Stem Borer Salt Marsh Dieback

We examined the relationship between nutrient enrichment, stem-borer density, and salt marsh dieback. These data were collected from 10 square meter experimental plots in short-form Spartina alterniflora in the Great Bay marsh in New Jersey, USA. We had a full factorial design in which we crossed the amount of nutrient addition (low, medium, high) with duration of nutrient addition (short-term pulse or a long-term press) for a total of 6 different nutrient treatments (1. low press, 2. medium press, 3. high press, 4. low pulse, 5. medium pulse, and 6. high pulse). For each plot, we measured: percent dieback area, Incertella adult count, stem borer density, Spartina percent nitrogen content, and live biomass.