EDI Data Portal
A quadrat survey was conducted in October 2015 to measure the species and size distribution of plants at 10 GCE LTER sampling sites. The quadrats were established as permanent plots at GCE sampling sites in October 2000 by placing wooden stakes at random locations across two nominal zones at each site, designated based on marsh structure (creekbank and high marsh). New plots were added each year as necessary to replace those lost due to catastrophic wrack disturbance or creek bank erosion, and the creek bank plots at site 3 were relocated in 2013 due to a shift in the creek location. The plots were visually surveyed and the species, shoot height, and flowering status was recorded individually for each shoot over 10 cm in height present in each plot. Observations from plots exhibiting signs of disturbance were noted in the data set, and an additional set of observations were recorded for the creek bank zone at site 3 prior to relocation (identified as Zone -1) for comparison with the relocated plots. Detailed disturbance data can be found in GCE data set PLT-GCEM-1801. This survey will be repeated annually to assess changes in plant distribution and biomass in relation to environmental changes documented by other GCE LTER monitoring efforts.
