I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Brian R. Silliman. 2014. Survey of adult and juvenile periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) density in mid-marsh and creekbank plots at GCE LTER study sites in October 2013.. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set INV-GCEM-1404a; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=INV-GCEM-1404a) B. Accession Number: INV-GCEM-1404a C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Brian R. Silliman Address: 135 Duke Marine Lab Rd. Duke University Marine Lab Beaufort, North Carolina 28516-9721 Country: USA Email: brian.silliman@duke.edu 2. Abstract: To characterize spatial variation in the adult and juvenile density of periwinkle snails, Littoraria irrorata, within two zones in the salt marsh, the mid-marsh and creekbank, and across a gradient in salinity and distance to ocean, we surveyed snail density in October 2013. In each marsh zone at each GCE LTER permanent monitoring site, we counted the number of adult and juvenile snails in 8 replicate quadrats. Data was collected at all GCE domain sites as well as one additional Zizaniopsis site (label SCZ2). 3. Study Type: Monitoring 4. Study Themes: Population Ecology 5. LTER Core Areas: Population Studies 6. Georeferences: none 7. Submission Date: Apr 01, 2014 D. Keywords: Animalia, Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring, Bilateria, distribution, Gastropoda, GCE, Georgia, Georgia Coastal Ecosystems, invertebrates, Littoraria, Littoraria irrorata, Littorinidae, Lophozoa, LTER, marshes, Mollusca, mollusks, Neotaenioglossa, periwinkle, population dynamics, Population Studies, Protostomia, recruitment, Sapelo Island, snails, USA II. Research Origin Descriptors A. Overall Project Description 1. Project Title: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project III 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: Nov 01, 2012 to Nov 01, 2018 4. Objectives: The research proposed for GCE-III is designed to address how variations in salinity and inundation, driven by climate change and anthropogenic factors, affect biotic and ecosystem responses at different spatial and temporal scales, and to predict the consequences of these changes for habitat provisioning and carbon (C) sequestration across the coastal landscape. 5. Abstract: The Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) LTER is located along three adjacent sounds on the Atlantic coast and includes both intertidal marshes and estuaries. Long-term drivers of climate change, sea level rise and human alterations of the landscape will cause transitions in dominant habitat types (state changes) within the GCE domain by changing the amounts and patterns of water delivery across the landscape. These changes in water delivery can be conceptualized as presses and pulses in river inflow, local runoff, groundwater input, and tidal inundation, which will in turn manifest themselves as changes in salinity and inundation patterns in the domain. The research proposed for GCE-III is designed to address how variations in salinity and inundation, driven by climate change and anthropogenic factors, affect biotic and ecosystem responses at different spatial and temporal scales, and to predict the consequences of these changes for habitat provisioning and carbon (C) sequestration across the coastal landscape. The goals are to: 1) Track long-term changes in climate and human actions in the watershed and adjacent uplands, and evaluate the effects of these drivers on domain boundary conditions. 2) Describe temporal and spatial variability in physical, chemical, geological and biological, and to evaluate how they are affected by variations in river inflow and other boundary conditions. 3) Characterize the responses of three dominant habitats in the domain to pulses and presses in salinity and inundation. 4) Describe patterns of habitat provisioning and C sequestration and export in the GCE domain, and to evaluate how these might be affected by changes in salinity and inundation. These efforts will be synthesized into a synoptic understanding of both biotic and ecosystem responses to variations in salinity and inundation driven by climate change and human activities, which will be used to assess thresholds between habitats and the potential for state changes in the domain. 6. Funding Source: NSF OCE 1237140 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 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 ZSC2 -- ZSC2 Altamaha Plant Transition Site, 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 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 ZSC2 -- NW: 081 27 18.91 W, 31 20 31.29 N NE: 081 27 05.14 W, 31 20 31.29 N SE: 081 27 05.14 W, 31 20 19.92 N SW: 081 27 18.91 W, 31 20 19.92 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE2 -- Barrier island GCE3 -- Barrier island GCE4 -- Lower coastal plain GCE6 -- Barrier island GCE7 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE9 -- Barrier island GCE10 -- Barrier island ZSC2 -- Lower coastal plain 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 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 ZSC2 -- Estuarine tidal 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 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 ZSC2 -- Site borders the Champney 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 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 ZSC2 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE1 -- unspecified GCE2 -- unspecified GCE3 -- unspecified GCE4 -- unspecified GCE6 -- unspecified GCE7 -- unspecified GCE8 -- unspecified GCE9 -- unspecified GCE10 -- unspecified ZSC2 -- 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. 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. ZSC2 -- Spartina cynosuroides and Zizaniopsis miliacea 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. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C7. 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). Oct 13, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed due to creekbank: C27, C36. No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife activity, and none were replaced. Oct 16, 2013: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C27. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife: C25 (replaced by C35), C26 (replaced by C36). Oct 17, 2014: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was noted; however, plots C35, C36 and C28 were renumbered as C45, C46 and C38, but in the same location for unspecified reasons. Oct 20, 2015: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C4, C46, C27, C38. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing (slumping): C4, C45, C27, C38. No plots were disturbed by wildlife. 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. Plot C6 was disturbed by wrack and Plots C3 and C4 were disturbed by creekbank slumping. Not plots were lost and none 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, C11, 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) Oct 13, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by creek bank erosion adjacent to the plot: C17, C24, C42. The following plot was disturbed by wrack: M4. No plots were lost or replaced. Oct 16, 2013: 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: C21 (replaced with C31), C5 (replaced with C15), C17 (replaced with 27). Oct 16, 2014: 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: C31, C27 (replaced with C41, C37, resp). Oct 22, 2015: 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 are on creekbank areas that are collapsing (slumping): C41, C42, C33, C24, C15, C48. No plots were disturbed by wildlife and none were lost and 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. 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. The following plots were disturbed by marsh dieback: M7. 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. Oct 14, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed and none were replaced, but the following plots were observed to be too far from the creek bank and may be repositioned in the future: C7, C8. A new creek bank tributary is also forming near C5. Oct 18, 2013: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C4. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife: M6. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife: C5 (replaced with C15), C17 (replaced with 27). Oct 18, 2014: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C17. Not plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 25, 2015: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C11. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing (slumping): C11, C12, C14, C28. The following plots were lost due to terminal slumping of the creekbank: C15, C17 (replaced with C25, C27). No plots were disturbed by wildlife and none were lost and 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). Oct 13, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed and none were replaced, but C25 was slightly reposition due to nearby creekbank erosion. Oct 16, 2013: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed and none were replaced, but C25 was slightly reposition due to nearby creekbank erosion. Oct 17, 2014: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was noted, and not plots were replaced. Oct 20, 2015: 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 (slumping): C3, C4, C5, C6. The following plots were lost due to terminal slumping of the creekbank: C1 (replaced with C11). No plots were disturbed by wildlife. 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: C23. 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). Oct 15, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C6, C8, C33, C34. No plots were disturbed by creekbank erosion or wildlife, but no living plants were observed in C34 and M5 is now in an apparent die-back zone. Oct 16, 2013: 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: C15 (replaced with C25), C16 (replaced with C26), C8 (replaced with 18). Oct 18, 2014: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was noted, and no plots were lost; however, plots C33, C34 and C26 were relabeled as C43, C44 and C36, resp. for unspecified reasons. Oct 15, 2015: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: M2. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing (slumping): C42, C36. The following plots were lost due to terminal slumping of the creekbank: C43, C44, C25 (replaced with C53, C54, C35). No plots were disturbed by wildlife. 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). Oct 12, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed by creekbank erosion, wrack or wildlife, and none were replaced. Oct 14, 2013: 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 lost and none were replaced. Oct 20, 2014: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was noted, and no plots were replaced. Oct 23, 2015: 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 (slumping): C3, C7. No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife and none were lost and 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. 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). Oct 12, 2012: 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, M6, M7, M18. The following plot was lost due to creekbank erosion: C21 (replaced by C31). Also, no living plants were observed in plots M1, M2. Oct 14, 2013: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wildlife (some may have no shoots): M1, M2, M13 (pigs). The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife: C25 (replaced with C35). Oct 21, 2014: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was recorded, but plots C35, M1, M2 and M13 were renumbered as C45, M11, M12 and M23 for unspecified reasons. Oct 23, 2015: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C3. The following plots are on creekbank areas that are collapsing (slumping): C14. No plots were disturbed by wildlife and none were lost and replaced. 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: 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). Oct 12, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed by creekbank erosion, wrack or wildlife, and none were replaced. Oct 15, 2013: 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: C18. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion, catastrophic wrack disturbance, or catastrophic wildlife: C21 (replaced with C31), C33 (replaced with C43). Oct 15, 2014: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 21, 2015: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. 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. Oct 14, 2012: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. The following plots were disturbed by wrack: C1, C6, C7. The following plots were repositioned due to nearby creekbank erosion: C12, C13. No plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 13, 2013: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No plots were disturbed, and none were lost and replaced. Oct 18, 2014: 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, C13, C5. No plots were lost and none were replaced. Oct 24, 2015: 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 (slumping): C1. No plots were disturbed by wrack or wildlife and none were lost and replaced. ZSC2 -- Oct 14, 2013: Plots were examined for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, animal activity, and creek bank erosion. No disturbance was observed, and no plots were replaced. Oct 17, 2014: 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 plants). No plots were lost and replaced. Oct 22, 2015: 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 (slump): C3. Not plots were lost 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: Survey of adult and juvenile periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) in creekbank and mid-marsh zones across the GCE domain b. Permanent Plots: Adult snails were counted in 50cm x 50cm quadrats and juvenile snails in 25cm x 25cm quadrats c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: Snail densities were collected in 8 replicate quadrats in each marsh zone (mid-marsh and creekbank) at each of the GCE LTER domain sites Beginning of Observations: Oct 13, 2013 End of Observations: Oct 28, 2013 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Survey -- At each site, 8 (creekbank) and 8 (mid-marsh) quadrats were positioned adjacent (<1m) to the permanent vegetation plots. In each 50cm x 50cm plot, all “visible” Littoraria were counted, ignoring the tiny individuals that are not obvious to a simple visual scan. Then a 25 x 0.25 cm quadrat was placed in the center of the plot, and every plant stem was sampled for “recruit” individuals, looking inside all leaf furls. To do this, the furled leaf was pulled from the stem and any juvenile snails that were between 1-4mm at the base of the leaf were counted. b. Protocols: none c. Instrumentation: 50cm x 50cm PVC quadrat and 25cm x 25cm quadrat d. Taxonomy and Systematics: not applicable e. Speclies List: f. Permit History: not applicable 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Brian R. Silliman 2: Christine Angelini 3: Sean Sharp 4: Joe P. Morton 5: Kimberly Prince 6: Sinead M. Crotty b. Affiliations: 1: Duke University, Beaufort, North Carolina 2: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 3: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 4: Duke University Marine Lab, Beaufort, North Carolina 5: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 6: University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 23-Apr-2019 2. Latest Archive Date: 24-Jan-2019 3. Latest Metadata Update: 23-Apr-2019 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: Department of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: sheldon@uga.edu 3. Copyright Restrictions: not copyrighted 4. Restrictions: This information is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data ("Data User" herein) has an ethical obligation to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. a. Release Date: Affiliates: Apr 15, 2014, Public: Apr 15, 2015 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 1237140 (data set INV-GCEM-1404a) 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-1404a_2_1.CSV 2. Size: 160 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: Quadrat area Adult Snail Count: 0.5 m x 0.5 m quadrats Quadrat area Juvenile Snail Count: 0.25 m x 0.25 m quadrats 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.9.9 (07-Jan-2019) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data file processed: INV-GCEM-1404a.txt (160 records) Data processing history: 24-Jan-2019: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 24-Jan-2019: 160 rows imported from ASCII data file 'INV-GCEM-1404a.txt' ('imp_ascii') 24-Jan-2019: 81 metadata fields in file header parsed ('parse_header') 24-Jan-2019: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 24-Jan-2019: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 24-Jan-2019: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 24-Jan-2019: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 24-Jan-2019: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 24-Jan-2019: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 24-Jan-2019: Description of column Plot edited; Name of column Plot changed to Quadrat_Number; Name of column Adult Snails Count changed to Adult_Snails_Count; Name of column Quadrat area Adult Snail Count changed to Quadrat_Area_Adult_Snail_Count; Name of column Juvenile Snails Count changed to Juvenile_Snails_Count; Name of column Quadrat area Juvenile Snail Count changed to Quadrat_Area_Juvenile_Snail_Coun ('ui_editor') 24-Jan-2019: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 24-Jan-2019: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 24-Jan-2019: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 23-Apr-2019: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 23-Apr-2019: Numeric Type of column Quadrat_Area_Adult_Snail_Count changed from 'discrete' to 'continuous'; Numeric Type of column Quadrat_Area_Juvenile_Snail_Count changed from 'discrete' to 'continuous ('ui_editor') 23-Apr-2019: updated 6 metadata fields in the Data sections ('addmeta') 23-Apr-2019: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 23-Apr-2019: 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. Quadrat_Number column 7. Adult_Snails_Count column 8. Quadrat_Area_Adult_Snail_Count column 9. Juvenile_Snails_Count column 10. Quadrat_Area_Juvenile_Snail_Count 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 column 5. Creekbank or Mid-marsh column 6. Quadrat number. Corresponds to GCE LTER plots as quadrats were placed adjacent (<1m) to GCE plots column 7. Number of adult snails observed in plot column 8. Area of quadrat used for adult snail count column 9. Number of juvenile snails observed in leaf furls in plot column 10. Area of quadrat used for juvenile snail count 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. m^2 column 9. none column 10. m^2 4. Data Type a. Storage Type: column 1. integer column 2. integer column 3. integer column 4. string column 5. integer column 6. integer column 7. integer column 8. floating-point column 9. integer column 10. floating-point b. Variable Codes: Zone: 1 = Creekbank, 2 = Mid-Marsh c. Numeric Range: column 1. 2013 to 2013 column 2. 10 to 10 column 3. 13 to 13 column 4. (none) column 5. 1 to 2 column 6. 1 to 8 column 7. 0 to 122 column 8. 0.25 to 0.25 column 9. 0 to 40 column 10. 0.0625 to 0.0625 d. Missing Value Code: 5. Data Format a. Column Type: column 1. numerical column 2. numerical column 3. numerical column 4. text column 5. numerical column 6. numerical column 7. numerical column 8. numerical 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. 2 column 9. 0 column 10. 4 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. datetime (discrete) column 2. datetime (discrete) column 3. datetime (discrete) column 4. free text (none) column 5. coded value (discrete) column 6. nominal (discrete) column 7. data (discrete) column 8. calculation (continuous) column 9. data (discrete) column 10. calculation (continuous) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. x<2013="Q";x>2013="Q" column 2. x<1="I";x>12="I";x<10="Q";x>10="Q" column 3. x<1="I";x>31="I";x<13="Q";x>16="Q" column 4. none column 5. none column 6. none column 7. x<0="Q";x>122="Q" column 8. x<0.25="Q";x>0.25="Q" column 9. x<0="Q";x>40="Q" column 10. x<0.0625="Q";x>0.0625="Q" C. Data Anomalies: V. Supplemental Descriptors A. Data Acquisition 1. Data Forms: Paper data sheets 2. Form Location: Christine Angelini, University of Florida, Department of Biology/ Environmental Engineering 3. Data Entry Validation: Values were calculated using excel functions B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: C. Supplemental Materials: PVC poles D. Computer Programs: Microsoft Excell 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