I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Steven C. Pennings. 2002. Plant allometry at GCE sampling sites 1-10 in October, 2002. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set PLT-GCEM-0211b; http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?accession=PLT-GCEM-0211b) B. Accession Number: PLT-GCEM-0211b C. Description 1. Originator(s): Name: Steven C. Pennings Address: Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Houston, Texas 77204-5513 Country: USA Email: scpennin@central.uh.edu 2. Abstract: The relationship between height and mass (allometry) was measured for plants collected from Georgia Coastal Ecosystems sampling sites 1-10 in October 2002. Shoots or leaves (Juncus) were collected adjacent to permanent plots in each marsh zone by clipping at the soil surface. Dead leaves were removed from shoots. Height, flowering status (Spartina species only), number of leaves (Spartina species and Zizaniopsis), and dry mass were measured for each plant. The allometric relationships determined in this study will allow annual GCE plant monitoring data to be converted from height to mass. This study may be repeated in the future to examine temporal trends in relation to environmental changes. 3. Study Type: Monitoring 4. Study Themes: Plant Ecology 5. LTER Core Areas: Primary Production 6. Georeferences: none 7. Submission Date: Nov 11, 2002 D. Keywords: allometry, height, Juncus, leaves, marshes, mass, permanent plots, plant biomass, plant communities, plant cover, plants, Primary Production, primary productivity, shoot height, Spartina, Zizaniopsis II. Research Origin Descriptors A. Overall Project Description 1. Project Title: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project 2. Principal Investigators: Name: James T. Hollibaugh Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: aquadoc@uga.edu 3. Funding Period: May 01, 2000 to May 01, 2006 4. Objectives: To investigate the linkages between coastal and distant upland areas in central Georgia mediated by surface and ground water delivery to the coastal zone. This will be addressed by examining the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity, and ecosystem processes and structure. 5. Abstract: We propose to establish a Long Term Ecological Research site on the central Georgia coast in the vicinity of Sapelo Island. This is a barrier island and marsh complex with the Altamaha River, one of the largest and least developed rivers on the east coast of the US, as the primary source of fresh water. The proposed study would investigate the linkages between local and distant upland areas mediated by water - surface water and ground water - delivery to the coastal zone. We would explicitly examine the relationship between variability in environmental factors driven by river flow, primarily salinity because we can measure it at high frequency, and ecosystem processes and structure. We will accomplish this by comparing estuary/marsh complexes separated from the Altamaha River by one or two lagoonal estuary/marsh complexes that damp and attenuate the river signal. This spatial gradient is analogous to the temporal trend in riverine influence expected as a result of development in the watershed. We will implement a monitoring system that documents physical and biological variables and use the time trends and spatial distributions of these variables and of their variance structure to address questions about the factors controlling distributions, trophic structure, diversity, and biogeochemistry. An existing GIS-based hydrologic model will be modified to incorporate changes in river water resulting from changes in land use patterns that can be expected as the watershed develops. This model will be linked to ecosystem models and will serve as an heuristic and management tool. Another consequence of coastal development is that as river flow decreases, groundwater flow increases and becomes nutrified. We will compare the effects of ground water discharge from the surficial aquifer in relatively pristine (Sapelo Island) versus more urbanized (mainland) sites to assess the relative importance of fresh water versus nutrients to productivity, structure and biomass turnover rate in marshes influenced by groundwater. We will also investigate the effect of marine processes (tides, storm surge) on mixing across the fresh/salt interface in the surficial aquifer. Additional physical studies will relate the morphology of salt marsh - tidal creek channel complexes to tidal current distributions and exchange. These findings will be incorporated into a physical model that will be coupled to an existing ecosystem model. The land/ocean margin ecosystem lies at the interface between two ecosystems in which distinctly different groups of decomposers control organic matter degradation. The terrestrial ecosystem is largely dominated by fungal decomposers, while bacterial decomposers dominate the marine ecosystem. Both groups are important in salt marsh-dominated ecosystems. Specific studies will examine, at the level of individual cells and hyphae, the relationship bacteria and fungi in the consortia that decompose standing dead Spartina and other marsh plants and examine how, or if, this changes along the salinity gradient. 6. Funding Source: NSF OCE 9982133 B. Sub-project Description 1. Site Description a. Geographic Location: GCE1 -- Eulonia, Georgia, USA GCE2 -- Four Mile Island, Georgia, USA GCE3 -- North Sapelo, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA GCE4 -- Meridian, Georgia, USA GCE5 -- Folly River, Georgia, USA GCE6 -- Dean Creek, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA GCE7 -- Carrs Island, Georgia, USA GCE8 -- Alligator Creek, Georgia, USA GCE9 -- Rockdedundy Island, Georgia, USA GCE10 -- Hunt Camp, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA Coordinates: GCE1 -- NW: 081 25 42.53 W, 31 32 48.30 N NE: 081 24 38.64 W, 31 32 48.30 N SE: 081 24 38.64 W, 31 32 02.27 N SW: 081 25 42.53 W, 31 32 02.27 N GCE2 -- NW: 081 19 08.26 W, 31 33 09.19 N NE: 081 17 34.24 W, 31 33 09.19 N SE: 081 17 34.24 W, 31 32 00.97 N SW: 081 19 08.26 W, 31 32 00.97 N GCE3 -- NW: 081 13 59.70 W, 31 32 48.72 N NE: 081 11 44.38 W, 31 32 48.72 N SE: 081 11 44.38 W, 31 30 54.68 N SW: 081 13 59.70 W, 31 30 54.68 N GCE4 -- NW: 081 22 14.71 W, 31 27 48.72 N NE: 081 21 26.12 W, 31 27 48.72 N SE: 081 21 26.12 W, 31 26 54.31 N SW: 081 22 14.71 W, 31 26 54.31 N GCE5 -- NW: 081 21 15.89 W, 31 26 33.14 N NE: 081 19 37.92 W, 31 26 33.14 N SE: 081 19 37.92 W, 31 25 03.50 N SW: 081 21 15.89 W, 31 25 03.50 N GCE6 -- NW: 081 17 58.28 W, 31 23 38.66 N NE: 081 15 51.76 W, 31 23 38.66 N SE: 081 15 51.76 W, 31 22 15.61 N SW: 081 17 58.28 W, 31 22 15.61 N GCE7 -- NW: 081 29 36.59 W, 31 20 55.59 N NE: 081 28 33.24 W, 31 20 55.59 N SE: 081 28 33.24 W, 31 20 03.71 N SW: 081 29 36.59 W, 31 20 03.71 N GCE8 -- NW: 081 25 34.58 W, 31 19 04.11 N NE: 081 24 38.28 W, 31 19 04.11 N SE: 081 24 38.28 W, 31 18 14.63 N SW: 081 25 34.58 W, 31 18 14.63 N GCE9 -- NW: 081 20 48.23 W, 31 21 29.31 N NE: 081 19 35.38 W, 31 21 29.31 N SE: 081 19 35.38 W, 31 20 21.02 N SW: 081 20 48.23 W, 31 20 21.02 N GCE10 -- NW: 081 17 43.82 W, 31 29 49.29 N NE: 081 15 32.07 W, 31 29 49.29 N SE: 081 15 32.07 W, 31 27 44.35 N SW: 081 17 43.82 W, 31 27 44.35 N b. Physiographic Region: GCE1 -- Lower coastal plain GCE2 -- Barrier island GCE3 -- Barrier island GCE4 -- Lower coastal plain GCE5 -- Barrier island GCE6 -- Barrier island GCE7 -- Lower coastal plain GCE8 -- Lower coastal plain GCE9 -- Barrier island GCE10 -- Barrier island c. Landform Components: GCE1 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE2 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE3 -- Intertidal salt marsh, mud flat, and maritime forest GCE4 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest GCE5 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE6 -- Intertidal salt marsh, sand beach, maritime forest GCE7 -- Freshwater tidal marsh, devegetated fields GCE8 -- Brackish tidal marsh GCE9 -- Intertidal salt marsh GCE10 -- Intertidal salt marsh bordering maritime forest d. Hydrographic Characteristics: GCE1 -- Site contains the upper reaches of the Sapelo River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE2 -- Site contains the Sapelo River and associated tidal creeks, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE3 -- Site includes Sapelo Sound and portions of Blackbeard Creek, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE4 -- Site includes Hudson Creek and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE5 -- Site contains the Folly River and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE6 -- Site contains Dean Creek and borders Doboy Sound, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE7 -- Site contains Hammersmith Creek and borders the South Champney River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE8 -- Site contains the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE9 -- Site contains Crooked Creek and borders the Little Mud River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides GCE10 -- Site borders the Mud River and contains tidal creeks and the upper reach of the Duplin River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides e. Topographic Attributes: GCE1 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE2 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE3 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE4 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE5 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE6 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE7 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE8 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE9 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide GCE10 -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide f. Geology, Lithology and Soils: GCE1 -- unspecified GCE2 -- unspecified GCE3 -- unspecified GCE4 -- unspecified GCE5 -- unspecified GCE6 -- unspecified GCE7 -- unspecified GCE8 -- unspecified GCE9 -- unspecified GCE10 -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: GCE1 -- Vegetation is 3/4 Juncus and 1/4 Spartina alterniflora, and upland area is heavily forested. GCE2 -- Spartina alterniflora all tall or medium. GCE3 -- Short and tall Spartina alterniflora, very small amounts of Juncus. GCE4 -- Vegetation is 1/4 Juncus, 3/4 medium and tall Spartina alterniflora. GCE5 -- Dominated by short and medium Spartina alterniflora, with areas of taller S. alterniflora near several small creeks. GCE6 -- Vegetation is mostly short and tall Spartina alterniflora, with small amounts of Juncus and Borrichia. GCE7 -- dominated by Zizaniopsis GCE8 -- Fringe of tall Spartina alterniflora and S. cynosuroides at creek banks. High marsh has narrow band of medium height S. alterniflora backed by vast expanses of Juncus. GCE9 -- Low marsh is tall Spartina alterniflora, high marsh has a small amount of medium Spartina alterniflora and lots of Juncus. Some hammocks with upland vegetation. GCE10 -- Vegetation mostly tall and medium Spartina alterniflora, with some Juncus present. Upland heavily forested. h. History of Land Use and Disturbance: GCE1 -- Oct 01, 2000: Permanent plots were established in two nominal marsh zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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: Shoots or leaves (Juncus) were collected adjacent to permanent plots in each marsh zone (creek bank and high marsh) by clipping at the soil surface. Dead leaves were removed from shoots prior to analysis. b. Permanent Plots: Permanent plots were established in the marsh areas at each GCE sampling site in October, 2000. Each site was divided into two nominal zones based on marsh structure -- creek zone and high marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes. Plots are visually inspected prior to each annual survey for signs of disturbance by wrack inundation, wildlife activity, and creekbank erosion. Plots lost due to catastrophic disturbance are replaced with new plots in different locations within the same marsh zone, which are assigned distinct plot numbers. (See history of plot disturbance in the site description section for details). c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: Plants were selected randomly during a single sampling period. Beginning of Observations: Oct 14, 2002 End of Observations: Oct 20, 2002 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: Plant Measurement -- The taxon, shoot height, and flowering status was recorded for plants collected adjacent to the GCE permanent plots. For Juncus roemerianus leaves, only height and mass were recorded. For Zizaniopsis, only height, leaves and mass were recorded (no plants were flowering). Method 2: Dry Mass -- Plant samples were dried at 60°C for 3 days and then weighed to determine dry mass. b. Instrumentation: Method 1: none Method 2: Drying oven Manufacturer: Fisher Scientific (Model: 750G) Electronic balance Parameter: mass c. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not specified Method 2: none d. Permit History: Method 1: none Method 2: none 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Steven C. Pennings 2: Cristiano S. Salgado 3: Caroline R. McFarlin 4: Kenneth Helm b. Affiliations: 1: University of Houston, Houston, Texas 2: University of Houston, Houston, Texas 3: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 4: University of Georgia Marine Institute, Sapelo Island, Georgia III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 19-Feb-2012 2. Latest Archive Date: 18-Nov-2011 3. Latest Metadata Update: 19-Feb-2012 4. Data Verification Status: Reviewed by GCE-LTER IM B. Accessibility 1. Storage Location and Medium: Stored at GCE-LTER Data Management Office Dept. of Marine Sciences Univ. of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-3636 USA on media: electronic data download (WWW) or compact disk 2. Contact Person: Name: Wade M. Sheldon, Jr. Address: Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 Country: USA Email: sheldon@uga.edu 3. Copyright Restrictions: not copyrighted 4. Restrictions: All publications based on this data set must cite the contributor and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, and two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the GCE-LTER Information Management Office. a. Release Date: GCE LTER Affiliates: Nov 11, 2002, Public: Nov 11, 2003 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 9982133 (data set PLT-GCEM-0211b) 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: PLT-GCEM-0211b_2_4.CSV 2. Size: 967 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: upper case 6. Quality Control Flag Codes: I = invalid value (out of range), Q = questionable value 7. Authentication Procedures: not specified 8. Calculations: 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.30 (09-Feb-2012) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data file processed: PLT-GCEM-0211b.TXT (967 records) Data processing history: 19-Nov-2002: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 19-Nov-2002: 967 rows imported from ASCII data file 'PLT-GCEM-0211b.TXT' ('imp_ascii') 19-Nov-2002: 10 metadata fields in file header parsed ('parse_header') 19-Nov-2002: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 19-Nov-2002: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 19-Nov-2002: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 19-Nov-2002: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 07-Apr-2003: edited structure data ('ui_datagrid'): changed 'Shoot_Height' row 716 from 11 to 110 07-Apr-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 30-Oct-2003: imported Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 30-Oct-2003: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 08-Nov-2005: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 08-Nov-2005: updated 66 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 09-Nov-2011: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 09-Nov-2011: variable type of column Zone edited ('ui_editor') 15-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 15-Nov-2011: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 18-Nov-2011: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 19-Feb-2012: updated 7 metadata fields in the Data, Status sections ('exp_ascii') 19-Feb-2012: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 19-Feb-2012: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Year column 2. Month column 3. Day column 4. Site column 5. Zone column 6. Species_Code column 7. Shoot_Height column 8. Flowering_Status column 9. Leaf_Count column 10. Plant_Mass 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Year of observation column 2. Month of observation column 3. Day of observation column 4. GCE LTER sampling site column 5. Nominal marsh zone column 6. Plant species code column 7. Height of the plant shoot above the substrate column 8. Presence or absence of inflorescence column 9. Number of green leaves present on the plant at the time of collection column 10. Dry mass of the living plant material 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. YYYY column 2. M column 3. D column 4. none column 5. none column 6. none column 7. cm column 8. none column 9. count column 10. g 4. Data Type a. Storage Type: column 1. integer column 2. integer column 3. integer column 4. integer column 5. integer column 6. alphanumeric column 7. floating-point column 8. integer column 9. integer column 10. floating-point b. Variable Codes: Species_Code: A1 = Spartina alterniflora, A2 = Spartina cynosuroides, A3 = Juncus Roemerianus, A4 = Zizaniopsis miliacea, A5 = Scirpus spp, A6 = Panicum spp, A7 = Typha spp Flowering_Status: 1 = flowering, 0 = not flowering, missing = not scored Zone: 1 = Creekbank, 2 = Mid-marsh c. Numeric Range: column 1. 2002 to 2002 column 2. 10 to 10 column 3. 14 to 20 column 4. 1 to 10 column 5. 1 to 2 column 6. (none) column 7. 15 to 331 column 8. 0 to 1 column 9. 1 to 45 column 10. 0.05 to 111.5 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. text 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. 0 column 9. 0 column 10. 1 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. datetime (discrete) column 2. datetime (discrete) column 3. datetime (discrete) column 4. nominal (discrete) column 5. coded value (discrete) column 6. coded value (none) column 7. data (continuous) column 8. logical (discrete) column 9. data (discrete) column 10. data (continuous) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. x<2002="Q", x>2002="Q" column 2. x<1="I", x>12="I" column 3. x<1="I", x>31="I" column 4. x<1="I", x>10="Q" column 5. x<1="I", x>2="I" column 6. none column 7. x<0="I", x>400="Q" column 8. x<0="I", x>1="I" column 9. x<0="I" column 10. x<0="I" C. Data Anomalies: At site 1, small Juncus were not weighed accurately. Measurements may need to be repeated. V. Supplemental Descriptors A. Data Acquisition 1. Data Forms: unspecified 2. Form Location: unspecified 3. Data Entry Validation: unspecified B. Quality Assurance/Quality Control Procedures: QA/QC flags are generated automatically according to domain criteria specified for each data column. A flag column is generated and appended to the data table if any flags are assigned to any value, listing the flags for each column on each row. C. Supplemental Materials: unspecified D. Computer Programs: Microsoft Excel 2002 E. Archival Practices: Data sets and documentation are stored in structured binary (Matlab 5.x files) and delimited ASCII text formats, and archived on magnetic tape and CD at the GCE LTER Information Management Office at the University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA F. Publications: not specified G. History of Data Set Usage 1. Data Request History: not specified 2. Data Set Update History: none 3. Review History: none 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none