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Stable isotope values of consumers, producers, and organic matter in the Shark River Slough and Taylor Slough, Everglades National Park (FCE LTER), Florida, USA, 2019 – ongoing


At a Glance


Authors: Ryan Rezek
Time period: to
Package id: knb-lter-fce.1242.2

How to cite:
Rezek, R.. 2022. Stable isotope values of consumers, producers, and organic matter in the Shark River Slough and Taylor Slough, Everglades National Park (FCE LTER), Florida, USA, 2019 – ongoing. Environmental Data Initiative. https://doi.org/. Dataset accessed 2024-10-09.

Geographic Coverage


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Detailed Metadata


  • Dataset Creator(s)
    • Name: Dr. Ryan Rezek 
    • Position: Assistant Professor
    • Organization: Coastal Carolina University
    • Address: 301 Allied Dr.
      Conway, SC 29576 United States
    • Email: rrezek@coastal.edu

  • Dataset Abstract
    Wetland food webs have often been characterized as detrital-based ‘brown’ energy pyramids, whereas the relative role of autotrophic (‘green’) vs. microbial (‘brown’) energy sources falls along a continuum set by physical drivers, as well as autochthonous and allochthonous inputs (Moore et al. 2004; Evans-White & Halvorson 2017) that change with ecosystem development (Schmitz et al. 2006). In the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE), metabolic imbalances, including the collapse of calcareous periphyton mats, begin with a loss of foundation species primary production and legacy organic matter (Gaiser et al. 2006a). This process likely enhances heterotrophic microbial productivity (Schulte 2016) and the supply of detrital energy to consumers by changing bioavailable and recalcitrant carbon supplies (Baggett et al. 2013). A shift from complex periphyton communities to transient planktonic communities under elevated P exposure reduces habitat structure and animal refuges but increases ‘green’ energy supplies and edibility (Trexler et al. 2015; Naja et al. 2017; Fig. 15). Multiple sites (n=9) within the FCE were selected to document changes in coastal food webs as a result of eutrophication and increasing hydrologic variability. The project began in 2019 and is currently ongoing.
  • Geographic Coverage
    Bounding Coordinates
    SRS3
    N: 25.46820617, S: 25.46820617, E: -80.85327617, W: -80.85327617

    SRS4
    N: 25.40976421, S: 25.40976421, E: -80.96431016, W: -80.96431016

    SRS6
    N: 25.36462994, S: 25.36462994, E: -81.07794623, W: -81.07794623

    TS/Ph3
    N: 25.25240534, S: 25.25240534, E: -80.66271768, W: -80.66271768

    TS/Ph7a
    N: 25.19080491, S: 25.19080491, E: -80.63910514, W: -80.63910514

    TS/Ph9
    N: 25.17692874, S: 25.17692874, E: -80.48978207, W: -80.48978207

    TS/Ph10
    N: 25.02476744, S: 25.02476744, E: -80.68097374, W: -80.68097374

    TS/Ph11
    N: 24.91293492, S: 24.91293492, E: -80.93798347, W: -80.93798347

    RB10
    N: 25.460931, S: 25.460931, E: -80.869183, W: -80.869183

  • Attributes
    • Data Table:   Stable isotope values and nutrient content of consumers, producers, and organic matter in the FCE LTER 2019
      Attribute Name:
      common_name
      Attribute Label:
      common name of the species
      Attribute Definition:
      common_name
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      common_name
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      species_name
      Attribute Label:
      species scientific name
      Attribute Definition:
      species_name
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      species_name
      Missing Value Code:
      NA (not applicable)

      Attribute Name:
      season
      Attribute Label:
      season in which sampling took place
      Attribute Definition:
      sampling_season
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      sampling_season
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      year
      Attribute Label:
      year
      Attribute Definition:
      year
      Storage Type:
      dateTime
      Measurement Scale:
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      site
      Attribute Label:
      sampling site
      Attribute Definition:
      site
      Storage Type:
      string
      Measurement Scale:
      site
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      d13C
      Attribute Label:
      d13C VPDB x 1000
      Attribute Definition:
      Delta 13 Carbon
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: partsPerThousand
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      d15N
      Attribute Label:
      d15N AIR x 1000
      Attribute Definition:
      Delta 15 Nitrogen
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: partsPerThousand
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      d34S
      Attribute Label:
      d34S
      Attribute Definition:
      Delta 34 Sulfur
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: partsPerThousand
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      N_percent
      Attribute Label:
      Attribute Definition:
      percent nitrogen
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      C_percent
      Attribute Label:
      Attribute Definition:
      percent carbon
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: percent
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       

      Attribute Name:
      S_percent
      Attribute Label:
      Attribute Definition:
      percent sulfur
      Storage Type:
      float
      Measurement Scale:
      Units: partsPerThousand
      Number Type: real
      Missing Value Code:
       


  • Methods
    Method Step

    Description
    Producers, consumers and organic matter were collected from each site using a variety of methods. Collection, preparation, and stable isotope methodology outlined below: Suspended Particulate Organic Matter (SPOM): Replicates (n) = 2 Collected via 50-m tows of 20μm plankton net. Contents sieved through a 250μm screen into amber bottles, immediately placed on ice, and returned to the lab. Once returned to the lab, contents were, dried at 55°C and ground into a fine powder for stable isotope analysis.


    Method Step

    Description
    Surface Sediment Organic Matter (SSOM): Replicates (n) = 5 Collected from top 2cm of sediment via falcon tubes and immediately placed on ice. Once returned to the lab, contents of falcon tube were sieved through a 500μm to remove detritus and other large particulates. Remaining materials were dried at 55°C and ground into a fine powder for stable isotope analysis.


    Method Step

    Description
    Benthic Algae: Replicates (n) = 5 Rocks, pebbles, and shells not containing macroalgae were collected, immediately placed on ice, and returned to the lab. Once returned to the lab, these materials were brushed with a toothbrush into artificial seawater, sieved through a 250μm screen. Contents were then dried at 55°C and ground into a fine powder for stable isotope analysis.


    Method Step

    Description
    Epiphytes/Periphyton: Replicates (n) = 5 Collected via falcon tubes from macrophytes, mangrove roots, and existing infrastructure (i.e., receiver bases and buoys), immediately placed on ice, and returned to the lab. Once returned to the lab, materials were dried at 55°C and ground into a fine powder for stable isotope analysis.


    Method Step

    Description
    Abundant Flora: Replicates (n) = 5 Collected by hand, immediately placed on ice, and returned to the lab. Once returned to the lab, materials were dried at 55°C and ground into a fine powder for stable isotope analysis.


    Method Step

    Description
    Abundant Invertebrates: Replicates (n) = 5 Collected via traps, throw trap sampler, seines, or by hand. All samples were immediately placed on ice and returned to the lab. Once returned to the lab, materials were dried at 55°C and ground into a fine powder for stable isotope analysis.


    Method Step

    Description
    Abundant Fishes: Replicates (n) = 5 Collected via electrofishing, throw trap sampler, traps, hook & line, or by seine. All samples were immediately placed on ice and returned to the lab. Once returned to the lab, materials were dried at 55°C and ground into a fine powder for stable isotope analysis. *all samples were collected within ~300m of each site point during dry and wet seasons *all samples containing carbonates were acidified with 10%hydrochloric acid and rinsed with deionized water before stable isotope analysis.


    Method Step

    Description
    Stable Isotope Analysis: Dried samples of producer, consumer, and organic matter were weighed, wrapped, and shipped to Washington State University’s Isotope Core Laboratory for analysis: Delta Carbon 13, Delta Nitrogen 15, Delta Sulfur 34, Percent Carbon, Percent Nitrogen, and Percent Sulfur were estimated via mass spectrometry (DELTA Q™ Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometer, Thermo-Scientific™).


    Method Step

    Description
    Hydrographic Data: Replicates (n) = NA Obtained from FCE and associated monitoring stations


  • Keywords
    FCE, Florida Coastal Everglades LTER, Ecological Research, long term monitoring, stable isotopes, consumers, producers, Nitrogen 15, Carbon 13, Sulfur 34, FCE LTER, populations
  • Dataset Contact
    • Name: Dr. Ryan Rezek 
    • Position: Assistant Professor
    • Organization: Coastal Carolina University
    • Address: 301 Allied Dr.
      Conway, SC 29576 United States
    • Email: rrezek@coastal.edu

  • Data Table and Format
    Data Table:  Stable isotope values and nutrient content of consumers, producers, and organic matter in the FCE LTER 2019

    Entity Name:
    FCE Data Table_FINAL
    Entity Description:
    Stable isotope values and nutrient content of consumers, producers, and organic matter in the FCE LTER 2019
    Object Name:
    FCE Data Table_FINAL.csv
    Number of Header Lines:
    1
    Attribute Orientation:
    column
    Field Delimiter:
    ,
    Number of Records:
    842