Abstract:

Height and dry mass of all live and dead stems of Spartina alterniflora, along with flowering data, were determined from one plot and individual stem heights from two additional plots at three Louisiana salt marshes near LUMCON's DeFelice Marine Center in Cocodrie, LA. Stem heights were sampled from all three plots at each site monthly, but masses were determined from a single clipped plot at each site every other month (6 times per year) throughout the study period. This dataset is a continuation of datasets R1.x139.143:0053 (DOI: 10.7266/N72V2D1T) and R4.x264.000:0006 (DOI: 10.7266/N7TM7858) that covered 2013-2014 and 2015, respectively.

Suggested Citation:

Roberts, B.J.. 2020. Individual plant stem data in LUMCON area salt marshes, 2016-2018. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/02J1BPGP

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 originated during CWC-I and was continued in CWC-II and CWC-III. It focused on determining temporal and spatial patterns in Spartina alterniflora allometry so that non-destructive sampling can be used for future monitoring efforts.

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; Site: Site identifier; Latitude (decimal degrees); Longitude (decimal degrees); Distance from marsh edge (m): Location where plots located on marsh; Plot: Plot sampled (A=clip plot where stem heights and weights measured; B and C=non-destructively sampled plots with only stem heights measured); Status (live/dead): indicates whether stem was live or dead when measured; Total height (cm): Height of measured plant stem; Total mass (g): Dry mass of individual plant (includes stem and leaves, measured for plot A only); Stem mass (g): Dry mass of individual stem only (if stem separated from leaves); Leaf mass (g): Dry mass of leaves of individual stem only (if leaves separated from stems); Flowering: indicates whether stem was flowering (1) or not (0); Flower length (cm): Length of flower if present and measured; Flower mass (g): Dry mass of flower if present and measured; NA indicates data not available or applicable.

Methods:

All of the methods employed in this dataset are described in Hill & Roberts, 2017.

Provenance and Historical References:

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

Individual Files: