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Prepared by the authors on behalf of the McMaster University RDM Institutional Strategy Working Group. Research Data Management (RDM) is a suite of connected processes and practices, which are applied throughout the research lifecycle—i.e., as data is planned for, collected, organized, documented, stored, preserved, shared, and reused—in support of analysis, research, and dissemination that is beneficial to society. This process increases research visibility, generates new collaborations, enables verification of results, and fosters a culture of reproducible research. RDM is carried out by researchers—whether faculty, students, staff, or community members—and is supported by staff in research and privacy offices, institutional IT units, and libraries. To support high professional and disciplinary standards that make good use of public funds, the Tri-Agencies have released a Research Data Management Policy. (I. Government of Canada, n.d.) This policy has three pillars: data deposit, Data Management Plans (DMPs), and a requirement for each institution eligible to administer Tri-Agency funds to develop and share an Institutional RDM Strategy by March 2023. Strategies are expected to emphasize best practices and outline the requisite institutional support to apply them; aligning throughout with disciplinary norms, ethical/legal/commercial obligations, and principles of Indigenous data sovereignty. With the goal of developing McMaster’s Institutional RDM Strategy, a Working Group (ISWG) was assembled in April 2021 with representatives from faculties, research support offices, ethics boards, IT support units, libraries, and McMaster University’s partner research hospitals. The ISWG is following steps laid out in the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC)’s Institutional Research Data Management Strategy Development Template.(I. R. S. T. R. W. Group, 2021) This document represents the culmination of Stage 2 in the development process, which relates to understanding and describing the current state of RDM at McMaster. It situates McMaster RDM in context and shares results from four assessment activities: an environmental scan of RDM stakeholder groups, requirements, and services within and beyond McMaster, a scale and maturity assessment of McMaster’s extant RDM services, a survey of researchers’ RDM needs, and focus groups with researchers and research support units. Our high-level findings on the current state of McMaster Research Data Management reveal several areas of potential clarification and growth. Although many of these areas overlap, they are organized here around frameworks which support research—governance and policy, funding and support, culture, community, and collaboration—as well as needs related to RDM practices, tools, and infrastructure.

The annual carbon and water dynamics of two eastern North American temperate forests were compared over a 6-year period from 2012 to 2017. The geographic location, forest age, soil, and climate were similar between the two stands; however, stand composition varied in terms of tree leaf-retention and shape strategy: one stand was a deciduous broadleaf forest, while the other was an evergreen needleleaf forest. The 6-year mean annual net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of the coniferous forest was slightly higher and more variable (218±109 g C m−2 yr−1) compared to that of the deciduous forest NEP (200±83 g C m−2 yr−1). Similarly, the 6-year mean annual evapotranspiration (ET) of the coniferous forest was higher (442±33 mm yr−1) than that of the deciduous forest (388±34 mm yr−1), but with similar interannual variability. Summer meteorology greatly impacted the carbon and water fluxes in both stands; however, the degree of response varied among the two stands. In general, warm temperatures caused higher ecosystem respiration (RE), resulting in reduced annual NEP values – an impact that was more pronounced at the deciduous broadleaf forest compared to the evergreen needleleaf forest. However, during warm and dry years, the evergreen forest had largely reduced annual NEP values compared to the deciduous forest. Variability in annual ET at both forests was related most to the variability in annual air temperature (Ta), with the largest annual ET observed in the warmest years in the deciduous forest. Additionally, ET was sensitive to prolonged dry periods that reduced ET at both stands, although the reduction at the coniferous forest was relatively larger than that of the deciduous forest. If prolonged periods (weeks to months) of increased Ta and reduced precipitation are to be expected under future climates during summer months in the study region, our findings suggest that the deciduous broadleaf forest will likely remain an annual carbon sink, while the carbon sink–source status of the coniferous forest remains uncertain.

The FLUXNET2015 dataset provides ecosystem-scale data on CO2, water, and energy exchange between the biosphere and the atmosphere, and other meteorological and biological measurements, from 212 sites around the globe (over 1500 site-years, up to and including year 2014). These sites, independently managed and operated, voluntarily contributed their data to create global datasets. Data were quality controlled and processed using uniform methods, to improve consistency and intercomparability across sites. The dataset is already being used in a number of applications, including ecophysiology studies, remote sensing studies, and development of ecosystem and Earth system models. FLUXNET2015 includes derived-data products, such as gap-flled time series, ecosystem respiration and photosynthetic uptake estimates, estimation of uncertainties, and metadata about the measurements, presented for the frst time in this paper. In addition, 206 of these sites are for the frst time distributed under a Creative Commons (CC-BY 4.0) license. This paper details this enhanced dataset and the processing methods, now made available as open-source codes, making the dataset more accessible, transparent, and reproducible., European Union (EU), United States Department of Energy (DOE)

In eastern North America, many deciduous forest ecosystems grow at the northernmost extent of their geographical ranges, where climate change could aid or impede their growth. This region experiences frequent extreme weather conditions, allowing us to study the response of these forests to environmental conditions, reflective of future climates. Here we determined the impact of seasonal and annual climate variations and extreme weather events on the carbon (C) uptake capacity of an oak‐dominated forest in southern Ontario, Canada, from 2012 to 2016. We found that changes in meteorology during late May to mid‐July were key in determining the C sink strength of the forest, impacting the seasonal and annual variability of net ecosystem productivity (NEP). Overall, higher temperatures and dry conditions reduced ecosystem respiration (RE) much more than gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), leading to higher NEP. Variability in NEP was primarily driven by changes in RE, rather than GEP. The mean annual GEP, RE, and NEP values at our site during the study were 1,343 ± 85, 1,171 ± 139, and 206 ± 92 g C m−2 yr−1, respectively. The forest was a C sink even in years that experienced heat and water stresses. Mean annual NEP at our site was within the range of NEP (69–459 g C m−2 yr−1) observed in similar North American forests from 2012 to 2016. The growth and C sequestration capabilities of our oak‐dominated forest were not adversely impacted by changes in environmental conditions and extreme weather events experienced over the study period., Key Points Seasonal and annual carbon fluxes were studied from 2012 to 2016 at a mature temperate deciduous forest in southern Ontario, CanadaMeteorological conditions over a short midsummer period greatly impacted annual NEPOn average, the forest was an annual carbon sink of 206 ± 92 g C m−2 yr−1

A geomorphological study was conducted to determine the most accurate and efficient number of primary data points necessary for modelling hummocky terrain with subtle elevation changes. Primary elevation data were collected on hummocky terrain using an S320 GNSS survey receiver, interpolated using ordinary kriging in ArcGIS, and analyzed using a Monte Carlo simulation in MATLAB. This analysis was done to suggest an ideal number of sample points required to produce a highly accurate digital elevation model. From research conducted in Georgetown, ON, it was determined that 20,000 points should be sampled per square kilometer, but the findings can be altered slightly to best suit future geomorphological and hydrological studies. The findings will increase the understanding of the subtle relationship between topography and interpolation error and will guide future data capture and modelling of terrain with subtle elevation variation of less than 10 m. Results can influence the scope of point collection and the clustering of points or boreholes across terrain with variable elevation changes. There is also a potential for application in regions where placing boreholes would be difficult or costly when trying to understand subsurface geometries.

The annual carbon and water dynamics of two Eastern North American forests were compared over a six year period from 2012 to 2017. The geographic location, forest age, soil, and climate were similar between the sites, however, the species composition varied: one was a deciduous broadleaf forest, while the other an evergreen needleleaf forest. During the 6-year study period, the mean annual net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of the coniferous forest was slightly higher and more variable (218 ± 109 g C m−2 yr−1) compared to that of the deciduous broadleaf forest NEP of 200 ± 83 g C m−2 yr−1. Similarly, the mean annual evapotranspiration (ET) of the conifer forest over the 6-year study period was higher (442 ± 33 mm yr−1) compared to that of the broadleaf forest (388 ± 34 mm yr−1), but with similar interannual variability. Significant abnormalities in fluxes were measured between sites during drought years. Summer meteorology greatly impacted fluxes at both sites, but to varying degrees and with varying responses. In general, warm temperatures caused higher ecosystem respiration (RE), resulting in reduced mean annual NEP values – an impact that was more pronounced at the deciduous broadleaf forest compared to the evergreen needle-leaf forest. However, during drought years, the evergreen forest saw greater annual reduction in carbon sequestration compared to the deciduous forest. In the evergreen conifer forest, variability of summer meteorology greatly controlled the forest's annual carbon sink-source strength. Annual ET at both forests was driven by changes in air temperature (Ta), with the largest annual ET measured in the warmest years in the deciduous forest. Additionally, prolonged dry periods with increased Ta, greatly reduced ET. During drought years, the carbon and water fluxes of the deciduous forest were less sensitive to changes in temperature or water availability compared to the evergreen forest. If longer periods of increased temperatures and larger precipitation variability during summer months are to be expected under future climates, our findings suggest the carbon sink capacity of the deciduous forest will continue, while that of the conifer forest remains uncertain in the study region.

The objectives of this research study were to examine local level factors shaping the implementation of a blended pedagogical approach for geospatial- and information-literacy, and to understand implementer satisfaction. As such, we addressed the following research questions: What local-level factors shape the implementation of the blended learning model? and How satisfied are implementers (faculty, administrators and library instructional/support staff) with the new blended learning model for geospatial and information fluency? Focus groups (n=7) plus one interview (total n=22) were conducted with key stakeholders (e.g., staff, faculty, administrators) to better understand facilitators, barriers, and/or issues related to module development, in addition to perceptions about how the modules are utilized by teaching assistants (TAs), instructional assistants (IAs), and instructors. Participants were identified according to their status as either discipline-specific instructional staff (i.e., instructor, TA, IA) or staff who supported the development of modules (i.e., library instructional staff, library management, administrators). From an ontological standpoint that privileges an individual perspective on the nature of reality, while epistemologically seeking to understand the relationship between the “knower” and what can be known, we adopted a theory of constructivism to support this inquiry. Transcripts were imported into a qualitative analysis software package (NVivo 8.0) for organization, coding and analysis. Instructors found value in the online modules, particularly in a blended learning setting. Instructors felt that having the material in advance, in-class time could be better focused on interaction, assignments, and assessments and resulted in reduced anxiety in busy lab environments. Several key themes emerged, including: (a) instructor expectations (time constraints, sustainability, and collaborative nature of development process) and assessment (student grades and performance); (b) implementation benefits (course content consistency, more lab time devoted to instructor support, provision of additional course resources, and opportunities for student reflection; (c) implementation challenges (inadequate support for information literacy, perceptions of an increase in student workload, and definitional issues surrounding blended learning); (d) course-tailored modules (dichotomy of needs – course tailored vs. generic modules, value in a quiz component, and changing context of lab environment); and (e) key areas for improvement. Focus group respondents illustrated the importance of engaging students in the process of blended learning model development. Future iterations of blended learning modules should explicitly incorporate student feedback through focus groups during their development. Les objectifs de la présente étude de recherche étaient d’examiner les facteurs au niveau local qui affectent la mise en oeuvre d’une approche pédagogique hybride pour l’acquisition des connaissances en littératie géospatiale et en littératie informationnelle, et de comprendre la satisfaction de ceux qui exécutent cette approche. À cette fin, nous avons examiné les questions de recherche suivantes : Quels sont les facteurs au niveau local qui affectent la mise en oeuvre du modèle d’apprentissage hybride? Et : Dans quelle mesure les personnes qui exécutent ce modèle (les professeurs, les administrateurs et le personnel enseignant et de soutien de bibliothèque) sont-elles satisfaites du nouveau modèle hybride d’apprentissage pour en arriver à la maîtrise de la littératie géospatiale et de la littératie informationnelle? Des groupes de discussion (n=7) plus une entrevue (total n=22) ont été organisés avec les acteurs principaux (personnel, professeurs, administrateurs) afin de mieux comprendre les facilitateurs, les barrières et/ou les problèmes liés au développement des modules, ainsi que les perceptions sur la manière dont les modules sont utilisés par les chargés de cours, les assistants pédagogiques et les instructeurs. Les participants ont été identifiés selon leur statut : personnel enseignant spécifique à une discipline (c’est-à-dire instructeurs, chargés de cours, assistants pédagogiques) ou personnel qui soutient le développement des modules (c’est-à-dire personnel enseignant de bibliothèque, gestionnaires de bibliothèque, administrateurs). D’un point de vue ontologique qui privilégie une perspective individuelle sur la nature de la réalité tout en recherchant de façon épistémologique à comprendre la relation entre celui qui « sait » et ce qui doit être su, nous avons adopté une théorie de constructivisme pour aider à mener à bien cette enquête. Les transcriptions ont été importées dans un logiciel d’analyse qualitative (Nvivo 8.0) pour l’organisation, l’encodage et l’analyse. Les instructeurs ont apprécié la valeur des modules en ligne, en particulier dans le cadre d’un apprentissage hybride. Les instructeurs ont déclaré que le fait d’avoir accès à la documentation à l’avance permettait de mieux utiliser le temps passé en classe pour l’interaction, les devoirs et les évaluations et que cela avait eu pour résultat une diminution de l’anxiété dans les laboratoires débordants d’activité. Plusieurs thèmes clés ont été identifiés : (a) attentes des instructeurs (contraintes de temps, durabilité, nature coopérative du processus de développement) et évaluation (notes et résultats des étudiants); (b) avantages de la mise en oeuvre (uniformité du contenu des cours, davantage de temps en laboratoire consacré au soutien par les instructeurs, ressources de cours supplémentaires, opportunités de réflexion pour les étudiants); (c) défis présentés par la mise en oeuvre (soutien inadéquat pour l’acquisition des connaissances en littératie informationnelle, perceptions d’une augmentation de la charge de travail des étudiants et problèmes de définition concernant l’apprentissage hybride); (d) modules conçus spécifiquement pour des cours donnés (dichotomie des besoins – cours conçus spécifiquement versus modules génériques, valeur apportée par les tests de contrôle, contexte changeant dans les laboratoires); et (e) domaines clés pour l’amélioration. Les répondants des groupes de discussion ont illustré l’importance d’engager les étudiants dans le développement du processus d’apprentissage hybride. Les éditions futures des modules d’apprentissage hybride devraient explicitement incorporer la rétroaction des étudiants par le biais de groupes de discussion pendant la phase de développement.

This study presents the energy, water, and carbon (C) flux dynamics of a young afforested temperate white pine (Pinus strobus L.) forest in southern Ontario, Canada during the initial fourteen years (2003–2016) of establishment. Energy fluxes, namely, net radiation (Rn), latent heat (LE), and sensible heat (H) flux increased over time, due to canopy development. Annual values of ground heat flux (G) peaked in 2007 and then gradually declined in response to canopy closure. The forest became a consistent C-sink only 5 years after establishment owing in part to low respiratory fluxes from the former agricultural, sandy soils with low residual soil organic matter. Mean annual values of gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (RE), and net ecosystem productivity (NEP) ranged from 494 to 1913, 515 to 1774 and −126 to 216 g C m−2 year−1 respectively, over the study period. Annual evapotranspiration (ET) values ranged from 328 to 429 mm year−1 over the same period. Water use efficiency (WUE) increased with stand age with a mean WUE value of 3.92 g C kg−1 H2O from 2008 to 2016. Multivariable linear regression analysis conducted using observed data suggested that the overall, C and water dynamics of the stand were primarily driven by radiation and temperature, both of which explained 77%, 48%, 28%, and 76% of the variability in GEP, RE, NEP, and ET, respectively. However, late summer droughts, which were prevalent in the region, reduced NEP. The reduction in NEP was enhanced when summer drought events were accompanied by increased heat such as those in 2005, 2012 and 2016. This study contributes to our understanding of the energy, water and C dynamics of afforested temperate conifer plantations and how these forests may respond to changing climate conditions during the crucial initial stage of their life cycle. Our findings also demonstrate the potential of pine plantation stands to sequester atmospheric CO2 in eastern North America.

This study analysed age-related water-use dynamics across three temperate conifer forest plantations (aged 11, 39 and 74 years, as of 2013, henceforth referred to as TP02, TP74 and TP39, respectively, where the last two digits represent the year of planting) in southern Ontario, Canada, from 2008 to 2013. Eddy covariance-measured mean evapotranspiration over the growing season (April–October) was 438 ± 19, 392 ± 19 and 323 ± 25 mm at TP39, TP74 and TP02, respectively. Daytime bulk surface conductance was highest and most variable at the TP39 site (8.5 ± 4.0 mm s−1), followed by the TP74 (7.0 ± 2.8 mm s−1) and TP02 (5.4 ± 2.5 mm s−1) sites. Evapotranspiration at all the forests was sensitive to air temperature and tended to decrease with increasing atmospheric dryness. The youngest forest's evapotranspiration was most conservative, which led to an increase in water-use efficiency throughout the study period, in particular during drought events. The oldest forest was the least restrictive in its water use during drought, which led to lower water-use efficiency during such events as compared with the younger forests. The oldest forest was thinned in early 2012, when about one third of trees were commercially harvested. No significant change in evapotranspiration or water-use efficiency was observed at this site following thinning; however, daytime bulk surface conductance declined. Our results suggested that changes in stand structure with forest ageing, such as reduction in stem density and increase in sapwood area, were responsible for differences in soil water demand during drought and non-drought periods, leading to differences in forest water use. Hence, forest age, because of its structural implications, is an important control on stand-level water-use efficiency and forests' response to drought events. Our study suggested that younger forests may be best suited to maximize growth and carbon uptake efficiency under rising air temperatures and increasing precipitation variability as predicted by climate models for eastern North America. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Forest plantations are commonly used to restore the ecological and hydrological functionality of landscapes. In this study, we investigated the hydrological response of a 74-year-old pine plantation forest in southern Ontario, Canada to a selective thinning, wherein 30% of trees were harvested in winter of 2012. Tree-level and ecosystem-level water fluxes were monitored from 2011 to 2013 using sapflow and eddy-covariance techniques, and were compared with an adjacent 39-year-old pine plantation forest that was not thinned. In the 74-year-old forest, transpiration declined after thinning in the 2012 growing season, while tree-level water transport increased despite a severe drought. Time lag between sapflow and ecosystem evapotranspiration showed that the older stand had a significantly shorter time lag when compared to the younger stand, particularly in the thinning year. Linear regression modeling indicated that this was likely due to higher soil moisture status in the older stand versus the younger forest. Hydraulic redistribution of soil water was apparent during drought periods in both forests and did not appear to be negatively affected by the thinning treatment in the older forest. We conclude that selective low density thinning did not negatively impact the forest's response to seasonal drought, and that the availability of more soil moisture as a result of thinning may improve the resilience of the forest to future climatic extreme events such as drought.

The effects of early growing season droughts on water and carbon balances in conifer forests are poorly understood. In this study, the response of canopy transpiration (Ec) and growth rates to reduced precipitation input during the early growing season was evaluated in a 70-year old temperate white pine (Pinus strobus L.) plantation forest, in Southern Ontario, Canada. In order to induce the drought, a 20 × 20 m throughfall exclusion setup was established. Throughfall was excluded from 1 April to 3 July 2009. During this period, 270 mm of rainfall occurred (27% of annual precipitation), of which more than 90% was excluded. Sapflow, stem growth, soil moisture and soil temperature were measured in both drought and reference plots. Prior to the induced drought, both plots showed similar soil water content, transpiration rates and tree diameters. The primary control on forest water loss was vapour pressure deficit, whereas soil moisture had an effect when it reached below 0.068 m3 m−3 during the growing season. The rainfall exclusion did not negatively affect Ec until early June, approximately 54 days after drought initiation. Ec was 27% less in the drought plot compared to the reference plot when evaluated at the end of the growing season in November. Tree growth estimates at the end of the growing season indicated a 17% decrease in growth in the drought plot as compared to the reference plot. Because climate predictions foresee changes in precipitation pattern, drought spells – similar to this artificial short-term rainfall manipulation – may be more frequent in the future. Hence, although overall precipitation may remain the same, the short-term deficit in water supply may have important implications for forest ecosystems. The findings of this rainfall manipulation will help quantify the impacts of spring and early summer water deficit on forest ecosystems and evaluate their potential responses to future climate regimes. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Testing the accuracy of 3D modelling algorithms used for geological applications is extremely difficult as model results cannot be easily validated. This paper presents a new approach to evaluate the effectiveness of common interpolation algorithms used in 3D subsurface modelling, utilizing four synthetic grids to represent subsurface environments of varying geological complexity. The four grids are modelled with Inverse Distance Weighting and Ordinary Kriging, using data extracted from the synthetic grids in different spatial distribution patterns (regular, random, clustered and sparse), and with different numbers of data points (100, 256, 676 and 1,600). Utilizing synthetic grids for this evaluation allows quantitative statistical assessment of the accuracy of both interpolation algorithms in a variety of sampling conditions. Data distribution proved to be an important factor; as in many geological situations, relatively small numbers of randomly distributed data points can generate more accurate 3D models than larger amounts of clustered data. This study provides insight for optimizing the quantity and distribution of data required to accurately and cost-effectively interpolate subsurface units of varying complexity.

A carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycle-coupled model, CLASS-CTEM N+ was developed by incorporating soil and plant N cycling algorithms in the Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS) and the Canadian Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (CTEM), used in the Canadian Global Climate Model. Key soil and plant N cycling processes incorporated in the model include biological fixation, mineralization, nitrification, denitrification, leaching and N controls on plant photosynthesis capacity. The model was used to analyse N controls on C and water exchanges in a 70-year-old temperate conifer forest in southern Ontario, Canada from 2003 to 2007. The simulated values of soil–plant N contents and fluxes – including N 2 O flux – were generally in good agreement with observations. When N controls on C and water cycling were included in the model, simulated daily gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration ( R e ), net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and evapotranspiration (ET) fluxes showed improved agreement with eddy covariance flux measurements. The five-year mean annual NEP predicted by the N-coupled model was 121 g C m −2 yr − for 2003–2007, compared to 273 g C m −2 yr −1 , which was simulated by the model when N controls were switched off (non-N model). N-coupled model estimates compared well with the measured five-year mean (± standard deviation) annual NEP of 136 ± 59 g C m −2 yr −1 . Simulated annual mean ET over five-years was 384 mm yr −1 for the N-coupled model, and 433 mm yr −1 for non-N model, compared with the measured five-year mean annual value of 405 ± 44 mm yr −1 . Model results confirmed that a proper representation of N controls on photosynthetic uptake and canopy conductance could result in more plausible simulations of observed C and water fluxes. The model results also suggested that N limitations in spring and early summer were generally more important in controlling NEP. Discrepancies between simulated and measured annual variations of C exchanges occurred in years that included extreme weather periods (e.g. low soil water content and warm spring/summer temperatures).

This study evaluates age-related patterns of ecosystem carbon (C) fluxes in a chronosequence (5-, 18-, 33-, and 68-year old in 2007) of planted pine ( Pinus strobus L.) forests in southern Ontario, Canada, from 2003 to 2007. Carbon fluxes determined with the eddy covariance technique were normalized by differences in site index (SI; a measure of site quality based on a species-specific relationship between the height of the dominant trees and base age), to identify the effect of stand age on gross ecosystem productivity (GEP), ecosystem respiration (RE), and net ecosystem productivity (NEP). Observed GEP, RE, and NEP were highest in the 18-year-old stand, which differed from the two older stands by having a higher SI due to sustained availability of soil water in deeper soil layers (at ∼1 m depth). Typical age-related patterns in C fluxes were observed only when normalized for differences in SI. During periods without climatic constraints, SI-normalized GEP and RE increased with stand age, whereas SI-normalized NEP peaked at the 33-year-old site. In contrast, during periods with climatic constraints (e.g. drought, reduced radiation), monthly GEP and NEP at the 18-year-old site were higher compared to the 33-year-old site because deep soil water availability may have allowed this stand to maintain high productivity during these periods. Our analysis shows that differences in site quality may affect the interpretation of age-related C flux dynamics in chronosequence and synthesis studies. We therefore suggest that SI-normalization may offer a simple and efficient way to identify age-dependent processes in C fluxes in forest chronosequence studies, which may lead to improved large-scale estimates of C exchanges in forest ecosystems.

We present four years (2005–2008) of biometric (B) and eddy-covariance (EC) measurements of carbon (C) fluxes to constrain estimates of gross primary production (GPP), net primary production (NPP), ecosystem respiration (RE) and net ecosystem production (NEP) in an age-sequence (6-, 19-, 34-, and 69-years-old in 2008) of pine forests in southern Ontario, Canada. The contribution of individual NPP and respiration component fluxes varied considerably across the age-sequence, introducing different levels of uncertainty. Biometric and EC-based estimates both suggested that annual NPP, GPP, RE, and NEP were greatest at the 19-year-old site. Four-year mean values of NEP(B) and NEP(EC) were similar at the 6-year-old seedling (77 and 66 g C m−2 y−1) and the 69-year-old mature site (135 and 124 g C m−2 y−1), but differed considerably at the 19-year-old (439 and 736 g C m−2 y−1) and the 34-year-old sites (170 and 392 g C m−2 y−1). Both methods suggested similar patterns for inter-annual variability in GPP and NEP. Multi-year convergence of NEP(B) and NEP(EC) was not observed over the study period. Ecosystem C use efficiency was correlated to both forest NEP(EC) and NPP(B) suggesting that high productive forests (e.g. middle-age stands) were more efficient in sequestering C compared to low productive forests (e.g. seedling and mature stands). Similarly, negative and positive relationships of forest productivity with the total belowground C flux (TBCF) to GPP ratio and with the ratio of autotrophic to heterotrophic respiration (RA:RH), respectively, determined inter-annual and inter-site differences in C allocation. Integrating NEP across the age-sequence resulted in a total net C sequestration of 137 and 229 t C ha−1 over the initial 70 years as estimated by the biometric and EC method, respectively. Total ecosystem C sequestered in biomass at the 69-year-old site suggested an accumulation of 160 t C ha−1. These three estimates resulted in a mean C sequestration of 175 ± 48 t C ha−1. This study demonstrates that comparing estimates from independent methods is imperative to constrain C budgets and C dynamics in forest ecosystems.

A tunable diode laser trace gas analyzer (TGA 100, Campbell Scientific, Logan, Utah) was evaluated in the laboratory for its ability to measure ammonia fluxes using the eddy covariance technique. A random noise generator was used in the laboratory to switch sampling between high and low concentration air streams to simulate a range of eddy sizes with a known input. A mechanical switching system was developed to prevent pressure fluctuations during switching associated with valves. A half-power point of 0.4 Hz was found for 50 m of sampling tubing. Resolution, determined through laboratory tests, was conservatively estimated between 0.2 and 1 m gm � 2 s � 1 .

Academic libraries are playing a role in the digitization of Canadian government documents, but maps tend to be excluded from these activities due to their unique dimensions and display requirements. Using a topographic map digitization project as a case study, this paper presents a collaborative approach to map scanning, georeferencing, and metadata creation across several Ontario universities. Collectively, the 21 institutions making up the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) possess and maintain large volumes of Canadian topographic maps. However, few OCUL universities hold complete sets of these map series. While the Canadian government’s most recent topographic maps are now available online, older editions of these maps have not been digitized. This project, currently underway at several participating universities, will enable us to share digital versions of some of our most-requested historical map series with the public at large.

This study investigated differences in the magnitude and partitioning of the carbon (C) and greenhouse gas (GHG) balances in an age sequence of four white pine (Pinus strobus L.) afforestation stands (7, 20, 35 and 70 years old as of 2009) in southern Ontario, Canada. The 4-year (2004–2008) mean annual carbon dioxide (CO2) exchanges, based on biometric and eddy covariance data, were combined with the 2-year means of static chamber measurements of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes (2006–2007) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) export below 1 m soil depth (2004–2005). The total ecosystem C pool increased with age from 46 to 197 t C ha−1 across the four stands. Rates of organic matter cycling (i.e. litterfall and decomposition) were similar among the three older stands. In contrast, considerable differences related to stand age and site quality were observed in the magnitude and partitioning of individual CO2 fluxes, showing a peak in production and respiration rates in the middle-age (20-year-old) stand growing on fertile post-agricultural soil. The DOC export accounted for 10% of net ecosystem production (NEP) at the 7-year-old stand but 2, CH4 and N2O was 2.6, 21.6, 13.5 and 4.8 t CO2 equivalent ha−1 year−1 for the 7-, 20-, 35- and 70-year-old stands, respectively. The maximum annual contribution from the combined exchanges of CH4 and N2O to the GHG balance was 13 and 8% in the 7- and 70-year-old stands, respectively, but 2 exchange was the main driver of the GHG balance in these forests. The cumulative CO2 sequestration over the 70 years was estimated at 129 t C and 297 t C ha−1 year−1 for stands growing on low- and high-productivity sites, respectively. This study highlights the importance of accounting for age and site quality effects on forest C and GHG balances. It further demonstrates a large potential for net C sequestration and climate benefits gained through afforestation of marginal agricultural and fallow lands in temperate regions.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from soil, foliage, and live woody tissue were measured throughout the year in afforested, white pine (Pinus strobus L.) stands (67, 32, 17, and 4 years old as of 2006), growing in a northern temperate climate. The data were used to estimate annual ecosystem respiration (Re) and its component fluxes, including soil, foliar, and woody tissue respiration; to investigate major environmental factors causing intersite and temporal variability in the observed fluxes; and to compare chamber-based Re estimates with eddy covariance-based estimates. While temperature was the dominant driving factor of temporal variability in component fluxes, intersite variability in CO2 emissions was attributed to differences in stand physiological characteristics, such as the presence of the LFH soil horizon, its carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, and the amount of canopy cover. Additional factors that contributed to flux variability included the frequency of precipitation events, vapor pressure deficit and stem diameter, depending on the component considered. Estimated annual chamber-based totals of Re across the four stands were 1526 +/- 137, 1278 +/- 137, 1985 +/- 293, and 773 +/- 46 g C m(-2) yr(-1) for the 67-, 32-, 17-, and 4-year-old stands, respectively. Soil respiration dominated emissions at the 4-year-old stand, while foliar respiration dominated emissions at the 17-year-old stand. In contrast, at the two oldest stands, soil and foliar respirations were comparable. Soil respiration accounted for 44%, 44%, 26%, and 70% of annual Re, across the 67-, 32-, 17-, and 4-year-old stands, while foliar respiration accounted for 48%, 41%, 60%, and 30% of annual Re, across the respective sites. Wood respiration was the smallest component of annual Re across the stands (8%, 15%, 14%, and 0.1%, respectively). The chamber-based Re values were higher than tower-based eddy covariance Re estimates, on average by 18%, 70%, 18%, and 36% at the 67-, 32-, 17-, and 4-year-old stands, respectively. This study contributes to our general understanding of the age-related effects and the role of climate on carbon emissions from various components of afforested ecosystems. Our results suggest that foliar respiration could be comparable to or higher than soil respiration in its contribution to Re in young to mature, planted or afforested, ecosystems. They also suggest that site quality and stand age are important factors to be considered in future studies of carbon dynamics of afforested stands.

[1] The influences of soil water supply and atmospheric demand on transpiration were studied to gain insight into the physical mechanisms limiting forest water use within the broader context of total canopy water loss to the atmosphere. Evaporation from forests (E) can be partitioned in to four main source components: canopy transpiration (Ec), understorey transpiration (Eu), evaporation from the soil (Es), and the evaporation of intercepted water (EI). Ec and EI usually make up most of E. Ec estimated from sap flow measurements and modeled EI estimates were compared with eddy covariance measured values of E to quantify the components of the above canopy water flux to the atmosphere, in a temperate pine forest ecosystem established on a well-drained sandy plain at Turkey Point in southern Ontario, Canada. Daily values of E averaged 2.4 mm d−1 and reached maximums of 4 mm d−1 while daily values of Ec averaged 1.2 mm d−1 over the growing season. The evaporation of intercepted water (EI) was generally between 2 and 3 mm per event. EI accounted for 34% and Ec accounted for 47% (31 to 67% range on a monthly basis), together accounting for 81% of E during the growing season. Ec increased linearly with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) until a transition point was reached, after which mid-day Ec rates remained more or less constant. For analysis purposes, data were segregated by early morning VPD (or VPDin) in an attempt to characterize the atmosphere at the beginning of the daily transpiration cycle. This technique revealed that shifts in the timing and magnitude of Ec rates masked the response of Ec to changes in soil water content. Analysis also suggested that while increasing VPDs may limit maximum transpiration rates, daily total transpiration is a conservative quantity. This study improves the understanding of the physical mechanisms limiting water loss in forested ecosystems growing on water-stressed soils by investigating the effects of VPD and soil water content on Ec.

Submitted by the authors on behalf of the McMaster University RDM Institutional Strategy Working Group. Throughout 2021-2022, McMaster’s Research Data Management (RDM) Institutional Strategy Working Group (ISWG) has engaged with research stakeholders across the university to develop an institutional strategy for RDM that addresses the first requirement of the Tri-Agency Research Data Management Policy and establishes a clear vision for the infrastructure, resources, and services required to implement and support best practices at McMaster. The group is following the guidance provided by the Digital Research Alliance of Canada’s Institutional Research Data Management Strategy Development Template, which includes the following steps: Stage 1: Assemble a Strategy Development Team Stage 2: Assess the Current State of RDM Stage 3: Envision the Future State of RDM Stage 4: Articulate the Institution’s Path Forward Stage 5: Assemble and Launch the Strategy This document presents an idealized, future state for RDM at McMaster, reflecting the third step in this process. Information has been compiled from environmental scan activities (analyses of previous IT reviews, environmental scan of current services and resources, a researcher RDM survey, and focus groups with RDM stakeholders) carried out during step 2 of this process, as well as through focus groups within the ISWG. Results are presented by theme, beginning with high-level considerations and recommendations specific to discrete aspects of Research Data Management. The cross-cutting themes of Services and Training are summarized at the end but are prominent throughout the preceding themes.