Fall 2003 plant monitoring survey -- shoot height and flowering status of plants in permanent plots at GCE sampling sites 1-10

A quadrat survey was conducted in October 2003 to measure the species and size
distribution of plants at 10 GCE LTER sampling sites. The quadrats were
established as permanent plots at GCE sampling sites in October 2000 by placing
wooden stakes at random locations across two nominal zones at each site,
designated based on marsh structure (creekbank and high marsh). Several new
plots were also added in October 2001, 2002 and 2003 to replace those lost due
to catastrophic wrack disturbance or creek bank erosion. The plots were
visually surveyed and the species, shoot height, and flowering status was
recorded individually for each shoot over 10 cm in height present in each plot.
Observations from plots exhibiting signs of disturbance were noted in the data
set. This survey will be repeated annually to assess changes in plant
distribution and biomass in relation to environmental changes documented by
other GCE LTER monitoring efforts.