Dataset title: Monthly monitoring fluorescence data for Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands, and Whitewater Bay, in southwest coast of Everglades National Park (FCE) for February 2001 to December 2002 Dataset ID: LT_ND_Jaffe_003 Research type: Long-Term Dataset Creator Name: Dr. Rudolf Jaffe Position: Lead Principal Investigator Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park OE 148 Miami, Florida 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-2456 Fax: 305-348-4096 Email: jaffer@fiu.edu URL: http://serc.fiu.edu/sercindex/index.htm Metadata Provider Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park OE 148 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-6054 Email: fcelter@fiu.edu URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu Dataset Abstract Dissolved organic matter plays an important role in biogeochemical processes in aquatic environments such as elemental cycling, microbial loop energetics, and the transport of materials across landscapes. Since most of N (Greater than 90%) and P (around 90%) is in the organic form in the oligotrophic subtropical Florida Coastal Estuaries (FCES), study of the source and dynamics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the ecosystem is crucial for the better understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. FCES are composed of estuaries with distinct regions with different biogeochemical processes. Florida Bay (FB) is a wedge-shaped shallow oligotrophic estuary which lays south of the Everglades, the bottom of which is covered with a dense biomass of seagrass. Whitewater bay (WWB) is a semi-enclosed mangrove estuary with a relatively long residence time, which receives overland freshwater input from the Everglades marshes. Ten thousand Islands (TTI) covers the southwest margin of the Florida Coastal Everglades, which are highly compartmentalized by local geomorphology. The sources of both freshwater and nutrients in FCES are difficult to quantify, owing to the non-point source nature of runoff from the Everglades and the dendritic cross channels in the mangroves. Furthermore, the combination of multiple DOM sources (freshwater marsh vegetation, mangroves, phytoplankton, seagrass, etc.), and the potential seasonal variability of their relative contribution, along with the history of (photo)chemical and microbial diagenetic processing, and complex advective circulation, makes the study of DOM dynamics in FCES particularly difficult using standard schemes of estuarine ecology. Quantitative information of DOM is very useful to investigate the biogeochemical cycling of DOM to a certain degree, however, qualitative information is necessary to better understand the source and dynamics of DOM. Since fluorescence spectroscopic techniques are very sensitive, quick and simple, they have been applied to investigate the fate of DOM in estuaries. Geographic Coverage Study Extent Description The Study Extent of this dataset includes the southwest FCE and Florida Bay research sites within Everglades National Park, South Florida Bounding Coordinates Geographic description: Samples were collected in Florida Bay, Whitewater Bay, and Ten Thousand Islands, within Everglades National Park, South Florida. West bounding coordinate: -81.078 East bounding coordinate: -80.490 North bounding coordinate: 25.761 South bounding coordinate: 24.913 Geographic description: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Study Area: South Florida, Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay West bounding coordinate: -81.078 East bounding coordinate: -80.490 North bounding coordinate: 25.761 South bounding coordinate: 24.913 FCE LTER Sites: SRS4,SRS5,TS/Ph9 and TS/Ph11 All Sites Geographic Description:Card Sound Bridge Longitude:-80.375 Latitude:25.274 Geographic Description:Middle Bay Longitude:-80.395 Latitude:25.285 Geographic Description:Manatee Bay Longitude:-80.415 Latitude:25.251 Geographic Description:Barnes Sound Longitude:-80.388 Latitude:25.222 Geographic Description:Blackwater Sound Longitude:-80.423 Latitude:25.174 Geographic Description:L. Blackwater Sound Longitude:-80.440 Latitude:25.207 Geographic Description:Highway Creek Longitude:-80.444 Latitude:25.254 Geographic Description:Long Sound Longitude:-80.462 Latitude:25.227 Geographic Description:Duck Key Longitude:-80.492 Latitude:25.177 Geographic Description:Joe Bay Longitude:-80.537 Latitude:25.224 Geographic Description:L. Madeira Bay Longitude:-80.627 Latitude:25.175 Geographic Description:Terrapin Bay Longitude:-80.716 Latitude:25.140 Geographic Description:Whipray Basin Longitude:-80.755 Latitude:25.091 Geographic Description:Garfield Bight Longitude:-80.809 Latitude:25.150 Geographic Description:Rankin Lake Longitude:-80.803 Latitude:25.121 Geographic Description:Murray Key Longitude:-80.940 Latitude:25.118 Geographic Description:Johnson Key Basin Longitude:-80.915 Latitude:25.042 Geographic Description:Rabbit Key Basin Longitude:-80.900 Latitude:25.002 Geographic Description:Twin Key Basin Longitude:-80.954 Latitude:24.978 Geographic Description:Peterson Key Longitude:-80.750 Latitude:24.930 Geographic Description:Porpoise Lake Longitude:-80.681 Latitude:25.007 Geographic Description:Captain's Key Longitude:-80.614 Latitude:25.040 Geographic Description:Park Key Longitude:-80.600 Latitude:25.118 Geographic Description:Butternut Key Longitude:-80.531 Latitude:25.102 Geographic Description:East Cape Longitude:-81.081 Latitude:25.084 Geographic Description:Oxfoot Bank Longitude:-81.002 Latitude:24.981 Geographic Description:Sprigger Bank Longitude:-80.935 Latitude:24.919 Geographic Description:Old Dan Bank Longitude:-80.807 Latitude:24.867 Geographic Description:First Bay Longitude:-81.184 Latitude:25.555 Geographic Description:Third Bay Longitude:-81.121 Latitude:25.580 Geographic Description:Big Lostman's Bay Longitude:-81.071 Latitude:25.568 Geographic Description:Cabbage Island Longitude:-81.043 Latitude:25.529 Geographic Description:Broad River Bay Longitude:-81.049 Latitude:25.500 Geographic Description:Middle Broad River Longitude:-81.111 Latitude:25.486 Geographic Description:Mouth Broad River Longitude:-81.153 Latitude:25.475 Geographic Description:S.Mouth Harney River Longitude:-81.141 Latitude:25.412 Geographic Description:Harney River Junction Longitude:-81.082 Latitude:25.432 Geographic Description:Tarpon Bay Longitude:-80.998 Latitude:25.417 Geographic Description:Gunboat Island Longitude:-81.031 Latitude:25.379 Geographic Description:Ponce de Leon Bay Longitude:-81.125 Latitude:25.350 Geographic Description:Oyster Bay Longitude:-81.073 Latitude:25.331 Geographic Description:N.of Marker 36 Longitude:-81.015 Latitude:25.326 Geographic Description:W.of Marker 34 Longitude:-81.024 Latitude:25.286 Geographic Description:Watson R.Chickee Longitude:-80.984 Latitude:25.332 Geographic Description:Mouth North River Longitude:-80.960 Latitude:25.301 Geographic Description:Midway Keys Longitude:-80.976 Latitude:25.285 Geographic Description:Mouth of Roberts R. Longitude:-80.931 Latitude:25.280 Geographic Description:W.of Marker 18 Longitude:-80.958 Latitude:25.241 Geographic Description:SE of Marker 12 Longitude:-80.933 Latitude:25.228 Geographic Description:Coot Bay Longitude:-80.914 Latitude:25.191 Geographic Description:Chokoloskee Longitude:-81.350 Latitude:25.808 Geographic Description:Rabbit Key Pass Longitude:-81.383 Latitude:25.770 Geographic Description:Lopez Bay Longitude:-81.332 Latitude:25.784 Geographic Description:Lopez River Longitude:-81.309 Latitude:25.785 Geographic Description:Sunday Bay Longitude:-81.280 Latitude:25.796 Geographic Description:Huston Bay Longitude:-81.255 Latitude:25.753 Geographic Description:Upper Chatham R. Longitude:-81.231 Latitude:25.718 Geographic Description:Middle Chatham R. Longitude:-81.252 Latitude:25.708 Geographic Description:Gun Rock Pt. Longitude:-81.299 Latitude:25.692 Geographic Description:Oyster Bay Longitude:-81.285 Latitude:25.731 Geographic Description:Chevelier Bay Longitude:-81.207 Latitude:25.712 Geographic Description:Alligator Bay Longitude:-81.169 Latitude:25.670 Geographic Description:Lostman's Five Bay Longitude:-81.145 Latitude:25.633 Geographic Description:Barron River Longitude:-81.393 Latitude:25.853 Geographic Description:Indian Key Pass Longitude:-81.441 Latitude:25.827 Geographic Description:Indian Key Longitude:-81.463 Latitude:25.805 Geographic Description:West Pass Longitude:-81.503 Latitude:25.830 Geographic Description:Panther Key Longitude:-81.542 Latitude:25.849 Geographic Description:Faka Union Pass Longitude:-81.516 Latitude:25.874 Geographic Description:Faka Union River Longitude:-81.516 Latitude:25.900 Geographic Description:White Horse Key Longitude:-81.575 Latitude:25.867 Geographic Description:Dismal Key Longitude:-81.559 Latitude:25.894 Geographic Description:Gullivan Bay Longitude:-81.606 Latitude:25.882 Geographic Description:Shell Key Longitude:-81.615 Latitude:25.911 Geographic Description:Blackwater River Longitude:-81.600 Latitude:25.930 Temporal Coverage Start Date: 2001-02-20 End Date: 2002-12-17 Data Table Entity Name: LT_ND_Jaffe_003 Entity Description: Monthly monitoring fluorescence data for Florida Bay, Ten Thousand Islands, and Whitewater Bay, in southwest coast of Everglades National Park for February 2001-December 2002. Object Name: LT_ND_Jaffe_003 Data Format Number of Header Lines: 1 Attribute Orientation: column Field Delimiter: , Number of Records: Attributes Attribute Name: SITENAME Attribute Label: sitename Attribute Definition: Name of LTER site Storage Type: text Measurement Scale: Name of LTER site Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Date Attribute Label: date Attribute Definition: Collection date Storage Type: datetime Measurement Scale: Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Max_WL Attribute Label: Maximum Wavelength Attribute Definition: Emission wavelength that gives maximum emission intensity at a fixed excitation wavelength of 313nm. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: nanometer Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded ) Attribute Name: Max_I Attribute Label: Maximum Intensity Attribute Definition: Maximum emission intensity at a fixed excitation wavelength of 313nm. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: QSU Precision: 0.1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded ) Attribute Name: FI Attribute Label: Fluorescence Index Attribute Definition: Ratio of emission intensities at 450 and 500 nm obtained at a fixed excitation of 370 nm. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: dimensionless Precision: 0.001 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.000 (Value will never be recorded ) Attribute Name: %Peak_1 Attribute Label: Percent Peak 1 Attribute Definition: Percentage of the maximum emission intensity of the first peak of the sychronous scan. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded ) Methods Sampling Description Water samples were collected monthly during February 2001 to December 2002 from a total of 73 sampling stations located in the coastal estuaries of the southern tip of the Florida Peninsula, USA. These stations were established for an on-going water quality monitoring program (http://www.serc.fiu.edu/wqmnetwork). Sampling stations can be largely grouped into 3 distinct districts based on the geomorphological features, that is, Florida Bay (FB, 27 sampling stations), Ten Thousands Islands (TTI, 39 sampling stations), and Whitewater Bay (WWB, 8 sampling stations). Surface water samples were taken from the southwest coast of Florida. The samples were collected using pre-washed, brown Nalgen polyethylene bottles (Nalge Nunc International). Salinity of the water samples was measured in the field using an Orion salinity meter. The samples were stored on ice and returned to the laboratory within 8 h for analysis. Subsamples for spectroscopic analysis were filtered through precombusted Whatman GF/F glass fiber filters once received in the laboratory and analyzed immediately. Method Step Description Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations were analyzed by a high-temperature combustion method with a Shimadzu TOC_5000A TOC analyzer. In advance to the analysis, samples were acidified with 3M HCl and purged with N2 gas to remove inorganic C. Ancillary physical and chemical parameters were measured using standard methods as a part of on-going estuarine water quality monitoring program htt://www.serc.fiu.edu/wqmnetwork. Detailed methods will be found elsewhere. Fluorescence emission spectra were recorded at room temperature (20 degrees C) using a Perkin Elmer LS50B spectrofluorometer equipped with a 150-W Xenon arc lamp as the light source. Two fluorescence indices were obtained by single emission scan measurements at excitation wavelengths of 313 nm and 370 nm. For each scan, fluorescence intensity was measured at emission wavelengths ranging from 330 to 550 nm and from 385 to 550 nm, respectively with a 10nm bandpass for excitation and emission wavelengths. From the 313 nm scan the maximum intensity and maximum wavelength were determined (Donard, et al.,1989; De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). From the 370 nm scan a flurescence index (FI) was calculated (McKnight et al., 2001). Scan speed was set at 400 nm/min. Milli_Q water was used as a reference for all fluorescence analysis. Total maximum fluorescence intensity (Max I) and the fluorescence index, (FI) were determined at an excitation wavelength of 370 nm (Battin, 1998; McKnight et al., 2001). The maximum fluorescence emission wavelength (Max WL) was determined using an excitation wavelength of 313 nm (De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). In order to facilitate comparisons with other studies, the Max I was expressed in quinine sulfate units (QSU; 1 ng L-1 of quinine sulface monohydroxide). Synchronous excitation emission flurescence spectra of the water samples were obtained at constant offset value between excitation and emission wavelengths (delta lamda = lamda em - lamda ex). All spectra were recorded at an offset value of 30 nm with a slit width of 10 nm (Lu and Jaffe, 2001; Lu et al., 2003). The intensities of the four main peaks in the spectrum, namely at 275-286 nm (Peak I), 350nm (Peak II), 385 nm (Peak III) and 460 nm (Peak IV) were determined and the relative intensity of Peak I within this group was reported as %PeakI. All the fluorescence spectra were corrected for inner-filter effect according to McKnight et al. (2001) using UV-Vis absorption spectra. UV visible measurements of the water samples were carried out with 1 cm quartz UV visible cells at room temperature (20 degrees C), using a Shimadzu UV-visible double beam spectrophotometer. Milli-Q water was used as the reference. Instrument bias related to wavelength dependent efficiencies of the specific instrument's optical component was not corrected in this experiment, therefore, comparison of optical variables with other researcher's data was not conducted, instead limited the use to invesitgate our data set. Citation Battin, T J 1998. Dissolved organic matter and its optical properties in a blackwater tributary of the upper Orinoco river, Venezuela. Organic Geochemistry, 28: 561-569. Instrumentation Whatman 0.7um glass fiber filers Shimadzu TOC-5000A Analyzer Perkin Elmer LS50B Spectrofluorometer Shimadzu UV-2101PC UV-VIS Spectrophotometer Method Step Description Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations were analyzed by a high-temperature combustion method with a Shimadzu TOC_5000A TOC analyzer. In advance to the analysis, samples were acidified with 3M HCl and purged with N2 gas to remove inorganic C. Ancillary physical and chemical parameters were measured using standard methods as a part of on-going estuarine water quality monitoring program htt://www.serc.fiu.edu/wqmnetwork. Detailed methods will be found elsewhere. Fluorescence emission spectra were recorded at room temperature (20 degrees C) using a Perkin Elmer LS50B spectrofluorometer equipped with a 150-W Xenon arc lamp as the light source. Two fluorescence indices were obtained by single emission scan measurements at excitation wavelengths of 313 nm and 370 nm. For each scan, fluorescence intensity was measured at emission wavelengths ranging from 330 to 550 nm and from 385 to 550 nm, respectively with a 10nm bandpass for excitation and emission wavelengths. From the 313 nm scan the maximum intensity and maximum wavelength were determined (Donard, et al.,1989; De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). From the 370 nm scan a flurescence index (FI) was calculated (McKnight et al., 2001). Scan speed was set at 400 nm/min. Milli_Q water was used as a reference for all fluorescence analysis. Total maximum fluorescence intensity (Max I) and the fluorescence index, (FI) were determined at an excitation wavelength of 370 nm (Battin, 1998; McKnight et al., 2001). The maximum fluorescence emission wavelength (Max WL) was determined using an excitation wavelength of 313 nm (De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). In order to facilitate comparisons with other studies, the Max I was expressed in quinine sulfate units (QSU; 1 ng L-1 of quinine sulface monohydroxide). Synchronous excitation emission flurescence spectra of the water samples were obtained at constant offset value between excitation and emission wavelengths (delta lamda = lamda em - lamda ex). All spectra were recorded at an offset value of 30 nm with a slit width of 10 nm (Lu and Jaffe, 2001; Lu et al., 2003). The intensities of the four main peaks in the spectrum, namely at 275-286 nm (Peak I), 350nm (Peak II), 385 nm (Peak III) and 460 nm (Peak IV) were determined and the relative intensity of Peak I within this group was reported as %PeakI. All the fluorescence spectra were corrected for inner-filter effect according to McKnight et al. (2001) using UV-Vis absorption spectra. UV visible measurements of the water samples were carried out with 1 cm quartz UV visible cells at room temperature (20 degrees C), using a Shimadzu UV-visible double beam spectrophotometer. Milli-Q water was used as the reference. Instrument bias related to wavelength dependent efficiencies of the specific instrument's optical component was not corrected in this experiment, therefore, comparison of optical variables with other researcher's data was not conducted, instead limited the use to invesitgate our data set. Citation De Souza Sierra, M M 1997. Spectral identification and behavior of dissolved organic fluorescence material during estuarine mixing processes. Marine Chemistry, 58: 51-58. Instrumentation Whatman 0.7um glass fiber filers Shimadzu TOC-5000A Analyzer Perkin Elmer LS50B Spectrofluorometer Shimadzu UV-2101PC UV-VIS Spectrophotometer Method Step Description Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations were analyzed by a high-temperature combustion method with a Shimadzu TOC_5000A TOC analyzer. In advance to the analysis, samples were acidified with 3M HCl and purged with N2 gas to remove inorganic C. Ancillary physical and chemical parameters were measured using standard methods as a part of on-going estuarine water quality monitoring program htt://www.serc.fiu.edu/wqmnetwork. Detailed methods will be found elsewhere. Fluorescence emission spectra were recorded at room temperature (20 degrees C) using a Perkin Elmer LS50B spectrofluorometer equipped with a 150-W Xenon arc lamp as the light source. Two fluorescence indices were obtained by single emission scan measurements at excitation wavelengths of 313 nm and 370 nm. For each scan, fluorescence intensity was measured at emission wavelengths ranging from 330 to 550 nm and from 385 to 550 nm, respectively with a 10nm bandpass for excitation and emission wavelengths. From the 313 nm scan the maximum intensity and maximum wavelength were determined (Donard, et al.,1989; De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). From the 370 nm scan a flurescence index (FI) was calculated (McKnight et al., 2001). Scan speed was set at 400 nm/min. Milli_Q water was used as a reference for all fluorescence analysis. Total maximum fluorescence intensity (Max I) and the fluorescence index, (FI) were determined at an excitation wavelength of 370 nm (Battin, 1998; McKnight et al., 2001). The maximum fluorescence emission wavelength (Max WL) was determined using an excitation wavelength of 313 nm (De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). In order to facilitate comparisons with other studies, the Max I was expressed in quinine sulfate units (QSU; 1 ng L-1 of quinine sulface monohydroxide). Synchronous excitation emission flurescence spectra of the water samples were obtained at constant offset value between excitation and emission wavelengths (delta lamda = lamda em - lamda ex). All spectra were recorded at an offset value of 30 nm with a slit width of 10 nm (Lu and Jaffe, 2001; Lu et al., 2003). The intensities of the four main peaks in the spectrum, namely at 275-286 nm (Peak I), 350nm (Peak II), 385 nm (Peak III) and 460 nm (Peak IV) were determined and the relative intensity of Peak I within this group was reported as %PeakI. All the fluorescence spectra were corrected for inner-filter effect according to McKnight et al. (2001) using UV-Vis absorption spectra. UV visible measurements of the water samples were carried out with 1 cm quartz UV visible cells at room temperature (20 degrees C), using a Shimadzu UV-visible double beam spectrophotometer. Milli-Q water was used as the reference. Instrument bias related to wavelength dependent efficiencies of the specific instrument's optical component was not corrected in this experiment, therefore, comparison of optical variables with other researcher's data was not conducted, instead limited the use to invesitgate our data set. Citation Donard, O F 1989. High-sensitivity fluorescence spectroscopy of Mediterranean waters using a conventional or a pulsed laser excitation source. Marine Chemistry, 27: 117-136. Instrumentation Whatman 0.7um glass fiber filers Shimadzu TOC-5000A Analyzer Perkin Elmer LS50B Spectrofluorometer Shimadzu UV-2101PC UV-VIS Spectrophotometer Method Step Description Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations were analyzed by a high-temperature combustion method with a Shimadzu TOC_5000A TOC analyzer. In advance to the analysis, samples were acidified with 3M HCl and purged with N2 gas to remove inorganic C. Ancillary physical and chemical parameters were measured using standard methods as a part of on-going estuarine water quality monitoring program htt://www.serc.fiu.edu/wqmnetwork. Detailed methods will be found elsewhere. Fluorescence emission spectra were recorded at room temperature (20 degrees C) using a Perkin Elmer LS50B spectrofluorometer equipped with a 150-W Xenon arc lamp as the light source. Two fluorescence indices were obtained by single emission scan measurements at excitation wavelengths of 313 nm and 370 nm. For each scan, fluorescence intensity was measured at emission wavelengths ranging from 330 to 550 nm and from 385 to 550 nm, respectively with a 10nm bandpass for excitation and emission wavelengths. From the 313 nm scan the maximum intensity and maximum wavelength were determined (Donard, et al.,1989; De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). From the 370 nm scan a flurescence index (FI) was calculated (McKnight et al., 2001). Scan speed was set at 400 nm/min. Milli_Q water was used as a reference for all fluorescence analysis. Total maximum fluorescence intensity (Max I) and the fluorescence index, (FI) were determined at an excitation wavelength of 370 nm (Battin, 1998; McKnight et al., 2001). The maximum fluorescence emission wavelength (Max WL) was determined using an excitation wavelength of 313 nm (De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). In order to facilitate comparisons with other studies, the Max I was expressed in quinine sulfate units (QSU; 1 ng L-1 of quinine sulface monohydroxide). Synchronous excitation emission flurescence spectra of the water samples were obtained at constant offset value between excitation and emission wavelengths (delta lamda = lamda em - lamda ex). All spectra were recorded at an offset value of 30 nm with a slit width of 10 nm (Lu and Jaffe, 2001; Lu et al., 2003). The intensities of the four main peaks in the spectrum, namely at 275-286 nm (Peak I), 350nm (Peak II), 385 nm (Peak III) and 460 nm (Peak IV) were determined and the relative intensity of Peak I within this group was reported as %PeakI. All the fluorescence spectra were corrected for inner-filter effect according to McKnight et al. (2001) using UV-Vis absorption spectra. UV visible measurements of the water samples were carried out with 1 cm quartz UV visible cells at room temperature (20 degrees C), using a Shimadzu UV-visible double beam spectrophotometer. Milli-Q water was used as the reference. Instrument bias related to wavelength dependent efficiencies of the specific instrument's optical component was not corrected in this experiment, therefore, comparison of optical variables with other researcher's data was not conducted, instead limited the use to invesitgate our data set. Citation Lu, X Q 2003. Molecular characterization of dissolved organic matter in freshwater wetlands of the Florida Everglades. Water Research, 37: 2599-2606. Instrumentation Whatman 0.7um glass fiber filers Shimadzu TOC-5000A Analyzer Perkin Elmer LS50B Spectrofluorometer Shimadzu UV-2101PC UV-VIS Spectrophotometer Method Step Description Total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations were analyzed by a high-temperature combustion method with a Shimadzu TOC_5000A TOC analyzer. In advance to the analysis, samples were acidified with 3M HCl and purged with N2 gas to remove inorganic C. Ancillary physical and chemical parameters were measured using standard methods as a part of on-going estuarine water quality monitoring program htt://www.serc.fiu.edu/wqmnetwork. Detailed methods will be found elsewhere. Fluorescence emission spectra were recorded at room temperature (20 degrees C) using a Perkin Elmer LS50B spectrofluorometer equipped with a 150-W Xenon arc lamp as the light source. Two fluorescence indices were obtained by single emission scan measurements at excitation wavelengths of 313 nm and 370 nm. For each scan, fluorescence intensity was measured at emission wavelengths ranging from 330 to 550 nm and from 385 to 550 nm, respectively with a 10nm bandpass for excitation and emission wavelengths. From the 313 nm scan the maximum intensity and maximum wavelength were determined (Donard, et al.,1989; De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). From the 370 nm scan a flurescence index (FI) was calculated (McKnight et al., 2001). Scan speed was set at 400 nm/min. Milli_Q water was used as a reference for all fluorescence analysis. Total maximum fluorescence intensity (Max I) and the fluorescence index, (FI) were determined at an excitation wavelength of 370 nm (Battin, 1998; McKnight et al., 2001). The maximum fluorescence emission wavelength (Max WL) was determined using an excitation wavelength of 313 nm (De Souza Sierra et al., 1997). In order to facilitate comparisons with other studies, the Max I was expressed in quinine sulfate units (QSU; 1 ng L-1 of quinine sulface monohydroxide). Synchronous excitation emission flurescence spectra of the water samples were obtained at constant offset value between excitation and emission wavelengths (delta lamda = lamda em - lamda ex). All spectra were recorded at an offset value of 30 nm with a slit width of 10 nm (Lu and Jaffe, 2001; Lu et al., 2003). The intensities of the four main peaks in the spectrum, namely at 275-286 nm (Peak I), 350nm (Peak II), 385 nm (Peak III) and 460 nm (Peak IV) were determined and the relative intensity of Peak I within this group was reported as %PeakI. All the fluorescence spectra were corrected for inner-filter effect according to McKnight et al. (2001) using UV-Vis absorption spectra. UV visible measurements of the water samples were carried out with 1 cm quartz UV visible cells at room temperature (20 degrees C), using a Shimadzu UV-visible double beam spectrophotometer. Milli-Q water was used as the reference. Instrument bias related to wavelength dependent efficiencies of the specific instrument's optical component was not corrected in this experiment, therefore, comparison of optical variables with other researcher's data was not conducted, instead limited the use to invesitgate our data set. Citation McKnight, Donard M 2001. Spectrofluorometric characterization of dissolved organic matter for indication of precursor organic material and aromaticity. Limnology and Oceanography, 46: 38-48. Instrumentation Whatman 0.7um glass fiber filers Shimadzu TOC-5000A Analyzer Perkin Elmer LS50B Spectrofluorometer Shimadzu UV-2101PC UV-VIS Spectrophotometer Quality Control Statistical analysis. Box plots were plotted using SigmaPlot 2001 software (SPSS Inc.). Graph data as a box representing statistical values. The center horizontal line within the box is the median of the data, the top and bottom of the box are the 25th and 75th percentiles (quartiles), and the ends of the whiskers are the 10th and 90th percentiles. Outliers (Less than 10th and greater than 90th percentiles) were excluded from the graphs to reduce visual compression. Some quantitative and qualitative TOC and DOC variables were grouped into dry (November-May) and wet (June-October) season, and their seasonal and geomophological variations were analyzed by Student's T-test using JMP 5.0.1 software (SAS Institute Inc.). Distribution Online distribution: http://fcelter.fiu.edu/perl/public_data_download.pl?datasetid=LT_ND_Jaffe_003.txt Intellectual Rights These data are classified as 'Type II' whereby original FCE LTER experimental data collected by individual FCE researchers to be released to restricted audiences according to terms specified by the owners of the data. Type II data are considered to be exceptional and should be rare in occurrence. The justification for exceptions must be well documented and approved by the lead PI and Site Data Manager. Some examples of Type II data restrictions may include: locations of rare or endangered species, data that are covered under prior licensing or copyright (e.g., SPOT satellite data), or covered by the Human Subjects Act, Student Dissertation data and those data related to the FCE LTER Program but not funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under LTER grants #DEB-9910514, and # DBI-0620409. Researchers that make use of Type II Data may be subject to additional restrictions to protect any applicable commercial or confidentiality interests. All publications based on this dataset must cite the data Contributor, the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Program and that this material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DEB-1237517, #DBI-0620409, and #DEB-9910514. Additionally, two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Office, LTER Program Manager, Florida International University, Southeast Environmental Research Center, OE 148, University Park, Miami, Florida 33199. For a complete description of the FCE LTER Data Access Policy and Data User Agreement, please go to FCE Data Management Policy at http://fcelter.fiu.edu/data/DataMgmt.pdf and LTER Network Data Access Policy at http://fcelter.fiu.edu/data/core/data_user_agreement/distribution_policy.html. Dataset Keywords FCE Florida Coastal Everglades LTER ecological research long-term monitoring Everglades National Park Florida Bay Ten Thousand Islands Whitewater Bay Dissolved organic matter Florida Coastal Estuaries (FCES) biogeochemical processes fluorescence emissions organic matter freshwater mangroves estuaries organisms water Data Submission Date: 2005-09-29 Maintenance This is a long-term DOM dataset and subsequent data will be appended. This dataset replaces the original version of LT_ND_Jaffe_003. The FCE program is discontinuing its practice of versioning data as of March 2013. Dataset Contact Position: Information Manager Organization: LTER Network Office Address: UNM Biology Department, MSC03-2020 1 University of New Mexico Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001 USA Phone: 505 277-2535 Fax: 505 277-2541 Email: tech-support@lternet.edu URL: http://www.lternet.edu Position: Information Manager Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park OE 148 Miami, FL 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-6054 Fax: 305-348-4096 Email: fcelter@fiu.edu URL: http://fcelter.fiu.edu Dataset Submission Date 2005-09-29 Data Submission Notes Dataset contains data from numerous non-LTER sites. These sites are part of the Water Quality Monitoring Network Sites listed as follows: Alligator Bay,Barnes Sound,Barron River,Big Lostman's Bay,Blackwater Sound,Broad River Bay,Butternut Key,Cabbage Island,Captain's Key,Card Sound Bridge,Chevelier Bay,Chokoloskee,Coot Bay,Dismal Key,Duck Key,East Cape,Faka Union Pass,Faka Union River,First Bay,Garfield Bight,Gullivan Bay,Gun Rock Pt.,Gunboat Island,Harney River Junction,Highway Creek,Huston Bay,Indian Key,Indian Key Pass,Joe Bay,Johnson Key Basin,L. Blackwater Snd,L. Madeira Bay,Long Sound,Lopez Bay,Lopez River,Lostman's Five Bay,Manatee Bay,Middle Bay,Middle Broad River,Middle Chatham R.,Midway Keys,Mouth Broad River,Mouth North River,Mouth of Roberts R.,Murray Key ,N of Marker 36,Old Dan Bank,Oxfoot Bank,Oyster Bay,Panther Key,Park Key,Peterson Key,Ponce De Leon Bay,Porpoise Lake,Rabbit Key Basin,Rabbit Key Pass,Rankin Lake,S. Mouth Harney R.,SE of Marker 12,Shell Key,Sprigger Bank,Sunday Bay,Tarpon Bay,Terrapin Bay,Third Bay,Twin Key Basin,Upper Chatham R.,W of Marker 18,W of marker 34,Watson R. Chickee,West Pass,Whipray Basin,White Horse Key Information Management Notes This is a long-term DOM dataset and subsequent data will be appended. This dataset replaces the original version of LT_ND_Jaffe_003. The FCE program is discontinuing its practice of versioning data as of March 2013.