Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Set Details

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GCE-LTER Data Set Summary

Accession:

ORG-GCEM-0508b

Research Theme:

Organic Matter/Decomposition (Monitoring)

Contributor:

Christopher B. Craft

Title:

Root Decomposition and root in-growth rates for GCE marsh sites 6-9 from June 2003 to June 2004

Abstract:

Rates of decomposition and root in-growth were measured in four tidal marshes of the Georgia coast (USA) that vary in freshwater input. Replicate nylon mesh bags containing roots of dominant plant species were buried 20cm deep in marsh sediments at stream-side levee and marsh plain locations within GCE sampling sites 6, 7, 8 and 9 in June 2003. Dry weight, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus content, and root in-growth were measured initially and every three months to evaluate the effects of freshwater input on root decomposition and growth rates. This study was part of the GCE-LTER soil monitoring program.

DOI:

10.6073/pasta/e7f24120828919702c37594a5ad59084

Key Words:

carbon, decomposition, marshes, nitrogen, phosphorus, plants, roots, sediments

LTER Core Area:

Organic Matter

Research Themes:

Organic Matter/Decomposition

Study Period:

22-Jun-2003 to 12-Jun-2004

Study Sites:

GCE6 -- Dean Creek, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA
GCE7 -- Carrs Island, Georgia, USA
GCE8 -- Alligator Creek, Georgia, USA
GCE9 -- Rockdedundy Island, Georgia, USA

» Download Geographic Coverage: Google Earth

Species References:

Juncus roemerianus, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina cynosuroides, Zizaniopsis miliacea

Downloads:

Data Table: ORG-GCEM-0508b (Main data table for data set ORG-GCEM-0508b, 158 records)

Access: Public (released 16-Aug-2006)

Metadata: Text (ESA FLED), XML (Ecological Metadata Language)

Data Formats: Spreadsheet (CSV) [14.67kb], Text File [11.33kb], MATLAB (GCE Toolbox) [166.72kb], MATLAB (Variables) [140.21kb], Text Report [31.56kb]

Column List:(hide)

Column	Name	Units	Type	Description
1	Site	none	integer	GCE-LTER site number
2	Date	yyyy-mm-dd	string	Calendar date of measurement
3	Days_Buried	days	floating-point	Number of days the bags were in the plot before removal
4	Flag_Days_Buried	none	string	QA/QC flags for Number of days the bags were in the plot before removal (flagging criteria, where "x" is Days_Buried: x<0="I")
5	Location_Code	none	string	Sampling location code (levee or plain)
6	Replicate	none	integer	Measurement replicate number
7	Wetland_Type	none	string	Wetland type code (tidal fresh, brackish, or salt)
8	Plant_Species	none	string	Plant species used for root samples
9	Root_Dry_Weight	g	floating-point	Measured dry weight of roots in bags removed from plots
10	Flag_Root_Dry_Weight	none	string	QA/QC flags for Measured dry weight of roots in bags removed from plots (flagging criteria, where "x" is Root_Dry_Weight: x<0="I")
11	Carbon_Percent	%	floating-point	Percent carbon in dried roots
12	Flag_Carbon_Percent	none	string	QA/QC flags for Percent carbon in dried roots (flagging criteria, where "x" is Carbon_Percent: x<0="I", x>100="I")
13	Nitrogen_Percent	%	floating-point	Percent nitrogen in dried roots
14	Flag_Nitrogen_Percent	none	string	QA/QC flags for Percent nitrogen in dried roots (flagging criteria, where "x" is Nitrogen_Percent: x<0="I", x>100="I")
15	Phosphorus_Total	ug/g	floating-point	Total phosphorus in dried roots
16	Flag_Phosphorus_Total	none	string	QA/QC flags for Total phosphorus in dried roots (flagging criteria, where "x" is Phosphorus_Total: x<0="I")
17	Root_Growth	g	floating-point	Dry weight of new root growth in bags
18	Flag_Root_Growth	none	string	QA/QC flags for Dry weight of new root growth in bags (flagging criteria, where "x" is Root_Growth: x<0="I")

Statistics:

Generate script code to retrieve data tables for analysis in: MATLAB, R, SAS, SPSS

Citation:

Craft, Christopher B. 2005. Root Decomposition and root in-growth rates for GCE marsh sites 6-9 from June 2003 to June 2004. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project, University of Georgia, Long Term Ecological Research Network. http://dx.doi.org/10.6073/pasta/e7f24120828919702c37594a5ad59084

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