Above- and below-ground non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in Spartina alterniflora from 6 permanant plots near the Georgia Coastal Ecosysterms LTER flux tower, on Sapelo Island in Georgia, USA

We studied the dynamics of four non-structural carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch) and biomass in 8 different above- and below-ground tissues in Spartina alterniflora over the course of a year in a salt marsh on Sapelo Island, Georgia, USA. Tissue parts sampled included green leaves, green stems, yellow leaves, yellow stems, brown leaves and stem, flowers, belowground biomass from 0-10cm depth and belowground biomass from 10-30cm depth. Samples were collected from tall form S. alterniflora plots near the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER flux tower site monthly between September 2013 and August 2014. This study was conducted to support the development of predictive, mechanistic models of Spartina by providing information on below-ground biomass and its dynamics, and in particular the storage of resources that can be used for spring re-growth.