Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: On-marsh nekton community in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-17 to 2019-05-20 (NCEI Accession 0304326)

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This dataset contains abundance, mass, length, sex and species composition of the on-marsh nekton community in restored (LHA, LHB) and natural (LHC, WPH1, WPH2, PS7) marshes at various distances from a freshwater diversion in the vicinity of West Pointe a la Hache, Lake Hermitage, and Port Sulphur, Louisiana in May 2018 and May 2019. Minnow traps (wire mesh traps) were deployed at three sub-habitat locations (edge, creeks, ponds) at each site. Taxonomic identification of individuals was determined to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Salinity and temperature data for each sample location are also included in this dataset. Data are in spreadsheet format.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Lopez-Duarte, Paola (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: On-marsh nekton community in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-17 to 2019-05-20 (NCEI Accession 0304326). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/yr32-3851. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0304326

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Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats	Excel
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
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	2018-05-17 to 2019-05-20
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: -89.8543 East: -89.8099 South: 29.4759 North: 29.5605
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

NCEI Dataset Landing Page
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.
Descriptive Information
Navigate directly to the URL for a descriptive web page with download links.

Associated Resources

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. 2023. RESTORE Sponsored Research Project: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/71399
- https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/71399
  INPORT Webpage
LUMCON Project Page
- https://restorefoodweb.lumcon.edu/
  LUMCON Project Page
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
  RESTORE Project Page
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
- https://lacoast.gov/crms_viewer/Map/CRMSViewer
  CRMS Map Viewer
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.
- https://doi.org/10.25921/zb46-m126
  Related dataset
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.
- https://doi.org/10.25921/fk7x-v112
  Related dataset
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). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/8h8n-e570.
- https://doi.org/10.25921/8h8n-e570
  Related dataset
Polito, Michael J.; Lamb, Katelyn J.; López-Duarte, Paola C.; Olin, Jill A.; Martin, Charles W.; Hooper-Bùi, Linda M.; Roberts, Brian J. (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values of organisms from created and natural marsh of Lake Hermitage, West Point a la Hache, and Bay Batiste, Louisiana, May 2018 (NCEI Accession 0302883). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/43d6-6r23.
- https://doi.org/10.25921/43d6-6r23
  Related dataset
Olin, Jill (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Bulk sulfur stable isotopes of on- and off-marsh fish species in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, May 2018 (NCEI Accession 0302625). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/w8nw-nv55.
- https://doi.org/10.25921/w8nw-nv55
  Related dataset
Swenson, Erick (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Continuous hydrologic data from sondes deployed by Louisiana State University (LSU) in natural and restored marshes in the Lake Hermitage, Louisiana area from 2018-03-12 to 2021-12-31 (NCEI Accession 0304323). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/sptc-ka77.
- https://doi.org/10.25921/sptc-ka77
  Related dataset
Polito, Michael J.; Loesser, Katherine B.; Stahl, Angela R.; Bennadji, Hayat; López-Duarte, Paola C.; Olin, Jill A.; Martin, Charles W.; Rabalais, Nancy; Roberts, Brian J. (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: Carbon, nitrogen and sulfur stable isotope values of organisms from created and natural marsh of Lake Hermitage, West Point a la Hache, and Bay Batiste, Louisiana, May 2019 (NCEI Accession 0304324). NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/4ft9-xa88.
- https://doi.org/10.25921/4ft9-xa88
  Related dataset

Publication Dates	publication: 2025-06-26 creation: 2025-05-15
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	Methods: Three minnow traps (A,B,C) were deployed at three sub-habitat locations (creek, edge, pond) at six sites (LHA, LHB, LHC, WPH1, WPH2, PS7) for three consecutive days in May 2018 and May 2019. Traps were allowed to soak for 1-2 hours at a time, after which all organisms collected were identified, counted, and measured (length and weight). In 2018 PS7 was sampled four times, while all other sites were sampled three times. In that year, the first PS7 sampling occurred in the afternoon, after which samples were collected during morning hours, consistent with sampling at all other sites. In 2019 new site waypoints were generated at LHB Edge 2, LHC Creek 1, LHC Creek 2, LHC Creek 3, LHC Edge 1, LHC Edge 2, LHC Edge 3, LHC Pond 1, LHC Pond 2, LHC Pond 3, WPH1 Creek 2, WPH1 Creek 3, WPH1 Edge 1, WPH1 Edge 2, WPH1 Edge 3, WPH1 Pond 1and WPH1 Pond 3.
Purpose	To compare the on-marsh nekton community across a salinity gradient and also between natural and restored marshes. 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 nekton and associated environmental 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: Lopez-Duarte, Paola (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: On-marsh nekton community in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-17 to 2019-05-20 (NCEI Accession 0304326). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/yr32-3851. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Lopez-Duarte, Paola Portland State University (PSU)
Principal Investigators	Michael Polito University of California - Santa Cruz (UCSC) Paola Lopez-Duarte Portland State University (PSU)
Collaborators	Michael Polito University of California - Santa Cruz (UCSC) Annette Engel University of Tennessee Linda Hooper-Bùi Louisiana State University (LSU) Olaf Jensen Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Paola López-Duarte Portland State University (PSU) Jill Olin Michigan Technological University (MTU) Brian Roberts Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) Erick Swenson Louisiana State University (LSU) Nancy N. Rabalais Louisiana State University (LSU) Charles Martin University of Florida (UF)
Contributors	Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) Michigan Technological University (MTU) Portland State University (PSU) NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) University of Florida (UF) NOAA RESTORE Science Program Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Louisiana State University (LSU) University of Tennessee University of California - Santa Cruz (UCSC)
Resource Providers	NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
Points of Contact	Frank Parker NOAA RESTORE Science Program NCCOS Data Manager NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) NOAA RESTORE Science Program Paola Lopez-Duarte Portland State University (PSU)
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Acknowledgments	Funding Agency: NOAA RESTORE Science Program award NA17NOS4510091 to Louisiana State University

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS ANIMALS - INDIVIDUAL - MASS FISH BIOMASS INDIVIDUAL FISH EXAMINATION - LENGTH LATITUDE LONGITUDE SALINITY species abundance SPECIES IDENTIFICATION WATER TEMPERATURE NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS in situ laboratory analyses WMO_CategoryCode oceanography Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > OCEAN TEMPERATURE > WATER TEMPERATURE EARTH SCIENCE > OCEANS > SALINITY/DENSITY > SALINITY NCCOS Research Data Type Field Observation NCCOS Research Topic Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments Provider Keywords Length measurements Mass measurements Nekton community species taxonomic composition
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Louisiana State University Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium Michigan Technological University NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science NOAA RESTORE Science Program Portland State University Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey University of California - Santa Cruz University of Florida University of Tennessee NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords DOC/NOAA/NOS/NCCOS > National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS GPS refractometer trap Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords GPS RECEIVERS > GPS RECEIVERS TRAPS > TRAPS Provider Instruments Minnow trap unknown
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Coastal Waters of Gulf of America Coastal Waters of Gulf of Mexico Coastal Waters of Louisiana Gulf of America Gulf of Mexico Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF AMERICA OCEAN > ATLANTIC OCEAN > NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN > GULF OF MEXICO NCCOS Research Location Gulf of America (formally the Gulf of Mexico) Provider Place Names Lake Hermitage [HP], Louisiana Port Sulphur [PS] , Louisiana West Pointe a la Hache [WPH], eastern Barataria Bay, Louisiana
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 (ROR - https://ror.org/0042xzm63)
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0304326
Keywords	Send2NCEI Submission Package ID GDXY1U

Use Constraints	Cite as: Lopez-Duarte, Paola (2025). NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: On-marsh nekton community in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-17 to 2019-05-20 (NCEI Accession 0304326). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.25921/yr32-3851. Accessed [date].
Data License	This dataset has been dedicated to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication. SPDX License: Creative Commons Zero v1.0 Universal (CC0-1.0)
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.
Fees	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	2025-06-26T14:49:32Z - NCEI Accession 0304326 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0304326 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0304326 v1.1 (download) published 2025-06-26T14:49:32Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Parameter or Variable: Nekton community species taxonomic composition (measured); Units: Taxonomic categories and Number of individuals; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Minnow trap; Sampling and Analyzing Method: See Methods section above. Parameter or Variable: Mass measurements (measured); Units: grams; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: unknown; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Mass was obtained on measured and unmeasured fish. The Notes column contains details on if a particular mass included individuals from the other category or information that may explain blank cells. Any weight recorded as <0.1 g on the data sheet was entered into this file as 0.0 g. A blank cell for weight indicates absence of a value, not zero. Reasons for blank cells include: 1) Total mass-Individuals were included in counts that could not be measured or could not be weighed, i.e. lost in field, etc. 2) Unmeasured mass-Likely that all individuals were measured, i.e. no unmeasured mass exists or unmeasured fish were lost in the field/could not be weighed. 3) Measured mass-Where multiple fish of the same species were measured independently and each weighed <0.1 but no combined weight was recorded. 4) Where a group of small/light individuals were weighed together, they do not have individual masses recorded, but the combined weight is, when possible, accounted for in "measured mass" and "total mass". In these instances the notes column of the “Abun” tab should say that the individual was included in a combined mass of x grams.; Data Quality Method: Due to issues with very light-weight samples, rather than weigh individuals (e.g., grass shrimp that are 2 cm), they were weighed as a group to get total mass. In those instances, individual weights can be calculated by dividing that total mass value by the number of individuals. Parameter or Variable: Length measurements (measured); Units: millimeter; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: unknown; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Four length types were obtained for each specimen as appropriate: Total length (TL), Fork Length (FL), Standard Length (SL), Carapace width (CW). Parameter or Variable: SALINITY (measured); Units: ppt; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Refractometer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Measured at trap set Parameter or Variable: Temperature (measured); Units: degrees Celsius; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: unknown; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Measured at trap set

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Parameter or Variable: Nekton community species taxonomic composition (measured); Units: Taxonomic categories and Number of individuals; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: Minnow trap; Sampling and Analyzing Method: See Methods section above.
Parameter or Variable: Mass measurements (measured); Units: grams; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: unknown; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Mass was obtained on measured and unmeasured fish. The Notes column contains details on if a particular mass included individuals from the other category or information that may explain blank cells. Any weight recorded as <0.1 g on the data sheet was entered into this file as 0.0 g. A blank cell for weight indicates absence of a value, not zero. Reasons for blank cells include: 1) Total mass-Individuals were included in counts that could not be measured or could not be weighed, i.e. lost in field, etc. 2) Unmeasured mass-Likely that all individuals were measured, i.e. no unmeasured mass exists or unmeasured fish were lost in the field/could not be weighed. 3) Measured mass-Where multiple fish of the same species were measured independently and each weighed <0.1 but no combined weight was recorded. 4) Where a group of small/light individuals were weighed together, they do not have individual masses recorded, but the combined weight is, when possible, accounted for in "measured mass" and "total mass". In these instances the notes column of the “Abun” tab should say that the individual was included in a combined mass of x grams.; Data Quality Method: Due to issues with very light-weight samples, rather than weigh individuals (e.g., grass shrimp that are 2 cm), they were weighed as a group to get total mass. In those instances, individual weights can be calculated by dividing that total mass value by the number of individuals.
Parameter or Variable: Length measurements (measured); Units: millimeter; Observation Category: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: unknown; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Four length types were obtained for each specimen as appropriate: Total length (TL), Fork Length (FL), Standard Length (SL), Carapace width (CW).
Parameter or Variable: SALINITY (measured); Units: ppt; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: Refractometer; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Measured at trap set
Parameter or Variable: Temperature (measured); Units: degrees Celsius; Observation Category: in situ; Sampling Instrument: unknown; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Measured at trap set

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	GPS refractometer trap

Last Modified: 2026-06-08T13:19:07Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

NOAA RESTORE Science Program: Linking Community and Food-web Approaches to Restoration: On-marsh nekton community in restored vs. natural Louisiana marshes near the West Pointe A La Hache siphon, 2018-05-17 to 2019-05-20 (NCEI Accession 0304326)

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