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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Rates of denitrification and porewater nutrient concentrations at a saltmarsh in Alabama from 2015-04 to 2016-10 (NCEI Accession 0219938)

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This dataset is generated from a study of a saltmarsh on Dauphin Island (30º15.43’N, 88º07.438’W) that is dominated by Spartina alterniflora and is interspersed with Juncus roemerianus. Tides are diurnal with mean tidal amplitude of less than 0.5 m. Replicate sediment cores (95 mm ID; n=5) were collected from Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus dominated sediments during the April 2015 to October 2016 period. Each core was sectioned between the 0-2 and 5-7 intervals and homogenized. Denitrification rates were measured following the acetylene inhibition technique. Porewater nutrient concentrations were periodically collected from triplicate sippers placed in Juncus roemerianus and Spartina dominated patches. Sippers were equipped with a 5-cm sampling window (centered at 10 cm depth). In May and August 2015 additional sediment cores were collected from the Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus patches and brought back to the laboratory for profiling of the porewater hydrogen sulfide concentrations.
  • Cite as: Mortazavi, Behzad; Mason, Olivia U. (2020). Rates of denitrification and porewater nutrient concentrations at a saltmarsh in Alabama from 2015-04 to 2016-10 (NCEI Accession 0219938). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0219938. Accessed [date].
gov.noaa.nodc:0219938
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Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
+1-301-713-3277
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Time Period 2015-04-01 to 2016-10-31
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -88.12
East: -88.12
South: 30.26
North: 30.26
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2020-09-30
Data Presentation Form Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status Complete - production of the data has been completed
Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency As needed
Purpose Coastal salt marshes are some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth, providing numerous services such as soil carbon storage, flood protection and nutrient filtering, several of which are mediated by the sediment microbiome associated with marsh vegetation. Our study site provided a unique opportunity to sample sediments from Spartina alterniflora and Juncus roemerianus patches collocated at the same elevation in a Gulf of Mexico salt marsh. This mixed marsh allowed us to test the hypothesis each plant type’s unique microbial community would translate to different denitrification rates. We measured rates of denitrification and porewater nutrient concentrations as well porewater hydrogen sulfides and demonstrated that denitrification rates were significantly higher in Juncus roemerianus compared to Spartina alterniflora and because these samples were collected from sediments associated with vegetation at the same elevation with respect to sea level we demonstrated plant diversity as opposed to inundation cycle influence marsh nitrogen removal.
Use Limitations
  • accessLevel: Public
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Mortazavi, Behzad; Mason, Olivia U. (2020). Rates of denitrification and porewater nutrient concentrations at a saltmarsh in Alabama from 2015-04 to 2016-10 (NCEI Accession 0219938). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0219938. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • Funding Agency: National Science Foundation
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords Originator Theme Names
  • Ammonium (Sipper Nutrients)
  • DEPTH (Pot DNF)
  • DNitrate (Sipper Nutrients)
  • Date (H2S Profiles))
  • Date (Pot DNF)
  • Date (Sipper Nutrients)
  • Depth (H2S Profiles)
  • Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S Profiles)
  • Nitrite (Sipper Nutrients)
  • Phosphate (Sipper Nutrients)
  • Potential Denitrification (Pot DNF)
  • Replicate (Pot DNF)
  • Replicate (Sipper Nutrients)
  • Veg Type (H2S Profiles)
  • Veg Type (Pot DNF)
  • Veg Type (Sipper Nutrients)
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords Originator Instrument Keywords
  • A cut off syringe whose internal diameter is 95 mm and the length is 10 cm
  • Observed
  • Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzere
  • documentation
  • observation
  • observed
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Project keywords Originator Project Keywords
  • Collaborative Research: Engineering salt marsh restoration to maximize denitrification - elevation and species interactions
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • 5B583E
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Mortazavi, Behzad; Mason, Olivia U. (2020). Rates of denitrification and porewater nutrient concentrations at a saltmarsh in Alabama from 2015-04 to 2016-10 (NCEI Accession 0219938). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0219938. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
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Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2020-09-30T19:05:15Z - NCEI Accession 0219938 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: Date (Pot DNF) (measured); Units: date when samples were collected; Observation Category: Observed; Sampling Instrument: documentation only - no instrument type.
  • Parameter or Variable: Veg Type (Pot DNF) (measured); Units: location that the samples where pore water nutrients were collected from; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: observed; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Samples were collected from sediment patches of Juncus roemerianus (Juncus) or Spartina alterniflora (Spartina)..
  • Parameter or Variable: Replicate (Pot DNF) (measured); Units: Replicate of samples; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: documentation.
  • Parameter or Variable: DEPTH (Pot DNF) (measured); Units: centimeter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Observed; Sampling and Analyzing Method: the sample depth from which the sediments were collected from with 0 representing the 0-2 cm depth, and 5 representing the 5-7 cm depth interval..
  • Parameter or Variable: Potential Denitrification (Pot DNF) (measured); Units: micromoles of nitrogen (N) produced per kilogram dry sediment per square meter per hour; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: A cut off syringe whose internal diameter is 95 mm and the length is 10 cm; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Replicate sediment cores (95 mm ID; n=5) were collected from Spartina and Juncus dominated sediments during the April 2015 to October 2016 period. Each core was sectioned between the 0-2 and 5-7 intervals and homogenized. Denitrification rates were measured following the acetylene inhibition technique. Twenty grams of sediments from each core and each depth and filtered site water were added to serum vials and amended with nitrate to a concentration of 100 micromolar. Samples were sealed with a butyl rubber stopper, capped and flushed with N2 gas for 10 min. After the addition of C2H2 (10 % v/v) and a 1-h incubation, headspace gas samples were injected into evacuated 12 mL Exetainer vials and nitrous oxide production was quantified with a Shimadzu GC-2014 with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) within 24 h. Nitrous oxide standards of known concentrations were used to quantify the nitrous oxide concentrations..
  • Parameter or Variable: Date (H2S Profiles) (measured); Units: date when samples were collected; Observation Category: Observed; Sampling Instrument: documentation.
  • Parameter or Variable: Veg Type (H2S Profiles) (measured); Units: location that the samples where pore water nutrients were collected from; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Observed; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Samples were collected from sediment patches of Juncus roemerianus (Juncus) or Spartina alterniflora (Spartina)..
  • Parameter or Variable: Depth (H2S Profiles) (measured); Units: mm; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: documentation; Sampling and Analyzing Method: the sample depth in units of mm that measurements were made at.
  • Parameter or Variable: Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S Profiles) (measured); Units: the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in units of micromoles per liter; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: A cut off syringe whose internal diameter is 95 mm and the length is 10 cm; Sampling and Analyzing Method: In May and August 2015 additional sediment cores were collected from the Spartina and Juncus patches and brought back to the laboratory for profiling of the porewater hydrogen sulfide concentrations. Cores were kept at in situ temperature and submerged in site water that was maintained normoxic. Hydrogen sulfide (measured as HS-) concentrations were determined with a Unisense microelectrode system with H2S (H2S-500) sensor calibrated according to manufacturer’s instructions. Concentrations were recorded at the sediment–water interface to a depth of 20 mm at 1 mm intervals with a micromanipulator in each profile. Standards were prepared according to the manufacturer and used to calibrate the sensors..
  • Parameter or Variable: Date (Sipper Nutrients) (measured); Units: documentation; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: observed.
  • Parameter or Variable: Veg Type (Sipper Nutrients) (measured); Units: location that the samples where pore water nutrients were collected from; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Observed; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Samples were collected from sediment patches of Juncus roemerianus (Juncus) or Spartina alterniflora (Spartina)..
  • Parameter or Variable: Replicate (Sipper Nutrients) (measured); Units: Replicate of samples; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: observation.
  • Parameter or Variable: Nitrate (Sipper Nutrients) (measured); Units: concentration of porewater nitrate in units of micromoles per liter; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Porewater nutrient concentrations were periodically collected from triplicate sippers placed in Juncus and Spartina dominated patches. Sippers were equipped with a 5-cm sampling window (centered at 10 cm depth) of porous plastic (Porex, 25-40 µm pore size). Prior to sampling, the sippers were purged of water and flushed with N2 gas to maintain anoxia. Samples were then withdrawn with a syringe, filtered through GF/F filters, kept on ice and returned to the lab where they remained frozen until analysis. Nitrate, ammonium and phosphate concentrations were analyzed with standard wet chemical techniques modified for the Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer calibrated according to the manufacturer..
  • Parameter or Variable: Phosphate (Sipper Nutrients) (measured); Units: concentration of porewater phosphate in units of micromoles per liter; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Porewater nutrient concentrations were periodically collected from triplicate sippers placed in Juncus and Spartina dominated patches. Sippers were equipped with a 5-cm sampling window (centered at 10 cm depth) of porous plastic (Porex, 25-40 µm pore size). Prior to sampling, the sippers were purged of water and flushed with N2 gas to maintain anoxia. Samples were then withdrawn with a syringe, filtered through GF/F filters, kept on ice and returned to the lab where they remained frozen until analysis. Nitrate, ammonium and phosphate concentrations were analyzed with standard wet chemical techniques modified for the Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer calibrated according to the manufacturer..
  • Parameter or Variable: Nitrite (Sipper Nutrients) (measured); Units: lconcentration of porewater nitrite in units of micromoles per liter; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Porewater nutrient concentrations were periodically collected from triplicate sippers placed in Juncus and Spartina dominated patches. Sippers were equipped with a 5-cm sampling window (centered at 10 cm depth) of porous plastic (Porex, 25-40 µm pore size). Prior to sampling, the sippers were purged of water and flushed with N2 gas to maintain anoxia. Samples were then withdrawn with a syringe, filtered through GF/F filters, kept on ice and returned to the lab where they remained frozen until analysis. Nitrate, ammonium and phosphate concentrations were analyzed with standard wet chemical techniques modified for the Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer calibrated according to the manufacturer..
  • Parameter or Variable: Ammonium (Sipper Nutrients) (measured); Units: concentration of porewater nitrite in units of micromoles per liter; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Porewater nutrient concentrations were periodically collected from triplicate sippers placed in Juncus and Spartina dominated patches. Sippers were equipped with a 5-cm sampling window (centered at 10 cm depth) of porous plastic (Porex, 25-40 µm pore size). Prior to sampling, the sippers were purged of water and flushed with N2 gas to maintain anoxia. Samples were then withdrawn with a syringe, filtered through GF/F filters, kept on ice and returned to the lab where they remained frozen until analysis. Nitrate, ammonium and phosphate concentrations were analyzed with standard wet chemical techniques modified for the Skalar SAN+ Autoanalyzer calibrated according to the manufacturer..
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • sediment sampler - corer
Last Modified: 2025-02-16T13:45:20Z
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