Peat and sediment characteristics from different Reindeer grazing intensities in Northern Finland

• Main Authors: Windirsch, Torben, Forbes, Bruce C, Grosse, Guido, Wolter, Juliane, Treat, Claire C, Ulrich, Mathias, Stark, Sari, Fuchs, Matthias, Olofsson, Johan, Macias-Fauria, Marc, Kumpula, Timo, Strauss, Jens
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2022
• Subjects: biogeochemistry; Carbon; Finland; peat; PeCHEc; Permafrost Carbon Stabilization by Recreating a Herbivore-Driven Ecosystem; sediment; Northern Finland; permafrost; Tundra
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.941930; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.941930

These data originate from 11 soil profiles sampled in northern Finland in September 2020 as part of the PeCHEc project. 8 sites were sampled on the Kutuharjue Field Research Station, a reindeer research station run by the Reindeer Herders' Association of Finland. Additional 3 sites were collected in the area around the station in the Muotkatunturi reindeer herding district as reference sites for the different landscape types found. In total, 5 sites with mineral soil (profiles with fixed volume cylinders) and 6 sites with peat (peat corer) were sampled in tundra, grassland and birch forest landscapes, covering a range of 5 different reindeer grazing intensities: a) exclosure site with no grazing (intensity 1), b) occassional migration route (intensity 2), c) regular migration route (intensity 3), d) frequent migration route (intensity 4), e) pasture (intensity 5). Analysis took place at the facilities of AWI between October 2020 and August 2021. All samples taken from the cores were analyzed for water content, bulk density, TOC, TN and δ13C. Additional radiocarbon measurements were done for selected samples of all sites. For mineral soil samples, both from mineral soil sites as well as from the bottom of the peat cores, grain size composition was determined. TC and TN were measured at AWI Potsdam CARLA Laboratory using a vario EL III Element Analyzer. TOC was measured at the same laboratory using a varioMAX C Element Analyzer. δ13C was measured at AWI Potsdam Stable Isotope Laboratory using a Delta V Advantage Isotope Ratio MS supplement equipped with a Flash 2000 Organic Elemental Analyzer. Grain size composition was determined using a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 equipped with a Malvern Hydro LV wet-sample dispersion unit. Statistics were calculated for this using Gradistat 8.0. Radiocarbon dating was carried out using the Mini Carbon Dating System (MICADAS) at AWI Bremerhaven.