Acceptance and utilization of LTER data requires that:
(1) The Principal Investigator be sent a notice stating reasons for acquiring any data and a description of the publication intentions.
(2) The Principal Investigator of the data set be sent a copy of the report or manuscript prior to submission and be adequately cited in any resultant publications.
(3) A copy of any resultant publications should be sent to:
Principal Investigator
Ecosystems Center
Marine Biological Laboratory
7 MBL St.
Woods Hole, MA 02543
| Dataset URLs: | METADATA: HTML, Rich Text, XML(EML compliant) DATA: Comma Delimited, Excel file with Metadata and data | |||||||
| Dataset ID: | HTL-MAR-Microalge-FidCrab.01 | |||||||
| Dataset Title: | PIE LTER benthic microalgal biomass in fiddler-crab plots in a salt marsh of West Creek, Rowley, MA. | |||||||
| Investigator 1: | ||||||||
| First Name: | David | |||||||
| Last Name: | Johnson | |||||||
| Address line 1: | Virginia Institute of Marine Science | |||||||
| Address line 2: | Andrews Hall 336 | |||||||
| Address line 3: | ||||||||
| City: | Gloucester Point | |||||||
| State: | Virginia | |||||||
| Zip Code: | 23062 | |||||||
| Country: | USA | |||||||
| Associate Investigators: | ||||||||
| Keywords: | PIE LTER, population dynamics, primary production, salt marsh, fiddler crab, benthic microalgae, cyanobacteria, diatoms | |||||||
| Abstract: | It is well known that species across the world are expanding or shifting their ranges because of climate change. Yet, we know little about their impact on the habitats they colonize. In an observational study, we examined the effect of the fiddler crab Minuca pugnax (Smith, 1870) on benthic microalgal biomass in salt marshes in its expanded range (northeastern Massachusetts, USA). We found that plots with M. pugnax had, on average, 74% lower diatom biomass and 77% lower cyanobacteria biomass than plots without M. pugnax. Our results indicate that this climate migrant can impact saltmarsh functioning by limiting benthic microalgal biomass. See: Johnson, D.S., K.S. Martínez-Soto, S. Wittyngham, M. Pant, and E. Goetz. 2020. The fiddler crab Minuca pugnax (Smith, 1870) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Ocypodidae) reduces saltmarsh algae in its expanded range. Journal of Crustacean Biology 40: 668-672 | |||||||
| Contact: | Plum Island Ecosystems LTER Information Manager The Ecosystems Center Marine Biological Lab 7 MBL St Woods Hole, MA 02543 Phone (508) 289 7485 Email: pie_im@mbl.edu Online URL: http://pie-lter.ecosystems.mbl.edu |
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| DATA FILE INFORMATION: | ||||||||
| Data File URL | http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/PIE/data-archive/HTL/data/HTL-MAR-Microalge-FidCrab.csv | |||||||
| Data File Name | HTL-MAR-Microalge-FidCrab | |||||||
| Beginning Date | 8/22/2019 | |||||||
| End Date | 8/22/2019 | |||||||
| Number of Data Records | 40 | |||||||
| Other Files to Reference | ||||||||
| Availability Status | Type 1 | |||||||
| Quality Control Information | ||||||||
| Maintenance Description | On going collections | |||||||
| Log of Changes: | Version 01: February 10, 2021, data and metadata updates to comply with importation to DEIMS7 and LTER Data Portal. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007_Sep2020.xlsm 9/17/20 1:11 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0. | |||||||
| RESEARCH LOCATION: | MAR-LTE-RO-TC-MF-WE | Site 2 |
| Geographic Description | West Creek, off Rowley River, Rowley, MA. | |
| Location Bounding Box | ||
| West Bounding Coordinate | -70.852 | |
| East Bounding Coordinate | -70.846 | |
| North Bounding Coordinate | 42.741 | |
| South Bounding Coordinate | 42.736 | |
| OR if single point location | ||
| Latitude | ||
| Longitude | ||
| Elevation | ||
| TAXONOMIC COVERAGE: | |
| Taxonomic Protocols | |
| Organisms studied | Minuca pugnax; Uca pugnax, Spartina alterniflora |
| Methods: | To test the hypothesis that M. pugnax reduced benthic microalgal biomass, we selected ten plots (0.0625 m2) with fiddler crabs present (determined by the presence of burrows and either feeding pellets or crabs) and counted burrows within the plot. Each crab plot was paired with a reference plot (lacking burrows, feeding pellets, or crabs) that was 1–2 m away, for a total of 20 plots. Plot pairs were at least 10 m apart from each other due to the patchiness of M. pugnax colonies. We estimated the biomass of benthic microalgal functional groups (diatoms, cyanobacteria, and green algae) on the sediment surface with a handheld fluorometer (BenthoTorch, BBe Moldaenke, Germany) in duplicate samples within each plot. |
| Variable Name | Variable Description | Units | Measurement Scale | Code Information | Number Type | DateTime Format | Missing Value Code | Missing Value Code Explanation |
| Date | Date data was collected | datetime | YYYY-MM-DD | |||||
| ID | Unique sampling identifier | nominal | ||||||
| Treatment | Presence or absence of fiddler crab burrow | nominal | C=fiddler crab burrows present | R=reference (no fiddler crab burrows present) | |||||
| Plot_replicate | Plot replicate | number | ratio | real | ||||
| Crab_burrow_density | Density of burrows per 0.0625m2 | number | ratio | real | ||||
| Torch_Replicate | Benthic microalgae replicate measurements per plot with BenthoTorch | number | ratio | real | ||||
| Diatom_biomass | Biomass of benthic diatoms (micrograms/cm2) | microgramPerCentimeterSquared | ratio | real | ||||
| Cyano_biomass | Biomass of cyanobacteria (micrograms/cm2) | microgramPerCentimeterSquared | ratio | real | ||||
| Green_algae_biomass | Biomass of green algae (micrograms/cm2) | microgramPerCentimeterSquared | ratio | real |