I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Brian R. Silliman. 2012. Fall 2012 mid-marsh and creekbank survey of adult and recruit Littoraria irrorata abundance at GCE LTER sampling sites 1-10. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set INV-GCEM-1211; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=INV-GCEM-1211) B. Accession Number: INV-GCEM-1211 C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Brian R. Silliman Address: Department of Biology University of Florida Gainesville, Florida 32611 Country: USA Email: brs@ufl.edu 2. Abstract: The abundance of Littoraria irrorata was investigated at ten sampling sites within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystem (GCE) LTER study area in October 2012. Visual counts of adult Littoraria were conducted within 0.5m x 0.5m creekbank and mid-marsh quadrats in line with permanent GCE vegetation plots. "Recruit" Littoraria (1-4 mm shell length) were found and counted by looking inside all leaf furls within a nested quadrat (0.25m x 0.25m). This method is a new part of the annual GCE monitoring starting in 2012, and supplements the invertebrate data that has been collected since October 2000. 3. Study Type: Monitoring 4. Study Themes: Population Ecology 5. LTER Core Areas: Populations 6. Georeferences: none 7. Submission Date: Nov 09, 2012 D. Keywords: abundance, Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring, creek bank, fall, invertebrates, Littoraria, marshes, mollusks, Populations, populations, snails, surveys II. Research Origin Descriptors A. Overall Project Description 1. Project Title: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project 2. Principal Investigators: Name: Merryl Alber Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: malber@uga.edu 3. Funding Period: May 01, 2006 to Jan 01, 2013 4. Objectives: To understand the mechanisms by which variation in the quality, source and amount of both fresh and salt water create temporal and spatial variability in estuarine habitats and processes, in order to predict directional changes that will occur in response to long-term shifts in estuarine salinity patterns 5. Abstract: The Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) LTER program, located on the central Georgia coast, was established in 2000. The study domain encompasses three adjacent sounds (Altamaha, Doboy, Sapelo) and includes upland (mainland, barrier islands, marsh hammocks), intertidal (fresh, brackish and salt marsh) and submerged (river, estuary, continental shelf) habitats. Patterns and processes in this complex landscape vary spatially within and between sites, and temporally on multiple scales (tidal, diurnal, seasonal, and interannual). Overlain on this spatial and temporal variation are long-term trends caused by climate change, sea level rise, and human alterations of the landscape. These long-term trends are likely to manifest in many ways, including changes in water quality, river discharge, runoff and tidal inundation patterns throughout the estuarine landscape. The overarching goal of the GCE program is to understand the mechanisms by which variation in the quality, source and amount of both fresh and salt water create temporal and spatial variability in estuarine habitats and processes, in order to predict directional changes that will occur in response to long-term shifts in estuarine salinity patterns. The objectives of the current funding cycle are 1) to continue to document long-term patterns of environmental forcing to the coastal zone, 2) to link environmental forcing to observed spatial and temporal patterns of biogeochemical processes, primary production, community dynamics, decomposition and disturbance, 3) to investigate the underlying mechanisms by which environmental gradients along the longitudinal (freshwater-saltwater) and 4) lateral (upland-subtidal) axes of estuaries drive ecosystem change, and 5) to explore the relative importance of larval transport and the conditions of the adult environment in determining community and genetic structure across both the longitudinal and vertical gradients of the estuary. To meet these objectives, we utilize a suite of approaches including long-term monitoring of abiotic drivers and ecosystem responses; manipulative and natural experiments designed to enable us to examine the importance of key ecosystem drivers; and modeling. 6. Funding Source: NSF OCE 0620959 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. 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. Oct 16, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C4, C5, C6, C7, C8. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C5, C6, C8. No disturbance by animal activity was observed and no plots were replaced. Oct 18, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C5, C6, C7 and C8. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 25, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C7, C8. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C5, C6. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C18. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 16, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C2, C16. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 22, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C3, C15. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C17, C18, C25. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C18. No plots were replaced. Oct 27, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C25, C26. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C17, C18, C36. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): none. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 16, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 19, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C4, C17, C18, C36. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C4, C12, C18, C36. No plots were disturbed by wildlife and none were lost and replaced. Oct 25, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: C36 (now C46), C17 (now C27), C18 (now C28). 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. Oct 18, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C4, C5, C6. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C2, C6. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion or catastrophic wrack disturbance: C1 (replaced with C11). No disturbance by animal activity was observed. Oct 19, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C2. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 22, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C4, C6, C8. No disturbance by wildlife activity was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C2, C4. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, no plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, and no plots were replaced. Oct 17, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C12, C4, C6. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C2. The following plots were lost for unknown reasons: C8. No plots were disturbed by wildlife, and no plots were replaced. Oct 23, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C4, C12, C13, C18. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C6, C7, C11, C22, C23. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C18. No plots were replaced. Oct 28, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C22, C28. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: none. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): none. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 15, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 19, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C5, C7, C38. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion or catastrophic wrack disturbance: C14, C23 (replaced with C24 and C33, resp.). No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife. Oct 25, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C7. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: C11 (now C21), C38 (now C48) 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. Oct 20, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C4, C5, C6, C7, C8. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M2, M5, M6, M7, M8 (snails). The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C8. No plots were replaced. Oct 19, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C3, C4. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M5, M6. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C8. No plots were lost due to creekbank erosion or catastrophic wrack inundation, and not plots were replaced. Oct 24, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M5, M7. No plots were lost due to creekbank erosion or catastrophic wrack inundation, and not plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, no plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, and no plots were replaced. Oct 15, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 (plot C3 has no shoots). The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C6. No plots were disturbed by wildlife, and no plots were replaced. Oct 24, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C1, C2, C3, C4. No plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 26, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: none. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C2, C3. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): M5. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 17, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 20, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 27, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed and none 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. Oct 18, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C4. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M6, M8 (snails). No plots were disturbed by creekbank erosion or replaced. Oct 18, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C5, C8. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity were observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 25, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C4. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C6. No plots were distrurbed by wildlife and no plots were lost or replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C6. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity was observed, no plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, and no plots were replaced. Oct 16, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C2, C3, C16. No plots were lost or disturbed by wildlife, and none were replaced. Oct 22, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C5, C7, C16. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C15, C26, M1, M3. No plots were replaced. Oct 27, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C2. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: none. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): M3 (no shoots). The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 16, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife: M3 (snails). No plots were disturbed by wrack or were on creekbank areas that are collapsing, and no plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance or catastrophic wildlife activity: C26 (replaced with C36). No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife or are on creekbank areas that are collapsing. Oct 25, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C3, C15. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: C36 (now C46). 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. Oct 15, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C6, C7. No disturbance by wrack inundation or animal activity was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 18, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C7. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity were observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 23, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C7. No disturbance by wrack or wildlife activity were observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C7, C8. No plots were distrurbed by wildlife, none were lost due to creekbank erosion, and none were replaced. Oct 17, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C2. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C6. No plots were disturbed by wildlife and none were replaced. Oct 21, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C2, C4, C5, M2. No plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 28, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: none. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C3, C5. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): none. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 15, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C3. No plots were disturbed by wildlife and no plots were lost and replaced. Oct 19, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C5. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C3 (replaced with C13). No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife. Oct 25, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are on sections of creek bank that are collapsing: C5. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: C3 (now C13). 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). Oct 19, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C1. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M6, M7, M8 (snails). The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C4, C5. No plots were replaced. Oct 17, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M8. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C5. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion or catastrophic wrack inundation and were replaced: C2, C4 (replaced with C12, C14). Oct 22, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C12, C23, C5, C6, C8. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M8. No plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, and none were replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C5, C12. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife: M8. No plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, and none were replaced. Oct 15, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C23, C6, C7 (C1, C23 have no plants). The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M8. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C12, C14, C5. No plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 23, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C5, C14, C22. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C15, C16, C23, M8. No plots were replaced. Oct 26, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C24. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C22. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): M8 (no shoots). The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C22, C23. No plots were replaced. Oct 16, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C22, C23. No other plots were disturbed by wildlife or wrack, and none were replaced. Oct 20, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C6. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C32 (replaced with C42). No plots were disturbed by wildlife or are on creekbank areas that are collapsing. Oct 25, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are located on sections of creek bank that are collapsing: C6, C33. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: C15 (now C25). 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. Oct 17, 2002: 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. Oct 17, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No evidence of plot disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 23, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No evidence of plot disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were distrurbed by wildlife, none were lost due to creekbank erosion, and none were replaced. Oct 14, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C7. No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife, and none were replaced. Oct 20, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were lost or disturbed by wrack or wildlife, and none were replaced. Oct 25, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: none. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: none. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): none. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 14, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 18, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 24, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: C2 (now C12). 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. Oct 17, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C4. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M2, M3, M4, M7 (pigs). No disturbance due to creekbank collapse was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 17, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M2, M4. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C2. No disturbance by wrack was observed, but plot M8 was merging with the path and was relocated as M18. Oct 23, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M2. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C2. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: M3. No plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C2, C16. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife: M1, M4. No plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, and none were replaced. Oct 14, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C1, C4, C15, C16, C17, C18. The following plots had no live shoots due to seasonal senescence: M2. No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife, and none were replaced. Oct 20, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost for unknown reasons: C2, C11. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: M1, M2, M7, M13. No plots were replaced. Oct 25, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: none. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C26, M4. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): none. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 14, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife: M1, M2 (pigs). No plots were disturbed by wrack or were on creekbank areas that are collapsing, and no plots were lost or replaced. Oct 18, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C26. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): M1, M2, M13 (pigs). The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C12, C14. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C27, C28 (replaced with C37, C38 resp.). Oct 24, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots are on sections of creek bank that are collapsing: C25. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife and may have no shoots: M2, M13, M18. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: M1 (now M11). 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. Oct 17, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C5, C6, C8. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C1, C6. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion or catastrophic wrack disturbance: C3 (replaced with C13). No disturbance by wildlife activity was observed. Oct 18, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C1, C2, C6, C13. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C1, C2, C6. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion or catastrophic wrack inundation and were replaced: C5, C7, C8 (replaced with C15, C17, C18). No disturbance by wildlife activity was observed. Oct 23, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C13, C14, C6. No disturbance by wildlife activity was observed, and no plots were lost or replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C2, C18. No plots were distrurbed by wildlife, none were lost due to creekbank erosion, and none were replaced. Oct 14, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C14. No plots were disturbed by wildlife or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 21, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C1, C2, C13. No plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 25, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: none. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C2. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): none. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C1, C13, C16. No plots were replaced. Oct 15, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C1, C13. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C16. No plots were otherwise disturbed by wildlife or are on creekbank areas that are collapsing and none were replaced. Oct 21, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C16. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C16, C23. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: C2, C11, C14 (replaced with C12, C21 and C24, resp.). No plots were disturbed by wildlife. Oct 24, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C24. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity and were replaced: C16 (now C26), C23 (now C32). 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. Oct 20, 2002: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C8. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M5 (snails). No disturbance by creekbank erosion or collapse was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 19, 2003: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack (some have no shoots): C3, M1. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some have no shoots): M5. The following creekbank plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C2. No plots were replaced. Oct 22, 2004: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C7. No disturbance by wildlife was observed, and no plots were lost or replaced. Oct 21, 2005: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were distrurbed by wildlife, none were lost due to creekbank erosion, and none were replaced. Oct 15, 2006: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. Note that a new zone (zone 3) was added at site GCE10 in 2005. This is a juncus zone in the high marsh. Oct 24, 2007: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity: C1, C2, C3, C4, C8, M1, M2. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: C13. No plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 26, 2008: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife activity: none. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: none. The following plots were distrurbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): none. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing: none. No plots were replaced. Oct 17, 2009: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C3. No plots were disturbed by wildlife, and none are on creekbank areas that are collapsing or were replaced. Oct 20, 2010: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed or lost, and none were replaced. Oct 26, 2011: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed and none 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: Sampling was done during the same approximate time period as the other fall invertebrate monitoring. At each site, we sampled 8-12 quadrats per zone for visible adult Littoraria, and 8 nested quadrats for Littoraria recruits (1-4 mm shell size). b. Permanent Plots: Quadrats were located haphazardly in line with permanent vegetation plots at each site and zone. c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: See methods Beginning of Observations: Oct 08, 2012 End of Observations: Oct 12, 2012 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: Plot Selection -- At each GCE-LTER study site, we haphazardly placed 8 quadrats in the creekbank zone and 12 quadrats in the mid-marsh zone, in line with the GCE permanent vegetation plots established in October 2000. Method 2: Snail Sampling -- In each plot we counted all visible Littoraria, ignoring the tiny individuals that are not obvious to a simple visual scan. We then placed a 0.25 x 0.25 m PVC quadrat in the center of the plot, and examined inside every plant stem for “recruit” individuals, looking inside all leaf furls. To do this, we pulled off the furled leaf from the stem and look for immature snails in that nook. We then ran a thumb from the base of the furled leaf to the top and counted juvenile snails (shell length from 1-4mm). b. Instrumentation: Method 1: none Method 2: none c. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable d. Permit History: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Brian R. Silliman 2: Stephanie Buhler b. Affiliations: 1: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 2: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 12-Dec-2012 2. Latest Archive Date: 12-Dec-2012 3. Latest Metadata Update: 12-Dec-2012 4. Data Verification Status: New Submission 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: Affiliates: Nov 09, 2012, Public: Nov 09, 2013 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 0620959 (data set INV-GCEM-1211) 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-1211_1_1.CSV 2. Size: 448 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: 7. Authentication Procedures: 8. Calculations: Density: Density(count/m^2) = Abundance(count)/Quadrat_Area(m^2) 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.4.1 (03-Dec-2012) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data file processed: INV-GCEM-1211.txt (448 records) Data processing history: 12-Dec-2012: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 12-Dec-2012: 448 rows imported from ASCII data file 'INV-GCEM-1211.txt' ('imp_ascii') 12-Dec-2012: 13 metadata fields in file header parsed ('parse_header') 12-Dec-2012: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 12-Dec-2012: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-Dec-2012: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-Dec-2012: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 12-Dec-2012: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 12-Dec-2012: updated 7 metadata fields in the Data, Status sections ('exp_ascii') 12-Dec-2012: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 12-Dec-2012: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Site column 2. Month column 3. Day column 4. Year column 5. Marsh_Zone column 6. Plot column 7. Abundance column 8. Observation_Type column 9. Quadrat_Area column 10. Density 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Nominal GCE-LTER sampling site column 2. Calendar month of observation column 3. Calendar day of observation column 4. Calendar year of observation column 5. Marsh zone column 6. Replicate plot number column 7. Number of Littoraria counted in the plot area column 8. Observation method (visible count or recruit count) column 9. Area of the sampling quadrat column 10. Number of Littoraria per area sampled 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. none column 2. M column 3. D column 4. YYYY column 5. none column 6. none column 7. count column 8. none column 9. m^2 column 10. count/m^2 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. integer column 8. alphanumeric column 9. floating-point column 10. floating-point 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) Marsh_Zone: 1 = creekbank, 2 = mid-marsh, 3 = additional Juncus zone in high marsh c. Numeric Range: column 1. 1 to 10 column 2. 10 to 10 column 3. 8 to 11 column 4. 2012 to 2012 column 5. 1 to 3 column 6. 1 to 12 column 7. 0 to 67 column 8. (none) column 9. 0.0625 to 0.25 column 10. 0 to 268 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. text column 9. numerical column 10. numerical b. Number of Columns: 10 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. 4 column 10. 0 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. coded value (discrete) column 2. datetime (discrete) column 3. datetime (discrete) column 4. datetime (discrete) column 5. coded value (discrete) column 6. ordinal (discrete) column 7. data (discrete) column 8. nominal (none) column 9. calculation (continuous) column 10. calculation (continuous) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. x<1="I", x>10="I" column 2. x<1="I", x>12="I", x<10="Q", x>10="Q" column 3. x<1="I", x>31="I", x<8="Q", x>12="Q" column 4. x<2012="Q", x>2012="Q" column 5. x<1="I", x>3="I" column 6. x<1="I", x>12="I" column 7. x<0="I", x>300&strcmp(col_Observation_Type,"Visible")="Q", x>100&strcmp(col_Observation_Type,"Recruit")="Q" column 8. flag_notinlist(x,"Visible,Recruit")="Q" column 9. x<0="I", x>0.25="Q" column 10. x<0="I", x>300="Q" 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