General:
This data set is part of an on-going project in a Spartina alterniflora-dominated marsh at the Baruch Marine Field Laboratory in North Inlet, Georgetown, SC.
Sampling Description:
Triplicate original-style SET stations were installed in the high marsh (HM) on the marsh platform in a Spartina alterniflora-dominated marsh at Goat Island, North Inlet, Georgetown, SC in June 1996. Each SET sampling site consists of a permanently installed benchmark 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, with 9 collars through which fiberglass pins are lowered. Each SET post is associated with two adjacent plots (one control, one NP fertilized; only the control data are included here). Each plot has 3 subplots. 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 that fastens the collar to 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 t 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).
Elevation:
LTE-MP-NIN-GIHM, ~ 0.5 meters NAVD88