Microbial enzyme activities under experimental drought and warming at Clocaenog forest and Peaknaze Moor (2012)

This data consist of measurements on soil microbial enzyme activity of six hydrolytic enzymes and related soil measurements from the experimental field sites at Clocaenog forest and Peaknaze. Samples were collected in 2012 from plots subjected to experimental drought and warming as well as untreated control plots. Soil cores were taken for the topsoil 0 to10 centimetres. Enzymes were measured at the climate change field site Climoor that is located in Clocaenog forest, North East Wales and the Peaknaze field site located in the Peak District. The experimental field sites each consist of three untreated control plots, three plots where the plant canopy air is artificially warmed during night time hours, and three plots where rainfall is excluded from the plots at least during the plants growing season (March to September). Six hydrolytic soil microbial enzymes and one oxidase were extracted from the topsoil to test the effect of these enzymes that are involved in carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycling, under the imposed long-term climate change treatments. The hydrolytic enzymes were assayed using 4-methylumbelliferone (MUF) or 7-amino-4-methyl coumarin (AMC) linked-substrates, whereas the oxidase was extracted in pure water. All enzyme extracts were measured colorimetrically. The Clocaenog and Peaknaze field experiments intend to answer questions regarding the effects of warming and drought on ecosystem processes. Plot level microbial related measurements are important to investigate ecosystem carbon dynamics and changes in the soil carbon under the imposed climatic treatments. Measurements were undertaken by trained members of staff at the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/9bfa5e3b-dbf0-46fc-a5c4-7970b0d850a8