Dataset: TEN Seagrass Biomass Weights

Name: Thalassia testudinum seagrass weights from biomass cores collected across the Western Atlantic from from March to May 2023 (Tropicalization Seagrass Beds project)
Published: 2023-12-28
Keywords: seagrass, biomass, western atlantic, oceans

View Data: Data not available yet

Cite This Dataset

Temporal Extent: 2019-03-01 - 2019-05-23

Project:

Collaborative Research: The tropicalization of Western Atlantic seagrass beds (Tropicalization Seagrass Beds)

Principal Investigator:

Justin Campbell (Smithsonian Institution, NMNH)

Contact:

Justin Campbell (Smithsonian Institution, NMNH)

BCO-DMO Data Manager:

Sawyer Newman (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, WHOI BCO-DMO)

Version:

Version Date:

2023-12-28

Restricted:

Validated:

Current State:

Preliminary and in progress

Thalassia testudinum seagrass weights from biomass cores collected across the Western Atlantic from from March to May 2023 (Tropicalization Seagrass Beds project)

Abstract:

This dataset includes seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) aboveground and belowground weights from 15cm biomass cores collected in Spring 2019 across the Western Atlantic. Bocas del Toro, Panama; Bonaire; Little Cayman, Cayman Islands; Carrie Bow, Belize; Puerto Morelos, Mexico; Andros, Bahamas; Eleuthera, Bahamas; Corpus Christi, Texas; Galveston, Texas; Naples, Florida; Crystal River, Florida; St. Joes, Florida; and Bermuda.

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Methods & Sampling

50 small seagrass (all comprised of one species, Thalassia testudinum) plots (0.25m2) were established at 13 shallow sites in the Western Atlantic. Each plot was assigned to one of ten treatments comprising a factorial manipulation of caging, nutrient supply, and canopy clipping: (1) control (2) partial cage (3) full cage (4) added nutrients (5) added nutrients + partial cage (6) added nutrients + full cage (7) full cage + half canopy clip (8) full cage + full canopy clip (9) full cage + added nutrients + half canopy clip (10) full cage + added nutrients + full canopy clip. After the experiment (approx. 1 year) 15cm diameter biomass cores were taken in each plot. To do this, the core was carefully placed over the seagrass and lowered to the sediment surface. The core was then inserted into the sediment (approx 10cm) using a twisting motion to sever belowground rhizomes. The core was then carefully removed and all captured above and belowground vegetative biomass was placed into a mesh bag and gently rinsed underwater. In the lab, the aboveground green leaf material was separated from the belowground material using a razor blade. Leaf material was also scraped clean of any epiphyte loading. Above and belowground material was dried separately in aluminum tares in a 60C oven. Any additional macroalgae found inside the core was also separately dried.

More Information about this dataset

Funding Sources

Funding Source	Award Number
NSF Division of Ocean Sciences	OCE-1737247

Deployments

None available yet

Instruments

Push Corer

Supplied Name: Custom made stainless steel push corer

Supplied Description:

A custom made stainless steel push corer (15cm diameter) was used to collect the seagrass biomass samples.

Instrument Type

Generic Name: Push Corer

Generic Description:

Capable of being performed in numerous environments, push coring is just as it sounds. Push coring is simply pushing the core barrel (often an aluminum or polycarbonate tube) into the sediment by hand. A push core is useful in that it causes very little disturbance to the more delicate upper layers of a sub-aqueous sediment.

Description obtained from: http://web.whoi.edu/coastal-group/about/how-we-work/field-methods/coring/

scale

Supplied Name: Analytical balance

Supplied Description:

All samples were weighed on an analytical balance (resolution - 0.001 g).

Instrument Type

Generic Name: scale

Acronym: balance

Community Identifier: http://vocab.nerc.ac.uk/collection/L05/current/LAB13/

Generic Description:

An instrument used to measure weight or mass.

Parameters