Fall 2019 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 2019 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). New plots were added each year as necessary 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 a separate data set (PLT-GCEM-1801). 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.

2019年10月，本研究开展样方调查（quadrat survey），以测定10个GCE长期生态研究（Long Term Ecological Research, LTER）采样点的植物物种组成与体型分布特征。样方于2000年10月在GCE LTER采样点设立为永久样地，通过在每个采样点内依据湿地结构划定的两个名义区域（溪岸带与高潮滩）的随机点位布设木桩完成设置。每年将按需新增样地，以替代因灾难性海藻堆扰动或河岸侵蚀而损毁的样地。研究人员对所有样地开展目视调查，对每个样地内株高超过10厘米的所有植株枝条，逐一记录其物种、株高与开花状态。存在扰动迹象的样地的观测数据将被录入独立数据集（PLT-GCEM-1801）。本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。