Plum Island Ecosystems LTER Database

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:	LTE-MD-EARLYVEG.02
Dataset Title:	Biomass and shoot densities at hayed and reference sites for samples collected in June and early July 2000
Investigator 1:
First Name:	Robert
Last Name:	Buchsbaum
Address line 1:	Massachusetts Audubon, North Shore
Address line 2:	Endicott Regional Center
Address line 3:	356 Grapevine Road
City:	Wenham
State:	MA
Zip Code:	01984
Country:	USA
Associate Investigators:	Amy Chiuchiolo, Linda Deegan , Julie Horowitz, Maria Mensching, GDA students
Keywords:	PIE LTER, primary production, organic matter, population dynamics, haying, salt marsh, vegetation
Abstract:	Biomass and shoot densities at hayed and reference sites for samples collected in June and early July 2000
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://ecosystems.mbl.edu/PIE/
DATA FILE INFORMATION:
Data File URL	http://ecosystems.mbl.edu/PIE/data/LTE/data/LTE-MD-EARLYVEG.dat
Data File Name	LTE-MD-EARLYVEG
Beginning Date	6/5/2000
End Date	7/6/2000
Number of Data Records	58
Other Files to Reference	LTE-MD-VEGSTN.xls
Availability Status	Type 1
Quality Control Information
Maintenance Description
Log of Changes:	Version 01, initial Excel to EML metadata
	Version 02 keyword update

RESEARCH LOCATION:	Site 1	Site 2
Geographic Description	Salt marsh that is hayed by Dan McHugh in Rowley, MA and reference areas in the vicinity of Stackyard and Patmos Roads. Four study sites (two hayed and two references). The two hayed sites are McH1 (hayed every year, north of Patmos Rd) and EPH (East of Perry's land and between Sawyer Creek and Patmos Rd, hayed every two years, last hayed in 1999). The two reference sites are PUH (Perry Unhayed, between Sawyer Creek and Patmos Rd) and Club Creek (S of Stackyard Rd and bounded on its E side by the PRNWR).
Location Bounding Box
West Bounding Coordinate	-70.847
East Bounding Coordinate	-70.836
North Bounding Coordinate	42.74
South Bounding Coordinate	42.747
OR if single point location
Latitude
Longitude
Elevation


TAXONOMIC COVERAGE:
Taxonomic Protocols
Organisms studied	Spartina alterniflora; Spartina patens; Distichlis spicata; Juncus gerardi

Methods:	Shoot densities and biomass of individual species within four vegetation zones (Spartina alterniflora, S. patens, Distichlis spicata, Juncus gerardi) were compared at four marsh sites (2 hayed and 2 reference). Sampling was carried out by placing three 0.1 m2 quadrats within identified vegetation zones at each marsh site. Plants were clipped at the surface of the substrate and then divided into live and dead material. The live plants were further separated into individual species. The number of shoots per species per quadrat was determined by counting individual shoots. After counting, plant material was dried at 60oC to constant weight (about 48 hrs) and the plants weighed on an electronic balance. NOTES AND COMMENTS: Vegetation zones were determined visually and were therefore somewhat subjective. Abbreviations for “Collectr” RB (Robert Buchsbaum), AC (Amy Chiuchiolo), LD (Linda Deegan), JH (Julie Horowitz), MM (Maria Mensching), GDA (Governor Dummer students)

Data Table

Variable Name	Variable Description	Units	Measurement Scale	Code Information	Number Type	DateTime Format	Missing Value Code	Missing Value Code Explanation
DATE	date when plants were collected		datetime			dd-mmm-yyyy
Datesort	date when plants were sorted by species		datetime			dd-mmm-yyyy
Location	area where plants were collected		nominal
Treatm	shows if site is a hayed area or a reference area		nominal
Plantzon	plant zone where collection took place (S. alterniflora, S. patens, etc.)		nominal
Rep	replicate number (three quadrats were collected for most samples)		nominal
Shootden	density of shoots of dominant species of that plant zone	numberPerOneTenthMeterSquared	ratio		real
Collectr	names of people who collected the samples		nominal	RB =Robert Buchsbaum \| AC =Amy Chiuchiolo \| LD =Linda Deegan \| JH =Julie Horowitz \| MM =Maria Mensching \| GDA =Governor Dummer students
Sadens	Density of shoots of Spartina alterniflora in number per 0.1 m2	numberPerOneTenthMeterSquared	ratio		real
Spdens	Density of shoots of Spartina patens in number per 0.1 m2	numberPerOneTenthMeterSquared	ratio		real
Dsdens	Density of shoots of Distichlis spicata in number per 0.1 m2	numberPerOneTenthMeterSquared	ratio		real
Jgdens	Density of shoots of Juncus gerardii in number per 0.1 m2	numberPerOneTenthMeterSquared	ratio		real
SALdens	Density of shoots of Salicornia europaea in number per 0.1 m2	numberPerOneTenthMeterSquared	ratio		real
Biomdom	Biomass (in grams per 0.1 m2) of dominant species of that zone	gramsPerOneTenthSquareMeter	ratio		real
Biomdead	Biomass (in grams per 0.1 m2) of standing dead	gramsPerOneTenthSquareMeter	ratio		real
Sabiom	Biomass (in grams per 0.1 m2) of Spartina alterniflora	gramsPerOneTenthSquareMeter	ratio		real
Spbiom	Biomass (in grams per 0.1 m2) of Spartina patens	gramsPerOneTenthSquareMeter	ratio		real
Dsbiom	Biomass (in grams per 0.1 m2) of Distichlis spicata	gramsPerOneTenthSquareMeter	ratio		real
Jgbiom	Biomass (in grams per 0.1 m2) of Juncus gerardii	gramsPerOneTenthSquareMeter	ratio		real
Comments	additional notes pertaining to the observations		nominal