Evaluating Success and Function of Marsh (Juncus roemerianus) Restoration (2006-2011)

Metadata:

Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator:
Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Ecosystems Lab
Publication_Date:
Unpublished material
Title:
Evaluating Success and Function of Marsh (Juncus roemerianus) Restoration (2006-2011)
Description:
Abstract:
While many restoration efforts have been conducted, there have been few comparisons of relative success between different restoration designs, especially with J. roemerianus. Here we present two restoration designs for evaluation, a full density restoration design and a half density restoration design. Full density restorations represent the more expensive and labor intensive option. Several parameters will be compared between these two designs relative to the adjacent natural marsh to determine how the individual plants within these treatments perform. Several measurements have and will continue to be taken as proxies of plant health including: total shoot length, percent living tissue length, shoot growth, leaves per shoot, chlorophyll content , and chlorophyll fluorescence. Evaluation of these parameters should yield information on the relative health of restored marsh plants as compared to natural marsh plants. No studies were found that evaluated the colonization rates of J. roemerianus or the cost effectiveness of any aspect of J. roemerianus marsh restoration. We hope to evaluate the effectiveness of 2 restoration designs to produce colonizing shoots and compare these observed shoot counts to the associated cost for each design. We will also transform these counts into rates, extrapolating coverage areas over certain time periods for both designs and also run a cost effective analysis on these rates. Also if differences in rates exist between exterior and interior colonization shoot lengths will be used to determine if varying energy allocation strategies are apparent between interior and exterior shoots. The determination of shoot colonization rates between restoration designs as well as cost analysis for each design based on these rates will prove very useful for managers who need to balance cost and results for restoration projects. An estimate of groundwater N partitioning and the capacity of marsh systems to attenuate the ever increasing groundwater derived N loads into marshes is a pressing need for managers. On the US Gulf Coast, J. roemerianus is a dominant marsh plant that is a prime candidate for restoration projects and is relatively understudied with regards to nutrient filtration capabilities. In this project we aim to quantify the amount of groundwater introduced NO3- that can be attenuated within 2 different restoration designs of a J. roemerianus marsh as well as trace the processes that contribute to the attenuation. A high [NO3-] groundwater plume will be continuously pumped through the 2 J. roemerianus restoration designs and 1 unvegetated control for 31 days. Subsequent measurements of several N species concentrations, δ15N value (N species, plants, animals) and conservative tracers will be taken to determine the magnitude and primary pathways of N removal from this groundwater plume. Spatial and temporal variability will be taken into account by measurements being taken at multiple distances from plume injection point on several sampling days. The exact location and frequency of these measurements differ according to the target measurement. Knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms, specifically top-down, and its response to fertilization is needed for J. roemerianus dominated marshes. In this study we try to alleviate the unknowns regarding potential grazer responses to fertilization and the subsequent regulation of J. roemerianus through field and lab experiments. We will determine if grazers preferentially choose fertilized areas of marsh and what potential fertilization level triggers increased grazing through both field and lab experiments. Also a potential trophic cascade will be tested in which insectivorous marsh birds regulate insect grazer abundances thus reducing grazing pressures exerted on J. roemerianus. Overall the goals of the project are to understand if top-down control by grazing insects is occurring in a J. roemerianus marsh and what potential mechanisms contribute to the enhancement or reduction of this control.
Purpose:
The purpose is to evaluate two different J. roemerianus marsh restoration designs, full density restoration and half density restoration, in the South-eastern portion of the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) located in Grand Bay, MS. Also, we aim to quantify the amount of groundwater introduced NO3- that can be attenuated within the two different restoration designs of a J. roemerianus marsh and we will determine if grazers preferentially choose fertilized areas of marsh and what potential fertilization level triggers increased grazing through both field and lab experiments.
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date:
2006
Ending_Date:
2011
Currentness_Reference:
ground condition
Status:
Progress:
In work
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency:
As needed
Spatial_Domain:
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate:
-88.40670
East_Bounding_Coordinate:
-88.40139
North_Bounding_Coordinate:
30.41312
South_Bounding_Coordinate:
30.39814
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:
None
Theme_Keyword:
Juncus roemerianus
Theme_Keyword:
black needlerush
Theme_Keyword:
marsh restoration
Theme_Keyword:
ecosystem services
Theme_Keyword:
morphology
Theme_Keyword:
physiology
Theme_Keyword:
colonization
Theme_Keyword:
salt marsh
Theme_Keyword:
vegetation
Theme_Keyword:
full density restoration
Theme_Keyword:
half density restoration
Theme_Keyword:
nitrogen
Theme_Keyword:
groundwater
Theme_Keyword:
nutrient filtration
Theme_Keyword:
NO3-
Theme_Keyword:
top-down effects
Theme_Keyword:
regulation
Theme_Keyword:
grazing
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus:
ISO Topic
Theme_Keyword:
biota
Theme_Keyword:
002
Theme_Keyword:
environment
Theme_Keyword:
007
Theme_Keyword:
inlandWaters
Theme_Keyword:
012
Theme_Keyword:
oceans
Theme_Keyword:
014
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus:
None
Place_Keyword:
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Place_Keyword:
NERR
Place_Keyword:
Grand Bay
Place_Keyword:
Mississippi
Place_Keyword:
Heron Bayou
Access_Constraints:
Permission to access these data must be given by Dr. Just Cebrian or Eric Sparks of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab.
Use_Constraints:
Acknowledgment of the DISL: Marine Ecosystems Lab, the Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant and the NGI/MSU Integrated Ecosystem Assessment would be appreciated 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:
Just Cebrian
Contact_Organization:
DISL: Ecosystems Lab
Contact_Position:
Principal Investigator
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:
251-861-2141 ext.7568
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
jcebrian@disl.org
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
esparks@disl.org
Hours_of_Service:
8-5:00 CST
Contact_Instructions:
Please email Just Cebrian or Eric Sparks for further information.
Data_Set_Credit:
Eric Sparks
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Person_Primary:
Contact_Person:
Just Cebrian
Contact_Organization:
DISL: Ecosystems Lab
Contact_Position:
Principal Investigator
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:
251-861-2141 ext.7568
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
jcebrian@disl.org
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address:
esparks@disl.org
Hours_of_Service:
8-5:00 CST
Contact_Instructions:
Please email Just Cebrian or Eric Sparks for further information.
Distribution_Liability:
The Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Ecosystems Lab makes no warranty regarding these data, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. The DISL: Ecosystem's 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.
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date:
20110411
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization:
Dauphin Island Sea Lab
Contact_Person:
Data Management Specialist
Contact_Position:
Data Management Specialist
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:
251-861-2141
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 Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version:
FGDC-STD-001-1998
Metadata_Access_Constraints:
none
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