I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Thomas Dale Bishop. 2003. Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set INV-GCEM-0301a; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=INV-GCEM-0301a) B. Accession Number: INV-GCEM-0301a C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Thomas Dale Bishop Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: tdbish@sc.rr.com 2. Abstract: This data set is the Fall 2001 estimate of infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Species abundance was determined by hand-collecting all the infaunal and epifaunal molluscs from within quadrats of known area in mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 quadrats per zone) at all sites. The molluscs were returned to the lab, fixed in fomalin, transferred to and preserved in ethanol, counted and measured (size data is reported separately). The counts were converted to number per square meter. Gastropod species are listed first, followed by bivalve species. Size distribution data for these collections may be found in the GCE-LTER data set INV-GCEM-0310b. 3. Study Type: Monitoring 4. Study Themes: Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology 5. LTER Core Areas: Populations 6. Georeferences: none 7. Submission Date: Jan 18, 2003 D. Keywords: abundance, Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring, community composition, Crassostrea, creek bank, density, Detracia, epifauna, fall, Geukensia, Hydrobiidae, infauna, intertidal, Littoraria, Littorina, marshes, Melampus, mid-marsh, mollusks, monitoring, permanent plots, Polymesoda, Populations, species diversity 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 GCE1_CB1 -- GCE1 creek bank plot 1 GCE1_CB13 -- GCE1 creek bank plot 13 GCE1_CB36 -- GCE1 creek bank plot 36 GCE1_CB8 -- GCE1 creek bank plot 8 GCE1_MM1 -- GCE1 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE1_MM3 -- GCE1 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE1_MM6 -- GCE1 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE1_MM8 -- GCE1 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE10_CB1 -- GCE10 creek bank plot 1 GCE10_CB3 -- GCE10 creek bank plot 3 GCE10_CB6 -- GCE10 creek bank plot 6 GCE10_CB8 -- GCE10 creek bank plot 8 GCE10_MM1 -- GCE10 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE10_MM3 -- GCE10 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE10_MM6 -- GCE10 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE10_MM8 -- GCE10 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE2_CB11 -- GCE2 creek bank plot 11 GCE2_CB23 -- GCE2 creek bank plot 23 GCE2_CB38 -- GCE2 creek bank plot 38 GCE2_CB6 -- GCE2 creek bank plot 6 GCE2_MM1 -- GCE2 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE2_MM3 -- GCE2 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE2_MM6 -- GCE2 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE2_MM8 -- GCE2 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE3_CB1 -- GCE3 creek bank plot 1 GCE3_CB3 -- GCE3 creek bank plot 3 GCE3_CB6 -- GCE3 creek bank plot 6 GCE3_CB8 -- GCE3 creek bank plot 8 GCE3_MM1 -- GCE3 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE3_MM3 -- GCE3 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE3_MM6 -- GCE3 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE3_MM8 -- GCE3 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE4_CB15 -- GCE4 creek bank plot 15 GCE4_CB17 -- GCE4 creek bank plot 17 GCE4_CB26 -- GCE4 creek bank plot 26 GCE4_CB8 -- GCE4 creek bank plot 8 GCE4_MM4 -- GCE4 mid-marsh plot 4 GCE4_MM5 -- GCE4 mid-marsh plot 5 GCE4_MM6 -- GCE4 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE4_MM8 -- GCE4 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE5_CB1 -- GCE5 creek bank plot 1 GCE5_CB3 -- GCE5 creek bank plot 3 GCE5_CB6 -- GCE5 creek bank plot 6 GCE5_CB8 -- GCE5 creek bank plot 8 GCE5_MM1 -- GCE5 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE5_MM3 -- GCE5 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE5_MM6 -- GCE5 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE5_MM8 -- GCE5 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE6_CB1 -- GCE6 creek bank plot 1 GCE6_CB23 -- GCE6 creek bank plot 23 GCE6_CB6 -- GCE6 creek bank plot 6 GCE6_CB8 -- GCE6 creek bank plot 8 GCE6_MM1 -- GCE6 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE6_MM3 -- GCE6 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE6_MM6 -- GCE6 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE6_MM8 -- GCE6 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE7_CB1 -- GCE7 creek bank plot 1 GCE7_CB3 -- GCE7 creek bank plot 3 GCE7_CB6 -- GCE7 creek bank plot 6 GCE7_CB8 -- GCE7 creek bank plot 8 GCE7_MM1 -- GCE7 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE7_MM3 -- GCE7 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE7_MM6 -- GCE7 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE7_MM8 -- GCE7 mid-marsh plot 8 GCE8_CB21 -- GCE8 creek bank plot 21 GCE8_CB26 -- GCE8 creek bank plot 26 GCE8_CB28 -- GCE8 creek bank plot 28 GCE8_CB3 -- GCE8 creek bank plot 3 GCE8_MM1 -- GCE8 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE8_MM13 -- GCE8 mid-marsh plot 13 GCE8_MM18 -- GCE8 mid-marsh plot 18 GCE8_MM6 -- GCE8 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE9_CB11 -- GCE9 creek bank plot 11 GCE9_CB16 -- GCE9 creek bank plot 16 GCE9_CB18 -- GCE9 creek bank plot 18 GCE9_CB23 -- GCE9 creek bank plot 23 GCE9_MM1 -- GCE9 mid-marsh plot 1 GCE9_MM3 -- GCE9 mid-marsh plot 3 GCE9_MM6 -- GCE9 mid-marsh plot 6 GCE9_MM8 -- GCE9 mid-marsh plot 8 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 GCE1_CB1 -- 081 25 21.1 W, 31 32 19.1 N GCE1_CB13 -- 081 25 20.8 W, 31 32 18.5 N GCE1_CB36 -- 081 25 20.2 W, 31 32 18.6 N GCE1_CB8 -- 081 25 19.9 W, 31 32 19.0 N GCE1_MM1 -- 081 25 22.2 W, 31 32 21.8 N GCE1_MM3 -- 081 25 21.2 W, 31 32 21.9 N GCE1_MM6 -- 081 25 19.6 W, 31 32 22.1 N GCE1_MM8 -- 081 25 18.3 W, 31 32 22.2 N GCE10_CB1 -- 081 16 13.7 W, 31 28 37.2 N GCE10_CB3 -- 081 16 14.6 W, 31 28 36.2 N GCE10_CB6 -- 081 16 15.3 W, 31 28 35.8 N GCE10_CB8 -- 081 16 17.9 W, 31 28 36.5 N GCE10_MM1 -- 081 16 13.9 W, 31 28 38.1 N GCE10_MM3 -- 081 16 15.1 W, 31 28 36.9 N GCE10_MM6 -- 081 16 16.6 W, 31 28 37.2 N GCE10_MM8 -- 081 16 17.6 W, 31 28 37.2 N GCE2_CB11 -- 081 17 46.0 W, 31 32 10.3 N GCE2_CB23 -- 081 17 44.7 W, 31 32 10.5 N GCE2_CB38 -- 081 17 42.4 W, 31 32 08.3 N GCE2_CB6 -- 081 17 42.4 W, 31 32 09.1 N GCE2_MM1 -- 081 17 46.4 W, 31 32 10.0 N GCE2_MM3 -- 081 17 45.3 W, 31 32 09.5 N GCE2_MM6 -- 081 17 43.9 W, 31 32 09.0 N GCE2_MM8 -- 081 17 43.0 W, 31 32 09.2 N GCE3_CB1 -- 081 13 44.2 W, 31 31 08.1 N GCE3_CB3 -- 081 13 44.4 W, 31 31 07.2 N GCE3_CB6 -- 081 13 44.8 W, 31 31 05.9 N GCE3_CB8 -- 081 13 45.3 W, 31 31 05.4 N GCE3_MM1 -- 081 13 44.4 W, 31 31 10.5 N GCE3_MM3 -- 081 13 44.8 W, 31 31 09.6 N GCE3_MM6 -- 081 13 45.7 W, 31 31 07.9 N GCE3_MM8 -- 081 13 46.0 W, 31 31 07.1 N GCE4_CB15 -- 081 21 58.1 W, 31 27 04.3 N GCE4_CB17 -- 081 21 58.6 W, 31 27 04.9 N GCE4_CB26 -- 081 21 58.2 W, 31 27 04.6 N GCE4_CB8 -- 081 21 58.7 W, 31 27 05.3 N GCE4_MM4 -- 081 21 56.2 W, 31 27 08.0 N GCE4_MM5 -- 081 21 56.5 W, 31 27 07.6 N GCE4_MM6 -- 081 21 56.9 W, 31 27 07.2 N GCE4_MM8 -- 081 21 57.5 W, 31 27 06.4 N GCE5_CB1 -- 081 20 23.7 W, 31 26 09.9 N GCE5_CB3 -- 081 20 24.6 W, 31 26 09.5 N GCE5_CB6 -- 081 20 25.6 W, 31 26 08.9 N GCE5_CB8 -- 081 20 26.2 W, 31 26 08.5 N GCE5_MM1 -- 081 20 26.5 W, 31 26 09.6 N GCE5_MM3 -- 081 20 27.6 W, 31 26 09.2 N GCE5_MM6 -- 081 20 29.1 W, 31 26 08.3 N GCE5_MM8 -- 081 20 29.8 W, 31 26 07.6 N GCE6_CB1 -- 081 16 47.3 W, 31 23 18.3 N GCE6_CB23 -- 081 16 47.6 W, 31 23 17.6 N GCE6_CB6 -- 081 16 47.0 W, 31 23 15.9 N GCE6_CB8 -- 081 16 47.9 W, 31 23 15.2 N GCE6_MM1 -- 081 16 48.5 W, 31 23 18.0 N GCE6_MM3 -- 081 16 48.5 W, 31 23 17.1 N GCE6_MM6 -- 081 16 49.5 W, 31 23 15.9 N GCE6_MM8 -- 081 16 50.4 W, 31 23 15.1 N GCE7_CB1 -- 081 28 43.3 W, 31 20 06.3 N GCE7_CB3 -- 081 28 43.4 W, 31 20 05.8 N GCE7_CB6 -- 081 28 42.8 W, 31 20 04.9 N GCE7_CB8 -- 081 28 42.6 W, 31 20 04.3 N GCE7_MM1 -- 081 28 42.9 W, 31 20 06.6 N GCE7_MM3 -- 081 28 42.6 W, 31 20 05.8 N GCE7_MM6 -- 081 28 41.8 W, 31 20 04.7 N GCE7_MM8 -- 081 28 40.9 W, 31 20 04.5 N GCE8_CB21 -- 081 24 58.0 W, 31 18 28.9 N GCE8_CB26 -- 081 24 55.7 W, 31 18 27.5 N GCE8_CB28 -- 081 24 55.2 W, 31 18 27.1 N GCE8_CB3 -- 081 24 56.7 W, 31 18 28.3 N GCE8_MM1 -- 081 24 56.8 W, 31 18 32.6 N GCE8_MM13 -- 081 24 56.0 W, 31 18 32.0 N GCE8_MM18 -- 081 24 54.5 W, 31 18 30.4 N GCE8_MM6 -- 081 24 54.9 W, 31 18 31.2 N GCE9_CB11 -- 081 20 01.4 W, 31 21 07.6 N GCE9_CB16 -- 081 20 04.0 W, 31 21 06.5 N GCE9_CB18 -- 081 20 04.8 W, 31 21 06.0 N GCE9_CB23 -- 081 20 02.3 W, 31 21 07.1 N GCE9_MM1 -- 081 20 01.5 W, 31 21 04.3 N GCE9_MM3 -- 081 20 00.5 W, 31 21 04.2 N GCE9_MM6 -- 081 19 58.6 W, 31 21 03.2 N GCE9_MM8 -- 081 19 57.5 W, 31 21 02.9 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 GCE1_CB1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE1_CB13 -- Lower coastal plain GCE1_CB36 -- Lower coastal plain GCE1_CB8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE1_MM1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE1_MM3 -- Lower coastal plain GCE1_MM6 -- Lower coastal plain GCE1_MM8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE10_CB1 -- Barrier island GCE10_CB3 -- Barrier island GCE10_CB6 -- Barrier island GCE10_CB8 -- Barrier island GCE10_MM1 -- Barrier island GCE10_MM3 -- Barrier island GCE10_MM6 -- Barrier island GCE10_MM8 -- Barrier island GCE2_CB11 -- Barrier island GCE2_CB23 -- Barrier island GCE2_CB38 -- Barrier island GCE2_CB6 -- Barrier island GCE2_MM1 -- Barrier island GCE2_MM3 -- Barrier island GCE2_MM6 -- Barrier island GCE2_MM8 -- Barrier island GCE3_CB1 -- Barrier island GCE3_CB3 -- Barrier island GCE3_CB6 -- Barrier island GCE3_CB8 -- Barrier island GCE3_MM1 -- Barrier island GCE3_MM3 -- Barrier island GCE3_MM6 -- Barrier island GCE3_MM8 -- Barrier island GCE4_CB15 -- Lower coastal plain GCE4_CB17 -- Lower coastal plain GCE4_CB26 -- Lower coastal plain GCE4_CB8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE4_MM4 -- Lower coastal plain GCE4_MM5 -- Lower coastal plain GCE4_MM6 -- Lower coastal plain GCE4_MM8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE5_CB1 -- Barrier island GCE5_CB3 -- Barrier island GCE5_CB6 -- Barrier island GCE5_CB8 -- Barrier island GCE5_MM1 -- Barrier island GCE5_MM3 -- Barrier island GCE5_MM6 -- Barrier island GCE5_MM8 -- Barrier island GCE6_CB1 -- Barrier island GCE6_CB23 -- Barrier island GCE6_CB6 -- Barrier island GCE6_CB8 -- Barrier island GCE6_MM1 -- Barrier island GCE6_MM3 -- Barrier island GCE6_MM6 -- Barrier island GCE6_MM8 -- Barrier island GCE7_CB1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE7_CB3 -- Lower coastal plain GCE7_CB6 -- Lower coastal plain GCE7_CB8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE7_MM1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE7_MM3 -- Lower coastal plain GCE7_MM6 -- Lower coastal plain GCE7_MM8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_CB21 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_CB26 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_CB28 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_CB3 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_MM1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_MM13 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_MM18 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8_MM6 -- Lower coastal plain GCE9_CB11 -- Barrier island GCE9_CB16 -- Barrier island GCE9_CB18 -- Barrier island GCE9_CB23 -- Barrier island GCE9_MM1 -- Barrier island GCE9_MM3 -- Barrier island GCE9_MM6 -- Barrier island GCE9_MM8 -- 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 GCE1_CB1 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE1_CB13 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE1_CB36 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE1_CB8 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE1_MM1 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE1_MM3 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE1_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE1_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_CB1 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_CB3 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_CB6 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_CB8 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_MM1 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_MM3 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE10_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE2_CB11 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE2_CB23 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE2_CB38 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE2_CB6 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE2_MM1 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE2_MM3 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE2_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE2_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE3_CB1 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE3_CB3 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE3_CB6 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE3_CB8 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE3_MM1 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE3_MM3 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE3_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE3_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE4_CB15 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE4_CB17 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE4_CB26 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE4_CB8 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE4_MM4 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE4_MM5 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE4_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE4_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE5_CB1 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE5_CB3 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE5_CB6 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE5_CB8 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE5_MM1 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE5_MM3 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE5_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE5_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE6_CB1 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE6_CB23 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE6_CB6 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE6_CB8 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE6_MM1 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE6_MM3 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE6_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE6_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE7_CB1 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE7_CB3 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE7_CB6 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE7_CB8 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE7_MM1 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE7_MM3 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE7_MM6 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE7_MM8 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE8_CB21 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE8_CB26 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE8_CB28 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE8_CB3 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE8_MM1 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE8_MM13 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE8_MM18 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE8_MM6 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE9_CB11 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE9_CB16 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE9_CB18 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE9_CB23 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE9_MM1 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE9_MM3 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE9_MM6 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE9_MM8 -- Intertidal salt marsh 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 GCE1_CB1 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE1_CB13 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE1_CB36 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE1_CB8 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE1_MM1 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE1_MM3 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE1_MM6 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE1_MM8 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE10_CB1 -- 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 GCE10_CB3 -- 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 GCE10_CB6 -- 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 GCE10_CB8 -- 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 GCE10_MM1 -- 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 GCE10_MM3 -- 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 GCE10_MM6 -- 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 GCE10_MM8 -- 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 GCE2_CB11 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2_CB23 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2_CB38 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2_CB6 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2_MM1 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2_MM3 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2_MM6 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2_MM8 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_CB1 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_CB3 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_CB6 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_CB8 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_MM1 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_MM3 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_MM6 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3_MM8 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_CB15 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_CB17 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_CB26 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_CB8 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_MM4 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_MM5 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_MM6 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4_MM8 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_CB1 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_CB3 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_CB6 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_CB8 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_MM1 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_MM3 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_MM6 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5_MM8 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_CB1 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_CB23 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_CB6 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_CB8 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_MM1 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_MM3 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_MM6 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6_MM8 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_CB1 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_CB3 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_CB6 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_CB8 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_MM1 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_MM3 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_MM6 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7_MM8 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_CB21 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_CB26 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_CB28 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_CB3 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_MM1 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_MM13 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_MM18 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8_MM6 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_CB11 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_CB16 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_CB18 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_CB23 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_MM1 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_MM3 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_MM6 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9_MM8 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud 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 GCE1_CB1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE1_CB13 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE1_CB36 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE1_CB8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE1_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE1_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE1_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE1_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_CB1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_CB3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_CB6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_CB8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_CB11 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_CB23 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_CB38 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_CB6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_CB1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_CB3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_CB6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_CB8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_CB15 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_CB17 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_CB26 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_CB8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_MM4 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_MM5 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_CB1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_CB3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_CB6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_CB8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_CB1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_CB23 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_CB6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_CB8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_CB1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_CB3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_CB6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_CB8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7_MM8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_CB21 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_CB26 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_CB28 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_CB3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_MM13 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_MM18 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_CB11 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_CB16 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_CB18 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_CB23 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_MM1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_MM3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_MM6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9_MM8 -- 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 GCE1_CB1 -- unspecified GCE1_CB13 -- unspecified GCE1_CB36 -- unspecified GCE1_CB8 -- unspecified GCE1_MM1 -- unspecified GCE1_MM3 -- unspecified GCE1_MM6 -- unspecified GCE1_MM8 -- unspecified GCE10_CB1 -- unspecified GCE10_CB3 -- unspecified GCE10_CB6 -- unspecified GCE10_CB8 -- unspecified GCE10_MM1 -- unspecified GCE10_MM3 -- unspecified GCE10_MM6 -- unspecified GCE10_MM8 -- unspecified GCE2_CB11 -- unspecified GCE2_CB23 -- unspecified GCE2_CB38 -- unspecified GCE2_CB6 -- unspecified GCE2_MM1 -- unspecified GCE2_MM3 -- unspecified GCE2_MM6 -- unspecified GCE2_MM8 -- unspecified GCE3_CB1 -- unspecified GCE3_CB3 -- unspecified GCE3_CB6 -- unspecified GCE3_CB8 -- unspecified GCE3_MM1 -- unspecified GCE3_MM3 -- unspecified GCE3_MM6 -- unspecified GCE3_MM8 -- unspecified GCE4_CB15 -- unspecified GCE4_CB17 -- unspecified GCE4_CB26 -- unspecified GCE4_CB8 -- unspecified GCE4_MM4 -- unspecified GCE4_MM5 -- unspecified GCE4_MM6 -- unspecified GCE4_MM8 -- unspecified GCE5_CB1 -- unspecified GCE5_CB3 -- unspecified GCE5_CB6 -- unspecified GCE5_CB8 -- unspecified GCE5_MM1 -- unspecified GCE5_MM3 -- unspecified GCE5_MM6 -- unspecified GCE5_MM8 -- unspecified GCE6_CB1 -- unspecified GCE6_CB23 -- unspecified GCE6_CB6 -- unspecified GCE6_CB8 -- unspecified GCE6_MM1 -- unspecified GCE6_MM3 -- unspecified GCE6_MM6 -- unspecified GCE6_MM8 -- unspecified GCE7_CB1 -- unspecified GCE7_CB3 -- unspecified GCE7_CB6 -- unspecified GCE7_CB8 -- unspecified GCE7_MM1 -- unspecified GCE7_MM3 -- unspecified GCE7_MM6 -- unspecified GCE7_MM8 -- unspecified GCE8_CB21 -- unspecified GCE8_CB26 -- unspecified GCE8_CB28 -- unspecified GCE8_CB3 -- unspecified GCE8_MM1 -- unspecified GCE8_MM13 -- unspecified GCE8_MM18 -- unspecified GCE8_MM6 -- unspecified GCE9_CB11 -- unspecified GCE9_CB16 -- unspecified GCE9_CB18 -- unspecified GCE9_CB23 -- unspecified GCE9_MM1 -- unspecified GCE9_MM3 -- unspecified GCE9_MM6 -- unspecified GCE9_MM8 -- 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. GCE1_CB1 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE1_CB13 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE1_CB36 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE1_CB8 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE1_MM1 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE1_MM3 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE1_MM6 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE1_MM8 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE10_CB1 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE10_CB3 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE10_CB6 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE10_CB8 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE10_MM1 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE10_MM3 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE10_MM6 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE10_MM8 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. GCE2_CB11 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE2_CB23 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE2_CB38 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE2_CB6 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE2_MM1 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE2_MM3 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE2_MM6 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE2_MM8 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE3_CB1 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE3_CB3 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE3_CB6 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE3_CB8 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE3_MM1 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE3_MM3 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE3_MM6 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE3_MM8 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE4_CB15 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE4_CB17 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE4_CB26 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE4_CB8 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE4_MM4 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE4_MM5 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE4_MM6 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE4_MM8 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE5_CB1 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE5_CB3 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE5_CB6 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE5_CB8 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE5_MM1 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE5_MM3 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE5_MM6 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE5_MM8 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE6_CB1 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE6_CB23 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE6_CB6 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE6_CB8 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE6_MM1 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE6_MM3 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE6_MM6 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE6_MM8 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE7_CB1 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE7_CB3 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE7_CB6 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE7_CB8 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE7_MM1 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE7_MM3 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE7_MM6 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE7_MM8 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE8_CB21 -- 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. GCE8_CB26 -- 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. GCE8_CB28 -- 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. GCE8_CB3 -- 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. GCE8_MM1 -- 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. GCE8_MM13 -- 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. GCE8_MM18 -- 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. GCE8_MM6 -- 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_CB11 -- 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. GCE9_CB16 -- 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. GCE9_CB18 -- 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. GCE9_CB23 -- 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. GCE9_MM1 -- 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. GCE9_MM3 -- 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. GCE9_MM6 -- 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. GCE9_MM8 -- 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. 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. Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No significant disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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. Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No significant disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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. Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No significant disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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. Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No significant disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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. Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No significant disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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 Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to catastrophic disturbance and replaced with new plots as indicated: zone 1, plot 3 (not replaced). 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 Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No significant disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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 Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to catastrophic disturbance and replaced with new plots as indicated: zone 1 plots 5, 6, 7, 8 (added new plots 15, 16, 17, 18). New plots were not in exactly the same locations as lost plots, and so have new numbers. 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. Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to catastrophic disturbance and replaced with new plots as indicated: zone 1, plot 4 (added new plot 14). New plots were not in exactly the same locations as lost plots, and so have new numbers. 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 Oct 01, 2001: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No significant disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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: This study represents a regular component of the population monitoring program of the GCE-LTER. It was designed to document abundance and spatial distribution of common infaunal and epifaunal molluscs and track their changes over time at each of the ten intertidal marsh monitoring sites within the GCE-LTER domain. All molluscs within randomly placed, small quadrats at four plots in the mid and creekbank marshes at each of the permanent monitoring sites were collected by hand. This design resulted in four replicate samples per zone (n = 4) at each site (n = 8 per site). Collections were made by different teams of trained individuals (staff and volunteers). Molluscs were returned to the lab, preserved and enumerated. b. Permanent Plots: Samples were taken within 3 meters of the GCE permanent monitoring plots, which were established in the marsh areas at each GCE sampling site in October, 2000. Each site was divided into two nominal zones -- creekbank and mid-marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: For each sample, an area of marsh was selected that was similar in gross appearance and near to (within 3 m of) a GCE permanent monitoring plot. The permanent plots were not used so as to avoid damaging the plants within them. Permanent plots 1, 3, 6, and 8 in each zone were chosen to be the anchor plots for selecting actual sample areas. When wrack or other disturbances necessitated the use of alternate plots, these are indicated in the data set and noted as anomalies. Beginning of Observations: Oct 06, 2001 End of Observations: Oct 15, 2001 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: Mollusc Collection -- A quadrat device, constructed of treated, 1" X 3/4" slats, drilled and joined with bolts and wing nuts, was designed to enclose selectable areas of 0.25 or 0.5 m^2. The quadrat size used for each sample varied between plots, zones, and sites and was dependent on apparent density of molluscs (particularly Littoraria) in the immediate area. In high density areas, smaller quadrats were used and vice versa. Quadrat selection was guided by the need to balance accuracy of abundance estimates, prevention of excessive removal of fauna and ensurance that field sampling was kept to a reasonable amount of time. The quadrat was placed around the bases of the plants in the selected sampling area. Snails are collected first, from the standing plants. Collection started at the tops of the plants and proceeded downward to the marsh surface. Particular attention was given to enrolled, scenescing leaves, when present, as new recruits were often concentrated there. After the plants had been inspected, the marsh surface was examined for snails and signs of infaunal bivalves. After all epifaunal molluscs were removed, the infaunal bivalves were dug from the sediment. This often required feeling (centimeter by centimeter) along the marsh surface and probing down inside large crab holes to make sure all individuals were collected. All molluscs were placed in pre-labeled plastic bags and transported back to the lab. The molluscs were washed free of sediment over a sieve (< 500 micron-mesh), fixed with 10% formalin and ultimately transferred to and preserved in 70% ethanol. Method 2: Density Estimation -- Individuals were identified to the lowest practicable taxonomic unit and the number of individuals of each species was determined. The identity of small individuals was confirmed with a stereomicroscope. Per meter square density for each species was determined by dividing total count data for a sample by the quadrat size used for the sample. Method 3: RTK-GPS Survey of Permanent Plot Locations -- A survey was performed in April 2010 to measure the precise geographic locations and elevations of long-term plant plots at GCE-LTER marsh study sites 1-10. The survey was performed using a Trimble R6 real-time kinematic GPS sytem with Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) support. The base receiver was placed on a permanent cement base installed near each field site, connected to GLONASS satellite services via mobile 3G Internet connection, and allowed to establish a stable benchmark positional fix prior to the survey. A portable wireless rover unit was then used to collect and log horizontal position and vertical elevation data on the ground at the center of each plot. Data were then corrected and analyzed using Trimble Geomatics Office software to determin latitude, longitude and elevation, and plant plot locations were then registered in the GCE-LTER geographic database. Location, Longitude and Latitude columns were then added to the data table based on matching site, marsh zone and plot number of each record to the corresponding plot identifier in the geographic database. For plots that were lost due to catastrophic disturbance prior to 2010 and replaced, the measured location of the the replacement plots were used to provide estimated positional information for the legacy plots, and the estimated values were flagged and the level of uncertainty was described based on the number of times the plot was replaced prior to RTK-GPS survey. b. Instrumentation: Method 1: none Method 2: Stereomicroscope Manufacturer: Leica (Model: MZ 7.5) Stereomicroscope Manufacturer: Wild (Model: M5) Method 3: RTK GPS Manufacturer: Trimble (Model: R6) Parameter: Elevation (Accuracy: 20mm + 1 ppm RMS, Readability: 1mm, ) Protocol: Base receiver is placed on a permanent cement base installed near each field site, connected to GLONASS satellite services via mobile 3G Internet connection, and allowed to establish a stable benchmark positional fix. A portable wireless rover unit is then used to collect and log horizontal position and vertical elevation data for sites being surveyed. Parameter: Latitude (Accuracy: 10 mm + 1 ppm RMS, Readability: 1mm, Range: 0-90 degrees) Protocol: Base receiver is placed on a permanent cement base installed near each field site, connected to GLONASS satellite services via mobile 3G Internet connection, and allowed to establish a stable benchmark positional fix. A portable wireless rover unit is then used to collect and log horizontal position and vertical elevation data for sites being surveyed. Parameter: Longitude (Accuracy: 10 mm + 1 ppm RMS, Readability: 1mm, Range: 0-180 degrees) Protocol: Base receiver is placed on a permanent cement base installed near each field site, connected to GLONASS satellite services via mobile 3G Internet connection, and allowed to establish a stable benchmark positional fix. A portable wireless rover unit is then used to collect and log horizontal position and vertical elevation data for sites being surveyed. c. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: Participants were trained to recognize mollusc species in the field by D. Bishop. Final species identifications were made (under the supervision of D. Bishop) when specimens were sorted and counted in the lab. Most species were common and easily recognizeable. Useful references for marsh species and molluscs in general are: 1) Heard, R.W. 1982. Guide to Common Tidal Marsh Invertebrates of the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, MASGP-79-004. 82 pp. and 2) Abbott, R.T. 1974. American Seashells. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, Second Edition. 663 pp. Method 3: none d. Permit History: Method 1: Collections were made as a sub-permittee under the general permit granted to the University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia. Method 2: not applicable Method 3: none 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Thomas Dale Bishop 2: Merryl Alber 3: Kenneth Helm 4: Monica M. Palta 5: Gayle Albers 6: Laurel Berger-Bishop b. Affiliations: 1: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 2: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 3: University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia 4: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 5: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 6: Unaffiliated volunteer, Athens, 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: Jan 18, 2003, Public: Jan 18, 2004 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 9982133 (data set INV-GCEM-0301a) 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: INV-GCEM-0301a_2_1.CSV 2. Size: 560 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: 6. Quality Control Flag Codes: E = location estimated based on GPS coordinates of prior or replacement plot(s) 7. Authentication Procedures: not specified 8. Calculations: Mollusc_Density: Mollusc_Density = Mollusc_Count / Quadrat_Area 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: INV-GCEM-0301a.TXT (560 records) Data processing history: 31-Jan-2003: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 31-Jan-2003: 560 rows imported from ASCII data file 'INV-GCEM-0301a.TXT' ('imp_ascii') 31-Jan-2003: 10 metadata fields in file header parsed ('parse_header') 31-Jan-2003: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 31-Jan-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 31-Jan-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 31-Jan-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 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 66 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 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 18-Nov-2011: added column 'Location' at position 7 ('addcol') 18-Nov-2011: added Longitude and Latitude columns by matching values in the Location column to entries in the GCE geographic database ('add_stationcoords') 18-Nov-2011: 126 values in 'Location' were updated with new values ('update_data') 18-Nov-2011: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Location, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 18-Nov-2011: added Longitude and Latitude columns by matching values in the Location column to entries in the GCE geographic database ('add_stationcoords') 18-Nov-2011: 63 values in 'Location' were updated with new values ('update_data'): changed record 3 from 'GCE1_CB16' to 'GCE1_CB26', changed record 10 from 'GCE2_CB13' to 'GCE2_CB23', changed record 12 from 'GCE2_CB18' to 'GCE2_CB28', changed record 27 from 'GCE4_CB16' to 'GCE4_CB26', changed record 42 from 'GCE6_CB13' to 'GCE6_CB23', changed record 57 from 'GCE8_CB11' to 'GCE8_CB21', changed record 59 from 'GCE8_CB16' to 'GCE8_CB26', changed record 60 from 'GCE8_CB18' to 'GCE8_CB28', changed record 66 from 'GCE9_CB13' to 'GCE9_CB23', changed record 83 from 'GCE1_CB16' to 'GCE1_CB26', changed record 90 from 'GCE2_CB13' to 'GCE2_CB23', changed record 92 from 'GCE2_CB18' to 'GCE2_CB28', changed record 107 from 'GCE4_CB16' to 'GCE4_CB26', changed record 122 from 'GCE6_CB13' to 'GCE6_CB23', changed record 137 from 'GCE8_CB11' to 'GCE8_CB21', changed record 139 from 'GCE8_CB16' to 'GCE8_CB26', changed record 140 from 'GCE8_CB18' to 'GCE8_CB28', changed record 146 from 'GCE9_CB13' to 'GCE9_CB23', changed record 163 from 'GCE1_CB16' to 'GCE1_CB26', changed record 170 from 'GCE2_CB13' to 'GCE2_CB23', changed record 172 from 'GCE2_CB18' to 'GCE2_CB28', changed record 187 from 'GCE4_CB16' to 'GCE4_CB26', changed record 202 from 'GCE6_CB13' to 'GCE6_CB23', changed record 217 from 'GCE8_CB11' to 'GCE8_CB21', changed record 219 from 'GCE8_CB16' to 'GCE8_CB26', changed record 220 from 'GCE8_CB18' to 'GCE8_CB28', changed record 226 from 'GCE9_CB13' to 'GCE9_CB23', changed record 243 from 'GCE1_CB16' to 'GCE1_CB26', changed record 250 from 'GCE2_CB13' to 'GCE2_CB23', changed record 252 from 'GCE2_CB18' to 'GCE2_CB28', changed record 267 from 'GCE4_CB16' to 'GCE4_CB26', changed record 282 from 'GCE6_CB13' to 'GCE6_CB23', changed record 297 from 'GCE8_CB11' to 'GCE8_CB21', changed record 299 from 'GCE8_CB16' to 'GCE8_CB26', changed record 300 from 'GCE8_CB18' to 'GCE8_CB28', changed record 306 from 'GCE9_CB13' to 'GCE9_CB23', changed record 323 from 'GCE1_CB16' to 'GCE1_CB26', changed record 330 from 'GCE2_CB13' to 'GCE2_CB23', changed record 332 from 'GCE2_CB18' to 'GCE2_CB28', changed record 347 from 'GCE4_CB16' to 'GCE4_CB26', changed record 362 from 'GCE6_CB13' to 'GCE6_CB23', changed record 377 from 'GCE8_CB11' to 'GCE8_CB21', changed record 379 from 'GCE8_CB16' to 'GCE8_CB26', changed record 380 from 'GCE8_CB18' to 'GCE8_CB28', changed record 386 from 'GCE9_CB13' to 'GCE9_CB23', changed record 403 from 'GCE1_CB16' to 'GCE1_CB26', changed record 410 from 'GCE2_CB13' to 'GCE2_CB23', changed record 412 from 'GCE2_CB18' to 'GCE2_CB28', changed record 427 from 'GCE4_CB16' to 'GCE4_CB26', changed record 442 from 'GCE6_CB13' to 'GCE6_CB23', changed record 457 from 'GCE8_CB11' to 'GCE8_CB21', changed record 459 from 'GCE8_CB16' to 'GCE8_CB26', changed record 460 from 'GCE8_CB18' to 'GCE8_CB28', changed record 466 from 'GCE9_CB13' to 'GCE9_CB23', changed record 483 from 'GCE1_CB16' to 'GCE1_CB26', changed record 490 from 'GCE2_CB13' to 'GCE2_CB23', changed record 492 from 'GCE2_CB18' to 'GCE2_CB28', changed record 507 from 'GCE4_CB16' to 'GCE4_CB26', changed record 522 from 'GCE6_CB13' to 'GCE6_CB23', changed record 537 from 'GCE8_CB11' to 'GCE8_CB21', changed record 539 from 'GCE8_CB16' to 'GCE8_CB26', changed record 540 from 'GCE8_CB18' to 'GCE8_CB28', changed record 546 from 'GCE9_CB13' to 'GCE9_CB23' 18-Nov-2011: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Location, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 18-Nov-2011: added Longitude and Latitude columns by matching values in the Location column to entries in the GCE geographic database ('add_stationcoords') 18-Nov-2011: 14 values in 'Location' were updated with new values ('update_data'): changed record 3 from 'GCE1_CB26' to 'GCE1_CB36', changed record 12 from 'GCE2_CB28' to 'GCE2_CB38', changed record 83 from 'GCE1_CB26' to 'GCE1_CB36', changed record 92 from 'GCE2_CB28' to 'GCE2_CB38', changed record 163 from 'GCE1_CB26' to 'GCE1_CB36', changed record 172 from 'GCE2_CB28' to 'GCE2_CB38', changed record 243 from 'GCE1_CB26' to 'GCE1_CB36', changed record 252 from 'GCE2_CB28' to 'GCE2_CB38', changed record 323 from 'GCE1_CB26' to 'GCE1_CB36', changed record 332 from 'GCE2_CB28' to 'GCE2_CB38', changed record 403 from 'GCE1_CB26' to 'GCE1_CB36', changed record 412 from 'GCE2_CB28' to 'GCE2_CB38', changed record 483 from 'GCE1_CB26' to 'GCE1_CB36', changed record 492 from 'GCE2_CB28' to 'GCE2_CB38' 18-Nov-2011: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Location, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 18-Nov-2011: added Longitude and Latitude columns by matching values in the Location column to entries in the GCE geographic database ('add_stationcoords') 18-Nov-2011: added column 'Location_Notes' at position 8 ('addcol') 18-Nov-2011: manually added 'E' flags to 126 records in column(s) Location, Latitude and Longitude ('addflags') 18-Nov-2011: locked Q/C flag criteria for columns Location, Longitude and Latitude to prevent automatic evaluation ('flag_locks') 18-Nov-2011: updated 2 metadata fields in the Data, Status sections ('add_plant_plots') 18-Nov-2011: added geographic metadata based on matching values in columns Site and Location to site and transect names registered in 'geo_polygons.mat' and location and station names registered in 'geo_locations.mat' ('add_sitemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: updated 9 metadata fields in the Site, Status sections ('add_sitemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: added geographic metadata based on matching values in column Location to location and station names registered in 'geo_locations.mat' ('add_sitemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: updated 9 metadata fields in the Site, Status sections ('add_sitemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: updated 57 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 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 19-Feb-2012: flags for columns Location, Longitude, Latitude, Mollusc_Count, Quadrat_Area and Mollusc_Density converted to data columns, flag codes updated in metadata ('flags2cols') 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. Plot column 7. Location column 8. Flag_Location column 9. Location_Notes column 10. Longitude column 11. Flag_Longitude column 12. Latitude column 13. Flag_Latitude column 14. Species column 15. Mollusc_Count column 16. Flag_Mollusc_Count column 17. Quadrat_Area column 18. Flag_Quadrat_Area column 19. Mollusc_Density column 20. Flag_Mollusc_Density 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Calendar year of observation column 2. Calendar month of observation column 3. Calendar day of observation column 4. GCE-LTER sampling site number column 5. Marsh zone code (1=Creekbank, 2=Mid-marsh) column 6. GCE-LTER permanent plot number column 7. Geographic location code in the GCE Metadata Database for the sampling plot column 8. QA/QC flags for Geographic location code in the GCE Metadata Database for the sampling plot (flagging criteria, where "x" is Location: manual) column 9. Notes on location assignments and geographic accuracy column 10. Geographic longitude in decimal degrees column 11. QA/QC flags for Geographic longitude in decimal degrees (flagging criteria, where "x" is Longitude: x<-180="I", x>180="I", manual) column 12. Geographic latitude in decimal degrees column 13. QA/QC flags for Geographic latitude in decimal degrees (flagging criteria, where "x" is Latitude: x<-90="I", x>90="I", manual) column 14. Latinized name of the mollusc species collected column 15. Number of individuals collected in the specified quadrat column 16. QA/QC flags for Number of individuals collected in the specified quadrat (flagging criteria, where "x" is Mollusc_Count: x<0="I", x>139="Q") column 17. Number of square meters in the quadrat sampled column 18. QA/QC flags for Number of square meters in the quadrat sampled (flagging criteria, where "x" is Quadrat_Area: x<0="I", x<0.25="Q", x>0.5="Q") column 19. Calculated number of individuals per meter squared column 20. QA/QC flags for Calculated number of individuals per meter squared (flagging criteria, where "x" is Mollusc_Density: x<0="I", x>556="Q") 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. YYYY column 2. MM column 3. DD column 4. None column 5. None column 6. None column 7. none column 8. none column 9. none column 10. degrees column 11. none column 12. degrees column 13. none column 14. None column 15. Count column 16. none column 17. m^2 column 18. none column 19. Count/m^2 column 20. none 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. alphanumeric column 8. alphanumeric column 9. alphanumeric column 10. floating-point column 11. alphanumeric column 12. floating-point column 13. alphanumeric column 14. alphanumeric column 15. integer column 16. alphanumeric column 17. floating-point column 18. alphanumeric column 19. floating-point column 20. alphanumeric b. Variable Codes: Site: 1 = GCE1 (Eulonia), 2 = GCE2 (Four Mile Island), 3 = GCE3 (North Sapelo), 4 = GCE4 (Meridian), 5 = GCE5 (Folly River), 6 = GCE6 (Dean Creek), 7 = GCE7 (Carrs Island), 8 = GCE8 (Alligator Creek), 9 = GCE9 (Rockdedundy Island), 10 = GCE10 (Hunt Camp) Zone: 1 = creek bank zone, 2 = mid-marsh zone Species: Littoraria = Littoraria irrorata, Melampus = Melampus bidentatus, Detracia = Detracia floridana, Hydrobiidae = undifferentiated Hydrobiidae species, Succineidae = undifferentiated Succineidae species, Geukensia = Geukensia demissa, Polymesoda = Polymesoda caroliniana Flag_Location: E = location estimated based on GPS coordinates of prior or replacement plot(s) Flag_Longitude: E = location estimated based on GPS coordinates of prior or replacement plot(s) Flag_Latitude: E = location estimated based on GPS coordinates of prior or replacement plot(s) c. Numeric Range: column 1. 2001 to 2001 column 2. 10 to 10 column 3. 6 to 15 column 4. 1 to 10 column 5. 1 to 2 column 6. 1 to 8 column 7. (none) column 8. (none) column 9. (none) column 10. -81.4787 to -81.229 column 11. (none) column 12. 31.3075 to 31.5395 column 13. (none) column 14. (none) column 15. 0 to 139 column 16. (none) column 17. 0.25 to 0.5 column 18. (none) column 19. 0 to 556 column 20. (none) 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. text column 8. text column 9. text column 10. numerical column 11. text column 12. numerical column 13. text column 14. text column 15. numerical column 16. text column 17. numerical column 18. text column 19. numerical column 20. text b. Number of Columns: 20 c. Decimal Places: column 1. 0 column 2. 0 column 3. 0 column 4. 0 column 5. 0 column 6. 0 column 7. 0 column 8. 0 column 9. 0 column 10. 6 column 11. 0 column 12. 6 column 13. 0 column 14. 0 column 15. 0 column 16. 0 column 17. 2 column 18. 0 column 19. 0 column 20. 0 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. nominal (none) column 8. coded value (none) column 9. free text (none) column 10. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 11. coded value (none) column 12. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 13. coded value (none) column 14. coded value (none) column 15. data (discrete) column 16. coded value (none) column 17. data (continuous) column 18. coded value (none) column 19. calculation (continuous) column 20. coded value (none) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. x<2001="Q", x>2001="Q" column 2. x<1="I", x<10="Q", x>12="I" column 3. x<1="I", x>31="I" column 4. x<1="I", x>10="Q" column 5. x<1="I", x>2="I" column 6. x<1="I", x>8="I" column 7. manually-assigned flags column 8. none column 9. none column 10. x<-180="I", x>180="I", manually-assigned flags column 11. none column 12. x<-90="I", x>90="I", manually-assigned flags column 13. none column 14. none column 15. x<0="I", x>139="Q" column 16. none column 17. x<0="I", x<0.25="Q", x>0.5="Q" column 18. none column 19. x<0="I", x>556="Q" column 20. none C. Data Anomalies: V. Supplemental Descriptors A. Data Acquisition 1. Data Forms: 2. Form Location: 3. Data Entry Validation: B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: C. Supplemental Materials: D. Computer Programs: E. Archival Practices: F. Publications: not specified G. History of Data Set Usage 1. Data Request History: not specified 2. Data Set Update History: none 3. Review History: none 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none