The effects of invasive Eurasian milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum, on community structure and trophic interactions of estuarine fishes.

Metadata:

• Identification_Information
• Data_Quality_Information
• Entity_and_Attribute_Information
• Distribution_Information
• Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:

Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Charles Martin

Publication_Date:

Unpublished material

Title:

The effects of invasive Eurasian milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum, on community structure and trophic interactions of estuarine fishes.

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form:

spreadsheet

Other_Citation_Details:

These data are part of a thesis to fulfill the requirements for the Degree of Doctorate of Philosophy in Marine Science.

Description:

Abstract:

The objectives of study are to determine the extent to which the presence of Myriophyllum spicatum has altered community structure and the intensity of predator-prey interactions in the Mobile Tensaw Delta (MTD) estuary. This study tested the hypothesis that the presence of Myriophyllum spicatum has triggered a shift in the composition and relative abundances of estuarine predators and their prey as well as trophic exchanges between these predators and their prey. To conduct this evaluation, I compared measures of habitat utilization, community structure, and predator foraging efficiency among the dominant native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) species (in terms of areal coverage), Vallisneria neotropicalis and either Heteranthera dubia or Ceratophyllum demersum, found in the MTD and the exotic Myriophyllum spicatum.

Purpose:

The overall significance of the proposed research lies in its attempt to provide insights into the manner in which invasive SAV species have altered the nature of food web interactions in the tidally influenced deltas of the northern Gulf of Mexico.

Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date:

20060705

Ending_Date:

20061005

Currentness_Reference:

ground condition

Status:

Progress:

Complete

Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:

Unknown

Spatial_Domain:

Description_of_Geographic_Extent:

Mobile Tensaw Delta

Bounding_Coordinates:

West_Bounding_Coordinate:

-87.99823

East_Bounding_Coordinate:

-87.93643

North_Bounding_Coordinate:

30.73202

South_Bounding_Coordinate:

30.67676

Keywords:

Theme:

Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:

None

Theme_Keyword:

invasive species

Theme_Keyword:

exotic species

Theme_Keyword:

submerged aquatic vegetation

Theme_Keyword:

Eurasian milfoil

Theme_Keyword:

trophic interactions

Theme_Keyword:

estuary

Theme_Keyword:

fishes

Theme_Keyword:

predator

Theme_Keyword:

prey

Theme_Keyword:

causeway

Theme_Keyword:

throw traps

Place:

Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:

None

Place_Keyword:

Gulf of Mexico

Place_Keyword:

Mobile Tensaw Delta

Place_Keyword:

Mobile Bay

Place_Keyword:

Alabama

Taxonomy:

Keywords/Taxon:

Taxonomic_Keyword_Thesaurus:

None

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Myriophyllum spicatum

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Heteranthera dubia

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Vallisneria neotropicalis

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Ceratophyllum demersum

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Lepomis miniatus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Gobiidae

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Syngnathus scovelli

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Syngnathus louisianae

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Menidia beryllina

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Callinectes sapidus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Micropterus salmoides

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Lucania parva

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Penaeus aztecus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Paleamonetes spp.

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Ictiobus bubalus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Ictalurus punctatus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Morone mississippiensis

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Mugil cephalus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Notropis sp.

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Anchoa mitchilli

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Pomoxis annularis

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Lepomis microlophus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Aplodinotus grunniens

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Lepisosteus oculatus

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Fundulus grandis

Taxonomic_Keywords:

Cynoscion nebulosus

General_Taxonomic_Coverage:

Organisms were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic unit.

Taxonomic_Classification:

Taxon_Rank_Name:

Most organisms were identified to their species classification.

Taxon_Rank_Value:

species

Applicable_Common_Name:

redspot sunfish

Applicable_Common_Name:

freshwater goby

Applicable_Common_Name:

gulf pipe

Applicable_Common_Name:

chain pipe

Applicable_Common_Name:

inland silverside

Applicable_Common_Name:

blue crab

Applicable_Common_Name:

largemouth bass

Applicable_Common_Name:

rainwater killifish

Applicable_Common_Name:

brown shrimp

Applicable_Common_Name:

grass shrimp

Applicable_Common_Name:

smallmouth buffalo

Applicable_Common_Name:

channel catfish

Applicable_Common_Name:

yellow bass

Applicable_Common_Name:

mullet

Applicable_Common_Name:

coastal shiner

Applicable_Common_Name:

bay anchovy

Applicable_Common_Name:

crappie

Applicable_Common_Name:

redear sunfish

Applicable_Common_Name:

freshwater drum

Applicable_Common_Name:

spotted gar

Applicable_Common_Name:

bull minnow

Applicable_Common_Name:

speckled trout

Applicable_Common_Name:

sole

Applicable_Common_Name:

common carp

Applicable_Common_Name:

mud crab

Applicable_Common_Name:

Eurasian milfoil

Applicable_Common_Name:

water star-grass

Access_Constraints:

Permission to access these data must be given by Dr. John Valentine or Charles Martin.

Use_Constraints:

Acknowledgment of The Dauphin Island Sea Lab, The John Valentine Lab, The Alabama Environmental Legacy and The Alabama Center for Estuarine Studies (ACES) is required in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment 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, data collection, and computer processes over time. The distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of these data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in the metadata document. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.

Point_of_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person:

Dr. John Valentine

Contact_Organization:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Contact_Position:

Graduate Advisor

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:

mailing and physical

Address:

101 Bienville Blvd.

City:

Dauphin Island

State_or_Province:

AL

Postal_Code:

36528

Country:

USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141x2294

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141x2261

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

jvalentine@disl.org

Hours_of_Service:

8-5:00 CST

Contact_Instructions:

Please email Dr. John Valentine to request information.

Data_Set_Credit:

Charles Martin

Native_Data_Set_Environment:

Windows XP 2002, Microsoft Excel 2003

Data_Quality_Information:

Attribute_Accuracy:

Attribute_Accuracy_Report:

Effects of Habitat Complexity, Created by Native and Exotic Macrophytes, on Secondary Production and the Transfer of Energy to Higher Order Consumers in the Lower Mobile-Tensaw Delta, Alabama by Glen Ira Chaplin (2001) was used as a reference to determine the leaf surface area (LSA) of the SAV in this study. A Muffle furnace heated to 500 degrees Celsius was used to heat the SAV collected so that a ash-free dry weight could be determined. Actual dry weight for each sample was obtained using a Mettler AE150 balance by subtracting the pre-weighed pan weight from the weight of the dried plants in the pan. The dried samples were weighed to the nearest 0.001gms. Once these weights were determined, the values were put into the equations derived by Chaplin to determine leaf surface area.

Logical_Consistency_Report:

not applicable

Completeness_Report:

Sampling occurred from 20060705 to 20061005, and each site was sampled approximately once a month. No substantial lapses in data collection exist.

Lineage:

Source_Information:

Source_Citation:

Citation_Information:

Originator:

Glen Ira Chaplin

Publication_Date:

2001

Title:

Effects of Habitat Complexity, Created by Native and Exotic Macrophytes, on Secondary Production and the Transfer of Energy to Higher Order Consumers in the Lower Mobile-Tensaw Delta, Alabama

Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form:

dissertation

Publication_Information:

Publication_Place:

Mobile, Al

Publisher:

University of South Alabama

Type_of_Source_Media:

dissertation

Source_Time_Period_of_Content:

Time_Period_Information:

Range_of_Dates/Times:

Beginning_Date:

199704

Ending_Date:

199712

Source_Currentness_Reference:

ground condition

Source_Citation_Abbreviation:

Chaplin, Glen Ira 2001 dissertation University of South Alabama

Source_Contribution:

Formulas to determine leaf surface area using ash-free dry weight for Myriophyllum spicatum, Vallisneria neotropicalis, and Heteranthera dubia are found in this reference.

Process_Step:

Process_Description:

In the field, two test sites were chosen, the Apalachee and Tensaw Rivers. Each site contained the following SAV: Heteranthera dubia, Vallisneria neotropicalis, and Myriophyllum spicatum. Sampling was conducted in monotypic stands of each species of SAV. Throw traps enclosing an area of 1 square meter were deployed, and fish and invertebrates captured were identified, counted, and released. Adjacent to each throw trap a quarter meter squared quadrat was placed into the SAV and clippings of all exposed vegetation were taken. First, a wet weight was determined, then clippings from each site were dried in a Muffle furnace. The resulting ash-free dry weight was used to calculate leaf surface area for each site. This value was included with fish/invertebrate abundance and a final fish abundance per meter squared surface area value was determined.

Process_Date:

20061005

Process_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Contact_Person:

Dr. John Valentine or Charles Martin

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:

mailing and physical

Address:

101 Bienville Blvd.

City:

Dauphin Island

State_or_Province:

Al

Postal_Code:

36528

Country:

USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141x2294

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141x2261

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

jvalentine@disl.org

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

cmartin@disl.org

Hours_of_Service:

8-5:00 CST

Contact_Instructions:

Please email Dr. John Valentine or Charles Martin for further information.

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:

Detailed_Description:

Entity_Type:

Entity_Type_Label:

Eurasian milfoil

Entity_Type_Definition:

Excel attribute table describing species abundances among different types of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) throughout the Mobile Delta.

Entity_Type_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Date

Attribute_Definition:

The Gregorian calendar date of the sampling event.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

7-05-2006

Range_Domain_Maximum:

10-05-2006

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Throw

Attribute_Definition:

Three types of SAV were sampled within each site in the study. For every monotypic plot of SAV, three sampling events were conducted including a throw trap collection and a vegetation collection to later determine leaf surface area.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

1

Range_Domain_Maximum:

3

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

SAV

Attribute_Definition:

This refers to the monotypic plot of submerged aquatic vegetation sampled: MIL = Myriophyllum spicatum, VAL = Vallisneria neotropicalis, HET = Heteranthera dubia

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

MIL, VAL, and HET are the only acceptable values for this field.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Site

Attribute_Definition:

The two study sites are the Tensaw River and the Apalachee River.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Any value other than Tensaw or Apalachee is not valid.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Latitude

Attribute_Definition:

GPS coordinates of site sampled written in a mixed minutes/decimal format.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

30 40.606

Range_Domain_Maximum:

30 43.921

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Longitude

Attribute_Definition:

GPS coordinates of site sampled written in a mixed minutes/decimal format.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Range_Domain:

Range_Domain_Minimum:

87 56.186

Range_Domain_Maximum:

87 59.894

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

redspot sunfish, freshwater goby, gulf pipe, chain pipe, inland silverside, blue crab, largemouth bass, rainwater killifish, brown shrimp, grass shrimp, smallmouth buffalo, channel catfish, yellow bass, mullet, coastal shiner, bay anchovy, crappie, redear sunfish, freshwater drum, spotted gar, bull minnow, speckled trout, sole, common carp, mud crab, sole

Attribute_Definition:

In the "throw trap data" table, all values represent the number of each species caught in a given throw trap event.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Values should include marine invertebrates and vertebrates native to the Gulf of Mexico, estuarine environments, and the freshwater rivers of the southern United States of America.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

AFDW

Attribute_Definition:

These values are the ash-free dry weight of the sampled SAV. A Muffle furnace was used to burn off the organics within the vegetation, and the remaining material was then weighed.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

These values cannot be negative.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Quad surface area(cm2)

Attribute_Definition:

This is the leaf surface area coverage within the quadrat.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

This cannot be a negative value.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

Meters2 surface area (cm2)

Attribute_Definition:

These values are the "Quad surface area(cm2)" values multiplied by 4.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

These values cannot be negative.

Attribute:

Attribute_Label:

redspot sunfish, freshwater goby, gulf pipe, chain pipe, inland silverside, blue crab, largemouth bass, rainwater killifish, brown shrimp, grass shrimp, smallmouth buffalo, channel catfish, yellow bass, mullet, coastal shiner, bay anchovy, crappie, redear sunfish, freshwater drum, spotted gar, bull minnow, speckled trout, sole, common carp, mud crab, sole

Attribute_Definition:

In the "throw trap data stdzd to LSA" table, all values represent the ratio between species abundance and leaf surface area of each type of SAV.

Attribute_Definition_Source:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Attribute_Domain_Values:

Unrepresentable_Domain:

Values cannot be negative.

Distribution_Information:

Distributor:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Person_Primary:

Contact_Person:

Dr. John Valentine

Contact_Organization:

DISL: Valentine Lab

Contact_Position:

Graduate Advisor

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:

mailing and physical

Address:

101 Bienville Blvd.

City:

Dauphin Island

State_or_Province:

Al

Postal_Code:

36528

Country:

USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141x2294

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

jvalentine@disl.org

Hours_of_Service:

8-5:00 CST

Contact_Instructions:

Please email Dr. John Valentine for further information.

Resource_Description:

The effects of invasive Eurasian milfoil, Myriophyllum spicatum, on community structure and trophic interactions of estuarine fishes.By Charles Martin

Distribution_Liability:

The Valentine Lab makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. The Valentine Lab cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data, nor as a result of the failure of these data to function on a particular system.

Technical_Prerequisites:

The data set was produced using Windows XP 2002 and Microsoft Excel 2003. Compatible software is required to view data.

Metadata_Reference_Information:

Metadata_Date:

20080514

Metadata_Contact:

Contact_Information:

Contact_Organization_Primary:

Contact_Organization:

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Contact_Position:

data management specialist

Contact_Address:

Address_Type:

mailing and physical

Address:

100 Bienville Blvd.

City:

Dauphin Island

State_or_Province:

Al

Postal_Code:

36528

Country:

USA

Contact_Voice_Telephone:

251-861-2141

Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:

metadata@disl.org

Hours_of_Service:

8-5:00 CST

Contact_Instructions:

Please email the metadata specialist for further information.

Metadata_Standard_Name:

FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata

Metadata_Standard_Version:

FGDC-STD-001-1998

Metadata_Access_Constraints:

none

Metadata_Use_Constraints:

none