Abstract:

We are addressing scientific questions about community change resulting from presumed stressors arising from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and various response efforts. We expect to quantify and understand the effects of stressors (i.e., hydrocarbons, dispersants, freshwater diversion) and remediation-related human activities on marsh and adjacent open water communities. Specifically, we are measuring the effects of stressors in insect and spider populations, soil strength, marsh grass above ground and root biomass, and mollusks (in the marsh and adjacent open water). Stressors have both direct (toxicity) and indirect effects because, as hydrocarbons degrade, these compounds enter food webs via primary consumers such as insects/spiders and mollusks. This dataset records the presence of ants on coastal dunes in 2011.

Suggested Citation:

Linda Hooper-Bui. 2015. Ant Abundance and Dune Plant Conditions, Padre Island, TX, to St. George's Island, FL, Summer 2011.. Distributed by: GRIIDC, Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N7C8277C

Purpose:

Record presence of ants on coastal dunes in 2011.

Data Parameters and Units:

Code, Date, Place State Parks [St. George's, Grayton Beach, St. Andrews, St. Joseph Peninsula,Padre Island, Dauphin Island, Ship Island], Time, Site, Plot ID, Temperature, Relative Humidity, Plot Area, plant cover 1, plant cover 2, plant cover 3, plant cover, plants species, stem number, max/Ave high, fower Y/N, note, ants per plot [Aphaenogaster ashmeadi, Aphaenogaster floridana, Brachymyrmex obscurior, Brachymyrmex sp., Camponotus floridanus, Crematogaster asheadi, Crematogaster ashmeadi, Crematogaster pilosa, Cyphomyrmes rimosus, Dorymyrmex flavus, Dorymyrmex grandulus, Forelius pruinosus, Forelius sp., Hypoponera opacior, Monomorium minimum or viride, Nylanderia arenivaga, Nylanderia black and brown one, Odontomachus haematodus, Pheidole dentata, Pheidole morrisii, Pogonomyrmex badius, Pseudomyrmex gracilis, Pseudomyrmex pallidus, Solenopsis invicta Solenopsis tiny yellow, Solenopsis geminata, Solenopsis xyloni, Trachymyrmex sp., Temnothorax texanus, Tapinoma melanocephalum], ant abundance, ant richness, species name, stem number total, plant richness.

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