This dataset contains photosynthetic light response and carbon
fixation data from biological soil crusts collected at four
locations in the Chihuahuan Desert. This study aims to 1) assess the
carbon fixation capacity of biocrust types under varying incubation
times; 2) assess biocrust nitrogen fixation capacity; 3) understand
microbial community composition as well as biomass differences
within these biocrust types; and 4) identify how geographic location
and soil properties can explain differences seen in carbon fixation
and microbial diversity. In order to characterize the physiology of
biocrust types at a range of Chihuahuan Desert sites, intact,
replicate samples of five soil crust types were collected from each
of 4 sites in southern New Mexico, USA: the Jornada Experimental
Range (near T-West), the A-Mountain BLM site, the Volcanic BLM site,
and White Sands Missile Range. Data and sample collection occurred
between May and July of 2020, and the soil crust types of interest
were light cyanobacterial, dark cyanobacterial, Peltula lichen,
Clavascidium lichen, and moss crusts (n=5 samples for each site
& type). After collection, crust subsamples were sequenced,
targeting the 16S rRNA gene region for bacteria (see EDI dataset
knb-lter-jrn.210549001 and linked data at NCBI), and then subjected
to an incubation and photosynthetic response measurements. The
intact crusts were incubated under low light, and C fixation was
then observed under 12-point light regime in a LI-6400XT
photosynthesis analyzer leaf chamber after incubation periods of
30min, 2hr, 6hr, 12hr, and 24hr (5 reps for each condition). The
resulting light response curves were used to calculate
photosynthetic information in R for the purpose of comparing
biocrust type, site, and time response differences and upscale
carbon flux values to landscape scale. This data set includes the
light response curve values and photosynthetic data calculated from
these curves. This data set also includes raw LICOR output files
compiled into four Excel workbooks that data was extracted from.
This study is complete.