salt marshes

Change in marsh surface elevation measured with a Surface Elevation Table (SET) at control plots in a Spartina alterniflora-dominated salt marsh,North Inlet, Georgetown, SC.

Abstract: 

A Surface Elevation Table (SET) is used to measure changes in the elevation of the platform at a Spartina alterniflora-dominated marsh on the Goat Island, North Inlet, Georgetown, SC. Measurements are done monthly.

Core Areas: 

Data set ID: 

134

Keywords: 

Short name: 

LTE-MP-NAC-elevationmeans

Purpose: 

 

Data sources: 

LTE-MP-NAC-elevationmeans_csv
LTE-MP-NAC-elevationmeans_xls

Methods: 

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

Maintenance: 

Collections occur approximately every month.
Database is updated seasonally.
Study and data collection are ongoing as of Jan 2018
Version 01; new data and metadata
Version 02; new data and metadata
Version 03: February 2, 2012, updated data and metadata to Dec 2011. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007.xlsm 2/1/12 5:00 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
Version 04: August 8, 2013, 2012 data and metadata updated to comply with importation to Drupal and LTER PASTA. Research location name and description updated.Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007.xlsm 3/14/13 12:02 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
Version 05: April 23, 2014, 2013 data and metadata updated to comply with importation to Drupal and LTER PASTA.Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007_Sep2013.xlsm 9/30/13 02:57 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
Version 06: February 18, 2015, data and metadata updates to comply with importation to Drupal and LTER PASTA. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007_Jan2015.xlsm 1/15/15 4:26 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
Version 07: February 24, 2016, data and metadata updates to comply with importation to Drupal and LTER PASTA. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007_Jan2015.xlsm 1/15/15 4:26 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
Version 08: September 15, 2017, data and metadata updates to comply with importation to Drupal and LTER PASTA. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007_Jun2017.xlsm 6/15/17 10:23 AM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0
Version 09: June 21, 2018, data and metadata updated to comply with importation to Drupal and LTER PASTA. Used MarcrosExportEML_HTML (working)pie_excel2007_Jan2018.xlsm 1/30/2018 2:24 PM for QA/QC to EML 2.1.0

Additional information: 

 

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