Louisiana Marsh Dieback - Interactive effects of drought, acidity, and heavy metals on salt marsh plants, Spartina alterniflora, Juncus roemerianus, and Avicennia germinans Task 2.1

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Louisiana State University, Wetland and Biogeochemistry Institute and Department of Oceanography and Coastal Studies

Publication_Date: 2005

Title:

Louisiana Marsh Dieback - Interactive effects of drought, acidity, and heavy metals on salt marsh plants, Spartina alterniflora, Juncus roemerianus, and Avicennia germinans Task 2.1

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Digital tabular data

Larger_Work_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program Scientific-Technical Committee

Publication_Date: 20010207

Title:

Requests for submission of Scope of Services for Marsh Dieback and Nutria Control Emergency Response

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place: Thibodaux, LA

Publisher:

Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program Scientific-Technical Committee

Online_Linkage: <http://www.brownmarsh.net/reports/brown_marsh_rfp.pdf>

Description:

Abstract:

This data set consists of experimentation on three of the primary coastal Louisiana plant species. In the Spring of 2000, coastal Louisiana experienced drought conditions. During drought conditions, certain plant species may dieback due to a number of factors. Greenhouse experiments were conducted on three salt marsh plants, Spartina alterniflora, Juncus roemerianus, and Avicennia germinans to help determine if certain stressor factors contributed to this dieback. The concentration levels of pH, iron, and aluminum were varied over 5 and half month period.

Purpose:

To study the interactive effects of drought, acidity, and heavy metals on three salt marsh plants for plant growth responses to determine which factors cound have been more responsible for the 2000 coastal Louisiana marsh dieback.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date: 2001

Ending_Date: 2005

Currentness_Reference: ground condition

Status:

Progress: Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent: Coastal Louisiana

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.910681

East_Bounding_Coordinate: -88.777417

North_Bounding_Coordinate: 30.509791

South_Bounding_Coordinate: 28.892107

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Theme_Keyword: interactive

Theme_Keyword: brown marsh

Theme_Keyword: salt marsh cord-grass

Theme_Keyword: black mangrove

Theme_Keyword: dieback

Theme_Keyword: black needlerush

Theme_Keyword: concentration

Theme_Keyword: saltmarsh

Theme_Keyword: growth response

Theme_Keyword: drought

Theme_Keyword: acidity

Theme_Keyword: heavy metals

Theme_Keyword: aluminum

Theme_Keyword: iron

Theme_Keyword: pH

Theme_Keyword: tolerance

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Place_Keyword: Louisiana

Place_Keyword: Coastal Louisiana

Place_Keyword: LA

Place_Keyword: Southern Louisiana

Place_Keyword: Terrebonne Basin

Place_Keyword: Barataria Basin

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:

Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Taxonomic_Keywords: Spartina alterniflora

Taxonomic_Keywords: species

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Kingdom

Taxon_Rank_Value: Plantae

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Division

Taxon_Rank_Value: Magnoliophyta

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Class

Taxon_Rank_Value: Liliopsida

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass

Taxon_Rank_Value: Commelinidae

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Order

Taxon_Rank_Value: Cyperales

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Family

Taxon_Rank_Value: Poaceae

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus

Taxon_Rank_Value: Spartina

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Species

Taxon_Rank_Value: alterniflora

Applicable_Common_Name: smooth cordgrass

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Order

Taxon_Rank_Value: Juncales

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Family

Taxon_Rank_Value: Juncaceae

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus

Taxon_Rank_Value: Juncus

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: species

Taxon_Rank_Value: roemerianus

Applicable_Common_Name: needlegrass rush

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Class

Taxon_Rank_Value: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Subclass

Taxon_Rank_Value: Asteridae

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Order

Taxon_Rank_Value: Lamiales

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Family

Taxon_Rank_Value: Verbenaceae

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Genus

Taxon_Rank_Value: Avicennia

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name: Species

Taxon_Rank_Value: germinans

Applicable_Common_Name: black mangrove

Access_Constraints:

Data generated by the Brown Marsh principal investigators will be available only to the project’s other principal investigators, following the established QA/QC review, for a period of two years. After two years from the finalization of the data, it shall be made available to the public. Please contact the principal investigator for exact date of availability. It is strongly recommended that these data be directly acquired from the Brown Marsh Database Information Management System server and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way.

Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgement of the principal investigator as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgement as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of these data. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, methodologies, data collections and computer processes over time. The principal investigator and the distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of these data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in this metadata document. The principal investigator and distributor make no claims as to the data’s suitability for other purposes. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Louisiana State University, Wetland Biogeochemistry Institute and Department of Oceanography and Coastal Studies

Contact_Person: Irving A. Mendelssohn

Contact_Position: Professor

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Physical

Address: Louisiana State University

City: Baton Rouge

State_or_Province: LA

Postal_Code: 70803

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 225 578-6425

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 225 578-6423

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: imendel@lsu.edu

Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Excel 2000

Analytical_Tool:

Analytical_Tool_Description: SAS General Linear Model: used to conduct statistical analysis.

Tool_Access_Information:

Online_Linkage: <http://www.sas.com>

Tool_Access_Instructions: See website for information

Tool_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: SAS

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing

Address: 100 SAS Campus Drive

City: Cary

State_or_Province: NC

Postal_Code: 27513-2414

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 919 677-8000

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 919 677-4444

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

The accuracy of the measured attributes is dependent of the amount of human error, which is unknown. The accuracy of the calculated attributes is dependent on the accuracy of the equations used and the statistical software.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

Each species was treated with the same pH, Al, and Fe concentrations. Replication of treatments for the first two stages was done six times. The last stage's replication was conducted three times. All plants used in the experiments were allow to acclimate or recovery from the transplanting activity.

Completeness_Report: There are no known omissions in the data.

Lineage:

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Lab

Methodology_Identifier:

Methodology_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Methodology_Keyword: collection

Methodology_Keyword: acid washed

Methodology_Keyword: plastic pot

Methodology_Keyword: transplant

Methodology_Keyword: temperature

Methodology_Keyword: Hoagland's solution

Methodology_Keyword: treatment

Methodology_Keyword: salinity

Methodology_Keyword: pH

Methodology_Keyword: sand

Methodology_Keyword: light intensity

Methodology_Keyword: growth chamber

Methodology_Description:

Preparation and setup - Salt marsh plants, Spartina alterniflora, Avicennia germinans, and Juncus roemerianus were acquired for the experiment and potted into commerical potting soil and garden top soil (a 1:1 ratio) and allowed to grow to a satisifactory size before experimentation. One month before experimentation, the soil was carefully washed from the plant roots. The three species were transplanted separately into sand in plastic pots with a hole on the sidewall near the pot's bottom. The holes were covered with a thin layer of sponge to let water drain freely, but retain the sand. About 20 stems of Spartina and Juncus, and 1 plant of Avicennia were transplanted into each plastic poit. After plants' recovery, every 6 experimental units (two from each species) were placed into a plastic tub with the same pH, Al and Fe concentrations, and simulated drought level and other conditions, such as nutrients and salinity, to compare the interactive effects. The experiments were conducted in a growth chamber with light intensity that was altered according to canopy level and daytime/nighttime conditions. Temperature were also altered to mimic day and night conditions. pH levels were maintained through the experiment and the experiment units were flushed with the proper solution daily.

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Lab

Methodology_Identifier:

Methodology_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Methodology_Keyword: pH treatment

Methodology_Keyword: metal treatment

Methodology_Keyword: control

Methodology_Keyword: drought treatment

Methodology_Keyword: mortality rate

Methodology_Keyword: leaf expansion

Methodology_Keyword: leaf photosynthetic rate

Methodology_Keyword: leaf fluorescence rate

Methodology_Description:

Experimentation and data collection - Three experimental stages were created for the three plant species. At the first stage, the plants were treated with the pH 4 and pH 2.5 with a four metal combination of Al and Fe (at four different concentration levels) for two months. The second stage lowered the pH level to 3, but with the same four metal combinations for two months. During the last stage, the plants were treated by the controlled drought with water potential at -1.1MP by adding PEG (an osmotic drought agent) to the treatment solution with the same pH 3 for another six weeks; the metal combinations remained the same. The following parameters were measured for plant responses; mortality rate, leaf expansion rate, leaf photosynthetic rate, and leaf fluorescence rate.

Methodology:

Methodology_Type: Lab

Methodology_Identifier:

Methodology_Keyword_Thesaurus: None

Methodology_Keyword: SAS

Methodology_Keyword: statistical analysis

Methodology_Keyword: linear model

Methodology_Keyword: Duncan test

Methodology_Keyword: comparison

Methodology_Description:

Analysis - Statistic analysis was conducted by using SAS's General Linear Model. Duncan test were analyzed to determine the effects of the main factors if interaction was not significant. Least square means was used to compare between individual treatment when the interaction was significant.

Process_Step:

Process_Description: See methodology

Process_Date: 2002-2005

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Overview_Description:

Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

All measured and calculated attributes, such as stand heights, biomass, stem/leaf elongation, etc in this subtask were taken for the overall result, the interactive effects of drought, acidity, and heavy metals on salt marsh plants

Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

Mendelssohn, Irv, Brown Marsh Project: Task II.1 Growth Response of Brown Marsh Species Populations to Stressor factors. 2005. Louisiana State University.

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey, National Wetlands Research Center

Contact_Person: Scott Wilson

Contact_Position: Electrical Engineer

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical

Address: 700 Cajundome Blvd

City: Lafayette

State_or_Province: LA

Postal_Code: 70506

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 337 266-8664

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 337 266-8513

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: scott_wilson@usgs.gov

Distribution_Liability:

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the designated principal investigator’s facility, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the accuracy or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. This disclaimer applies both to individual use of the data and aggregate use with other data. It is strongly recommended that these data are directly acquired from the official Brown Marsh Database Information Management System server or from the principal investigator, and not indirectly through other sources which may have changed the data in some way. It is also strongly recommended that careful attention be given to the contents of the metadata file associated with these data. The Brown Marsh committee shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein. So, these data are provided as is and without any express or implied warranties. Also, use of trade names or commercial products in the metadata file is solely for the purpose of providing specific information, and does not imply recommendation or endorsement. Any downloading and use of these data signifies a user’s agreement to comprehension and compliance of the disclaimer. Insure all portions of metadata are read and clearly understood before using these data in order to protect both user and principal investigators interests.

Standard_Order_Process:

Digital_Form:

Digital_Transfer_Information:

Format_Name: Microsoft Excel

Format_Version_Number: 2000+

File_Decompression_Technique: none

Digital_Transfer_Option:

Online_Option:

Computer_Contact_Information:

Network_Address:

Network_Resource_Name: <http://www.brownmarsh.net>

Fees: None, if available online

Custom_Order_Process: None

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date: 20051107

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey/NWRC

Contact_Position: Metadata specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type: Mailing and Physical

Address: 700 Cajundome Blvd

City: Lafayette

State_or_Province: LA

Postal_Code: 70506

Country: USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone: 337 266-8500

Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 337 266-8513

Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Extensions:

Profile_Name:

Biological Data Profile of Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Online_Linkage: <http://www.fgdc.gov/standards/status/sub5_2.html>

Metadata_Access_Constraints: None

Metadata_Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgement of the National Wetlands Research Center as the metadata source would be appreciated. Please cite the original metadata when using portions to create another record for slightly altered data, such as reprojection.