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-MP-NIN-SET-means.08
Dataset Title:Marsh surface elevation data in fertilization plots of a Spartina alterniflora-dominated salt marsh at Goat Island, North Inlet, Georgetown, SC.
Investigator 1: 
First Name:Jim
Last Name:Morris
Address line 1:Dept of Biological Sciences
Address line 2:
Address line 3:University of SC
City:Columbia
State:SC
Zip Code:29208
Country:USA
Investigator 2: 
First Name:Karen
Last Name:Sundberg
Address line 1:Baruch Marine Field Laboratory
Address line 3:PO Box 1630
City:Georgetown
State:SC
Zip Code:29442
Country:USA
Associate Investigators:Diana Rodriguez
Keywords:PIE LTER, Plum Island Ecosystems, South Carolina, North Inlet, organic matter, nutrients, estuary, salt marsh, Spartina alterniflora, elevation, surface elevation table (SET), sedimentation erosion table (SET), Southeast United States
Abstract:A Surface Elevation Table (SET) is used to measure changes in the elevation of the marsh platform in fertilization plots of a Spartina alterniflora-dominated marsh on the Goat Island, North Inlet, Georgetown, SC.
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-MP-NIN-SET-means.csv
Data File Name LTE-MP-NIN-SET-means
Beginning Date 6/1/1996
End Date 12/31/2011
Number of Data Records 546
Other Files to Reference LTE-MP-SET-means, LTE-MP-SET-raw
Availability Status type 1
Quality Control Information
Maintenance Description Collections occur approximately every month. Database is updated once annually, usually in the winter. Study and data collection are ongoing as of Jan 2012.
Log of Changes: Version 01: July 11, 2006 Level 3+ EML using Jim Laundre's Excel program
Version 02: January 10, 2007 data and metadata update
Version 03: March 13, 2008 Data and metadata update
Version 04: February 20, 2009 Data and metadata update
Version 05: January 13, 2010 Data and metadata update
Version 06: October 26, 2011 Data and metadata update. File name change from LTE-MP-NIN-elevationmeans to LTE-MP-NIN-SETmeans for consistency with other SET data files
Version 07: January 12, 2012, 2011 data and metadata update, using MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007.xlsm 1/12/12 11:51AM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
Version 08, 28Mar2012, dataset title metadata update. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007.xlsm 3/23/2012 12:08 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
 
RESEARCH LOCATION: Site 1 Site 2
Geographic Description North Inlet, Georgetown, SC; Goat Island High Marsh site.  
Location Bounding Box    
West Bounding Coordinate    
East Bounding Coordinate    
North Bounding Coordinate    
South Bounding Coordinate    
OR if single point location    
Latitude 33.3317  
Longitude -79.198  
Elevation    
     
     
 
TAXONOMIC COVERAGE:
Taxonomic Protocols
Organisms studied Spartina alterniflora
 
Methods:Sampling Description:
Triplicate original-style SET benchmark posts were permanently installed in the high marsh (HM) and low marsh (LM) on the marsh platform in a Spartina alterniflora-dominated marsh at Goat Island, North Inlet, Georgetown, SC. Each SET sampling site consists of a permanently installed post and a removable arm. The arm has a vertical and a horizontal component. The vertical component fits into the SET benchmark post; the horizontal component reaches out over the experimental subplot and has a square plate at the end through which 9 pins are lowered. Each SET post is associated with two adjacent plots (one control, one NP fertilized). The treated plots were fertilized with NH4NO3 and P2O5 for a final annual application rate of 26.7 mol N/m2/y and 12.3 mol P/m2/y from May 1996 (HM) or Jan 2001 (LM) until Aug 2004. Each SET benchmark post is positioned such that 27 elevation readings can be taken in a fertilized plot (9 readings in 3 subplots) and 27 elevation readings can be taken in a control plot. Plots are numbered. Subplots are lettered A-F.

To measure elevations, the SET arm is locked in place over each subplot, is leveled, and the 9 fiberglass pins are lowered to touch the sediment surface and held in place with a clip. Pin heights are measured from the top of the nut on the plate to the top of the pin, and read into a digital recorder. The recordings are transcribed into one master SET pin height data set. Surface elevations are measured approximately monthly.

The SET was manufactured by Nolan’s Machine Shop in Lafayette LA; 337-235-5261. Replacement pins or collars can be purchased from Nolan’s. Stainless steel parts (roll pins etc) come from McMaster-Carr. Measuring pins are held in place with badge clips, available at office supply stores.

Numerical Processing:
Data are reported as the mean change in elevation and standard error of the 3 replicate plots (n=81) over time. Change in marsh elevation is determined by subtracting pin height at time X from the mean pin height for the subplot at time 0. Statistics were performed using SAS (SAS System for Windows; release 9.1; SAS Institute, Inc; Cary, NC).

Data Table

Variable Name Variable Description Units Measurement Scale Code Information Number Type DateTime Format Missing Value Code Missing Value Code Explanation
site name of sampling station   nominal GI=Goat Island        
location location of sampling station   nominal HM=High Marsh | LM=Low Marsh        
year year   datetime     yyyy    
month month   datetime     mm    
treatment treatment   nominal NP=Fertilized | C=Control        
elev change mean change in elevation centimeter ratio   real   . .=not measured
stderr standard error of mean change in elevation centimeter ratio   real      
comments Information pertaining to individual data points   nominal