Submitting Data to the KBS LTER Data Catalog
KBS LTER data and metadata are stored in a secure database that is accessible via the online Data Catalog, http://lter.kbs.msu.edu/datatables/. All KBS LTER data are publicly available for download; however anyone downloading data must comply with the Terms of Use described at http://lter.kbs.msu.edu/data/terms_of_use.php See the KBS LTER Information Management plan for more detail.
It is critical that all data be associated with metadata (information about your data) as well as the methods used to produce the data. Investigators are responsible for assuring the integrity and quality of data they submit. Contact the KBS LTER Information Manager, Sven Bohm, with questions and comments ().
Numeric data can be submitted either as a comma-delimited text file or as an Excel spreadsheet. Other kinds of data formats and data (including images) can also be accommodated; please contact Sven in these cases. When you have comments that are specific to a row of data include a column entitled “Comment” rather than using comments attached to cells.
Vocabulary choice can determine whether others are able to find and interpret your data. Please be consistent in your nomenclature and terminology, such as naming of sites, species names and experiments. If you use codes or acronyms please define them and always use the same nomenclature already in use by other LTER investigators. See the Data Catalog for naming that is in use.
When submitting data for the first time include the following metadata. In cases of ongoing data collection that require subsequent submissions, you should review your existing metadata in the Data Catalog and let Sven know if there are any changes or additions that need to be made, if so, please reference the Datatable ID listed with each data table in the data catalog.
1. Title: The title should be descriptive, mention the data collected, geographic context and research site (what, where), (e.g. “Bee Abundance at LTER Scale-up Fields 2010”)
2. Abstract: Abstract Include an abstract rich with descriptive text, analogous to a paper’s abstract. Taxonomic information may be appropriate. This is a good place to indicate whether the datatable is ongoing or complete. Some general terms regarding methods, instrumentation or measurements should also be included.
3. Site: Use the site naming from the list below or see Sven if your site is not listed. If your site is not listed here you may need to submit coordinates or information about your site location.
a. LTER Main Site
b. LTER Unmanaged Site
c. LTER Scale-up fields
4. Experiment: Use the experiment naming from the list below or see Sven if your experiment is not listed.
a. LTER Main Cropping System Experiment
b. Biodiversity Gradient Experiment
c. Resource Gradient Experiment
d. Living Field Lab Study
e. Nitrogen Deposition Study
5. Personnel responsible for the data:
a. Lead investigators: generally the project leader(s). The Lead Investigator is the person responsible for data integrity and is the person that will be contacted by others for permission to use the data.
b. Investigators: researchers involved in the data such as professors (if not listed as a lead investigator), post-docs and students.
c. Principal Contact: This person should be able to answer questions about the data or know who to refer questions to.
6. Protocol: Please submit protocols that describe how the data were collected or analyzed, including author and date put into use. Include all calculations. If a protocol is updated, send the revised version and note the date that the existing protocol was last used and when the new the new protocol was put into use. We will retain the outdated protocols and record the dates that each was used; these outdated protocols will also be available from the same site. Protocols will be linked to your data table and will also be displayed with all the LTER protocols, at http://lter.kbs.msu.edu/protocols/. If you use a protocol already in the LTER data catalog you only need to specify it here, including version number, and describe any differences used.
7. Keywords - Since keywords are searched in LTER queries, include a meaningful set of keywords that describe your data. You can also add additional terms that do not fit into the datatable titles or abstracts.
8. Variates:
a. Variate name- same as the column header or a label that better describes the column.
b. Short description (one sentence or less) for each of the column headers.
c. SI units (International System of Units) must be clearly specified for each column that requires units. You may also report Imperial Units if you prefer to also have your data displayed in this format.
d. Acceptable data ranges, e.g., when counting birds the values cannot be less than zero.
e. Define any codes.
9. Species Data: Include a file with the genus, species and authority. You can also include family and common name, and the KBS plant species code if you know these. If you know the KBS plant species code then you don’t need to submit the other information.
10. Note whether the dataset is ongoing or completed.
Once the data are in the Data Catalog, you will be sent a link so you can check the Catalog to verify that your data and metadata have been displayed correctly: http://lter.kbs.msu.edu/datatables/. A metadata file will be created for your data from the information displayed on the web and will be available for download from the same web page as “Complete EML” (ecological metadata language).