Abstract:

These data are from a manipulative field experiment designed to test the effects of restoration treatments on the marsh ecology. The data were collected from remediation treatment plots that included three levels of planting: planted with Spartina, planted with Juncus, and not planted. Each planting level also included a fertilized and unfertilized treatment, so there were a total of six treatments. Each treatment was replicated in the marsh 5 times. For the soil microbial community study, DNA was isolated from soil samples and sequenced with Illumina MiSeq, then processed using QIIME. Several plots were lost to erosion in 2016.

Suggested Citation:

A Hou, G Cagle. 2018. Soil microbial community, replanting experiment 2016. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N79Z9383

Purpose:

The purpose of this study is to determine how alterations in microbial community structure and function recover as a function of initial oiling intensity and remediation treatment. In order to capture the effects of each aspect of remediation treatment on the soil microbial community, the treatments include a combination of fertilization, planting, and control plots.

Data Parameters and Units:

The data are observations of OTUs (operational taxonomic units) in each sample. The data are count data of each OTU recorded in each sample. The sample description information is in the excel file on a separate sheet. Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, Sample ID, Block, Plant, Fertilized, Year, Month, Season

Methods:

The experiment was a factorial design including all combinations of planting Spartina alterniflora, Juncus roemerianus, and not planting, with fertilized and not fertilized (6 combinations). Five blocks were designated in the marsh and a 2 m square treatment plot was set up in each block for a total of 30 plots. The plots were sampled in the spring and fall of each year during the duration of the experiment. The top 10 cm of soil was collected from within each treatment plot. The soil was transported to the lab on ice and stored at -80°C. DNA was extracted from each soil sample, checked for purity, and amplified by PCR of the V4 barcode region, 16S rDNA for prokaryotes. Sequencing of PCR amplicons was conducted with Illumina MiSeq. DNA processing was done in QIIME v. 1.9.1 with default settings except for a Phred score of 25. Please contact the authors for further information. All samples are taken from the location 29.44105 N, 89.93337 W. Slow-release fertilizer (Osmocote Plus with 15% N, 8% P2O5 and 11% K2O) was applied twice a year (April and September) in fertilizing plots at a rate of 326 kg N/ha/yr, 76 kg P/ha/yr and 198 kg K/ha/yr. Fertilizer was inserted 10 cm beneath the soil surface to promote efficiency of nutrient release and to minimize leaching. Plots are 2.1 m^2. “Plant” is a treatment representing what species was planted in the plot. Plants were transplanted in designated plots at a density of 3-5 stems/plug, spaced 30 cm apart and planted 10 cm deep with a total of 64 plugs per plot.

Individual Files: