisher: North Dakota State University

Other_Citation_Details:

Most Recent Update 14 June 2005

Online_Linkage: http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/esslinge/chcklst/chcklst7.htm

Taxonomic_Procedures:

Varies due to the fact that taxonomy was not verified independently for the purpose of this database. Species were assumed to be correctly identified. All taxonomic names from published papers were standardized to the most recently available version of Esslinger's Checklist (see Classification System or Authority) before inclusion into the database.

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom

Taxon_Rank_Value: Fungi

Access_Constraints: Requires Microsoft Access 2003.

Use_Constraints:

None.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: James P. Bennett

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: U. S. Geological Survey and

Address: Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Address: University of Wisconsin – Madison

Address: 445 Henry Mall, Rm. 514

City: Madison

State_or_Province: WI

Postal_Code: 53706

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (608) 262-5489

Data_Set_Credit:

This database was developed by James P. Bennett, U. S. Geological Survey and University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Kara Jensen, University of Wisconsin; and Sarah Pratt, Great Lakes Network Office, National Park Service, Ashland, WI. Website development was by Kara Jensen, University of Wisconsin. Funding for this database was provided by the U. S. Geological Survey, Madison, WI and the Great Lakes Network Office, National Park Service, Ashland, WI.

Additional thanks and credit go to: University of Minnesota Research Analytical Laboratory, University of Wisconsin Soil and Plant Analysis Lab, William Cannon, Larry Gough, Larry Jackson, James Lawrey, Thomas Nash, Larry St. Clair, Steven Smith, Clifford Wetmore, and Laurel Woodruff

Analytical_Tool:

Analytical_Tool_Description:

None

Tool_Access_Information:

Tool_Access_Instructions:

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

The accuracy of the information in the database has not been independently verified. The database is complete within the parameters that have been set to the best knowledge of its creators and as mistakes and omissions are discovered, they are corrected.

The accuracy of the information contained in the published reports that this database is based on have also not been verified. There is no guarantee that the species listed for these parks were correctly identified or that the element concentrations given were correctly obtained or reported. The data in this database indicate only that the information was correct as determined by the original sources. This database contains only secondary source material, and not original data.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

This database is logically consistent as far as can be determined by repeated user queries and error-checking on the part of the creators. No tests of logical consistency have been performed.

Error checking was performed on a limited amount of data (1%) to make sure that no transcription errors had occurred when transferring the raw data to the database. Six errors were found and corrected.

Completeness_Report:

Data for each element that were below the detection limit were deleted if they comprised more than 30% of the data for a particular species. If they comprised less than 30% of the total amount of data, the detection limit was multiplied by 0.7 and the resulting value was used. These steps were performed in 2006 as the data were entered into the database.

This database contains all known suitable records of element concentrations in lichens in units of the U. S. National Park System from the scientific literature and from National Park Service reports. Reports that did not include a year of sampling or sampling location information were deemed unsuitable for inclusion.

Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:

Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Variable. Some latitude and longitude data were obtained in the field using a GPS unit, while other latitude and longitude data were estimated based on locality names given in reports or marked on maps.

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy:

Vertical_Positional_Accuracy_Report:

Variable. Some elevation data were obtained in the field using a GPS unit, while other elevation data were estimated based on locality names given in reports or marked on maps. The following table lists the source information for the latitude, longitude, and elevation for each Park.

field-GPS = reading taken from GPS unit in field
field-map = reading taken from topographical map in field
office-map = reading taken from MapSource software at a later date
unknown-original report = data came from a written report or other source that did not list methods

Park Name	Year	Lat/Lon Origin	Elevation Origin
Acadia	1983	field-GPS	office-map
Acadia	1998	field-GPS	office-map
Apostle Islands	1987	field-GPS	office-map
Apostle Islands	1995	field-GPS	office-map
Apostle Islands	2000	field-GPS	office-map
Apostle Islands	2001	field-GPS	office-map
Big Bend	2002	field-GPS	field-GPS
Chaco Culture	1979	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
Chiricahua	1986	office-map	field-map
Chiricahua	1993	field-GPS	field-GPS
Chiricahua	1994	field-GPS	field-GPS
Crater Lake	1999	field-GPS	office-map
Cuyahoga Valley	1985	office-map	office-map
Denali	1990	unknown-original report	office-map
Denali	1991	unknown-original report	office-map
Delaware Water Gap	1986	office-map	field-map
Effigy Mounds	1996	field-GPS	office-map
Everglades	1985	office-map	office-map
Grand Canyon	1992	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
Grand Portage	1991	office-map	field-map
Grand Portage	1992	office-map	field-map
Grand Portage	1993	office-map	field-map
Great Smoky Mountains	1984	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
Grand Teton	1995	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
George Washington Carver	1991	field-GPS	office-map
George Washington Carver	2000	field-GPS	office-map
Homestead	1996	field-GPS	office-map
Hot Springs	2001	field-GPS	field-map
Indiana Dunes	1985	office-map	office-map
Indiana Dunes	1997	office-map	office-map
Isle Royale	1983	office-map	office-map
Isle Royale	1984	office-map	office-map
Isle Royale	1992	office-map	office-map
Isle Royale	1999	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
Isle Royale	2000	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
Keweenaw	2005	field-GPS	field-map
Kings Canyon	1985	office-map	field-map
Klondike Gold Rush	1998	office-map	office-map
Klondike Gold Rush	1999	office-map	office-map
Lava Beds	1999	field-GPS	office-map
Lincoln Boyhood	1996	office-map	office-map
Mount Rainier	1983	office-map	unknown-original report
Noatak	1985	office-map	office-map
Olympic	1983	office-map	unknown-original report
Olympic	1985	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
Olympic	1986	unknown-original report	unknown-original report
Oregon Caves	1999	field-GPS	office-map
Pictured Rocks	1987	office-map	field-map
Pictured Rocks	1991	office-map	field-map
Point Reyes	2002	field-GPS	field-GPS
Redwood	1984	office-map	office-map
Redwood	1999	field-GPS	office-map
Redwood	2001	field-GPS	office-map
Rocky Mountain	2001	field-GPS	office-map
Saint Croix	1988	field-map	field-map
Saint Croix	1990	field-map	field-map
Saint Croix	2003	field-map	field-map
Saguaro	1986	field-map	field-map
Sequoia	1984	office-map	field-map
Shenandoah	1983	office-map	unknown-original report
Shenandoah	1984	office-map	office-map
Shenandoah	1985	office-map	office-map
Shenandoah	1986	office-map	office-map
Sleeping Bear Dunes	1987	field-GPS	field-map
Sleeping Bear Dunes	2000	field-GPS	field-map
Theodore Roosevelt	1982	field-GPS	field-map
Theodore Roosevelt	1983	field-map	field-map
Theodore Roosevelt	1998	field-GPS	field-map
Voyageurs	1983	office-map	office-map
Voyageurs	1985	office-map	office-map
Voyageurs	1986	office-map	office-map
Voyageurs	1987	office-map	office-map
Voyageurs	1990	office-map	office-map
Voyageurs	1991	office-map	office-map
Voyageurs	1992	office-map	office-map
Wilson's Creek	1996	field-GPS	field-map
Wrangell-St. Elias	1990	unknown-original report	office-map
Yellowstone	1998	field-GPS	field-GPS

Lineage:

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

No process steps have been described for this data set

Process_Date: Unknown

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label: Lichen sample

Entity_Type_Definition:

Refers to a unique sample.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Replicate

Attribute_Definition:

In some cases, multiple lichen samples of the same species were collected at one location for lab analysis. These are defined as replicates.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: AreaName

Attribute_Definition:

Name of the National Park where lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: State

Attribute_Definition:

State where lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: AreaType

Attribute_Definition:

Designation for land within National Park System (National Park, National Monument, etc.) where lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Locality

Attribute_Definition:

Specific location within the National Park where lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Year

Attribute_Definition:

Year when the lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Flag

Attribute_Definition:

Used to denote anything unusual about the lichen sample. Definitions included in the database.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Species

Attribute_Definition:

Species of the lichen sample.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Reference

Attribute_Definition:

Published reference that applies to lichen sample.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Lat

Attribute_Definition:

Latitude at which lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Lon

Attribute_Definition:

Longitude at which lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Elevation

Attribute_Definition:

Elevation at which lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Element

Attribute_Definition:

Element that was analyzed for the lichen sample. In almost all cases, multiple elements were analyzed for each lichen sample.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: Data

Attribute_Definition:

Element concentration of each lichen sample.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CentLat

Attribute_Definition:

Latitude of the centroid of the National Park where the lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CentLon

Attribute_Definition:

Longitude of the centroid of the National Park where the lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Attribute:

Attribute_Label: CentState

Attribute_Definition:

State where centroid is located for National Park where lichen sample was collected.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20060921

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person: Kara Jensen

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: mailing and physical

Address: Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

Address: University of Wisconsin – Madison

Address: 445 Henry Mall, Rm. 514

City: Madison

State_or_Province: WI

Postal_Code: 53706

Contact_Voice_Telephone: (608) 263-6843

Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999