Abstract:

This dataset contains values for abundances of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), and methane-oxdizing bacteria (MOB) collected from 13 marshes in Terrebonne Bay (TB), western Barataria Bay (WB), and eastern Barataria Bay (EB), LA. In TB and EB we sampled two oiled marshes and two unoiled marshes, and in WB we sampled three oiled marshes and two unoiled marshes. At each marsh, we collected 5-cm deep soil cores along a 20-m transect from the marsh edge and collecting soil samples every 5 m. Each sample was analyzed for abundance of AOB (betaproteobacterial amoA genes), AOA (archaeal amoA genes), and MOB (pmoA genes). Marshes in TB were sampled monthly from May to September 2012, and the WB and EB marshes were sampled in July and September 2012.

Suggested Citation:

Bernhard, Anne. 2014. Abundance of ammonia oxidizers and methane oxidizers in Louisiana salt marshes, May to September 2012.. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7T43R0G

Publications:

Bernhard, A. E., Chelsky, A., Giblin, A. E., & Roberts, B. J. (2019). Influence of Local and Regional Drivers on Spatial and Temporal Variation of Ammonia‐Oxidizing Communities in Gulf of Mexico Salt Marshes. Environmental Microbiology Reports. doi:10.1111/1758-2229.12802

Purpose:

This dataset was developed as part of a research project investigating the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on salt marsh biogeochemistry and microbial ecology. This particular project was directed to determine: 1) if there was a significant impact on abundance of ammonia and methane oxiding microbial communities; and 2) if there were spatial (regional, within marsh) or temporal patterns in their distribution.

Data Parameters and Units:

Region- identifies the region (TB for Terrebonne Bay, WB for western Barataria Bay, EB for eastern Barataria Bay) Site - four sites within each region, except for WB where there are 5 Plot number - four plots at each site that are increasing distance from marsh edge (1 = 5 m, 2 = 10 m, 3 = 15 m, 4 = 20 m) oil status- oiled indicates sites that received Macondo oil AOA - archaeal amoA gene abundance in copies/gram dry weight AOB - betaproteobacterial amoA gene abundance in copies/gram dry weight MOB - pmoA gene abundance in copies/gram dry weight. Site Code Latitude Longitude: TB 1 29.29297 -90.604939,TB 2 29.2915 -90.602824,TB3 29.304486 -90.565818, TB 4 29.2964 -90.549793, WB 1 29.288949 -90.042667, WB 2 29.265837 -90.024864, WB 3 29.2801 -89.975833, WB 4 29.276533

Methods:

Gene abundances were measured for betaproteobacterial amoA (AOB), archaeal amoA (AOA), and pmoA (MOB) using real-time PCR.

Instruments:

Real-time PCR was carried out on an iCycler (BioRad).

Individual Files: