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In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project, (Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban, urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban). Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are measured on selected samples. This dataset presents stream chemistry from the Cub Hill stream sites. The Cub Hill site is 14 km from the Baltimore city center (39 degrees 24'30.20N, 76 degrees 30'50.62W) and is the location of the first permanent urban carbon flux tower in an urban/suburban environment, established in 2001 by the U.S. Forest Service. Three stream monitoring sites were established in the residential area in the footprint of the tower; Jennifer Branch at North Wind Rd. (JBNW) and two headwater tributaries to Jennifer Branch: Harford Hills (JBHH) and Ontario (JBON). These sites were sampled weekly from August 2003 through June 2010.
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Mosquito Ovitrap Data from Baltimore City and County (2011-2016)
Mosquitoes are an important component of insect biodiversity across all ecosystems. As invertebrates, they are sensitive to abiotic conditions during both aquatic juvenile and terrestrial adult stages. The data here were collected to identify how mosquito species composition, phenology, and peak population abundances are influenced by changes in abiotic and biotic conditions along an urbanization gradient from residential Baltimore City to forested Baltimore County. Many of the sample sites were aligned with the LTER's stream sampling along the Gwynns Falls, with additional sites located in community gardens in residential neighborhoods near Watershed 263.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1855277
- PAR ID:
- 10474650
- Publisher / Repository:
- Environmental Data Initiative
- Date Published:
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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In the Baltimore urban long-term ecological research (LTER) project, (Baltimore Ecosystem Study, BES) we use the watershed approach to evaluate integrated ecosystem function. The LTER research is centered on the Gwynns Falls watershed, a 17,150 ha catchment that traverses a gradient from the urban core of Baltimore, through older urban residential (1900 - 1950) and suburban (1950- 1980) zones, rapidly suburbanizing areas and a rural/suburban fringe. Our long-term sampling network includes four longitudinal sampling sites along the Gwynns Falls as well as several small (40 - 100 ha) watersheds located within or near to the Gwynns Falls. The longitudinal sites provide data on water and nutrient fluxes in the different land use zones of the watershed (rural/suburban, rapidly suburbanizing, old suburban, urban core) and the small watersheds provide more focused data on specific land use areas (forest, agriculture, rural/suburban, urban). Each of the gaging sites is continuously monitored for discharge and is sampled weekly for chemistry. Additional chemical sampling is carried out in a supplemental set of sites to provide a greater range of land use. Weekly analyses includes nitrate, phosphate, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chloride and sulfate, turbidity, fecal coliforms, temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH. Cations, dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen and metals are measured on selected samples. This dataset presents stream chemistry from the Watershed 263 subwatersheds. Watershed 263 is a 364 ha urban storm drain watershed (or sewershed), with 30,000 residents with mixed industrial, institutional, and residential land uses. In March 2004, we established monitoring sites in two sub-watersheds within W263 (Baltimore Street and Lanvale Street). Both are approximately 17 ha with 50% impervious surface and 4% vegetation cover.more » « less
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