Long-Term Ecological Research data contains counts of benthic macroinvertebrates collected from seven primary lakes in Wisconsin's Northern Highland Lakes District. The dataset currently includes identified and counted samples from Trout Lake (1981-1985) and Crystal Lake (1982, 1985, 1987). The North Temperate Lakes site, affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Limnology, gathered this data using modified Hester-Dendy samplers.
Use Cases
- Analyze temporal trends in macroinvertebrate abundance and community composition using year and lake name fields.
- Model relationships between lake characteristics (e.g., size, depth, fertility) and benthic fauna using associated lake metadata.
- Assess biodiversity metrics like species richness and evenness from taxon identification and count data per sample.
- Compare macroinvertebrate communities between specific lakes, such as Trout Lake and Crystal Lake, using location identifiers.
Strengths
- Data originates from a long-term ecological research program focused on a high-density lake district with over 10,000 sq. km.
- Sampling methodology is standardized using modified Hester-Dendy samplers deployed for consistent 3-4 week periods.
Limitations
- Sample coverage is limited, with only two of the seven primary lakes (Trout and Crystal) fully identified and counted.
- Data is temporally stale, with the latest identified samples from 1987.
Provenance
- Source
- North Temperate Lakes (NTL) site, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, via the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program.
- Collection Method
- Macroinvertebrates collected using modified Hester-Dendy samplers placed at fyke and gill net locations, preserved in ethanol, then identified and counted.
- Time Range
- 1981-1987 for identified samples (Trout Lake: 1981-1985; Crystal Lake: 1982, 1985, 1987).
- Freshness
- null
- Geography
- Seven primary lakes in the Northern Highland Lakes District of Wisconsin, USA.