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NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Organic matter decomposition in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-21 to 2021-07-28 (NCEI Accession 0302679)

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This data set contains calculated organic matter decomposition rates from created and natural brackish marshes in Plaquemines parish, Louisiana near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon. One litter bag transect was deployed at six sites in May 2018, May 2019, and May 2021. Each litter bag transect was comprised of five plots at 1, 10, 25, 50, & 100 m from the marsh edge. Each of the five plots contained five litter bags with 25 grams of dried Spartina alterniflora per bag. Bags were deployed for two months. The data set also contains plot locations and elevation, marsh type (created vs. restored), siphon status (open vs. closed), and deployment dates and duration. Data are in spreadsheet format.
  • Cite as: Polito, Michael J.; O'Nuanain, Aine; Bennelli, Allison; Winston, Joseph; Lamb, Katelyn J.; López-Duarte, Paola C.; Roberts, Brian J. (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Organic matter decomposition in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-21 to 2021-07-28 (NCEI Accession 0302679). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/8h8n-e570. Accessed [date].
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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 2018-05-21 to 2021-07-28
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -89.8543
East: -89.8099
South: 29.4759
North: 29.5605
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Associated Resources
  • Janssen, B. H. (1984). A simple method for calculating decomposition and accumulation of ‘young’ soil organic matter. Plant and Soil, 76(1–3), 297–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02205588
  • Rabalais, Nancy N.; Morrison, Wendy; Smith, Leslie; Woods, Gina (2024). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Taxonomic data for marsh infauna associated with natural and restored marshes along a salinity gradient generated from a freshwater diversion at West Pointe a la Hache into eastern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, 2018-05-21 to 2021-05-25 (NCEI Accession 0296020). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/zb46-m126.
  • Rabalais, Nancy N.; Morrison, Wendy; Smith, Leslie M.; Woods, Gina (2024). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Total organic carbon and sediment grain size at natural and restored marshes along a salinity gradient generated from a freshwater diversion at West Pointe a la Hache into eastern Barataria Bay, Louisiana, 2018-05-21 to 2021-05-25 (NCEI Accession 0296021). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/fk7x-v112.
  • RESTORE Project, Linking community and food-web approaches to restoration: An ecological assessment of created and natural marshes influenced by river diversions https://restoreactscienceprogram.noaa.gov/projects/marshes
  • The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) Project Webpage https://restorefoodweb.lumcon.edu/
  • External source of salinity data in the same geographic region of this current study area (stations near the sampling sites in this dataset are: 0263, 3617, 0260, 0258, 3680, 0282, 0209, 4529, 0226, 0224
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2025-03-26
  • creation: 2025-03-19
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
Supplemental Information
At collection, leaf litter was dried, weighed, and compared to initial mass to estimate a decomposition rate (g loss/day) and a decomposition coefficient (k) was also calculated based on an exponential decay function: k =1/Δt * ln((yt/(yt+ Δt)), where Δt is the experimental time interval in days, yt is the initial weight of the litter, and yt + Δt is the weight of the litter after Δt deployment period. Position and elevation were measured at each plot and at each site in July of 2018, 2019, and 2021 during the litter bag recovery process. Position and elevation data were collected in duplicate from the center of each plot and referenced to datum NAD83 (latitudinal and longitudinal position) and NAVD88 (geodetic elevation) using the geoid model GEOID2B and projection Louisiana South (a Lambert 2-parallel projection).
Purpose To compare organic matter decomposition rates among created and natural brackish marshes at varying distances from a freshwater siphon connected to the Mississippi River during periods of siphon openings and closures. Little is known about how river diversions influence the ecological trajectory, food web structure, and function of natural versus created marshes. To address this gap, this project established sites in the West Point a la Hache (WPH) area (Barataria Bay, in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana), near the WPH siphon which periodically shunts Mississippi River water into the local marshes. Sites were also established in nearby marshes that were restored as part of the Lake Hermitage (LH) Marsh Creation Project, representing an ideal model system to examine how seasonal and spatial shifts in salinity due to river diversions influence species composition and food web structure in both natural and different-aged created marshes. Objectives of the overall project included characterizing species compositions and abundances in multiple trophic levels (microbes to upper trophic level predators) and applying bulk (SIA) and compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) of amino acids (AA) in producer and consumer tissues to describe and compare the structure and complexity of food webs and reveal aspects of fish residency. Only marsh organic matter decomposition data are included in this dataset.
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: Polito, Michael J.; O'Nuanain, Aine; Bennelli, Allison; Winston, Joseph; Lamb, Katelyn J.; López-Duarte, Paola C.; Roberts, Brian J. (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Organic matter decomposition in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-21 to 2021-07-28 (NCEI Accession 0302679). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/8h8n-e570. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors
Principal Investigators
Collaborators
Contributors
Resource Providers
Points of Contact
Publishers
Acknowledgments
  • The data in this accession were funded by the NOAA RESTORE Science Program under award NA17NOS4510091 to Louisiana State University.
  • Funding Agency: NOAA RESTORE Science Program
Theme keywords NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS WMO_CategoryCode
  • oceanography
NCCOS Research Data Type
  • NCCOS Research Data Type > Field Observation
NCCOS Research Topic
  • NCCOS Research Topic > Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments
Provider Keywords
  • Decomposition rate and coefficient
  • Mass measurements
  • Mean elevation NAVD88
  • Natural marshes
  • Organic matter decompostion
  • Restored marshes
Data Center keywords NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
Instrument keywords NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords Provider Instruments
  • Position and elevation were measured using a Trimble GNSS Receiver (Model R8), Data Collector/Controller (Model TSC2), and Modem (Model TDL)
Place keywords NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords NCCOS Research Location
  • NCCOS Research Location > Region > Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico)
Provider Location Names
  • Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico)
  • Lake Hermitage (LH), Louisiana
  • Port Sulphur (PS), Louisiana
  • West Pointe a la Hache (WPH), eastern Barataria Bay,Louisiana
Project keywords NCCOS Project Keywords Provider Project Names
  • NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration
  • US DOC; NOAA; NOS; NCCOS; RESTORE Science Program
Keywords NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER
Keywords Send2NCEI Submission Package ID
  • 2C7XPW
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Polito, Michael J.; O'Nuanain, Aine; Bennelli, Allison; Winston, Joseph; Lamb, Katelyn J.; López-Duarte, Paola C.; Roberts, Brian J. (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Organic matter decomposition in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-21 to 2021-07-28 (NCEI Accession 0302679). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/8h8n-e570. Accessed [date].
Data License
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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  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • 2025-03-26T20:04:35Z - NCEI Accession 0302679 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets
Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps
  • Parameter or Variable: Mean elevation NAVD88 (measured); Units: meter; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Position and elevation were measured using a Trimble GNSS Receiver (Model R8), Data Collector/Controller (Model TSC2), and Cell; Sampling and Analyzing Method: See Methods section; Data Quality Method: Vertical precision based on repeated measurements of each plot was 0.0216 m.
  • Parameter or Variable: Mass measurements (measured); Units: gram; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: n/a; Sampling and Analyzing Method: See Methods section
  • Parameter or Variable: Decomposition rate and coefficient (calculated); Units: grams per day; Observation Category: other; Sampling Instrument: n/a; Sampling and Analyzing Method: See Methods section
Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument
  • bag - collection
  • GPS
Last Modified: 2026-02-05T19:08:15Z
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