Data Set Citation
When using this data, please cite the data package
|
Bishop D and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project.
Crab population monitoring: Fall 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank crab abundances based on hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10
knb-lter-gce.23.4
(https://knb.ecoinformatics.org/knb/metacat/knb-lter-gce.23.4/knb)
|
General Information
|
| Title: | Crab population monitoring: Fall 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank crab abundances based on hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 |
| Identifier: | knb-lter-gce.23.4 |
| Abstract: |
This data set is the first Fall estimate of crab densities at the GCE-LTER marsh sites used for population monitoring. Crab abundance was determined by counting the number of crab holes within a 625 cm^2 quadrat and converting the counts to number per square meter. Counts were made in the mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 per zone) at all sites. This method does not differentiate which species made a particular hole and therefore only estimates total crab abundance. Plugged holes were excluded from the counts. Mean density across all sites and zones was 342 m^-2 (+/- 158 s.d.).
|
| Keywords: |
- GCE
- LTER
- Trophic Structure
- Armases
- crabs
- creekbank
- density
- Eurytium
- Fall
- holes
- intertidal
- marsh
- mid-marsh
- monitoring
- population
- Sesarma
- Uca
- vegetated
|
|
|
|
Involved Parties
Data Set Creators
|
|
Individual: | Dr. Dale Bishop |
|
Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
|
|
Email Address:
|
|
|
Web Address:
|
|
|
|
Organization: | Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project |
|
Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
|
|
Email Address:
|
|
|
Web Address:
|
|
|
|
Data Set Contacts
|
|
Position: | GCE-LTER Information Manager |
|
Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
|
|
Email Address:
|
|
|
Associated Parties
|
|
Individual: | Dr. Merryl Alber |
|
Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
|
|
Email Address:
|
|
|
Web Address:
|
|
|
|
Individual: | Mr. Kenneth Helm |
|
Address: |
| University of Georgia Marine Institute, |
| Sapelo Island, Georgia 31327 USA |
|
|
Email Address:
|
|
|
|
|
Individual: | Ms. Monica Palta |
|
Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602 USA |
|
|
Email Address:
|
|
|
|
Individual: | Ms. Gayle Albers |
|
Address: |
| Dept. of Marine Sciences, |
| University of Georgia, |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 USA |
|
|
Email Address:
|
|
|
|
|
Individual: | Mrs. Laurel Berger-Bishop |
|
Address: |
|
|
Data Set Characteristics
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE1 -- Eulonia, Georgia, USA. Transitional salt marsh/upland forest site at the upper reach of the Sapelo River near Eulonia, Georgia. The main marsh area is to the north of the channel where the upland is controlled by DNR. Several small creeks lie within the study area. Residential development is increasing on the upland areas south of the channel. A hydrographic sonde is deployed within this site attached to a private dock to the south of the main channel near the HW-17 bridge. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.427321 degrees
|
| East: | -81.410390 degrees
|
| North: | 31.546173 degrees
|
| South: | 31.535095 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE2 -- Four Mile Island, Georgia, USA. Low salt marsh/estuary site encompassing the southwestern end of Four Mile Island and the Sapelo River near Sapelo Sound. The large island is totally marsh, with no upland, and no development. Nearby areas, like "Sutherland Bluff", are developing with golf courses. A hydrographic sonde is deployed within this site attached to channel marker 4 (under U.S. Coast Guard permit). Salinity regime is similar to seawater. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.320771 degrees
|
| East: | -81.293259 degrees
|
| North: | 31.550249 degrees
|
| South: | 31.532138 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE3 -- North Sapelo, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. High salinity marsh/Sapelo Sound site. Few or no small creeks, but one large creek is easily accessed. Further upstream upland drainage is affected by culvert at Reynolds' duck pond. Upland is heavily forested. Hydrographic sonde is deployed adjacent to this site attached to a channel marker (under U.S. Coast Guard permit). A huge mud flat is present at the northern tip of Sapelo Island. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.232911 degrees
|
| East: | -81.194083 degrees
|
| North: | 31.547261 degrees
|
| South: | 31.515840 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE4 -- Meridian, Georgia, USA. Inland marsh and tidal creek site near Meridian, Georgia. The primary marsh site is to the south of the dock in front of the Sapelo Island Visitor Center. Some small creeks and one large creek (Hudson Creek) are present. Upland is heavily forested. Marsh to the north of the dock can be used for additional studies if larger areas are required. Upland to the North is being developed for residential use, so future access is uncertain. The USGS super station site (weather station plus multiple-sensor sonde) is deployed off the ferry dock. Salinity is similar to seawater because there is little freshwater input from the upland. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.370812 degrees
|
| East: | -81.358187 degrees
|
| North: | 31.462771 degrees
|
| South: | 31.447213 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE5 -- Folly River, Georgia, USA. Salt marsh/tidal creek site at the Folly River near Doboy Sound. No upland areas present. The north side of Doboy Sound immediately opposite is similar, but creeks are not as nice. No existing markers are close enough for sonde deployment, so we will initially use the existing sonde at Marsh Landing operated by UGAMI for surrogate hydrographic data. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.354636 degrees
|
| East: | -81.327494 degrees
|
| North: | 31.442310 degrees
|
| South: | 31.418161 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE6 -- Dean Creek, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Doboy Sound/salt marsh site at the southern end of Sapelo Island near Dean Creek and the Sapelo lighthouse. A few small creeks are present, but a large creek (Dean Creek) is easily accessed. Upland is composed of small hammocks and some constructed causeways, with sand dune complexes east of Dean Creek and extending to the beach. Upper end of the watershed is affected by a culvert at Beach Road and heavy student use of marsh immediately adjacent to culvert. A hydrographic sonde is deployed in Doboy Sound near Commodore Island approximately 1.5km from this site. GCE6 is also the focus of Sapelo Island Microbial Observatory research on microbial diversity and genomics (http://simo.marsci.uga.edu) |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.300786 degrees
|
| East: | -81.264957 degrees
|
| North: | 31.393522 degrees
|
| South: | 31.371279 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE7 -- Carrs Island, Georgia, USA. Freshwater marsh site along the northern bank of Hammersmith Creek at the south end of Carrs Island. Upland area is heavily forested. Northern 3/4 of the island was diked for rice agriculture, but the southern 1/4 is undisturbed. A hydrographic sonde is deployed in the Altamaha River near Hammersmith Creek, adjacent to this site. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.494228 degrees
|
| East: | -81.475991 degrees
|
| North: | 31.349002 degrees
|
| South: | 31.334587 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE8 -- Alligator Creek, Georgia, USA. Mid-estuary/salt marsh site on the west side of Friday Cap Creek along the Altamaha River. This is a brackish marsh with salinities around 14 PSU during drought, less than 5 PSU normally. A hydrographic sonde is deployed adjacent to this site in the Altamaha River near Alligator Creek, attached to the US Coast Guard Daymarker 2 pilings. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.426316 degrees
|
| East: | -81.410043 degrees
|
| North: | 31.317771 degrees
|
| South: | 31.303976 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE9 -- Rockdedundy Island, Georgia, USA. Lower estuary tidal creek and marsh site at Rockdedundy Island west of Wolf Island. A hydrographic sonde is deployed approximately 2km from this site in the Altamaha River near Rockdedundy Island, attached to the US Coast Guard Daymarker 201 pilings. |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.346982 degrees
|
| East: | -81.326749 degrees
|
| North: | 31.358146 degrees
|
| South: | 31.339162 degrees
|
|
| Geographic Region: |
| Geographic Description: | GCE Study Site GCE10 -- Hunt Camp, Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Barrier island/marsh site on western Sapelo Island. This site is located at the upper reaches of the Duplin River, and is within the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. Existing well fields border small marsh area to northwest, some wells have been installed to south end of hammock where marsh is more extensive and permanent plots are located. Two existing hydrographic sondes and weather stations within this site are operated by SINERR (Hunt Camp dock) and UGAMI (flume dock). |
|
Bounding Coordinates:
|
| West: | -81.296229 degrees
|
| East: | -81.261288 degrees
|
| North: | 31.497780 degrees
|
| South: | 31.464728 degrees
|
|
|
|
| Taxonomic Range: |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Arthropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Crustacea |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Decapoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Armases |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Armases cinereum |
| Common Name: | Square Backed, or Wharf Crab |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Arthropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Crustacea |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Decapoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Eurytium |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Eurytium limosum |
| Common Name: | White-clawed Mud Crab |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Arthropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Crustacea |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Decapoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Sesarma |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Sesarma reticulatum |
| Common Name: | Purple Marsh Crab |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Arthropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Crustacea |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Decapoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Uca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Uca minax |
| Common Name: | Red-jointed Fiddler Crab |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Arthropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Crustacea |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Decapoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Uca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Uca pugilator |
| Common Name: | Sand Fiddler Crab |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Kingdom |
| Rank Value: | Animalia |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Phylum |
| Rank Value: | Arthropoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Class |
| Rank Value: | Crustacea |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Order |
| Rank Value: | Decapoda |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Genus |
| Rank Value: | Uca |
| Classification: |
| Rank Name: | Species |
| Rank Value: | Uca pugnax |
| Common Name: | Mud Fiddler Crab |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sampling, Processing and Quality Control Methods
|
Step by Step Procedures
|
| Step 1: |
|
|
Description:
|
A quadrat device was constructed of treated, 1" X 3/4" slats, drilled and joined with bolts and wing nuts. It was designed to enclose selectable areas of 625, 2500 or 5000 cm^2. The 625 cm^2 section was used for this study. The quadrat was randomly placed around the bases of the plants in the selected sampling area. Surface litter, when present, was removed, to aid visibility, before counts were made. Hole occupancy was not assessed but crab species visible in the immediate area were noted.
|
| Step 2: |
|
|
Description:
|
Per meter square densities are determined by multiplying count data by a conversion factor of 16.
|
|
Data Set Usage Rights
|
All publications based on this data set must cite the contributor and Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER project, and two copies of the manuscript must be submitted to the GCE-LTER Information Management Office.
|
| Access Control: |
| Auth System: | knb |
| Order: | allowFirst |
|
Allow:
| [all] | uid=GCE,o=lter,dc=ecoinformatics,dc=org
|
|
Allow:
| [read] | public
|
|
|
