Data Set Citation
When using this data, please cite the data package
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Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project and Bishop D. 2003.
Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2000 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10
knb-lter-gce.109.6
(https://knb.ecoinformatics.org/knb/metacat/knb-lter-gce.109.6/knb)
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General Information
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| Title: | Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2000 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 |
| Identifier: | knb-lter-gce.109.6 |
| Alternate Identifier: | INV-GCEM-0305a1.1.1 |
| Abstract: |
This data set is the Fall 2000 estimate of infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Species abundance was determined by hand-collecting all the infaunal and epifaunal molluscs from within quadrats of known area in mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 quadrats per zone) at all sites. The molluscs were returned to the lab, fixed in fomalin, transferred to and preserved in ethanol, counted and measured (size data is reported separately). The counts were converted to number per square meter. Gastropod species are listed first, followed by bivalve species. Size distribution data for these collections may be found in the GCE-LTER data set INV-GCEM-0305a2.
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| Keywords: |
- Sapelo Island
(place)
- Georgia
(place)
- USA
(place)
- GCE
(theme)
- LTER
(theme)
- Population Dynamics
(theme)
- 2000
(theme)
- abundance
(theme)
- Crassostrea
(theme)
- creekbank
(theme)
- density
(theme)
- Detracia
(theme)
- epifauna
(theme)
- Fall
(theme)
- Geukensia
(theme)
- Hydrobiidae
(theme)
- infauna
(theme)
- intertidal
(theme)
- Littoraria
(theme)
- Littorina
(theme)
- marsh
(theme)
- Melampus
(theme)
- mid-marsh
(theme)
- molluscs
(theme)
- monitoring
(theme)
- Polymesoda
(theme)
- population
(theme)
- vegetated
(theme)
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Publication Date: | 2003 |
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Involved Parties
Data Set Creators
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Organization: | Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project |
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Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
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Email Address:
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Web Address:
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Individual: | Dr. Dale Bishop |
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Organization: | University of Georgia |
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Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
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Email Address:
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Web Address:
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Data Set Contacts
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Position: | GCE-LTER Information Manager |
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Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
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Email Address:
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Associated Parties
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Individual: | Dr. Merryl Alber |
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Organization: | University of Georgia |
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Email Address:
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Individual: | Mr. Kenneth Helm |
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Organization: | University of Georgia Marine Institute |
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Email Address:
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Metadata Providers
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Organization: | Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project |
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Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
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Email Address:
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Web Address:
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Data Set Publishers
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Organization: | Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project |
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Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
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Email Address:
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Web Address:
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Data Set Characteristics
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | Overall bounding box describing the geographic region within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER study domain represented in data set INV-GCEM-0305a1 |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.494228 degrees
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| East: | -81.194083 degrees
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| North: | 31.550249 degrees
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| South: | 31.303976 degrees
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| Taxonomic Range: |
| General Coverage: | Participants were trained to recognize mollusc species in the field by D. Bishop. Final species identifications were made (under the supervision of D. Bishop) when specimens were sorted and counted in the lab. Most species were common and easily recognizeable. Useful references for marsh species and molluscs in general are: 1) Heard, R.W. 1982. Guide to Common Tidal Marsh Invertebrates of the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, MASGP-79-004. 82 pp. and 2) Abbott, R.T. 1974. American Seashells. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, Second Edition. 663 pp. |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Bivalvia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Filibranchia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Crassostrea |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Crassostrea virginica |
| Common Name: | Eastern or American Oyster |
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| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Gastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Basommatophora |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Detracia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Detracia floridana |
| Common Name: | Florida Melampus |
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| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Bivalvia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Filibranchia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Geukensia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Geukensia demissa |
| Common Name: | Ribbed Mussel |
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| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Gastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Mesogastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Family |
| Rank Value: | Hydrobiidae |
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| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Gastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Mesogastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Ilyanassa |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Ilyanassa obsoleta |
| Common Name: | Mud Snail |
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| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Gastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Mesogastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Littoraria |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Littoraria irrorata |
| Common Name: | Marsh Periwinkle |
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| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Gastropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Basommatophora |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Melampus |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Melampus bidentatus |
| Common Name: | Eastern Melampus |
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| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Mollusca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Bivalvia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Eulamellibranchia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Polymesoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Polymesoda caroliniana |
| Common Name: | Carolina Marsh Clam |
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Sampling, Processing and Quality Control Methods
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Step by Step Procedures
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| Step 1: |
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Description:
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Mollusc Collection
A quadrat device, constructed of treated, 1" X 3/4" slats, drilled and joined with bolts and wing nuts, was designed to enclose selectable areas of 0.0625, 0.25 or 0.5 m^2. The quadrat size used for each sample may have varied between plots, zones, and sites and was dependent on apparent density of molluscs (particularly Littoraria) in the immediate area. In high density areas, smaller quadrats were used and vice versa. Quadrat selection was guided by the need to balance accuracy of abundance estimates, prevention of excessive removal of fauna and ensurance that field sampling was kept to a reasonable amount of time. The quadrat was placed around the bases of the plants in the selected sampling area. Snails are collected first, from the standing plants. Collection started at the tops of the plants and proceeded downward to the marsh surface. Particular attention was given to enrolled, scenescing leaves, when present, as new recruits and small species were often concentrated there. After the plants had been inspected, the marsh surface was examined for snails and signs of infaunal bivalves. After all epifaunal molluscs were removed, the infaunal bivalves were dug from the sediment. This often required feeling (centimeter by centimeter) along the marsh surface and probing down inside large crab holes to make sure all individuals were collected. All molluscs were placed in pre-labeled plastic bags and transported back to the lab. The molluscs were washed free of sediment over a sieve (< 500 micron-mesh), fixed with 10% formalin and ultimately transferred to and preserved in 70% ethanol.
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| Step 2: |
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Description:
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Density Estimation
Individuals were identified to the lowest practicable taxonomic unit and the number of individuals of each species was determined. The identity of small individuals was confirmed with a stereomicroscope. Per meter square density for each species was determined by dividing total count data for a sample by the quadrat size used for the sample.
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Instrument(s):
| Stereomicroscope; manufacturer: Leica (model: MZ 7.5) |
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Instrument(s):
| Stereomicroscope; manufacturer: Wild (model: M5) |
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Sampling Coverage:
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Sampling Coverage:
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE1 -- Eulonia, Georgia, USA. Transitional salt marsh/upland forest site at the upper reach of the Sapelo River near Eulonia, Georgia. The main marsh area is to the north of the channel where the upland is controlled by DNR. Several small creeks lie within the study area. Residential development is increasing on the upland areas south of the channel. A hydrographic sonde is deployed within this site attached to a private dock to the south of the main channel near the HW-17 bridge. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.427321 degrees
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| East: | -81.410390 degrees
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| North: | 31.546173 degrees
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| South: | 31.535095 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE2 -- Four Mile Island, Georgia, USA. Low salt marsh/estuary site encompassing the southwestern end of Four Mile Island and the Sapelo River near Sapelo Sound. The large island is totally marsh, with no upland, and no development. Nearby areas, like "Sutherland Bluff", are developing with golf courses. A hydrographic sonde is deployed within this site attached to channel marker 4 (under U.S. Coast Guard permit). Salinity regime is similar to seawater. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.320771 degrees
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| East: | -81.293259 degrees
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| North: | 31.550249 degrees
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| South: | 31.532138 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE3 -- North Sapelo, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. High salinity marsh/Sapelo Sound site. Few or no small creeks, but one large creek is easily accessed. Further upstream upland drainage is affected by culvert at Reynolds' duck pond. Upland is heavily forested. Hydrographic sonde is deployed adjacent to this site attached to a channel marker (under U.S. Coast Guard permit). A huge mud flat is present at the northern tip of Sapelo Island. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.232911 degrees
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| East: | -81.194083 degrees
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| North: | 31.547261 degrees
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| South: | 31.515840 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE4 -- Meridian, Georgia, USA. Inland marsh and tidal creek site near Meridian, Georgia. The primary marsh site is to the south of the dock in front of the Sapelo Island Visitor Center. Some small creeks and one large creek (Hudson Creek) are present. Upland is heavily forested. Marsh to the north of the dock can be used for additional studies if larger areas are required. Upland to the North is being developed for residential use, so future access is uncertain. The USGS super station site (weather station plus multiple-sensor sonde) is deployed off the ferry dock. Salinity is similar to seawater because there is little freshwater input from the upland. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.370812 degrees
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| East: | -81.358187 degrees
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| North: | 31.462771 degrees
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| South: | 31.447213 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE5 -- Folly River, Georgia, USA. Salt marsh/tidal creek site at the Folly River near Doboy Sound. No upland areas present. The north side of Doboy Sound immediately opposite is similar, but creeks are not as nice. No existing markers are close enough for sonde deployment, so we will initially use the existing sonde at Marsh Landing operated by UGAMI for surrogate hydrographic data. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.354636 degrees
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| East: | -81.327494 degrees
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| North: | 31.442310 degrees
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| South: | 31.418161 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE6 -- Dean Creek, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Doboy Sound/salt marsh site at the southern end of Sapelo Island near Dean Creek and the Sapelo lighthouse. A few small creeks are present, but a large creek (Dean Creek) is easily accessed. Upland is composed of small hammocks and some constructed causeways, with sand dune complexes east of Dean Creek and extending to the beach. Upper end of the watershed is affected by a culvert at Beach Road and heavy student use of marsh immediately adjacent to culvert. A hydrographic sonde is deployed in Doboy Sound near Commodore Island approximately 1.5km from this site. GCE6 is also the focus of Sapelo Island Microbial Observatory research on microbial diversity and genomics (http://simo.marsci.uga.edu) |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.300786 degrees
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| East: | -81.264957 degrees
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| North: | 31.393522 degrees
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| South: | 31.371279 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE7 -- Carrs Island, Georgia, USA. Freshwater marsh site along the northern bank of Hammersmith Creek at the south end of Carrs Island. Upland area is heavily forested. Northern 3/4 of the island was diked for rice agriculture, but the southern 1/4 is undisturbed. A hydrographic sonde is deployed in the Altamaha River near Hammersmith Creek, adjacent to this site. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.494228 degrees
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| East: | -81.475991 degrees
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| North: | 31.349002 degrees
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| South: | 31.334587 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE8 -- Alligator Creek, Georgia, USA. Mid-estuary/salt marsh site on the west side of Friday Cap Creek along the Altamaha River. This is a brackish marsh with salinities around 14 PSU during drought, less than 5 PSU normally. A hydrographic sonde is deployed adjacent to this site in the Altamaha River near Alligator Creek, attached to the US Coast Guard Daymarker 2 pilings. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.426316 degrees
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| East: | -81.410043 degrees
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| North: | 31.317771 degrees
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| South: | 31.303976 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE9 -- Rockdedundy Island, Georgia, USA. Lower estuary tidal creek and marsh site at Rockdedundy Island west of Wolf Island. A hydrographic sonde is deployed approximately 2km from this site in the Altamaha River near Rockdedundy Island, attached to the US Coast Guard Daymarker 201 pilings. |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.346982 degrees
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| East: | -81.326749 degrees
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| North: | 31.358146 degrees
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| South: | 31.339162 degrees
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| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE10 -- Hunt Camp, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Barrier island/marsh site on western Sapelo Island. This site is located at the upper reaches of the Duplin River, and is within the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. Existing well fields border small marsh area to northwest, some wells have been installed to south end of hammock where marsh is more extensive and permanent plots are located. Two existing hydrographic sondes and weather stations within this site are operated by SINERR (Hunt Camp dock) and UGAMI (flume dock). |
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Bounding Coordinates:
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| West: | -81.296229 degrees
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| East: | -81.261288 degrees
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| North: | 31.497780 degrees
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| South: | 31.464728 degrees
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Sampling Description:
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Mollusc Abundance Survey
Samples were taken within 3 meters of the GCE permanent monitoring plots, which were established in the marsh areas at each GCE sampling site prior to this first sample trip. Each site was divided into two nominal zones -- creekbank and mid-marsh -- and eight plots were randomly located in each zone and marked with stakes.
This study represents a regular component of the population monitoring program of the GCE-LTER. It was designed to document abundance and spatial distribution of common infaunal and epifaunal molluscs and track their changes over time at each of the ten intertidal marsh monitoring sites within the GCE-LTER domain. All molluscs within randomly placed, small quadrats at four plots in the mid and creekbank marshes at each of the permanent monitoring sites were collected by hand. This design resulted in four replicate samples per zone (n = 4) at each site (n = 8 per site). Collections were made by different teams of trained individuals (staff and volunteers). Molluscs were returned to the lab, preserved and enumerated.
For each sample, an area of marsh was selected that was similar in gross appearance and near to (within 3 m of) a GCE permanent monitoring plot. The permanent plots were not used so as to avoid damaging the plants within them. Permanent plots 1, 3, 6, and 8 in each zone were chosen to be the anchor plots for selecting actual sample areas. When wrack or other disturbances necessitated the use of alternate plots, these are indicated in the data set and noted as anomalies.
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Data Set Usage Rights
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All publications based on this data set must cite the contributor and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, and two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the GCE-LTER Information Management Office.
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| Access Control: |
| Auth System: | knb |
| Order: | allowFirst |
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Allow:
| [all] | uid=GCE,o=lter,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
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Allow:
| [read] | public
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