The dataset must include stoichiometry data deriving from an organism or primarily organic source.
Water chemistry and other similar data can be included, but is not required.
Examples of aquatic organisms and primarily organic source materials:
Microbes/Microorganisms
Periphyton
Macrophytes
Epiphytes
Phytoplankton
Metaphyton
Leaf litter
Seston
Wood
Fine or Suspended Particulate Organic Matter (FPOM, SPOM)
Peat
This stoichiometry sample must be representative of the entire organism.
Example: Muscle plugs from a fish do not qualify for the database, as a muscle plug is not necessarily representative of the entire organism.
Exceptions: Invertebrate gut removal, snail shell removal
The organic sample must have at least two of the following measurements: Carbon, Nitrogen, Phosphorous
Isotopes of these elements are acceptable: C12, C13, N14, N15
The stoichiometry data must be collected in the field
Organisms that spend extensive time in a laboratory or in any manipulated setting for the express purpose of experimentation aren't included in our dataset
Organisms that are involved in an experiment, BUT are in the control group of a field experiment are acceptable