I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Patricia M. Medeiros. 2017. Microbially-Mediated Transformations of Estuarine Dissolved Organic Matter from Doboy Sound, Sapelo Sound and the Altamaha River near Sapelo Island, Georgia in 2012-2013. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set ORG-GCED-1703; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=ORG-GCED-1703) B. Accession Number: ORG-GCED-1703 C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Patricia M. Medeiros Address: Department of Marine Sciences UGA Marine Sciences Building Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: medeiros@uga.edu 2. Abstract: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) samples were collected from a marsh-dominated estuarine system (Altamaha River estuary, Doboy Sound and Sapelo Sound near Sapelo Island, Georgia), inoculated with native microbiological samples, and incubated in the dark for up to 70 days. Control and incubated DOM samples were then anlyzed using ultrahigh resolution mass spectrometry to investiage microbially-mediated transformations at the molecular level. Samples were collected at high tide in November 2012 and May 2013. 3. Study Type: Directed Study 4. Study Themes: Organic Matter/Decomposition 5. LTER Core Areas: Organic Matter 6. Georeferences: geographic coordinates as data columns 7. Submission Date: Mar 14, 2017 D. Keywords: carbon, decomposition, DOM, estuary, GCE, Georgia, Georgia Coastal Ecosystems, isotope analysis, LTER, mass spectrometry, microbes, nutrients, Organic Matter, Sapelo Island, 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: GCE-DB -- Doboy Sound, Georgia, USA GCE-AL -- Altamaha River, Georgia, USA GCE-DP -- Duplin River, Georgia, USA Coordinates: GCE-DB -- NW: 081 22 05.66 W, 31 27 20.39 N NE: 081 14 34.64 W, 31 27 20.39 N SE: 081 14 34.64 W, 31 20 27.39 N SW: 081 22 05.66 W, 31 20 27.39 N GCE-AL -- NW: 081 34 56.32 W, 31 24 05.05 N NE: 081 14 16.57 W, 31 24 05.05 N SE: 081 14 16.57 W, 31 17 45.72 N SW: 081 34 56.32 W, 31 17 45.72 N GCE-DP -- NW: 081 18 07.15 W, 31 29 11.37 N NE: 081 15 47.25 W, 31 29 11.37 N SE: 081 15 47.25 W, 31 24 39.08 N SW: 081 18 07.15 W, 31 24 39.08 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE-DB -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCE-AL -- Estuary and tidal marsh GCE-DP -- Myxohaline tidal creek and marsh c. Landform Components: GCE-DB -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCE-AL -- Intertidal marsh bordering sounds, tidal channels and creeks GCE-DP -- Intertidal marsh bordering tidal channels and creeks d. Hydrographic Characteristics: GCE-DB -- Site encompasses Doboy Sound and nearby tidal channels and creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. GCE-AL -- Site encompasses the Altamaha River estuary and nearby tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3.4m semi-diurnal tides. High freshwater input from the Altamaha River, one of the largest rivers in the Southeastern United States. GCE-DP -- Site includes the Duplin River and various smaller tidal creeks and channels e. Topographic Attributes: GCE-DB -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide GCE-AL -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide GCE-DP -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3.4m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE-DB -- unspecified GCE-AL -- unspecified GCE-DP -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE-DB -- unspecified GCE-AL -- unspecified GCE-DP -- unspecified h. History of Land Use and Disturbance: none recorded 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: DOM samples were collected in the Altamaha-Doboy-Sapelo estuary off the southeastern U.S. in November 2012 and May 2013, extracted, and incubated with native microbiological samples in the laboratory. DOM composition was then examined using mass spectrometry to determine the effects of microbial degradation. b. Permanent Plots: none c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: At least three replicates were collected for each sample. Immediately after collection, samples were filtered (using 0.7 µm Whatman GF/F filters precombusted at 450°C for 5 h and prewashed 0.2 µm Pall Supor membrane filters), and aliquots were stored frozen for DOC analysis. Beginning of Observations: Nov 18, 2012 End of Observations: May 12, 2013 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: Sample Collection -- Dissolved organic matter (DOM) was collected in the Altamaha River, Doboy Sound, and Sapelo Sound in November 2012 and May 2013. All samples were collected during high tide. Method 2: Sample Inoculation and Incubation -- Fifty milliliters aliquots of the filtrate from each sampling site were set aside in separated beakers for the preparation of microbial inocula. For that, the 0.2 µm filters from all locations were aseptically cut into pieces and equal areas of the filters were pooled into 50 mL aliquots of 0.2 µm filtrate from each of the three sites and stirred for 30 min. The resulting filtrates, now containing microbes from all sites, were added back to the appropriate set of bottles. This ensured that functional capabilities of the microbes were similar during all incubations and changes in DOM composition could therefore be attributed predominantly to the different initial composition of the DOM pools. We note that fine particles that passed through the GF/D filter but were retained in the 0.2 µm membrane were likely also introduced to the bottles. After the addition of inorganic nutrients (20 µM Na2PO4 and 50 µM NH4Cl), a triplicate set from each sampling site was immediately filtered (0.2 µm) in order to characterize the initial condition for each experiment. The remaining triplicate sets were incubated in the dark at the temperature measured at the time of collection for up to 70 days. At days 35 and 70, samples were filtered, acidified, and DOM was extracted using PPL cartridges as described previously. These samples are referred to as T35 and T70. Method 3: DOM Extraction -- Filtrates were acidified to pH 2, and DOM was isolated using solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridges (Agilent Bond Elut PPL) as in: Dittmar et al. (2008). A simple and efficient method for the solid-phase extraction of dissolved organic matter (SPE-DOM) from seawater, Limnol. Oceanogr. Methods, 6, 230-235. Method 4: DOM Analysis -- The molecular composition of the DOM extracts (15 mg C L-1 in 1:1 methanol/water) was analyzed using a 15T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS; Bruker Daltonics) with electrospray ionization (negative mode) as in: Seidel et al. (2014). Biogeochemistry of dissolved organic matter in an anoxic intertidal creek bank, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 140, 418-434. b. Protocols: Method 1: none Method 2: none Method 3: none Method 4: none c. Instrumentation: Method 1: none Method 2: none Method 3: 15T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS; Bruker Daltonics) Method 4: 15T Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer (FT-ICR MS; Bruker Daltonics) d. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: Method 2: Method 3: Method 4: e. Speclies List: f. Permit History: Method 1: none Method 2: none Method 3: none Method 4: none 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Patricia M. Medeiros 2: Michael Seidel 3: Scott Gifford 4: Ford Ballantyne 5: Thorsten Dittmar 6: William B. Whitman 7: Mary Ann Moran b. Affiliations: 1: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 2: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 3: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 4: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 5: University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg 6: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 7: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 22-Feb-2018 2. Latest Archive Date: 22-Feb-2018 3. Latest Metadata Update: 22-Feb-2018 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: 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: Mar 14, 2017, Public: Mar 14, 2017 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 1237140 (data set ORG-GCED-1703) 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: ORG-GCED-1703_Samples_1_0.CSV 2. Size: 39 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: Q = questionable value, I = invalid value, E = estimated value 7. Authentication Procedures: 8. Calculations: 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.9.7b (17-Jul-2017) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data file processed: ORG-GCED-1703.TXT (39 records) Data processing history: 22-Feb-2018: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 22-Feb-2018: 39 rows imported from ASCII data file 'ORG-GCED-1703.TXT' ('imp_ascii') 22-Feb-2018: 83 metadata fields in file header parsed ('parse_header') 22-Feb-2018: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 22-Feb-2018: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 22-Feb-2018: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 22-Feb-2018: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 22-Feb-2018: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 22-Feb-2018: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 22-Feb-2018: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 22-Feb-2018: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 22-Feb-2018: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 22-Feb-2018: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 22-Feb-2018: updated 6 metadata fields in the Data sections ('addmeta') 22-Feb-2018: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 22-Feb-2018: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Station column 2. Date column 3. Longitude column 4. Latitude column 5. Location column 6. Tide_Phase column 7. Incubation 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Sampling station name including sample coding for analysis column 2. Calendar date of sample collection column 3. Geographic longitude where sample was collected column 4. Geographic latitude where sample was collection column 5. Location name where sample was collected column 6. Nominal tide phase at time of sample collection column 7. Incubation protocol for the DOM sample 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. none column 2. YYYY-MM-DD column 3. degrees column 4. degrees column 5. none column 6. none column 7. none 4. Data Type a. Storage Type: column 1. string column 2. string column 3. floating-point column 4. floating-point column 5. string column 6. string column 7. string b. Variable Codes: Tide_Phase: High = high tide, Low = low tide c. Numeric Range: column 1. (none) column 2. (none) column 3. -81.4486 to -81.2954 column 4. 31.3372 to 31.5375 column 5. (none) column 6. (none) column 7. (none) d. Missing Value Code: 5. Data Format a. Column Type: column 1. text column 2. text column 3. numerical column 4. numerical column 5. text column 6. text column 7. text b. Number of Columns: 7 c. Decimal Places: column 1. 0 column 2. 0 column 3. 6 column 4. 6 column 5. 0 column 6. 0 column 7. 0 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. nominal (none) column 2. datetime (none) column 3. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 4. geographic coordinate (continuous) column 5. nominal (none) column 6. coded value (none) column 7. free text (none) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. none column 2. none column 3. x<-180="I";x>180="I";x<-82="Q";x>-81="Q" column 4. x<-90="I";x>90="I";x<31="Q";x>32="Q" column 5. none column 6. flag_notinlist(x,"High,Low")="I" column 7. none C. Data Anomalies: V. Supplemental Descriptors A. Data Acquisition 1. Data Forms: 2. Form Location: 3. Data Entry Validation: B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: C. Supplemental Materials: D. Computer Programs: E. Archival Practices: F. Publications: not specified G. History of Data Set Usage 1. Data Request History: not specified 2. Data Set Update History: none 3. Review History: none 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none