Long-term Mollusc Population Abundance and Size Data from the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Fall Marsh Monitoring Program

This data set includes long-term observational data on mollusc species abundance and size distribution at 10 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems marsh sites used for annual plant and invertebrate population monitoring. Infaunal and epifaunal molluscs were hand-collected from within quadrats of known area in mid-marsh and creekbank zones (n = 4 quadrats per zone) at all sites annually in October. Molluscs were also collected from an additional high marsh Juncus zone (n = 4 quadrats) at several sites beginning in 2009. The molluscs were returned to the lab, preserved in ethanol, identified and counted to determine species abundance and density in each plot. The length of each measurable individual was then determined using calipers or an ocular micrometer mounted in a stereomicroscope to determine mollusc size. Population abundance and size measurement data are reported separately by site, zone, plot and species because analyses were performed at different times, specimens were not individually identifiable, and not all individuals were measureable. This data set includes cumulative long-term observations from 2000 to 2022, and will be updated annually to include the prior year observations.