I. Data Set Descriptors A. Title: Steven C. Pennings. 2021. Long-term Plant Biomass Monitoring Data from Altamaha River Plant Transition Sites near the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Data Catalog (data set PLT-GCES-1609c; /data/PLT-GCES-1609c) B. Accession Number: PLT-GCES-1609c 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 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER program (GCE) monitors plant biomass annually to measure the species and size distribution of plants at 3 sampling sites on the creekbank of the Altamaha River. The sites were chosen to capture the transition from Spartina alterniflora to Spartina cynosuroides (site SCSA) and the transition from Spartina cynosuroides to Zizaniopsis miliacea (sites ZSC1 and ZSC2). The quadrats were established as permanent plots in October 2012 by placing PVC stakes along the creekbank at each site. Plots were evenly spaced, but were not randomly located because the goal was to start with mixtures of vegetation in most of the plots, and vegetation was distributed in patches along the creekbanks. Therefore, these plots provide useful measures of vegetation change, but are not a random sample of the vegetation at the site. Plots will be replaced each year as necessary to replace any lost to disturbance. The plots were visually surveyed and the species, shoot height, and flowering status was recorded individually for each shoot over 10 cm in height present in each plot. Observations from plots exhibiting signs of disturbance were noted in a separate data set (PLT-GCEM-1801c). This data set includes cumulative long-term observations of plant stem count, height and biomass per plot and species at 3 Altamaha River transition sites from 2012 to 2021, and will be updated annually to include the prior year observations. 3. Study Type: Synthesis 4. Study Themes: Population Ecology 5. LTER Core Areas: Population Studies 6. Georeferences: none 7. Submission Date: May 12, 2021 D. Keywords: aboveground biomass, Acrididae, Acrididea, Acridoidea, Angiospermae, Animalia, Arthropoda, Bilateria, biomass, Bolboschoenus robustus, Caelifera, Cladium jamaicense, Cyperaceae, Cyrtacanthacridinae, Ecdysozoa, Embryophyta, flowering, GCE, Georgia, Georgia Coastal Ecosystems, Hexapoda, Insecta, Juncaceae, Juncus effusus, Juncus roemerianus, Lilianae, LTER, Magnoliopsida, marshes, monitoring, Neoptera, Orthoptera, permanent plots, plant biomass, plant communities, plant cover, plant ecology, plant growth, Plant Monitoring, Plantae, Poaceae, Poales, Polyneoptera, Population Studies, Protostomia, Pterygota, Sapelo Island, Schistocerca obscura, Schoenoplectus americanus, Schoenoplectus pungens, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, shoot height, Spartina alterniflora, Spartina cynosuroides, Spermatophytina, Streptophyta, Tracheophyta, Typha angustifolia, Typhaceae, USA, Viridaeplantae, Viridiplantae, Zizaniopsis miliacea II. Research Origin Descriptors A. Overall Project Description 1. Project Title: Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER - IV 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: Feb 01, 2019 to Jan 31, 2025 4. Objectives: The GCE-LTER project has four goals. 1) Track environmental and human drivers that can cause perturbations in our focal ecosystems. This will be accomplished this through continuing long-term measurements of climate, water chemistry, oceanic exchange, and human activities on the landscape. 2) Describe temporal and spatial variability in physical, chemical, geological and biological characteristics of the study system (coastal wetland complexes) and how they respond to external drivers. This will be accomplished through field monitoring in combination with remote sensing and modeling. 3) Characterize the ecological responses of intertidal marshes to disturbance. This will be accomplished by ongoing monitoring and experimental work to evaluate system responses to major perturbations in three key marsh habitats (changes in inundation and predator exclusion in Spartina-dominated salt marshes; increases in salinity in fresh marshes; changes in runoff in high marshes), by implementing standardized experimental disturbances along salinity and elevation gradients, and by tracking responses to natural disturbances. 4) Evaluate ecosystem properties at the landscape level (habitat distribution, net and gross primary production, C budgets) and assess the cumulative effects of disturbance on these properties. The project will also develop relationships between drivers and response variables, which can be used to predict the effects of future changes. This will be accomplished through a combination of data synthesis, remote sensing and modeling. 5. Abstract: The Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) program, based at the University of Georgia Marine Institute on Sapelo Island, Georgia, was established in 2000 to study long-term change in coastal ecosystems. Estuaries (places where salt water from the ocean mixes with fresh water from the land) and their adjacent marshes provide food and refuge for fish, shellfish and birds; protect the shoreline from storms; help to keep the water clean; and store carbon. The GCE LTER researchers study marshes and estuaries to understand how these ecosystems function, to track how they change over time, and to predict how they might be affected by future changes in climate and human activities. They accomplish this by tracking the major factors that can cause long-term change in coastal areas (e.g. sea level, rainfall, upstream development), and measuring the effects of these factors on the study site. They also conduct focused studies to assess how key marsh habitats will respond to major changes expected in the future, including large-scale experiments to evaluate the effects of a) increases in the salinity of the water that floods freshwater marshes (mimicking drought and/or sea level rise), b) changes in water runoff from land into the upland marsh border (mimicking drought or upland development), and c) exclusion of larger organisms in the salt marsh (mimicking long-term declines in predators). During this award they will initiate additional studies to systematically evaluate how coastal wetlands respond to disturbances. Disturbances, or disruptions in the environment, are particularly important to understand in the context of long-term background changes such as increasing sea level, and GCE researchers are working to assess the cumulative effects of multiple disturbances on the landscape. The GCE education and outreach program works to share an understanding of coastal ecosystems with teachers and students, coastal managers, citizen scientist and the general public. 6. Funding Source: NSF OCE 1832178 B. Sub-project Description 1. Site Description a. Geographic Location: SCSA -- SCSA Altamaha Plant Transition Site, Georgia, USA ZSC1 -- ZSC1 Altamaha Plant Transition Site, Georgia, USA ZSC2 -- ZSC2 Altamaha Plant Transition Site, Georgia, USA Coordinates: SCSA -- NW: 081 22 34.61 W, 31 19 25.64 N NE: 081 22 16.54 W, 31 19 25.64 N SE: 081 22 16.54 W, 31 19 20.07 N SW: 081 22 34.61 W, 31 19 20.07 N ZSC1 -- NW: 081 27 11.04 W, 31 19 47.07 N NE: 081 26 54.01 W, 31 19 47.07 N SE: 081 26 54.01 W, 31 19 37.01 N SW: 081 27 11.04 W, 31 19 37.01 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: SCSA -- Lower coastal plain ZSC1 -- Lower coastal plain ZSC2 -- Lower coastal plain c. Landform Components: SCSA -- Estuarine tidal marsh ZSC1 -- Estuarine tidal marsh ZSC2 -- Estuarine tidal marsh d. Hydrographic Characteristics: SCSA -- Site borders the Altamaha River, and is subject to 2-3m semi-diurnal tides ZSC1 -- Site borders the Altamaha 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: SCSA -- Flat, with elevations ranging from 0-3m above mean low tide ZSC1 -- 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: SCSA -- unspecified ZSC1 -- unspecified ZSC2 -- unspecified g. Vegetation Communities: SCSA -- Spartina alterniflora and Spartina cynosuroides ZSC1 -- Spartina cynosuroides and Zizaniopsis miliacea ZSC2 -- Spartina cynosuroides and Zizaniopsis miliacea h. History of Land Use and Disturbance: SCSA -- 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 wrack: C1. The following plots are located on creek bank areas that are collapsing: C1, C4. Oct 17, 2014: 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: C4, C7. The following plots were lost and replaced: C1 (replaced with C11). Oct 22, 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: C5. The following plots were lost due to creekbank erosion (terminal slump) and replaced: C11, C4, C7, C8 (replaced with C21, C14, C17, C18 resp). ZSC1 -- 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. No disturbance was observed, and 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. No disturbance was observed, and no plots 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: A quadrat survey was conducted annualy to measure the species and size distribution of plants in the permanent plots at 3 GCE LTER sampling sites along the Altamaha River. Sites were chosen to represent transition zones in major plant species along the estuary. b. Permanent Plots: Permanent plots were established in the creek bank zone at each sampling site in October, 2012. Eight plots were evenly spaced along vegetated patches at each site and marked with PVC stakes. c. Data Collection Duration and Frequency: Species and size distribution of plants of three sites along the Altamaha River were measured in 8 evenly space plots in the creekbank zone at each site. Plots were chosen to provide useful measures of vegetation change, but are not a random sample of the vegetation at the site. Beginning of Observations: Oct 12, 2012 End of Observations: Oct 23, 2021 3. Research Methods a. Field and Laboratory Methods: Method 1: Quadrat Sampling -- Quadrats were placed within the creekbank zone at each site (eight plots per site) to create permanent plots in October 2012. The quadrats were marked using PVC stakes and measured 0.5m by 0.5m, as indicated in the "Quadrat_Area" data column. Method 2: Plant measurement -- The taxon, shoot height, and flowering status was recorded for each live shoot > 10cm in height present in each quadrat. Method 3: Biomass Calculation -- Plant biomass was calculated for predominant flowering plants based on the allometric relationships between plant height, flowering status and biomass calculated by site, zone and species using the formula: ln(Biomass) = constant + htslope*ln(Plant_Height) + flslope*ln(Flowering_Status). Method 4: Aggregation and Statistical Analysis -- Data were aggregated by Year, Site, Zone, Plot, Species_Code, Plot_Disturbance and Quadrat_Area to summarize shoot height and length characteristics for each species in each plot. Data were also normalized by quadrat size and then aggregated by Year, Site, Zone, Plot, Quadrat_Area and Plot_Disturbance to summarize biomass per plot across all plant species. b. Protocols: Method 1: none Method 2: none Method 3: none Method 4: none c. Instrumentation: Method 1: none Method 2: PVC ruler, Parameter: length Method 3: none Method 4: none d. Taxonomy and Systematics: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable Method 3: not applicable Method 4: not applicable e. Speclies List: f. Permit History: Method 1: not applicable Method 2: not applicable Method 3: not applicable Method 4: not applicable 4. Project Personnel a. Personnel: 1: Steven C. Pennings 2: Adam Sapp b. Affiliations: 1: University of Houston, Houston, Texas 2: University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia III. Data Set Status and Accessibility A. Status 1. Latest Update: 29-Mar-2023 2. Latest Archive Date: 29-Mar-2023 3. Latest Metadata Update: 29-Mar-2023 4. Data Verification Status: Reviewed by 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: Adam Sapp Address: Department of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens, Georgia 30602 Country: USA Email: asapp@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: May 12, 2021, Public: May 12, 2021 b. Citation: Data provided by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research Project, supported by funds from NSF OCE 1832178 (data set PLT-GCES-1609c) 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-GCES-1609c_Observations_3_0.CSV 2. Size: 2170 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 (out of range) 7. Authentication Procedures: 8. Calculations: Plant_Biomass(g) = e^(constant + htslope*ln(Shoot_Height(cm)) + flslope*(Flowering_Status)), based on the following parameter estimates for constant, htslope and flslope from curve fits of allometry data by plot, marsh zone and species, respectively: Site 1, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.83, 1.806, 0.354; Site 1, Zone 2, Species_Code A3, Year 2002: -7.873, 1.731, 0; Site 1, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 1, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 1, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 1, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 1, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 1, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 2, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.325, 1.869, 0; Site 2, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -8.458, 2.366, -0.455; Site 2, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 2, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 2, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 2, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 2, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 2, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 3, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -5.669, 1.672, 0; Site 3, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -7.261, 2.062, -0.36; Site 3, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 3, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 3, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 3, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 3, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 3, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 4, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.583, 1.87, 0; Site 4, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.231, 1.71, 0; Site 4, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 4, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 4, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 4, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 4, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 4, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 5, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.944, 1.938, 0.205; Site 5, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -7.738, 2.066, 0; Site 5, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 5, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 5, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 5, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 5, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 5, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 6, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.095, 1.76, 0.212; Site 6, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.934, 1.973, 0; Site 6, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 6, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 6, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 6, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 6, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 6, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 7, Zone 1, Species_Code A4, Year 2002: -15.021, 3.521, 0; Site 7, Zone 2, Species_Code A4, Year 2002: -17.192, 3.953, 0; Site 7, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 7, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 7, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 7, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 7, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 7, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 8, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -5.455, 1.604, 0.224; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -5.366, 1.591, 0; Site 8, Zone 1, Species_Code A2, Year 2002: -11.954, 2.804, 0.405; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A3, Year 2002: -6.527, 1.507, 0; Site 8, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 8, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 8, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 9, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -5.455, 1.604, 0.224; Site 9, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -5.366, 1.591, 0; Site 9, Zone 3, Species_Code A3, Year 2002: -6.527, 1.507, 0; Site 9, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 9, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 9, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 9, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 9, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 9, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 10, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -6.011, 1.719, 0; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -7.311, 1.988, 0; Site 10, Zone 3, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -7.311, 1.988, 0; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A2, Year 2002: -11.954, 2.804, 0.405; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A3, Year 2008: -6.078, 1.44, 0; Site 10, Zone 3, Species_Code A3, Year 2008: -6.078, 1.44, 0; Site 10, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site 10, Zone 1, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A6, Year 2007: -9.458, 2.153, 0; Site 10, Zone 1, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A7, Year 2007: -14.315, 3.397, 0.347; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A1, Year 2002: -5.455, 1.604, 0.224; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A2, Year 2002: -11.954, 2.804, 0.405; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A2, Year 2002: -11.954, 2.804, 0.405; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A2, Year 2002: -11.954, 2.804, 0.405; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A4, Year 2002: -15.021, 3.521, 0; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A4, Year 2002: -15.021, 3.521, 0; Site 1, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 1, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 1, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 1, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 2, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 2, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 2, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 2, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 3, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 3, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 3, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 3, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 4, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 4, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 4, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 4, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 5, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 5, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 5, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 5, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 6, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 6, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 6, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 6, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 7, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 7, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 7, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 7, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 8, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 8, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 9, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 9, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 9, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 9, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 10, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 10, Zone 1, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site 10, Zone 2, Species_Code A13, Year 2019: -6.8858, 1.5862, 0; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A5, Year 2007: -6.955, 1.495, 0; Site NaN, Zone 1, Species_Code A9, Year 2020: -8.5794, 2.0752, 0; Site 9, Zone 2, Species_Code A3, Year 2002: -6.527, 1.507, 0; Site 8, Zone 2, Species_Code A2, Year 2002: -11.954, 2.804, 0.405. 9. Processing History: Software version: GCE Data Toolbox Version 3.9.9b (06-Mar-2019) Data structure version: GCE Data Structure 1.1 (29-Mar-2001) Original data files processed: PLT-GCEM-1210.TXT (318 records) PLT-GCEM-1312.TXT (223 records) PLT-GCEM-1412c.TXT (262 records) PLT-GCEM-1511c.TXT (200 records) PLT-GCEM-1611c.txt (201 records) PLT-GCEM-1711c.txt (190 records) PLT-GCEM-1811.txt (800 records) PLT-GCEM-1811c.txt (223 records) Altamaha_Template_2020.xlsx (183 records) Altamaha_2021_Template.xlsx (167 records) Data processing history: 22-Oct-2012: new GCE Data Structure 1.1 created ('newstruct') 22-Oct-2012: 318 rows imported from ASCII data file 'PLT-GCEM-1210.TXT' ('imp_ascii') 22-Oct-2012: 13 metadata fields in file header parsed ('parse_header') 22-Oct-2012: data structure validated ('gce_valid') 22-Oct-2012: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 22-Oct-2012: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 22-Oct-2012: Added a calculated plant biomass column using curve fit coefficents from allometric analyses relating plant height to mass determined for each Site, Zone and Species ('plant_biomass') 22-Oct-2012: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 22-Oct-2012: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 22-Oct-2012: edited data set title in structure and metadata ('ui_editor') 22-Oct-2012: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 22-Oct-2012: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 22-Oct-2012: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 22-Oct-2012: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 22-Oct-2012: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 22-Oct-2012: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 05-Nov-2012: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 05-Nov-2012: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('imp_gcemetadata') 03-May-2021: deleted column Plant_Biomass from data structure ('ui_editor') 03-May-2021: Added a calculated plant biomass column using curve fit coefficents from allometric analyses relating plant height to mass determined for each Site, Zone and Species ('plant_biomass') 03-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Plant_Biomass, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 03-May-2021: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 03-May-2021: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 03-May-2021: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 12-May-2021: 223 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2013' ('datamerge') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-May-2021: 262 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2014' ('datamerge') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-May-2021: 200 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2015' ('datamerge') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-May-2021: 201 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2016' ('datamerge') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-May-2021: 190 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2017' ('datamerge') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-May-2021: 203 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2018' ('datamerge') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-May-2021: 223 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2019' ('datamerge') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 12-May-2021: updated 2 metadata fields in the Data sections ('addmeta') 12-May-2021: 1 value in 'Plant_Biomass' was updated with a new value ('update_data'): changed record 1597 from 5.397 to NaN 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Plant_Biomass, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: Revised Plant_Biomass column using updated curve fit coefficents from allometric analyses relating plant height to mass determined for each Site, Zone and Species ('plant_biomass') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Plant_Biomass, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 12-May-2021: Q/C Criteria of column Year changed from 'x<2012='Q';x>2012='Q'' to 'x<2012='Q';x>2020='Q''; Q/C Criteria of column Day changed from 'x<1='I';x>31='I';x<12='Q';x>12='Q'' to 'x<1='I';x>31='I''; Q/C Criteria of column Plot changed from 'x<1='I';x<1='Q';x>8='Q'' to 'x<1='I';x<1='Q''; Q/C Criteria of column Species_Code changed from 'flag_notinlist(x,'A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9')='Q'' to 'flag_notinlist(x,'A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,A10,A13)')='Q' ('ui_editor') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Year, Day, Plot and Species_Code, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 12-May-2021: added column 'Species' at position 13 ('addcol') 12-May-2021: added column 'Plot_Disturbance' at position 14 ('addcol') 12-May-2021: deleted column Plot_Disturbance from data structure ('ui_editor') 12-May-2021: copied/reordered columns Year, Month, Day, Site, Zone, Plot, Quadrat_Area, Species_Code, Species, Shoot_Height, Flowering_Status, Plot_Disturbance and Plant_Biomass ('copycols') 12-May-2021: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 12-May-2021: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 12-May-2021: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 19-Jul-2022: 183 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2020' ('datamerge') 19-Jul-2022: updated 23 metadata fields in the Data, Dataset, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 19-Jul-2022: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 19-Jul-2022: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 19-Jul-2022: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 19-Jul-2022: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 19-Jul-2022: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 19-Jul-2022: edited structure data ('ui_datagrid'): changed 'Species_Code' row 571 from 'A11' to 'A9', changed 'Species_Code' row 596 from 'A11' to 'A9', changed 'Species_Code' row 1597 from 'NaN' to '' 19-Jul-2022: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 19-Jul-2022: deleted column Species from data structure ('ui_editor') 19-Jul-2022: added column 'Species' at position 9 ('addcol') 19-Jul-2022: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset sections ('addmeta') 19-Jul-2022: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 19-Jul-2022: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement sections ('addmeta') 29-Mar-2023: Q/C Criteria of column Year changed from 'x<2012='Q';x>2020='Q'' to 'x<2012='Q';x>2021='Q' ('ui_editor') 29-Mar-2023: Q/C flagging criteria applied for column(s) Year, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 29-Mar-2023: 167 rows added at the bottom of the data set from 'Estimated biomass calculations for the GCE-LTER Altamaha River Plant Community Monitoring Survey in October 2021' ('datamerge') 29-Mar-2023: Q/C flagging criteria applied, 'flags' field updated ('dataflag') 29-Mar-2023: automatically assigned study date metadata descriptors based on the range of date values in date/time columns (add_studydates) 29-Mar-2023: manually edited data set metadata ('ui_editmetadata') 29-Mar-2023: updated 1 metadata fields in the Dataset section(s) ('addmeta') 29-Mar-2023: imported Dataset, Project, Site, Study, Status, Supplement metadata descriptors from the GCE Metabase ('imp_gcemetadata') 29-Mar-2023: updated 57 metadata fields in the Dataset, Project, Site, Status, Study, Supplement section(s) ('addmeta') 29-Mar-2023: updated 6 metadata fields in the Data section(s) ('addmeta') 29-Mar-2023: updated 15 metadata fields in the Status, Data sections to reflect attribute metadata ('updatecols') 29-Mar-2023: parsed and formatted metadata ('listmeta') B. Variable Information 1. Variable Name: column 1. Year column 2. Month column 3. Day column 4. Site column 5. Zone column 6. Plot column 7. Quadrat_Area column 8. Species_Code column 9. Species column 10. Shoot_Height column 11. Flowering_Status column 12. Plot_Disturbance column 13. Plant_Biomass 2. Variable Definition: column 1. Year of observation column 2. Month of observation column 3. Day of observation column 4. GCE LTER nominal sampling site column 5. Nominal marsh zone column 6. Permanent plot number column 7. Areal measurement of the quadrat frame column 8. Plant species code column 9. Plant species column 10. Height of the plant shoot above the substrate column 11. Presence or absence of inflorescence column 12. Presence or absence of visible plot disturbance column 13. Plant biomass calculated from shoot height and flowering status, based on curve fits of allometric data collected for each site, marsh zone and species 3. Units of Measurement: column 1. YYYY column 2. M column 3. D column 4. none column 5. none column 6. none column 7. m^2 column 8. none column 9. none column 10. cm column 11. none column 12. none column 13. g 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. floating-point column 8. string column 9. string column 10. floating-point column 11. integer column 12. integer column 13. floating-point b. Variable Codes: Flowering_Status: 0 = not flowering, 1 = flowering, missing = not scored Site: SCSA = SCSA Altamaha Plant Transition Site, ZSC1 = ZSC1 Altamaha Plant Transition Site, ZSC2 = ZSC2 Altamaha Plant Transition Site Species_Code: A1 = Spartina alterniflora, A10 = Cladium jamaicense, A11 = Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, A2 = Spartina cynosuroides, A3 = Juncus Roemerianus, A4 = Zizaniopsis miliacea, A5 = Scirpus spp., A6 = Panicum spp., A7 = Typha spp., A8 = Unidentified rush, A9 = Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Zone: -1 = old creek bank zone prior to plot relocation, 1 = creek bank zone, 2 = mid-marsh zone, 3 = additional Juncus zone in high marsh c. Numeric Range: column 1. 2012 to 2021 column 2. 10 to 10 column 3. 3 to 27 column 4. (none) column 5. 1 to 1 column 6. 1 to 51 column 7. 0.25 to 0.25 column 8. (none) column 9. (none) column 10. 19 to 360 column 11. 0 to 1 column 12. 0 to 1 column 13. 0.009527 to 245.3578 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. text column 9. text column 10. numerical column 11. numerical column 12. numerical column 13. numerical b. Number of Columns: 13 c. Decimal Places: column 1. 0 column 2. 0 column 3. 0 column 4. 0 column 5. 0 column 6. 0 column 7. 2 column 8. 0 column 9. 0 column 10. 0 column 11. 0 column 12. 0 column 13. 3 6. Logical Variable Type: column 1. datetime (discrete) column 2. datetime (discrete) column 3. datetime (discrete) column 4. nominal (none) column 5. coded value (discrete) column 6. nominal (discrete) column 7. calculation (continuous) column 8. coded value (none) column 9. free text (none) column 10. data (continuous) column 11. logical (discrete) column 12. logical (discrete) column 13. calculation (continuous) 7. Flagging Criteria: column 1. x<2012="Q";x>2021="Q" column 2. x<1="I";x>12="I";x<10="Q";x>10="Q" column 3. x<1="I";x>31="I" column 4. flag_notinlist(x,"SCSA,ZSC1,ZSC2")="Q" column 5. x<1="I";x>2="I" column 6. x<1="I";x<1="Q" column 7. x<0.25="Q";x>0.25="Q" column 8. flag_notinlist(x,"A1,A2,A3,A4,A5,A6,A7,A8,A9,A10,A13)")="Q" column 9. none column 10. x<0="I";x>400="Q" column 11. x<0="I";x>1="I" column 12. none column 13. x<=0="I" C. Data Anomalies: Biomass could not be calculated for plants in the following plots because Shoot_Height was not measured or allometric relationships between plant height, flowering status and mass have not been determined for that species in the respective Site and Zone: Site SCSA, Zone 1, Plot 1: 1 plant (6.7%); Site ZSC1, Zone 1, Plot 4: 6 plants (10.7%); Site ZSC1, Zone 1, Plot 7: 1 plant (2.4%); Site ZSC2, Zone 1, Plot 3: 1 plant (5.3%); Site ZSC2, Zone 1, Plot 4: 2 plants (4.3%). 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: Jul 19, 2022: added data from 2020 plant biomass data set Mar 29, 2023: added data from 2021 plant biomass data set 3. Review History: none 4. Questions and Comments from Users: none