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Florida Bay Braun Blanquet, Everglades National Park (FCE LTER), South Florida, USA, September 2000 - ongoing


At a Glance


Authors: James Fourqurean
Time period: 2000-09-10 to 2023-06-05
Package id: knb-lter-fce.1129.11
Dataset id: LT_PP_Fourqurean_001

How to cite:
Fourqurean, J.. 2023. Florida Bay Braun Blanquet, Everglades National Park (FCE LTER), South Florida, USA, September 2000 - ongoing. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/10.6073/pasta/f28a680c3e9091487f66491394b4b426. Dataset accessed 2024-12-04.

Geographic Coverage


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Detailed Metadata


  • Dataset Creator(s)
    • Name: Dr. James Fourqurean 
    • Position: Principal Investigator
    • Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program
    • Address: Florida International University
      University Park
      OE 148
      Miami, FL 33199 USA
    • Phone: 305-348-4084
    • Fax: 305-348-4096
    • Email: fourqure@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://seagrass.fiu.edu

  • Dataset Abstract
    Braun Blanquet surveys determining frequency, abundance, and density for seagrass and macroalgae made during visits to TS/Ph 7a, 8-11. Our long term research program focuses on the following central objective: Regional processes mediated by water flow control population and ecosystem level dynamics at any location within the coastal Everglades landscape. This phenomenon is best exemplified in the dynamics of an estuarine oligohaline zone where fresh water draining phosphorus-limited Everglades marshes mixes with water from the more nitrogen-limited coastal ocean. Graphic representation of data can be located at http://serc.fiu.edu/seagrass/!CDreport/DataHome.htm
  • Geographic Coverage
    Study Extent Description
    The Study Extent of this dataset includes the FCE Florida Bay and two Taylor Slough/Panhandle research sites within Everglades National Park, South Florida

    Bounding Coordinates
    FCE LTER Site TS/Ph7a
    N: 25.191, S: 25.191, E: -80.639, W: -80.639

    FCE LTER Site TS/Ph8
    N: 25.233, S: 25.233, E: -80.524, W: -80.524

    FCE LTER Site TS/Ph9
    N: 25.177, S: 25.177, E: -80.490, W: -80.490

    FCE LTER Site TS/Ph10
    N: 25.025, S: 25.025, E: -80.681, W: -80.681

    FCE LTER Site TS/Ph11
    N: 24.913, S: 24.913, E: -80.938, W: -80.938

    FCE LTER Sites
    TS/Ph7a,TS/Ph8,TS/Ph9, TS/Ph10, TS/Ph11

  • Attributes
    • Data Table:   Florida Bay Braun Blanquet, Everglades National Park, South Florida (FCE)
      Attribute Name:
      SITENAME
      Attribute Label:
      sitename
      Attribute Definition:
      Name of LTER site
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Name of LTER site
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      SITEALIAS
      Attribute Label:
      alias
      Attribute Definition:
      Alias of LTER site
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Alias of LTER site
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Date
      Attribute Label:
      date
      Attribute Definition:
      Date of collection
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      Thalassia_Frequency
      Attribute Label:
      Thalassia testudinum frequency
      Attribute Definition:
      ThalassiaFrequency
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Syringodium_Frequency
      Attribute Label:
      Syringodium filiforme frequency
      Attribute Definition:
      SyringodiumFrequency
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Halodule_Frequency
      Attribute Label:
      Halodule wrightii frequency
      Attribute Definition:
      HaloduleFrequency
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TotalCalcareousGreen_Frequency
      Attribute Label:
      Total Calcareous Green frequency
      Attribute Definition:
      TotalCalcareousGreenFrequency
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Thalassia_Abundance
      Attribute Label:
      Thalassia testudinum abundance
      Attribute Definition:
      ThalassiaAbundance
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Syringodium_Abundance
      Attribute Label:
      Syringodium filiforme abundance
      Attribute Definition:
      SyringodiumAbundance
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Halodule_Abundance
      Attribute Label:
      Halodule wrightii abundance
      Attribute Definition:
      HaloduleAbundance
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TotalCalcareousGreen_Abundance
      Attribute Label:
      Total Calcareous Green abundance
      Attribute Definition:
      TotalCalcareousGreenAbundance
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Thalassia_Density
      Attribute Label:
      Thalassia testudinum density
      Attribute Definition:
      ThalassiaDensity
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Syringodium_Density
      Attribute Label:
      Syringodium filiforme density
      Attribute Definition:
      SyringodiumDensity
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      Halodule_Density
      Attribute Label:
      Halodule wrightii density
      Attribute Definition:
      HaloduleDensity
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )

      Attribute Name:
      TotalCalcareousGreen_Density
      Attribute Label:
      Total Calcareous Green density
      Attribute Definition:
      TotalCalcareousGreenDensity
      Storage Type:
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: dimensionless
      Precision: 0.01
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
      -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded )


  • Methods
    Sampling Description
    The sites TS/Ph 7a, 8, 9, 10 and 11 were chosen as the main LTER sampling sites in Florida Bay, because they were sites where a lot of historical data were collected and they also are representative of the salinity gradient across Florida Bay. We are assessing frequency, abundance, and density at these sites because of the importance of the makeup of the ecological communities at those sites.

    Method Step

    Description
    A rapid, visual assessment technique developed early in the 20th century by the plant sociologist Braun-Blanquet was used to assess frequency, abundance, and density of seagrass and macroalgae. This method is very quick, requiring only minutes at each sampling site; yet it is robust and highly repeatable, thereby minimizing among-observer differences. At each permanent seagrass monitoring site, a 50 m long transect was established at the beginning of the study period by driving steel rods into the substratum at both ends of the transect. At each mapping site, a 50 m transect was set up by extending a meter tape along the bottom in an up-current direction. Ten quadrats (0.25 m2) were placed along each transect at pre-determined random distances from one of the marker rods. A new set of random numbers was chosen before each visit to a site. Each quadrat was examined by divers using SCUBA. All seagrass species occurring in the quadrat were listed, and a score based on the cover of the species in that quadrat was assigned (0= Taxa absent from quadrat; 0.1= Taxa represented by a solitary shoot, less than 5% cover; 0.5= Taxa represented by a few (less than 5) shoots, less than 5% cover; 1= Taxa represented by many (greater than 5) shoots, less than 5% cover; 2= Taxa represented by many (greater than 5) shoots, 5 - 25% cover; 3= Taxa represented by many (greater than 5) shoots, 25 - 50% cover; 4= Taxa represented by many (greater than 5) shoots, 50 - 75% cover; 5= Taxa represented by many (greater than 5) shoots, 75 - 100% cover). Cover, as defined for this purpose, is the fraction of the total quadrat area that is obscured by a particular species when viewed from directly above.

    Instrumentation
    0.25m2 PVC quadrats

    Quality Control
    Data is entered and then checked for entry errors. All data is checked against field logs for entry errors.
  • Distribution and Intellectual Rights
    Online distribution
    https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-fce/1129/11/74ed5170a90c84da0b2f07fcff4e5dde
    Data Submission Date:  2023-08-03

    Intellectual Rights
    This information is released under the Creative Commons license - Attribution - CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The consumer of these data ("Data User" herein) is required to cite it appropriately in any publication that results from its use. The Data User should realize that these data may be actively used by others for ongoing research and that coordination may be necessary to prevent duplicate publication. The Data User is urged to contact the authors of these data if any questions about methodology or results occur. Where appropriate, the Data User is encouraged to consider collaboration or co-authorship with the authors. The Data User should realize that misinterpretation of data may occur if used out of context of the original study. While substantial efforts are made to ensure the accuracy of data and associated documentation, complete accuracy of data sets cannot be guaranteed. All data are made available "as is." The Data User should be aware, however, that data are updated periodically and it is the responsibility of the Data User to check for new versions of the data. The data authors and the repository where these data were obtained shall not be liable for damages resulting from any use or misinterpretation of the data. Thank you.

  • Keywords
    wetlands, seagrass, macroalgae, primary production, estuaries, freshwater, FCE, FCE LTER, Florida Coastal Everglades LTER, ecological research, long-term monitoring, Florida Bay, nutrients, Everglades National Park, abundance, density, Thalassia testudinum, Syringodium filiforme, Halodule wrightii, Total Calcareous Green, water, ecosystems, transects, species, Braun Blanquet
  • Dataset Contact
    • Name: Jim Fourqurean 
    • Position: Principal Investigator
    • Organization: Southeast Environmental Research Center
    • Address: Florida International University
      University Park
      OE 148
      Miami, FL 33199 USA
    • Phone: 305-348-4084
    • Fax: 305-348-4096
    • Email: fourqure@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://seagrass.fiu.edu

    • Position: Information Manager
    • Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER
    • Address: Florida International University
      11200 SW 8th Street
      OE 148
      Miami, FL 33199 USA
    • Email: fcelter@fiu.edu
    • URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu

  • Data Table and Format
    Data Table:  Florida Bay Braun Blanquet, Everglades National Park, South Florida (FCE)

    Entity Name:
    LT_PP_Fourqurean_001.csv
    Entity Description:
    Florida Bay Braun Blanquet, Everglades National Park, South Florida (FCE)
    Object Name:
    LT_PP_Fourqurean_001.csv
    Number of Header Lines:
    1
    Attribute Orientation:
    column
    Field Delimiter:
    ,
    Number of Records:
    567