Abstract:

Live and dead above-ground biomass, stem density, and median stem height as well as below-ground biomass of Spartina alterniflora were determined from 1-3 plots at seven Louisiana salt marshes. Sampling began in May 2013 at two marshes in Cocodrie, LA (Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium-LUMCON) and in two regions of Terrebonne Bay: Bay LaFleur and Lake Barre. A third LUMCON area marsh was added in June 2014. All LUMCON sites were sampled monthly through 2014 whereas the 4 Terrebonne Bay marshes were sampled less frequently. Additional ancillary data on soil and water parameters are included when available. This dataset is used in the publication: ​Hill T.D. & Roberts B.J. 2017. Effects of seasonality and environmental gradients on Spartina alterniflora allometry and primary production. Ecology and Evolution, 7(22): 9676-9688. DOI:10.1002/ece3.3494.

Suggested Citation:

Roberts, Brian J.. 2017. Plot level plant data and ancillary parameters in Terrebonne Bay and LUMCON area salt marshes, 2013-2014. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7Z31WKW

Publications:

Hill, T. D., & Roberts, B. J. (2017). Effects of seasonality and environmental gradients on Spartina alterniflora allometry and primary production. Ecology and Evolution. doi:10.1002/ece3.3494

Schutte, C. A., Marton, J. M., Bernhard, A. E., Giblin, A. E., & Roberts, B. J. (2020). No Evidence for Long-term Impacts of Oil Spill Contamination on Salt Marsh Soil Nitrogen Cycling Processes. Estuaries and Coasts. doi:10.1007/s12237-020-00699-z

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 focused on determining temporal and spatial patterns in Spartina alterniflora biomass and productivity.

Data Parameters and Units:

Year--Year of sampling Month-name--month of sampling Month-number--month of sampling (1= Jan, 2 = Feb, etc.) Region- -Region of collection (TB- Terrebonne Bay or LUMCON) Site--Site identifier Latitude (decimal degrees) Longitude (decimal degrees) Plot--plot sampled (A=clip plot where stem heights and weights measured; B and C = non-destructively sampled plots with only stem heights measured) Live stem density (stems/m2)--density of live stems in plot Live median stem height (cm)--median height of live stems in plot Live aboveground biomass (g/m2)--mass of live biomass in plot (A was measured from sum of individual stem masses; B and C determined from heights and allometric relationships) Dead stem density (stems/m2)--density of dead stems in plot Dead median stem height (cm)--median height of dead stems in plot Dead aboveground biomass (g/m2)--mass of dead biomass in plot (A was measured from sum of individual stem masses; B and C determined from heights and allometric relationships) Litter biomass (g/m2)--mass of litter in plot Live belowground biomass (0-30 cm; g/m2)-live belowground biomass in top 30cm in each plot Dead belowground biomass (0-30 cm; g/m2)-dead belowground biomass in top 30cm in each plot Total belowground biomass (0-30 cm; g/m2)--total belowground biomass in top 30cm in each plot Soil T (°C)--soil temperature in plot pH--pH of soil in plot Bulk density (g/cm3)--bulk density of top 5cm of soil in plot Gravimetric water content (%)--percent gravimetric water content of top 5cm of soil in plot Organic matter (%)--percent organic matter content of top 5cm of soil in plot Organic carbon (%)--percent organic carbon content of top 5cm of soil in plot Total nitrogen (%)--percent total nitrogen content of top 5cm of soil in plot Total phosphorus (micrograms per gram dry weight of soil)--total phosphorus content of top 5cm of soil in plot Water T (°C)--water temperature of baywater adjacent to site Salinity (psu)--salinity of baywater adjacent to site Specific conductance (mS)--specific conductance of baywater adjacent to site Dissolved NO3 + NO2 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved nitrate (NO3-) + nitrite (NO2-) in baywater adjacent to site Dissolved NH4 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved ammonium (NH4+) in baywater adjacent to site Dissolved PO4 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved orthophosphate (PO4) in baywater adjacent to site Dissolved SiO2 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved silicate (SiO2) in baywater adjacent to site Water depth (cm)--depth of overlying water in plot at time of sampling Water T (°C)--water temperature of overlying water in plot at time of sampling Salinity (psu)--salinity of overlying water in plot at time of sampling Specific conductance (mS)--specific conductance of overlying water in plot at time of sampling Dissolved NO3 + NO2 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved nitrate (NO3-) + nitrite (NO2-) in overlying water in plot at time of sampling Dissolved NH4 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved ammonium (NH4+) of overlying water in plot at time of sampling Dissolved PO4 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved orthophosphate (PO4) of overlying water in plot at time of sampling Dissolved SiO2 (micromoles per liter)--concentration of dissolved silicate (SiO2) of overlying water in plot at time of sampling ND=No data

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