DATASET ID: WO8802A

PROJECT TITLE:

Marsh grass aboveground and belowground net primary production

CITATION:

Odum, W.T., and J.P. Frye. 1989. Spartina alterniflora leaf measurements, part A. Data Publication of the Virginia Coast Reserve LTER, Dataset ID: WO8802A .

CONTACT:

William Odum/ J.P. Frye

VCR CONTACT-ID:

lblum

KEYWORDS:

Primary production - Plants - Crabs - Spartina alterniflora - Invertibrates - marsh - - - - - - - - - -

Project Goals:

The purpose of this study is to compare (a) aboveground annual net primary production, (b) belowground annual net primaryproduction and (c) evapotranspiration of Spartina alterniflora along a transect across the VCR. Permanent sampling sites will be established during the first year on the mainland side near Brownsville, at a mid-bay island and on the back side of Hog Island. Additional sites may be added in subsequent years. The objectives of the study are to compare primary production along gradients of differing geomorphological, hydrological and geochemical conditions. It is our belief that primary productionis one of the best indicators/integrators of variable physical conditions. We are also particularly interested in interannual variability in primary production. Finally, through matching funds from sea grant, we plan to compare Spartina evapotranspiration at the VCR/LTER site with values estimated from freshwater species at our Chickahominy site.

DATASET DESCRIPTION:

DATA FORMAT: 

       COLUMNS  FORMAT  VARIABLE NAME  CODED  UNITS
       -------  ------  -------------  -----  -----
         1-2     I         MONTH        N      MM        
         3-4     I         DAY          N      DD        
         5-6     I         YEAR         N      YY        
        15-15     I         SITE         N                
        24-24     I         PLOT         N                
        31-33     I         TAG          N                
        38-42     F         HEIGHT       N      cm        
        50-51     I         LEAVES       N

VARIABLE DESCRIPTIONS:

        NAME          DESCRIPTION
       -------  ------------------------
       MONTH  : Month of observation                                        
       DAY    : Day of observation                                          
       YEAR   : Year of observation                                         
       SITE   : No. of site at which observation was made                   
       PLOT   : No. of plot in which observation was made                   
       TAG    : No. of tag attached to plant = Plant ID#                    
       HEIGHT : Height of plants from soil to last green tissue             
       LEAVES : No. of live leaves on plant

METHODS:

MONTH : Calendar

DAY : Calendar

YEAR : Calendar

SITE :

PLOT :

TAG :

HEIGHT : Meter stick

LEAVES : visual count