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Long-term mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE-LTER sampling sites

Grasshopper abundance and species diversity were investigated at eight sampling sites within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems (GCE) LTER study area during July or August from 2000 to 2023. Visual surveys were conducted along 8-10 2m by 10m transects randomly allocated within the mid-marsh zone at each site. All grasshoppers observed within each transect were counted and identified to species, if possible. These surveys were conducted as part of the GCE invertebrate monitoring program, and are performed annually to assess long-term changes in relative species abundances across the GCE study area.

Long-term Mollusc Population Abundance and Size Data from the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Fall Marsh Monitoring Program

This data set includes long-term observational data on mollusc species abundance and size distribution at 10 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems marsh sites used for annual plant and invertebrate population monitoring. Infaunal and epifaunal molluscs were hand-collected from within quadrats of known area in mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 quadrats per zone) at all sites annually in October. Molluscs were also collected from an additional high marsh Juncus zone (n = 4 quadrats) at several sites beginning in 2009. The molluscs were returned to the lab, preserved in ethanol, identified and counted to determine species abundance and density in each plot. The length of each measurable individual was then determined using calipers or an ocular micrometer mounted in a stereomicroscope to determine mollusc size. Population abundance and size measurement data are reported separately by site, zone, plot and species because analyses were performed at different times, specimens were not individually identifiable, and not all individuals were measureable. This data set includes cumulative long-term observations from 2000 to 2022, and will be updated annually to include the prior year observations.

Long-term Burrowing Crab Population Abundance Data from the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Fall Marsh Monitoring Program

This data set includes long-term observational data on burrowing crab abundance at 10 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems marsh sites used for annual plant and invertebrate population monitoring. Crab abundance was determined by performing surveys of crab hole occurance within replicate 625 square centimeter quadrats and converting the counts to number per square meter. Surveys were performed annually during October within the mid-marsh and creek bank zones at GCE marsh study sites 1 through 10 (i.e. n = 4 per zone at each site). Surveys were also performed in an additional high marsh Juncus zone at several sites beginning in 2009 (i.e. n = 4 quadrats per site). Note that this census method does not differentiate which species made a particular hole and therefore only estimates total burrowing crab abundance, potentially including species Uca pugnax, Uca minax, Uca pugilator, Armases cinereum, Eurytium limosum, Sesarma reticulatum and Panopeus spp. Crab holes that are not actively maintained are quickly covered by tidal activity and other sediment disturbances, therefore plugged holes were assumed to be unoccupied and excluded from the counts. This data set includes cumulative observations from 2000 to 2023, and will be updated annually to include the prior year observations.

openCC (other)Feb 2023View details →

Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2016 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2016 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 ethanol, 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-1707a.

openCC (other)Feb 2023View details →

Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2016 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2016 report of infaunal and epifaunal mollusc species size distributions at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Infaunal and epifaunal molluscs were hand-collected from within quadrats of known area from mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 quadrats per zone) at all sites. The molluscs were returned to the lab, preserved in ethanol, measured and counted (count data is reported separately). Length of each measurable individual was determined using calipers or an ocular micrometer mounted in a stereomicroscope. Species abundance and density data for these collections may be found in the GCE-LTER data set INV-GCEM-1707. Numbers of individuals of each species in the abundance data file may not correspond exactly to the numbers of individuals in the size data file because some individuals may not have been measureable.

openCC (other)Mar 2025View details →

Long-term Barnacle Settlement Near Creekbank Plots from the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Fall Marsh Monitoring Program

This data set includes long-term observational data on barnacle recruitment at the creekbank, and across a gradient in salinity and distance to ocean. PVC poles were deployed to passively sample barnacle settlement. Eight poles were deployed between 4-5 meters apart adjacent to the creekbank vegetation monitoring plots at each GCE LTER permanent monitoring site each Fall beginning in 2012. These poles were then collected the following Fall and all barnacle that settled on the poles were identified and counted on 50cm-long sections of the 8, 3/4" diameter PVC poles. Although a few other barnacle species occur within this estuary, only two species settled on poles: Chthamalus fragilis and Balanus spp. Beginning in 2018, Geukensia dimissa and Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) that settled on the poles were also counted and recorded. This data set includes observations from 2013 to 2023 and will be updated annually to include the prior year observations.

Long-term adult and juvenile periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) density in mid-marsh and creekbank plots from the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Fall Monitoring Program

This data set includes long-term observation of the abundance of periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) at sampling sites within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystem (GCE) LTER study area. Visual counts of adult Littoraria were conducted within 0.5m x 0.5m quadrats in-line with permanent GCE vegetation plots. Juvenile Littoraria (1-4mm shell length) were found and counted by looking inside all leaf furls within a nested quadrat (0.25m x 0.25m). In each marsh zone at each GCE LTER permanent monitoring site, we counted the number of adult and juvenile snails in 8 creekbank and 12 mid-marsh replicate quadrats. This method was started in 2012 as a new part of the annual GCE monitoring and supplements the invertebrate data that has been collected since October 2000. This data set includes observations from 2012 to 2023 and will be updated annually to include the prior year observations.

openCC (other)Jan 2023View details →

Survey of adult and juvenile periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) density in mid-marsh and creekbank plots at GCE LTER study sites in October 2021.

To characterize spatial variation in the adult and juvenile density of periwinkle snails, Littoraria irrorata, within two zones in the salt marsh, the mid-marsh and creekbank, and across a gradient in salinity and distance to ocean, we surveyed snail density in October 2021. In each marsh zone at each GCE LTER permanent monitoring site, we counted the number of adult and juvenile snails in 8 creekbank and 12 mid-marsh replicate quadrats.

openCC (other)Mar 2023View details →

Fall 2021 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creek bank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2021 estimate of crab densities at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Crab abundance was determined by counting the number of crab holes within a 625 cm^2 quadrat and converting the counts to number per square meter. Counts were made in the mid-marsh and creek bank zones (n = 4 per zone) at GCE sites 1 through 10. Note that this census method does not differentiate which species made a particular hole and therefore only estimates total burrowing crab abundance, potentially including species Uca pugnax, Uca minax, Uca pugilator, Armases cinereum, Eurytium limosum and Sesarma reticulatum. Crab holes that are not actively maintained are quickly covered by tidal activity and other sediment disturbances, therefore plugged holes were assumed to be unoccupied and excluded from the counts.

Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2021 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2021 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 ethanol, 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-2207a.

Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2021 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2021 report of infaunal and epifaunal mollusc species size distributions at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Infaunal and epifaunal molluscs were hand-collected from within quadrats of known area from mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 quadrats per zone) at all sites. The molluscs were returned to the lab, preserved in ethanol, measured and counted (count data is reported separately). Length of each measurable individual was determined using calipers or an ocular micrometer mounted in a stereomicroscope. Species abundance and density data for these collections may be found in the GCE-LTER data set INV-GCEM-2207. Numbers of individuals of each species in the abundance data file may not correspond exactly to the numbers of individuals in the size data file because some individuals may not have been measureable.

Fall 2022 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creek bank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2022 estimate of crab densities at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Crab abundance was determined by counting the number of crab holes within a 625 cm^2 quadrat and converting the counts to number per square meter. Counts were made in the mid-marsh and creek bank zones (n = 4 per zone) at GCE sites 1 through 10. Note that this census method does not differentiate which species made a particular hole and therefore only estimates total burrowing crab abundance, potentially including species Uca pugnax, Uca minax, Uca pugilator, Armases cinereum, Eurytium limosum and Sesarma reticulatum. Crab holes that are not actively maintained are quickly covered by tidal activity and other sediment disturbances, therefore plugged holes were assumed to be unoccupied and excluded from the counts.

Survey of adult and juvenile periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) density in mid-marsh and creekbank plots at GCE LTER study sites in October 2022.

To characterize spatial variation in the adult and juvenile density of periwinkle snails, Littoraria irrorata, within two zones in the salt marsh, the mid-marsh and creekbank, and across a gradient in salinity and distance to ocean, we surveyed snail density in October 2022. In each marsh zone at each GCE LTER permanent monitoring site, we counted the number of adult and juvenile snails in 8 creekbank and 12 mid-marsh replicate quadrats.

openCC (other)Aug 2023View details →

Pred-Ex: Long Term Salt Marsh Predator Exclusion Experiment Conducted at Sapelo Island, GA

In southeastern USA salt marshes, short-term and small-scale experiments indicate that a trophic cascade benefits the foundation plant Spartina alterniflora: marine predators (nekton) positively affect plant biomass by consuming snail and crab herbivores. To test how nekton affect marsh processes when the entire animal community is present, and to test how prior results scale up over time, we conducted a 3-year predator exclusion experiment in a Georgia salt marsh using replicated 19.6 m2 plots. We measured the response of changing density for all marsh invertebrates, conducted snail and crab tethering trials, quantified change in marsh grass biomass, and measured tea bag decomposition rate across all plots.

openCC (other)Jan 2026View details →

Spartina alterniflora marsh vegetation data along the Georgia coast used in the Belowground Ecosystem Resiliency Model version 2.0

Study plots (1-m2) were established in eight Spartina alterniflora-dominated marshes (7 on Sapelo Island, Georgia, and 1 on Skidaway Island, Georgia). At three sites, plots were sampled once each during May, July, August, September, and October of 2016. At all sites, plots were sampled once each during June, August, and November of 2021, February, May, August, and November of 2022, and February of 2023. One long-term (quarterly 2013 to 2023) GCE LTER sampling site is also included. Nine replicate plots were placed in vegetated marsh along transects that spanned 3 Landsat-8 and -9 pixel footprints, with 3 plots per pixel footprint. In each plot, measurements included plant biomass, plant species, stem density, and height. Aboveground biomass was calculated using allometric relationships between plant height and mass from plant clipping studies. During these surveys, destructive core sampling was also performed in the proximity of the plots (n = 1 per plot) to measure above and below ground biomass. Chlorophyll, foliar N, and Leaf Area Index measurements were taken in the proximity of the plots. This dataset reflects an update to the "PLT-GCED-2106" dataset (doi: 10.6073/pasta/03f4f78c6498aecca34faf4339591129). This project also utilized data from the "PLT-GCEM-1610" dataset doi: 10.6073/pasta/9746c71b35e9f8c544ea12c601c33949). Those data utilized in this project are duplicated here for completeness.

openCC (other)Nov 2024View details →

Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2022 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2022 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 ethanol, 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-2307a.

openCC (other)Nov 2024View details →

Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2022 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2022 report of infaunal and epifaunal mollusc species size distributions at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Infaunal and epifaunal molluscs were hand-collected from within quadrats of known area from mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 quadrats per zone) at all sites. The molluscs were returned to the lab, preserved in ethanol, measured and counted (count data is reported separately). Length of each measurable individual was determined using calipers or an ocular micrometer mounted in a stereomicroscope. Species abundance and density data for these collections may be found in the GCE-LTER data set INV-GCEM-2307. Numbers of individuals of each species in the abundance data file may not correspond exactly to the numbers of individuals in the size data file because some individuals may not have been measureable.

Fall 2023 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creek bank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10

This data set is the Fall 2023 estimate of crab densities at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Crab abundance was determined by counting the number of crab holes within a 625 cm^2 quadrat and converting the counts to number per square meter. Counts were made in the mid-marsh and creek bank zones (n = 4 per zone) at GCE sites 1 through 10. Note that this census method does not differentiate which species made a particular hole and therefore only estimates total burrowing crab abundance, potentially including species Uca pugnax, Uca minax, Uca pugilator, Armases cinereum, Eurytium limosum and Sesarma reticulatum. Crab holes that are not actively maintained are quickly covered by tidal activity and other sediment disturbances, therefore plugged holes were assumed to be unoccupied and excluded from the counts.

Survey of adult and juvenile periwinkle snail (Littoraria irrorata) density in mid-marsh and creekbank plots at GCE LTER study sites in October 2023.

To characterize spatial variation in the adult and juvenile density of periwinkle snails, Littoraria irrorata, within two zones in the salt marsh, the mid-marsh and creekbank, and across a gradient in salinity and distance to ocean, we surveyed snail density in October 2023. In each marsh zone at each GCE LTER permanent monitoring site, we counted the number of adult and juvenile snails in 8 creekbank and 12 mid-marsh replicate quadrats.