I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Steven Y. Newell. 2001. Fall 2000 fungal monitoring -- marshgrass ergosterol content and ascospore release rates at 10 GCE sampling sites. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set FNG-GCEM-0102; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=FNG-GCEM-0102) B. Accession Number: FNG-GCEM-0102 C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Steven Y. Newell Address: University of Georgia Marine Institute Sapelo Island, Georgia 31327 Country: USA Email: newell@uga.edu 2. Abstract: Leaves of dominant marsh plants were collected from permanent plots in 10 GCE LTER sampling sites in order to assess the relative biomass and activity of fungal decomposers. The quantity of ergosterol, a specific fungal cell-membrane component, and the rate of ascomycete spore expulsion were measured in pooled lots of leaves from the dominant marsh vegetation at each site. Samples were collected from both creek bank and mid-marsh habitats. The dry weight and organic content of the plant material was also measured. This study is part of the GCE microbial decomposer monitoring program, and will be repeated annually to assess long-term patterns of fungal activity in relation to various environmental factors. 3. Study Type: Monitoring 4. Study Themes: Fungal Productivity, Microbiology, Organic Matter/Decomposition 5. LTER Core Areas: Organic Matter 6. Georeferences: none 7. Submission Date: Feb 03, 2001 D. Keywords: ascomycetes, ascospores, ash weight, ergosterol, fungi, Juncus roemerianus, Mycosphaerella, Organic Matter, Phaeosphaeria halima, Phaeosphaeria spartinicola, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina cynosuroides, Zizaniopsis miliacea II. Research Origin Descriptors A. Overall Project Description 1. Project Title: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project 2. Principal Investigators: Name: James T. Hollibaugh Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: aquadoc@uga.edu 3. Funding Period: May 01, 2000 to May 01, 2006 4. Objectives: To investigate the linkages between coastal and distant upland areas in central Georgia mediated by surface and ground water delivery to the coastal zone. This will be addressed by examining the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity, and ecosystem processes and structure. 5. Abstract: We propose to establish a Long Term Ecological Research site on the central Georgia coast in the vicinity of Sapelo Island. This is a barrier island and marsh complex with the Altamaha River, one of the largest and least developed rivers on the east coast of the US, as the primary source of fresh water. The proposed study would investigate the linkages between local and distant upland areas mediated by water - surface water and ground water - delivery to the coastal zone. We would explicitly examine the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity because we can measure it at high frequency, and ecosystem processes and structure. We will accomplish this by comparing estuary/marsh complexes separated from the Altamaha River by one or two lagoonal estuary/marsh complexes that damp and attenuate the river signal. This spatial gradient is analogous to the temporal trend in riverine influence expected as a result of development in the watershed. We will implement a monitoring system that documents physical and biological variables and use the time trends and spatial distributions of these variables and of their variance structure to address questions about the factors controlling distributions, trophic structure, diversity, and biogeochemistry. An existing GIS-based hydrologic model will be modified to incorporate changes in river water resulting from changes in land use patterns that can be expected as the watershed develops. This model will be linked to ecosystem models and will serve as an heuristic and management tool. Another consequence of coastal development is that as river flow decreases, groundwater flow increases and becomes nutrified. We will compare the effects of ground water discharge from the surficial aquifer in relatively pristine (Sapelo Island) versus more urbanized (mainland) sites to assess the relative importance of fresh water versus nutrients to productivity, structure and biomass turnover rate in marshes influenced by groundwater. We will also investigate the effect of marine processes (tides, storm surge) on mixing across the fresh/salt interface in the surficial aquifer. Additional physical studies will relate the morphology of salt marsh - tidal creek channel complexes to tidal current distributions and exchange. These findings will be incorporated into a physical model that will be coupled to an existing ecosystem model. The land/ocean margin ecosystem lies at the interface between two ecosystems in which distinctly different groups of decomposers control organic matter degradation. The terrestrial ecosystem is largely dominated by fungal decomposers, while bacterial decomposers dominate the marine ecosystem. Both groups are important in salt marsh-dominated ecosystems. Specific studies will examine, at the level of individual cells and hyphae, the relationship bacteria and fungi in the consortia that decompose standing dead Spartina and other marsh plants and examine how, or if, this changes along the salinity gradient. 6. Funding Source: NSF OCE 9982133 B. Sub-project Description 1. Site Description a. Geographic Location: GCE1 -- Eulonia, Georgia, USA GCE2 -- Four Mile Island, Georgia, USA GCE3 -- North Sapelo, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA GCE4 -- Meridian, Georgia, USA GCE5 -- Folly River, Georgia, USA GCE6 -- Dean Creek, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA GCE7 -- Carrs Island, Georgia, USA GCE8 -- Alligator Creek, Georgia, USA GCE9 -- Rockdedundy Island, Georgia, USA GCE10 -- Hunt Camp, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA Coordinates: GCE1 -- NW: 081 25 42.53 W, 31 32 48.30 N NE: 081 24 38.64 W, 31 32 48.30 N SE: 081 24 38.64 W, 31 32 02.27 N SW: 081 25 42.53 W, 31 32 02.27 N GCE2 -- NW: 081 19 08.26 W, 31 33 09.19 N NE: 081 17 34.24 W, 31 33 09.19 N SE: 081 17 34.24 W, 31 32 00.97 N SW: 081 19 08.26 W, 31 32 00.97 N GCE3 -- NW: 081 13 59.70 W, 31 32 48.72 N NE: 081 11 44.38 W, 31 32 48.72 N SE: 081 11 44.38 W, 31 30 54.68 N SW: 081 13 59.70 W, 31 30 54.68 N GCE4 -- NW: 081 22 14.71 W, 31 27 48.72 N NE: 081 21 26.12 W, 31 27 48.72 N SE: 081 21 26.12 W, 31 26 54.31 N SW: 081 22 14.71 W, 31 26 54.31 N GCE5 -- NW: 081 21 15.89 W, 31 26 33.14 N NE: 081 19 37.92 W, 31 26 33.14 N SE: 081 19 37.92 W, 31 25 03.50 N SW: 081 21 15.89 W, 31 25 03.50 N GCE6 -- NW: 081 17 58.28 W, 31 23 38.66 N NE: 081 15 51.76 W, 31 23 38.66 N SE: 081 15 51.76 W, 31 22 15.61 N SW: 081 17 58.28 W, 31 22 15.61 N GCE7 -- NW: 081 29 36.59 W, 31 20 55.59 N NE: 081 28 33.24 W, 31 20 55.59 N SE: 081 28 33.24 W, 31 20 03.71 N SW: 081 29 36.59 W, 31 20 03.71 N GCE8 -- NW: 081 25 34.58 W, 31 19 04.11 N NE: 081 24 38.28 W, 31 19 04.11 N SE: 081 24 38.28 W, 31 18 14.63 N SW: 081 25 34.58 W, 31 18 14.63 N GCE9 -- NW: 081 20 48.23 W, 31 21 29.31 N NE: 081 19 35.38 W, 31 21 29.31 N SE: 081 19 35.38 W, 31 20 21.02 N SW: 081 20 48.23 W, 31 20 21.02 N GCE10 -- NW: 081 17 43.82 W, 31 29 49.29 N NE: 081 15 32.07 W, 31 29 49.29 N SE: 081 15 32.07 W, 31 27 44.35 N SW: 081 17 43.82 W, 31 27 44.35 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE2 -- Barrier island GCE3 -- Barrier island GCE4 -- Lower coastal plain GCE5 -- Barrier island GCE6 -- Barrier island GCE7 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE9 -- Barrier island GCE10 -- Barrier island c. Landform Components: GCE1 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE2 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE3 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE4 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE5 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE6 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE7 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE8 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE9 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE10 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest d. Hydrographic Characteristics: GCE1 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE10 -- Site borders the Mud River and contains tidal creeks and the upper reach of the Duplin River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides e. Topographic Attributes: GCE1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE1 -- unspecified GCE2 -- unspecified GCE3 -- unspecified GCE4 -- unspecified GCE5 -- unspecified GCE6 -- unspecified GCE7 -- unspecified GCE8 -- unspecified GCE9 -- unspecified GCE10 -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE1 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE2 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE3 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE4 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE5 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE6 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE7 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE8 -- Fringe of tall Spartina alterniflora and S. cynosuroides at creek banks. High marsh has narrow band of medium height S. alterniflora backed by vast expanses of Juncus. GCE9 -- Low marsh is tall Spartina alterniflora, high marsh has a small amount of medium Spartina alterniflora and lots of Juncus. Some hammocks with upland vegetation. GCE10 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. h. History of Land Use and Disturbance: GCE1 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. GCE2 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. GCE3 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. GCE4 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. GCE5 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. GCE6 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes GCE7 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes GCE8 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes GCE9 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. GCE10 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes i. Climate: Climate summary for Sapelo Island, Georgia, based on NWS data from 1980-2010: Daily-aggregated Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) mean air temperature: 20.09°C (7.28°C) minimum air temperature: 15.02°C (7.96°C) maximum air temperature: 24.82°C (6.98°C) total precipitation: 3.26mm (10.3mm) Yearly-aggregated Daily Values: Mean (sample standard deviation) total precipitation (1980-2010): 1124mm (266mm) 2. Experimental or Sampling Design a. Design Characteristics: Leaf blades of the predominant species of marsh grass or rush were collected in the same plots as those used for determination of marshplant variables. The one blade selected from each of eight replicate plots at each GCE station was an early-stage, standing-decaying (fully dead) one. The eight blades per station were pooled, then three blades were nonselectively allotted to each of two replicates for analysis. Blade abaxial area (cm^2) was measured for subsamples of each replicate after cutting apart each blade. One subsample went to organic-mass determination, and a parallel one to ergosterol determination. Two blades from each original set of eight per station were used for determination of rate of ascospore expulsion. Ascospore expulsion was determined for creekbank samples only. b. Permanent Plots: Permanent plots were established in the marsh areas at each GCE sampling site in October, 2000. Eight plots were placed near drainage creeks (creek zone) and eight were placed in the high marsh (high marsh zone) at each site. c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: Samples were collected over a one day period then returned to the laboratory for storage and analysis. Beginning of Observations: Oct 25, 2000 End of Observations: Oct 25, 2000 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: Organic mass determination -- Microwave dry; muffle at 450C for 4 h (Newell, S.Y. 2000a. Methods for determining biomass and productivity of mycelial marine fungi, pp. 69-91. In K.D. Hyde and S.B. Pointing (eds.), Marine Mycology -- a Practical Approach. Fungal Diversity Press, Hong Kong). Method 2: Ergosterol analysis -- Reflux-extract in methanol; saponify by addition of KOH/ethanol and further refluxing; partition into pentane; dry down and redissolve in methanol; measure ergosterol concentration by HPLC and detection at 282 nm (Newell, S.Y. 2000b. Fungal biomass and productivity, pp. 357-372. In J.H. Paul (ed.), Methods in Microbiology. Volume 30. Marine Microbiology. Academic Press, London). Method 3: Ascospore-ejection measurement -- On a coverslip, capture spores ejected from wet blades in 72-h incubations at 20C, count at x400 (Newell, S.Y. 2001. Spore-expulsion rates and extents of blade occupation by ascomycetes of the smooth-cordgrass standing-decay system. Bot. Mar., 44:277-285). b. Instrumentation: Method 1: Electronic balance Manufacturer: Mettler (Model: H18) Parameter: mass Muffle furnace Manufacturer: Thermolyne (Model: 1400) Protocol: Sample material combusted at 450°C for 4 hours Method 2: Liquid chromatograph Manufacturer: custom (Model: Dionex APM-1 pump and pneumatic injection valve, Pierce RP-18, 10 um, 220 x 4) Parameter: Ergosterol concentration Protocol: Reflux-extract in methanol; saponify by addition of KOH/ethanol and further refluxing; partition into pentane; dry down and redissolve in methanol; measure ergosterol concentration by HPLC and detection at 282 nm (Newell, S.Y. 2000b. Fungal biomass and productivity, pp. 357-372. In J.H. Paul (ed.), Methods in Microbiology. Volume 30. Marine Microbiology. Academic Press, London). Method 3: Epifluorescence microscope, with interference-contrast objectives Manufacturer: Zeiss (Model: Standard 16) c. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable Method 3: not specified d. Permit History: Method 1: none Method 2: none Method 3: none 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: Steven Y. Newell b. Affiliations: University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 19-Feb-2012 2. Latest Archive Date: 18-Nov-2011 3. Latest Metadata Update: 19-Feb-2012 4. Data Verification Status: Reviewed by GCE-LTER IM B. Accessibility 1. Storage Location and Medium: Stored at GCE-LTER Data Management Office Dept. of Marine Sciences Univ. of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-3636 USA on media: electronic data download (WWW) or compact disk 2. Contact Person: Name: Wade M. Sheldon, Jr. Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: sheldon@uga.edu 3. Copyright Restrictions: not copyrighted 4. Restrictions: All publications based on this data set must cite the contributor and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, and two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the GCE-LTER Information Management Office. a. Release Date: GCE LTER Affiliates: Feb 03, 2001, Public: Feb 03, 2002 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 9982133 (data set FNG-GCEM-0102) c. Disclaimer: The user assumes all responsibility for errors in judgement based on interpretation of data and analyses presented in this data set. 5. Costs: free electronic data download via WWW, distribution on CD may be subject to nominal processing and handling fee IV. Data Structural Descriptors A. Data Set File 1. File Name: FNG-GCEM-0102_1_4.CSV 2. Size: 40 records 3. File Format: ASCII text (comma-separated value format) 3a. Delimiters: single comma 4. Header Information: 5 lines of ASCII text 5. Alphanumeric Attributes: none 6. Quality Control Flag Codes: I = invalid value (out of range), Q = questionable value 7. Authentication Procedures: not specified 8. Calculations: Ergosterol: see references Phaeospc_Rate: see references Mycosph2_Rate: see references Phaeohal_Rate: see references Otherasc_Rate: see references 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.30 (09-Feb-2012) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data file processed: FNG-GCEM-0102.TXT (40 records) Data processing history: 18-Sep-2001: data structure created ('imp_ascii') 18-Sep-2001: applied Q/C flagging criteria ('dataflag') 17-Dec-2001: updated 4 metadata fields ('addmeta') 18-Dec-2001: updated 1 metadata field ('addmeta') 29-Oct-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 29-Oct-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 08-Nov-2005: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 08-Nov-2005: updated 67 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 15-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 15-Nov-2011: updated 58 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: updated 58 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 19-Feb-2012: updated 7 metadata fields in the Data, Status sections ('exp_ascii') 19-Feb-2012: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 19-Feb-2012: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Year column 2. Month column 3. Day column 4. Site column 5. Zone column 6. Replicate column 7. Leaf_Area column 8. Organic_Mass column 9. Ash_Mass column 10. Ergosterol column 11. Phaeospc_Rate column 12. Mycosph2_Rate column 13. Phaeohal_Rate column 14. Otherasc_Rate 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Year of observation column 2. Month of observation column 3. Day of observation column 4. GCE LTER sampling site column 5. Marsh zone code column 6. Sample replicate column 7. Abaxial area of a standard 6cm leaf section column 8. Organic mass per 6cm leaf section column 9. Ash mass per 6cm leaf section column 10. Mass of ergosterol per 6cm leaf section column 11. Rate of ascospore expulsion for Phaeosphaeria spartinicola column 12. Rate of ascospore expulsion for Mycosphaerella sp.2 column 13. Rate of ascospore expulsion for Phaeosphaeria halima column 14. Rate of ascospore expulsion for other ascomycetes 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. YYYY column 2. M column 3. D column 4. none column 5. none column 6. none column 7. cm^2 column 8. mg column 9. mg column 10. µg column 11. spores/cm^2/hr column 12. spores/cm^2/hr column 13. spores/cm^2/hr column 14. spores/cm^2/hr 4. Data Type a. Storage Type: column 1. integer column 2. integer column 3. integer column 4. integer column 5. integer column 6. integer column 7. floating-point column 8. floating-point column 9. floating-point column 10. floating-point column 11. floating-point column 12. floating-point column 13. floating-point column 14. floating-point b. Variable Codes: Site: 1 = GCE1, 2 = GCE2, 3 = GCE3, 4 = GCE4, 5 = GCE5, 6 = GCE6, 7 = GCE7, 8 = GCE8, 9 = GCE9, 10 = GCE10 Zone: 1 = creek bank, 2 = mid-marsh c. Numeric Range: column 1. 2000 to 2000 column 2. 10 to 10 column 3. 25 to 25 column 4. 1 to 10 column 5. 1 to 2 column 6. 1 to 2 column 7. 3.2 to 13.6 column 8. 35.4 to 202.8 column 9. 2.4 to 47.2 column 10. 6.2 to 41.2 column 11. 0 to 55.6 column 12. 0 to 204.1 column 13. 0 to 419.9 column 14. 0 to 11.1 d. Missing Value Code: 5. Data Format a. Column Type: column 1. numerical column 2. numerical column 3. numerical column 4. numerical column 5. numerical column 6. numerical column 7. numerical column 8. numerical column 9. numerical column 10. numerical column 11. numerical column 12. numerical column 13. numerical column 14. numerical b. Number of Columns: 14 c. Decimal Places: column 1. 0 column 2. 0 column 3. 0 column 4. 0 column 5. 0 column 6. 0 column 7. 1 column 8. 1 column 9. 1 column 10. 1 column 11. 1 column 12. 1 column 13. 1 column 14. 1 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. datetime (discrete) column 2. datetime (discrete) column 3. datetime (discrete) column 4. coded value (discrete) column 5. coded value (discrete) column 6. nominal (discrete) column 7. data (continuous) column 8. calculation (continuous) column 9. calculation (continuous) column 10. data (continuous) column 11. data (continuous) column 12. data (continuous) column 13. data (continuous) column 14. data (continuous) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. x<2000="I", x>2000="I" column 2. x<1="I", x>12="I" column 3. x<1="I", x>31="I" column 4. x<1="I", x>10="I" column 5. x<1="I", x>2="I" column 6. x<1="I" column 7. x<0="I" column 8. x<0="I" column 9. x<0="I" column 10. x<0="I" column 11. x<0="I" column 12. x<0="I" column 13. x<0="I" column 14. x<0="I" C. Data Anomalies: none noted V. Supplemental Descriptors A. Data Acquisition 1. Data Forms: Description of methods and raw data are archived by the Investigator. 2. Form Location: Steven Newell laboratory at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, Georgia. 3. Data Entry Validation: unspecified B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: QA/QC flags are generated automatically according to domain criteria specified for each data column. A flag column is generated and appended to the data table if any flags are assigned to any value, listing the flags for each column on each row. C. Supplemental Materials: Archived samples left over from selection of the replicates for analysis are kept frozen in the laboratory of Steven Newell at the UGA Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia. D. Computer Programs: SPSS E. Archival Practices: Data sets and documentation are stored in structured binary (Matlab 5.x files) and delimited ASCII text formats, and archived on magnetic tape and CD at the GCE LTER Information Management Office at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA F. Publications: not specified G. History of Data Set Usage 1. Data Request History: not specified 2. Data Set Update History: Dec 17, 2001: Minor error in study description text updated per Dr. Steven Newell's request on 17-Dec-2001. (Changed "One blade from each original set of eight..." to "Two blades from each original set of eight ...") 3. Review History: none 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none