Acknowledging the use of ECN data

We kindly request that you acknowledge the use of our data sets. This helps us to gauge the extent to which datasets are used and allows us to demonstrate the value of these data for research into environmental change.

We also request that you send us one reprint of any publication that cites the use of our data. We will endeavour to add publications that use ECN data to our publications catalogue.

ECN full datasets: links to data and related protocols

Our longest running terrestrial ECN sites began operating in 1992, making 1993 the first complete year of data collection. Currently many of these datasets are available for download up to and including 2015. Data for seven of the sites span the entire 23 year period. A further four sites began operating after 1993. Sadly, monitoring at Drayton ceased in 2014. Each dataset has a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to aid referencing.

The datasets are described in a paper:

Rennie, S., Andrews, C., Atkinson, S., Beaumont, D., Benham, S., Bowmaker, V., Dick, J., Dodd, B., McKenna, C., Pallett, D., Rose, R., Schafer, S., Scott, T., Taylor, C. and Watson, H. (2020). The UK Environmental Change Network datasets – integrated and co-located data for long-term environmental research (1993–2015). Earth System Science Data, 12, 87-107. DOI: 10.5194/essd-12-87-2020

These full datasets are available via the UKCEH Environmental Information Platform (EIP) using the links below. Click on the name to access the dataset or on the protocol code to view the protocol. ECN full datasets at the resolutions specified in the protocols and released under the terms of the ECN data policy. Data are made available through an Open Government Licence and are hosted on the CEH Environmental Information Platform.

If you require ECN data collected after 2015, please contact us and we will try to assist wherever possible on a case by case basis.

Physical parameters

Meteorology
Weather data recorded by Automatic Weather Stations
Protocol: MA
Temporal range: 1991-2015

Stream water discharge
Stream water discharge data from terrestrial sites where a stream is present, i.e. Glensaugh, Moor House - Upper Teesdale, Sourhope, Wytham and Y Wyddfa (Snowdon). Continuous discharge measurements (summarised every 15 minutes) are made
Protocol: WD
Temporal range: 1993-2015
See also: surface water chemistry (WC) below

Chemical parameters

Soil solution chemistry
Chemistry of water collected from soils via suction lysimeters. Replicated suction lysimeters at the base of a & b soil horizons are sampled every two-weeks and analysed fo 15 chemical variables
Protocol: SS
Temporal range: 1992-2015

Precipitation chemistry
Chemistry of precipitation. Fourteen chemical variables are analysed weekly
Protocol: PC
Temporal range: 1992-2015

Surface water chemistry
Chemistry of water in rivers and streams where present on terrestrial sites, i.e. Glensaugh, Moor House - Upper Teesdale, Sourhope, Wytham and Y Wyddfa (Snowdon). Weekly dip samples for 15 chemical variables are taken
Protocol: WC
Temporal range: 1992-2015
See also: Stream water discharge (WD) above

Atmospheric chemistry: Nitrogen dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide concentration. Passive diffusion tubes are used. The tubes are left out for a two-week period
Protocol: AN
Temporal range: 1993-2015

Vegetation

Fine-grain Vegetation
Species presence recorded in 40cm x 40cm cells within 10m x 10m plots (at least two in each NVC vegetation type). Plots are re-surveyed every 3 years
Protocol: VF
Temporal range: 1994-2015

Coarse-grain Vegetation
Species presence recorded in 50 random 2m x 2m grid plots, surveyed every nine years
Protocol: VC
Temporal range: 1993-2012

Woodland Vegetation
Where coarse-grain vegetation plots fall in woodland, seedlings, Diameter at Breast Height, tree height and dominance are recorded within a surrounding 10m x 10m plot
Protocol: VW
Temporal range: 1993-2014

Baseline Vegetation
Whole site vegetation survey with up to 500 systematic 2m x 2m plots. Species presence related to the National Vegetation Classification (NVC)
Protocol: VB
Temporal range: 1991-2000

Invertebrates

Butterflies
Weekly monitoring of butterflies along transects, based on UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme methods
Protocol: IB
Temporal range: 1993-2015

Moths
Counts of moths by species. Moths are collected nightly (weekly at remote sites), using the method of the Rothamsted Insect Survey
Protocol: IM
Temporal range: 1992-2015

Ground predators (carabid beetles)
Records of carabid beetles collected at two-weekly intervals from pitfall traps
Protocol: IG
Temporal range: 1992-2015

Spittle Bugs
Spittle bug nymph density and adult colour morphs are assessed annually
Protocol: IS
Temporal range: 1993-2015

Vertebrates

Bats
Bat species are mapped and their behaviour recorded on transects
Protocol: BA
Temporal range: 1993-2015

Birds (Breeding Bird Survey)
Bird monitoring following the commonly used Breeding Bird Survey method
Protocol: BB
Temporal range: 1995-2015

Birds (Common Bird Census)
Bird monitoring following the BTO Common Bird Census (now superceded by the Breeding Bird Survey)
Protocol: BC
Temporal range: 1971-2007

Frogs
Frog spawn development and the pond environment are monitored at sites where ponds are present
Protocol: BF
Temporal range: 1994-2015

Grazing animals (rabbits & deer)
Grazing animal population size is determined via dropping counts along transects
Protocol: BU
Temporal range: 1993-2015

Other

Ecosystem services variables
73 ecosystem services variables for 11 ECN sites. The variables cover provisioning (food, fibre, fuel, genetic resources, biochemical and pharmaceuticals, ornamental), regulating (air quality regulation, climate regulation, water regulation, erosion, human diseases, biological control, pollination, natural hazard, other hazards) and cultural (cultural diversity) service types
Protocol: n/a
Temporal range: 2011

Site-specific datasets

Cairngorms

Moor House

Sourhope

  • NERC Soil Biodiversity Programme (An integrated programme of research on the biological diversity of soil biota and the functional roles played by soil organisms in key ecological processes. The programme ran from 1997 - 2004)

Wytham

Freshwater sites

Please contact us to enquire about other freshwater datasets that may be available from the organisations responsible for data collection.