Abstract:

This dataset contains values for potential rates of nitrification, abundances of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), and methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) and soil properties collected from 12 marshes in Terrebonne Bay (TB), western Barataria Bay (WB), and eastern Barataria Bay (EB), LA during 3 sampling campaigns (May, July and September) in 2013 and 2014. In each region, we sampled two pairs of oiled and unoiled marshes. At each site, we collected 5-cm deep soil cores at 4 locations (5,10, 15, and 20m from the marsh edge). Each sample was analyzed for potential nitrification rates with AOA, AOB, and MOB abundances quantified in July of each year. Additionally, we measured a series of basic site characterizations, soil properties, and characterized porewater (starting in July 2014), overlying water and adjacent bay water samples.

Suggested Citation:

Roberts, Brian. 2016. Marsh soil nitrification rates, microbial communities, and explanatory variables, May, July, and September 2013 and 2014, Terrebonne Bay, western Barataria Bay, and eastern Barataria Bay (LA). Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7Z31WJF

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. This component of the CWC research effort addressed the following questions: 1) Do nitrification potential rates spatially across the LA coast and/or with marsh position?; 2)What are the primary drivers of nitrification rates?; 3) Are these results different between oiled and unoiled marshes?; and 4) Is there interannual variability in any of these patterns or responses to oiling?

Data Parameters and Units:

Region-site ID--region and site of sample collection identifier Region--region of sample collection (TB=Terrebonne Bay, WB= western Barataria Bay, EB=eastern Barataria Bay) Site--Site identifier Latititude (decimal degrees) Longitude (decimal degrees) Oil status--Indicates whether the marsh received Macondo Oil (Oiled) or not (Unoiled) Plot--Plot identifier along the sampling transect Distance (m)--Distance from the marsh edge of the sampling plot (meters) Month-Year--Indicates the month and year that samples were collected or measurements made Nitrification potential (nmol NO3-N gdw-1 d-1)--rate of nitrification potential in the top 5 cm of soil at the plot AOA abundance (amoA gene copies gdw-1)--abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in top 5 cm of soil at the plot; July 2013 and July 2014 only AOB abundance (amoA gene copies gdw-1)--abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in top 5 cm of soil at the plot; July 2013 and July 2014 only MOB abundance (pmoA gene copies gdw-1)--abundance of methane-oxidizing bacteria in top 5 cm of soil at the plot; July 2013 and July 2014 only Soil T (°C)--soil temperature at the plot soil pH--pH of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil Eh--soil redox potential (Eh) in the surface soil of the plot (units = mV) soil bulk density (g/cm3)--bulk density of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil organic C (%)--organic carbon content of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil total N (%)--total nitrogen content of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil total P (µg/g)--total phosphorus content of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil CN (mol:mol)--organic carbon to total nitrogen ratio of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil NP (mol:mol)--total nitrogen to total phoshorus ratio of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil CP (mol:mol)--organic carbon to total phosphorus ratio of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil water content (%)--gravimetric water content of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil extractable NO3 (micromols per grams dry weight of soil)--extractable nitrate + nitrite concentration of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil extractable NH4 (micromols per grams dry weight of soil)--extractable ammonium concentration of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot soil extractable PO4 (micromols per grams dry weight of soil)--extractable orthophosphate concentration of the top 5 cm of soil at the plot Porewater salinity (psu)--salinity of porewater from the plot Porewater NO3-N + NO2-N (micromols per liter)--nitrate + nitrite concentration of porewater Porewater NH4-N (micromols per liter)--ammonium concentration of porewater Porewater PO4-P (micromols per liter)--orthophosphate concentration of porewater water depth (cm)--depth of overlying water at plot water temp (°C)--temperature of overlying water at plot Salinity (psu)--salinity of overlying water at plot Specific conductance (mS)--specific conductance of overlying water at plot Overlying water NO3-N + NO2-N (micromols per liter)--dissolved nitrate + nitrite concentration of overlying water at plot Overlying water NH4-N (micromols per liter)--dissolved ammonium concentration of overlying water at plot Overlying water PO4-P (micromols per liter)--dissolved orthophosphate concentration of overlying water at plot Overlying water SiO2 (micromols per liter)--dissolved silicate concentration of overlying water at plot water temp (°C)--temperature of baywater adjacent to site Salinity (psu)--salinity of baywater adjacent to site Specific conductance (mS)--specific conductance of baywater adjacent to site Baywater NO3-N + NO2-N (micromols per liter)--dissolved nitrate + nitrite concentration of baywater adjacent to site Baywater NH4-N (micromols per liter)--dissolved ammonium concentration of baywater adjacent to site Baywater PO4-P (micromols per liter)--dissolved orthophosphate concentration of baywater adjacent to site Baywater SiO2 (micromols per liter)--dissolved silicate concentration of baywater adjacent to site

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