Fall 2006 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 2006 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, 2003 and 2004 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.2006年10月，研究人员开展了一项样方（quadrat）调查，旨在测定10个GCE LTER采样点位的植物物种组成与体型分布特征。2000年10月，GCE各采样点位已以永久样地的形式设立样方：依据滨海沼泽（marsh）结构将各点位划分为两个名义分区，即溪岸带与高潮滩带，随后在每个点位的这两个分区内随机布设木桩以划定样方位置。2001至2004年间，先后增设了若干新样地，以替代因灾难性海藻枯落堆积扰动或溪岸侵蚀而损毁的原有样方。对各样地开展目视调查后，针对样地内所有高度超过10cm的地上茎株，逐一记录其物种、株高与开花状态。所有存在扰动迹象的样地的观测数据，均已在数据集中单独标注说明。本项调查将每年重复开展，以结合其他GCE LTER监测项目所记录的环境变化，评估植物分布与生物量的动态变化。