Dataset title: Biomarker assessment of spatial and temporal changes in the composition of flocculent material (floc) in the subtropical wetland of the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) from May 2007 to December 2009 Dataset ID: ST_OMD_Jaffe_001 Research type: Short-Term Dataset Creator Name: Dr. Rudolf Jaffe Position: Lead Principal Investigator Organization: Florida Coastal Everglades LTER Program Address: Florida International University University Park Miami, Florida 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-2456 Email: jaffer@fiu.edu URL: http://serc.fiu.edu/sercindex/index.htm Name: Oliva Pisani Position: Graduate student Organization: Southeast Environmental Research Center Address: Florida International University University, OE 148 11200 SW 8th Street, OE 148 Miami, Florida 33199 USA Phone: 305-348-3118 Email: opisani@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 Flocculent material (floc) is an important energy source in wetlands. In the Florida Everglades, floc is present in both freshwater marshes and coastal environments and plays a key role in food webs and nutrient cycling. However, not much is known about its environmental dynamics, in particular its biological sources and bio-reactivity. We analysed floc samples collected from different environments in the Florida Everglades and applied biomarkers and pigment chemotaxonomy to identify spatial and seasonal differences in organic matter sources. An attempt was made to link floc composition with algal and plant productivity. Spatial differences were observed between freshwater marsh and estuarine floc. Freshwater floc receives organic matter inputs from local periphyton mats, as indicated by microbial biomarkers and chlorophyll-a estimates. At the estuarine sites, the floc is dominated by mangrove as well as diatom inputs from the marine end-member. The hydroperiod (duration and depth of inundation) at the freshwater sites influences floc organic matter preservation, where the floc at the short-hydroperiod site is more oxidised likely due to periodic dry-down conditions. Seasonal differences in floc composition were not consistent and the few that were observed are likely linked to the primary productivity of the dominant biomass (periphyton in the freshwater marshes and mangroves in the estuarine zone). Molecular evidence for hydrological transport of floc material from the freshwater marshes to the coastal fringe was also observed. With the on-going restoration of the Florida Everglades, it is important to gain a better understanding of the biogeochemical dynamics of floc, including its sources, transformations and reactivity. Geographic Coverage Study Extent Description The Study Extent of this dataset includes the FCE Shark River Slough and Taylor Slough research sites within Everglades National Park, South Florida Bounding Coordinates Geographic description: SRS2 West bounding coordinate: -80.78520692 East bounding coordinate: -80.78520692 North bounding coordinate: 25.54972811 South bounding coordinate: 25.54972811 Geographic description: SRS6 West bounding coordinate: -81.07794623 East bounding coordinate: -81.07794623 North bounding coordinate: 25.36462994 South bounding coordinate: 25.36462994 Geographic description: TS/Ph2 West bounding coordinate: -80.60690341 East bounding coordinate: -80.60690341 North bounding coordinate: 25.40357188 South bounding coordinate: 25.40357188 Geographic description: TS/Ph6a West bounding coordinate: -80.6490792 East bounding coordinate: -80.6490792 North bounding coordinate: 25.21418102 South bounding coordinate: 25.21418102 FCE LTER Sites: SRS2, SRS6, TS/Ph2, and TS/Ph6a. Temporal Coverage Start Date: 2007-05-16 End Date: 2009-12-14 Data Table Entity Name: ST_OMD_Jaffe_001 Entity Description: Biomarker assessment of spatial and temporal changes in the composition of flocculent material (floc) in the subtropical wetland of the Florida Coastal Everglades (FCE) Object Name: ST_OMD_Jaffe_001.csv 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: text Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Date Attribute Label: date Attribute Definition: Collection date Storage Type: datetime Measurement Scale: Missing Value Code: Attribute Name: Depth Attribute Label: Depth Attribute Definition: Floc depth Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: centimeter Precision: 0.1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Density Attribute Label: Density Attribute Definition: Floc density Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: gramsPerCubicCentimeter Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: OM Attribute Label: Organic Matter Attribute Definition: Percent organic matter obtained by subtracting the ash free dry weight from 100% Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: C/N Attribute Label: Carbon to nitrogen ratio Attribute Definition: Carbon to nitrogen ratio Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: dimensionless Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: ΣChl-a Attribute Label: Total chlorophyll-a Attribute Definition: The sum of chlorophyll-a, chlorophyll-a epimer, chlorophyll-a allomer, chlorophyllide-a and pyrochlorophyllide-a. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: milligramsPerGram Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Σa-derivs Attribute Label: Total chlorophyll degradation products Attribute Definition: The sum of pheophytin-a, pyropheophytin-a, pheophorbide-a and pyropheophorbide-a. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: milligramsPerGram Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Scytonemin Attribute Label: Scytonemin Attribute Definition: Scytonemin Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: milligramsPerGram Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Cyano Attribute Label: Cyanobacteria Attribute Definition: Cyanobacteria contribution to the floc. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Chloro Attribute Label: Chlorophytes Attribute Definition: Chlorophyte contribution to the floc. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Diatoms Attribute Label: Diatoms Attribute Definition: Diatom contribution to the floc. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Crypto Attribute Label: Cryptophytes Attribute Definition: Cryptophyte contribution to the floc. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Dinos Attribute Label: Dinoflagellates Attribute Definition: Dinoflagellate contribution to the floc. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: percent Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: C29/C17 Attribute Label: C29 and C17 n-alkanes Attribute Definition: Ratio of the C29 and C17 n-alkanes. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: dimensionless Precision: 1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: Paq Attribute Label: Aquatic vegetation proxy Attribute Definition: Proxy for aquatic vegetation inpputs to the floc. Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: dimensionless Precision: 0.1 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.0 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: C28 n-alkene Attribute Label: C28 n-alkene Attribute Definition: C28 n-alkene Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: milligramsPerGram Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded) Attribute Name: C20 HBI Attribute Label: C20 Highly Branched Isoprenoid Attribute Definition: C20 Highly Branched Isoprenoid Storage Type: data Measurement Scale: Units: milligramsPerGram Precision: 0.01 Number Type: real Missing Value Code: -9999.00 (Value will never be recorded) Methods Sampling Description Floc samples are collected quarterly from four LTER sites, stored on ice and transported to the lab. Samples are then frozen, freeze-dried and stored in a freezer until prepared for the pigment and biomarker analyses. Method Step Description Quarterly floc samples were collected in 1-L Teflon jars and stored on ice for transport to the laboratory where they were frozen and freeze-dried. Floc depth and bulk density were measured during each sampling event. A floc subsample was used to obtain the ash free dry weight, the percent organic matter content and the carbon to nitrogen ratio. Pigment chemotaxonomy was performed using reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The floc samples were extracted using 3mL of a solvent mixture of methanol/acetone/dimethylformamide/water (30:30:30:10) containing a known amount of internal standard. The pigment extractions were performed by grinding at ice bath temperature in a Teflon/glass homogenizer. The extract was sonicated in an ice bath and allowed to steep for 1 hour. Extracts were recovered by centrifugation and filtered through a 0.45um filter. The pigments in the extract were separated by reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography and the quantified pigments include chlorophyll-a, scytonemin, zeaxanthin, echinenone, chlorophyll-b, fucoxanthin, peridinin and alloxanthin. Zeaxanthin and echinenone represent the contribution to the floc from cyanobacteria, chlorophyll-b from chlorophytes, fucoxanthin from diatoms, peridinin from dinoflagellates and alloxanthin from cryptophytes. The floc samples were also analyzed for biomarkers using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Aliquots of freeze-dried floc were extracted with 350mL of dichloromethane for 24 hours. The extracts were concentrated and separated into neutral and acid fractions by saponification using 25mL of freshly prepared 1N KOH. The neutral fraction was further fractionated using silica-gel adsorption chromatography and the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions were analysed. Because plants contain high amounts of the C29 n-alkane and algae contain high amounts of the C17 n-alkane, the ratio of the C29 and the C17 n-alkanes was calculated to distinguish between these two sources. The aquatic proxy (Paq) was calculated by dividing the sum of the C23 and C25 n-alkanes by the sum of the C23, C25, C29 and C31 n-alkanes. This parameter is used to distinguish organic matter from submerged-floating and emergent-terrestrial macrophytes because submerged-floating plant species have abundant mid-chain alkanes relative to emergent-terrestrial plants. The C28 n-alkene, which is a biomarker for mangrove inputs, was quantified. The C20 highly branched isoprenoid, a biomarker for periphyton, was quantified. References: Neto, R R 2006. Organic biogeochemistry of detrital flocculent material (floc) in a subtropical, coastal wetland. Biogeochemistry, 77: 283-304. Hagerthey, S E 2006. Evaluation of pigment extraction methods and a recommended protocol for periphyton chlorophyll a determination and chemotaxonomic assessment. Journal of Phycology, 42: 1125-1136. Jaffe, R 2006. Origin and transport of sedimentary organic matter in two subtropical estuaries: a comparative, biomarker-based study. Organic Geochemistry, 32: 507-526. Instrumentation Nalgene 1-L Teflon jars, Photodiode array detector, 3.9x150mm Waters NovaPack 4-micron C18 column, Rheodyne 7125 injector, Thermo Fisher Scientific Model 4100 quaternary HPLC pump, Agilent HP 6890 gas chromatograph, Agilent HP 5730 mass selective detector Quality Control For biomarker measurements, blanks are run between samples to check for carry-over and interferences. Distribution Online distribution: https://pasta.lternet.edu/package/data/eml/knb-lter-fce/1206/3/f4de89d935580990ccffcba4c2134866 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. Dataset Keywords organic matter FCE Florida Coastal Everglades LTER ecological research long-term monitoring Estuarine Freshwater marsh Hydroperiod Mangrove Periphyton Pigment floc Cyanobacteria Chlorophytes Diatoms Cryptophytes Dinoflagellates floc density floc depth Data Submission Date: 2005-08-12 Maintenance knb-lter-fce.1206.3: Updated to EML 2.2.0, added ORCID and ROR ids, added project awards, added .csv extension to data file (no changes to data) Dataset Contact Name: Rudolf Jaffe Position: Project Collaborator 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 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: https://fcelter.fiu.edu Dataset Submission Date 2005-08-12