Marsh plant species stem counts for Rowley River tidal creeks associated with long term fertilization experiments, Rowley and Ipswich, MA.

Summary

Short name: 

LTE-TIDE-MarshPlantStemCount

Abstract: 

Marsh plant species stem counts for Rowley River tidal creeks associated with long term fertilization experiments, Rowley and Ipswich, MA. The TIDE project aims to simulate eutrophication on a large scale by the addition of NO3- aiming to reach 70μM concentrations from May to September every year during the growing season. This fertilization of the marsh has been going on at Sweeney Creek since the 2004 growing season through 2012 and at Clubhead Creek in 2005 and from 2009 till 2012. The reference creeks, West and Nelson, have been sampled in pair with the nutrient enriched creeks.

Data set ID: 

203

EML revision ID: 

3
Published on EDI/LTER Data Portal

Citation Suggestion: 

Deegan, L., Warren, S., 2012. Marsh plant species stem counts for Rowley River tidal creeks associated with long term fertilization experiments, Rowley and Ipswich, MA. Environmental Data Initiative. http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/87da5b252da19b4c95b883f6206b176b
Categories

Core Areas: 

Keywords: 

Dates

Date Range: 

Friday, August 1, 2003 to Friday, August 31, 2012

Publication Date: 

Sunday, January 1, 2012
People

Owner/Creator: 

Linda Deegan
Plum Island Ecosystems LTER

Contact: 

Plum Island Ecosystems LTER
Related
Downloads

Data sources: 

LTE-TIDE-MarshPlantStemCount_csv
LTE-TIDE-MarshPlantStemCount_xls
Methodology

Purpose: 

 

Methods: 

End of season stem counts allow for another estimate of productivity and are generally completed in August. For Tall Spartina alterniflora (TSA) four 0.25m2 quadrats are taken at random at each of the vegetation transects and then extrapolated to 1 m2. All stem in the quadrat are counted Vegetation transects are permanant transects running perpendicular to the tidal creek. They are designated by one pole at the creek's edge and another in the high marsh. Either 3 or 4 transects are sampled every year. Stem counts have been completed every year in the Tall Spartina alterniflora(TSA) from 2003 to 2012. Short Spartina alterniflora (SSA) and Spartina patens (SP) are counted using 0.0625 m2 quadrat and 10 cm diameter circle, respectively, and then extrapolated to 1 m2 . SSA and SP were recorded for stem densities from 2004 to 2006 at all creeks. Quadrats and circles are randomly placed along transects. Abbreviations: TSA- Spartina alterniflora (tall form) SSA- Spartina alterniflora (short form) SP- Spartina patens Creeks- Reference creeks are West and Nelson Nutrient Enriched creeks are Sweeney and Clubhead. Sweeney has been fertilized every summer from 2004-2012. Clubhead had been fertilized in 2005 and then from 2009-2012. All creeks have two branches determined by direction at confluence while facing upstream (Left or Right). Plant transects run perpendicular to creeks at various points with a front pole at the creek bank and a back pole an the high marsh. Transects are in the order of 1, 2, 4, 3 or blue, green, red, yellow from confluence of branch.

Maintenance: 

Version 01: January 27, 2012, updated data and metadata. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007.xlsm 1/27/12 4:35 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0 Version 02: September 21, 2012, updated data and metadata. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007.xlsm 3/23/12 12:08 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0 Version 03: June 20, 2013, data and metadata updated to comply with importation to Drupal and LTER PASTA. Research location name and description updated.Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007.xlsm 3/14/13 12:02 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0