Marsh Ecology Research Program (MERP): Algal data transect sampling (1985-1989)

The Marsh Ecology Research Program (MERP) was a long-term interdisciplinary study on the ecology of prairie wetlands. A scientific team from a variety of disciplines (hydrology, plant ecology, invertebrate ecology, vertebrate ecology, nutrient dynamics, marsh management) was assembled to design and oversee a long-term experiment on the effects of water-level manipulation on northern prairie wetlands. Ten years of fieldwork (1980 -1989), combining a routine long-term monitoring program and a series of short-term studies, generated a wealth of new and diverse information on the ecology and function of prairie wetlands (Murkin, Batt, Caldwell, Kadlec and van der Valk, 2000). This data set includes transect data, collected as part of the algae section of MERP.
The objectives of the Marsh Ecology Research Program algal study were to unveil a better understanding on how different algae assemblages contribute to primary production (measured as C-assimilation rates) and biomass (chlorophyll-a content) in a prairie marsh habitat. The undertaking of this study also aimed to show how algal biomass would change with varying water depth, macrophyte density, and light attenuation. This unique project allowed for the productivity of these algal communities to be compared with that of the macrophyte community in order to demonstrate their importance in sustaining prairie wetland food webs (Robinson et al., 1997a). During each sampling session water depth, water temperature, vegetation density, and metaphyton cover were measured at the sample sites. Apart from these site measurements, photosynthetically active radiation (P.A.R.), metaphyton cover, and mudflat area measurements were performed at regular temporal and spatial intervals throughout each cell during the sampling season in order to determine relationships used to extrapolate sample site data to an entire cell.

For further information on the Marsh Ecology Research Program (MERP), please visit: http://www.ducks.ca/conserve/research/projects/merp/index.html

References:
Murkin, H.R., B.D.J. Batt, P.J. Caldwell, J.A. Kadlec and A.G. van der Valk. 2000a. Introduction to the Marsh Ecology Research Program. In Prairie Wetland Ecology: The Contribution of the Marsh Ecology Research Program. (Eds) H.R. Murkin, A.G. van der Valk and W.R. Clark. pp. 3-15. Ames: Iowa State University Press.
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E., and Goldsborough, L.G. 1997a. The primary productivity of benthic and planktonic algae in a prairie wetland under controlled water-level regimes. Wetlands 17 (2): 182-194.87.

Resulting Publications on Algae Assemblages
Gurney, S.E., and Robinson, G.G.C. 1988. The influence of water level manipulation on metaphyton production in a temperate freshwater marsh. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 23:1032-1040.
Hosseini, S.M., and A.G. van der Valk. 1989a. The impact of prolonged above-normal flooding on metaphyton in a freshwater marsh. In Freshwater Wetlands and Wildlife. (Eds.) R.R. Sharitz and J.W. Gibbons. pp. 317-324, USDOE Symposium Series 61, Oak Ridge: USDOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information
Hosseini, S.M., and A.G. van der Valk. 1989b. Primary productivity and biomass of periphyton and phytoplankton in flooded freshwater marshes. In Freshwater Wetlands and Wildlife. (Eds.) R.R. Sharitz and J.W. Gibbons. pp. 303-315. USDOE Symposium Series 61, Oak Ridge: USDOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information.
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E., and Goldsborough, L.G. 1997a. The primary productivity of benthic and planktonic algae in a prairie wetland under controlled water-level regimes. Wetlands 17 (2): 182-194.87.
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E., and Goldsborough, L.G. 1997b. Response of benthic and planktonic algal biomass to experimental water-level manipulation in a prairie lakeshore wetland. Wetlands 17 (2): 167-181.86
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E., and L.G. Goldsborough,. 2000. Algae in Prairie Wetlands. In Prairie Wetland Ecology: The Contribution of the Marsh Ecology Research Program. (Eds.) H.R. Murkin, A.G. van der Valk, and W.R. Clark, pp. 3-15. Iowa: Iowa State University Press.

沼泽生态研究计划（Marsh Ecology Research Program, MERP）是一项针对草原湿地（prairie wetlands）的长期跨学科生态研究项目。该项目组建了涵盖水文学、植物生态学、无脊椎动物生态学、脊椎动物生态学、营养盐动力学、沼泽管理等多领域的科学团队，旨在设计并监测试验，以探究水位调控对北部草原湿地的影响。项目历经1980年至1989年共十年的野外工作，结合常规长期监测计划与一系列短期研究，产出了大量关于草原湿地生态与功能的新颖且多元的研究数据（Murkin、Batt、Caldwell、Kadlec与van der Valk, 2000）。本数据集包含作为MERP藻类研究部分采集的样带数据（transect data）。

沼泽生态研究计划藻类研究的目标在于，更深入地阐明不同藻类群落如何助力草原沼泽生境中的初级生产力（primary production，以碳同化速率（C-assimilation rates）衡量）与生物量（以叶绿素a（chlorophyll-a）含量表征）。本研究同时旨在揭示藻类生物量如何随水深、大型水生植物（macrophyte）密度以及光衰减（light attenuation）程度的变化而改变。这项独特的研究还可将此类藻类群落的生产力与大型水生植物群落的生产力进行对比，以证明藻类在维持草原湿地食物网（food webs）中的重要性（Robinson等, 1997a）。

每次采样期间，研究人员均会在采样点位测定水深、水温、植被密度以及附生藻类（metaphyton）覆盖度。除上述点位测量外，在整个采样季内，研究人员还会按固定的时空间隔对每个试验单元开展光合有效辐射（photosynthetically active radiation, PAR）、附生藻类覆盖度以及泥滩面积的测量工作，以此确立相关关系，从而可将单点采样数据外推至整个试验单元。

如需获取沼泽生态研究计划（MERP）的更多信息，请访问：http://www.ducks.ca/conserve/research/projects/merp/index.html

参考文献：
Murkin, H.R., B.D.J. Batt, P.J. Caldwell, J.A. Kadlec 与 A.G. van der Valk. 2000a. 沼泽生态研究计划导论. 载于《草原湿地生态学：沼泽生态研究计划的贡献》（H.R. Murkin、A.G. van der Valk与W.R. Clark 编）. 第3-15页. 艾姆斯：爱荷华州立大学出版社.
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E. 与 Goldsborough, L.G. 1997a. 受控水位制度下草原湿地底栖藻类（benthic algae）与浮游藻类（planktonic algae）的初级生产力. 《湿地》（Wetlands）17(2): 182-194.87.

藻类群落相关衍生出版物：
Gurney, S.E. 与 Robinson, G.G.C. 1988. 水位调控对温带淡水沼泽附生藻类生产力的影响. 《国际湖沼学协会汇刊》（Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol.）23:1032-1040.
Hosseini, S.M. 与 A.G. van der Valk. 1989a. 长期超常规洪水对淡水沼泽附生藻类的影响. 载于《淡水湿地与野生生物》（Freshwater Wetlands and Wildlife）（R.R. Sharitz与J.W. Gibbons 编）. 第317-324页. 美国能源部（United States Department of Energy, USDOE）专题会议系列丛书61. 橡树岭：美国能源部科学与技术信息办公室.
Hosseini, S.M. 与 A.G. van der Valk. 1989b. 淹水淡水沼泽中周丛藻类与浮游藻类的初级生产力及生物量. 载于《淡水湿地与野生生物》（Freshwater Wetlands and Wildlife）（R.R. Sharitz与J.W. Gibbons 编）. 第303-315页. 美国能源部（United States Department of Energy, USDOE）专题会议系列丛书61. 橡树岭：美国能源部科学与技术信息办公室.
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E. 与 Goldsborough, L.G. 1997a. 受控水位制度下草原湿地底栖与浮游藻类的初级生产力. 《湿地》（Wetlands）17(2): 182-194.87.
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E. 与 Goldsborough, L.G. 1997b. 草原湖滨湿地底栖与浮游藻类生物量对实验性水位调控的响应. 《湿地》（Wetlands）17(2): 167-181.86.
Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E. 与 L.G. Goldsborough. 2000. 草原湿地中的藻类. 载于《草原湿地生态学：沼泽生态研究计划的贡献》（H.R. Murkin、A.G. van der Valk与W.R. Clark 编）. 第3-15页. 艾奥瓦：爱荷华州立大学出版社.