LUQ LTER DATA SETS DOCUMENTATION FORM

ON-LINE VERSION

A DATA SET is a series of observations collected by the same methodology. Each data set should have documentation sufficient for someone unfamiliar with the research to replicate the study. Data sets may be broken into subsets (data files) that are discrete in space and time, in that order. The documentation for a data set should include all spatial and temporal subdivisions of the data.

(Data, Abstract, Methods, Variables)

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PERSON(S) COMPLETING THIS FORM:	E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Katherine Smith	Katherine.smith@noaa.gov

DATA SET IDENTIFIER: 2004 Estuarine Fish Sampling

PROJECT TITLE: MANAGING FRESHWATER INFLOW TO ESTUARIES IN NORTHEAST PUERTO RICO: ECOLOGICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATION

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Dissertation research examining the ecological importance of freshwater inflow to estuaries in northeast Puerto Rico . Chapter 1 includes a comparison of historical (1977) and current (2004) fish community data in the Espiritu Santo estuary. Chapter 2 includes a stable isotope and gut content study of the contribution of freshwater inflow to estuarine fishes in the Espiritu Santo and Mameyes estuaries. 

LTER CORE AREAS: Annotate all that apply (See online list)

Populations

Disturbance

LEF LTER 1 RESEARCH  TOPIC:  (Annotate all that apply) (See online list)

Recovery-Env. Mon

We define a data file as a component of a data set. A data set can have only one data file or more. Basically, different data files have different data structures or format.
DATA SET FILES (SUBSETS):

Data File No.	Data File Identifier	On-Line Filename	Starting Date	Periodicity of sample	End Period
1	Site characteristics	SITE.txt	June 2004	Bimonthly	August 2004
2	Fish	FISH.txt	June 2004	Bimonthly	August 2004
3	Gut Contents	GCA.txt	June 2004	Bimonthly	August 2004
4	Isotope value	ISOTOPE.txt	July 2004	NA	August 2004

RESEARCH LOCATION: Samples were collected from eight stations in the Espiritu Santo estuary and three stations in the Mameyes estuary. See below maps. Note that in chapter two, Espiritu Santo stations 2,5, and 8 are referred to as 1,2, and 3 respectively. This is so that data could be easily compared to Mameyes stations 1,2, and 3 in the chapter 2 study.

INVESTIGATORS:

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS	E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Katherine Smith	Katherine.smith@noaa.gov

Other Researchers	E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Cathy Pringle	cpringle@uga.edu
Zoe Rodriguez del rey	zr@pdx.edu

CONTACT PERSONS	Phone Number (Include area code)	E-MAIL ADDRESS:
Katherine Smith	706-247-1999 301-713-4300 x155	smithkat@uga.edu Katherine.smith@noaa.gov

SOURCE OF FUNDING (SPONSOR):  NSF LTER Program, Puerto Rico Sea Grant, University of Georgia

DATA SET ABSTRACT:

Chapter 1 (fish community data): Historical data are often one of the only resources for documenting and assessing causes of environmental change, particularly in developing regions where funding for ecological studies is limited. In this study, previously unpublished data from a 1977 year-long study of the fish community of the Espiritu Santo estuary are presented. This dataset is among the oldest and most extensive surveys of a Caribbean island estuarine fish community. A comparison of these historical data with data collected in June and July 2004 using identical sampling methods allowed description of potential long-term changes in the fish community, identification of vulnerable species, and assessment of potential drivers of change. Results strongly suggest a decline in species richness and abundance in the Espiritu Santo estuarine fish community, with greater declines in freshwater-tolerant than marine or euryhaline species. Declines in freshwater inflow to the estuary, due to large-scale upstream water abstractions for municipal use, have increased since the initial 1977 survey. This is the first study to examine long-term change in the fish community of a tropical island estuary. Additional research and conservation efforts are needed to understand mechanisms of change and to protect Caribbean island estuarine fish communities.

Chapter 2 (isotope and gut content data): The contribution of riverine-derived organisms and organic matter to four fishes along the salinity gradient in two Puerto Rican estuaries, the Espiritu Santo and Mameyes, was examined via stable isotope and gut content analyses. Stable isotope analyses indicated that riverine organic matter potentially contributed as much as 69% of the diet of one (caitipa mojarra, Diapterus rhombeus) of four fishes sampled. In contrast, riverine organic matter was of little direct importance to the three other fishes, tarpon snook (Centropomus pectinatus), ground croaker (Bairdiella ronchus), and white mullet (Mugil curema) contributing less than a third of their assimilated material even in the estuaries’ upper reaches. Gut content analysis of estuarine fishes demonstrated that several species of pelagic or omnivorous fish consume riverine-derived organisms, specifically juvenile migratory freshwater shrimps, during their residence in the estuary. Freshwater shrimps were frequently encountered (in 37 and 39% of guts examined) and composed an average of 18 and 22% of gut content material of omnivorous fishes sampled in the Espiritu Santo and Mameyes estuaries, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the contribution of riverine subsidies to a Caribbean island estuary. Given increasing demand for water resources on tropical islands and the importance of diadromy in these systems, there is a need for additional research on this topic to better inform water management decisions.

DATA SET METHODS:  

Chapter 1 (fish community data): In June and July of 2004, eight stations (see figure above) were sampled once per month between 0700 and 1100 hrs. On each sampling event, four experimental 100 x 8 ft nylon sinking gill nets, each of a single mesh size (½, 1, 2, and 3 inches square), were deployed to capture fish at each station. Each net was anchored to the shore and deployed at a 45-degree angle sloped towards the freshwater flow. The 2” and 3” nets were placed on opposite shores at extremes of the sampling station and the ½” and 1” nets were placed on opposite shores between the larger nets. Nets were set for 1.5 hours. Dip nets were used to collect smaller fishes along the shores. All fish were weighed and measured for total and standard lengths. To increase the sample size and capture of crepuscular fishes, additional night sampling (between 1900 and 2300 hours) was carried out at least once per month at all sampling stations. During each sampling event, surface (at 0.25 m) and bottom (at 0.25 m above the substrate) temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity were recorded from the middle of the channel with a Hydrolab Quanta (Hydrolab Inc.). 1977 fish community data can be found in Corjuo Flores (1980).

Chapter 2 (isotope and gut content data): See Chapter 1 methods for water chemistry collection.

Sample collection
Fish for isotope analysis were collected as described in chapter 1 methods from the stations indicated in the Chapter 2 location map. Isotope sample collected from Espiritu Santo stations 2,5,8 in Chapter 1 are referred to as Espiritu Santo stations 1,2,3, respectively in Chapter 2 (to facilitate comparisons between the two estuaries). Isotope analysis was focused primarily on two pelagic species (Centropomus pectinatus and Bairdiella ronchus) and two benthic species (Diapterus rhombeus and Mugil curema).

In addition to the above fish sampling, juvenile freshwater shrimps (Atya lanipes, xiphocaris elongata, and Macrobrachuim spp.) that were observed in dense congregations beginning their upstream migration were collected with dip nets from littoral areas of both estuaries (note: freshwater shrimp were not observed at all stations).   In addition, adult freshwater shrimp were collected at the lowest elevation water intake site in the Espiritu Santo and Mameyes Rivers (located approximately 0.5 km upstream of the fresh/salt water interface in each case).

Tissue samples for isotope analyses were collected from white muscle of these fishes and tails of shrimps. All samples were rinsed with distilled water, placed in a sealed glass vial, and immediately frozen. Tissue samples were freeze-dried (Virtis Freezemobile 35ES) for at least 36 hours before being ground to a fine power (Spex Certiprep 8000D Mixer Mill). All isotope samples were treated with 0.01% HCl solution to remove carbonates.

Samples of potential organic matter sources were collected from each river and estuary for isotope analysis. To characterize riverine organic matter, replicate samples of upstream riparian leaves and instream leaf litter were collected at the lowest elevation water intake site in the Espiritu Santo and Mameyes rivers. Samples of estuarine basal resources (mangrove leaves, macroalgae, and estuarine biofilm) were collected at each sampling station in the Mameyes and Espiritu Santo estuaries. Fresh mangrove leaves were collected from all stations where mangroves were present (the middle and lower Espiritu Santo and a small area at the lower Mameyes). Macroalgae was collected from woody debris and buoys where present; however, it was not observed at all stations (e.g., station 1 of the Espiritu Santo ). All leaves and macroalgae samples were dried at 40°C for at least three days being ground to a fine power.

Collection of pure samples of phytoplankton and/or benthic mircroalgae is difficult and many studies have been forced to either rely on published values or to exclude phytoplankton and/or benthic microaglae as a potential organic matter source (e.g., Peterson and Howarth 1987; Benstead et al. 2006). We were unable to collected pure sample of phytoplankton or benthic microaglae from the Espiritu Santo and Mameyes estuaries. Instead, biofilm samples were collected at each station by deploying anchored flotation devices that suspended three 12” square tiles in the water column. After one week, the tiles were collected and immediately scraped for biofilm. Biofilm isotope samples were processed as described above for animal tissue.    

Stable isotope analysis

δ13C and δ15N analyses were run at the University of Georgia, Institute of Ecology, Analytical Chemistry Laboratory in a Carlo Erba NA 1500 CHN analyzer (Carlo Erba Instrumentazione, Milan, Italy) coupled to a Finnigan Delta C isotope ratio mass  spectrometer (Thermo Electron Corp., Waltham, USA) operating as a continuous flow system. Reproducibility was monitored using a bovine liver standard. Precision was better than ± 0.2‰ (1 SD). Animal tissue δ34S analyses were run at the Colorado Plateau Stable Isotope Laboratory on a Carlo Erba Model NC2100 elemental analyzer coupled to a Finnigan Delta Plus Advantage isotopic ratio mass spectrometer. Range in measurement error was ± 0.7-1.0‰. Plant and biofilm δ34S samples were analyzed at the Coastal Sciences Laboratory on a VG (Micromass) isotope ratio mass spectrometer. Isotope values are expressed as δ13C, δ15N, or δ34S (with units of ‰) according to the following equation: δ13C, δ15N, or δ34S = [(Rsample/Rstandard) - 1] × 1000 where R = 13C/ 12C, 15N/ 14N or 34S/32S. Reference standards were PeeDee Belemnite carbonate, atmospheric N2, and Canyon Diablo Troilite for δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S, respectively.

Gut content analysis

Guts contents of the four species targeted for isotope analysis (above) plus other common pelagic and omnivorous fishes (Caranx hippos, Caranx latus, Diapterus auratus, Lutjanus jocu, Micropogonias furnieri, Opisthonema oglinum, Pomadasys crocro, Scomberomorus regalis, Selene vomer, Sphyraena barracuda, Strongylura timucu) were analyzed to determine the contribution of freshwater shrimps to fish diet. Stomachs were extracted and the contents were squeezed directly into vials and preserved in 70% ethanol. Because guts of some fishes were very small, the percent contribution of each food item could not be calculated volumetrically. Instead, we placed a petri dish over a grid (2x2 mm) and, using a dissecting scope, calculated the portion of the petri dish covered by each distinct food item (as described in Ley et al. 1994).

REFERENCES :
Benstead, J.P., March, J.G., Fry, B., Ewel K.C., and Pringle, C.M. 2006. Testing Isosource: stable isotope analysis of a tropical fishery with diverse organic matter sources. Ecology 87:  326-33.Smith, KS. 2008. Managing freshwater inflow to estuaries in northeast Puerto Rico: ecological and institutional considerations. Ph. D Dissertation.  University of Georgia , Athens

Ley, J.A., Montague, C.L., and McIvor , C.C. 1994. Food habits of mangrove fishes: a comparison along estuarine gradients in northeastern Florida Bay . Bulletin of Marine Science 54: 881-899.

Peterson, B.J. and Howarth, R.W. 1987. Sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen isotopes used to trace organic matter flow in the salt-marsh estuaries of Sapelo Island , Georgia . Limnology and Oceanography 32: 1195-1213.

Historical data collection methods (chapter 1 study) can be found in:  Corujo Flores I. 1980. A study of fish populations in the Espiritu Santo River Estuary. Masters Thesis. University of Puerto Rico , San Juan .

CROSS-REFERENCES (other data sets related to this one): Historical data (chapter 1 study) can be found in:  Corujo Flores I. 1980. A study of fish populations in the Espiritu Santo River Estuary. Masters Thesis. University of Puerto Rico , San Juan .

SAMPLE LOCATION : NA

STORAGE SITES (of data files): The data are filed and a hard copy of the data maintained at the NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation, 1315 East West Highway , Silver Spring MD 20910

INVESTIGATOR'S ASSIGNED KEYWORDS: Tropical island estuaries, estuarine fish communities, long-term change, freshwater inflow, stable isotopes, food-webs

LEF LTER OFFICIAL KEYWORDS (See table):

PUBLICATIONS:

Smith K.L., Corujo Flores I. , and Pringle C.M. 2008. A comparison of current and historical fish assemblages in a Caribbean island estuary: Conservation value of historical data. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. 18: 993-999

Smith K.L., Rodriguez del Rey Z., Pringle C.M., and Alber M. Accepted with Revisions. Stable isotope and gut content analysis reveal contributions of riverine organisms and other organic matter inputs in two Puerto Rican Estuaries. Estuaries and Coasts

DISSEMINATION:

UNRESTRICTED

REASONS TO RESTRICT DATA IN THIS DATA SET BEYOND ITS TWO YEAR POLICY PERIOD*:

*WILL HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY LTER PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS: N. BROKAW, A. LUGO

FILING

_x_ "File" copy only: Data Management will only file an electronic copy of the data file and its documentation 
___ "Enter" data on-line: Data Management will be in charge of entering the data on computer files  (Contact Eda C. Meléndez)

SITES DESCRIPTIONS: See above Maps. GPS coordinates not available.

Geographical positional system (GPS) Coordinates for each location:

location	latitude	longitude

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)	SITE, FISH, ISOTOPE	SITE, FISH, ISOTOPE	SITE, FISH	SITE
Abbreviation Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)	River_Number	Station	Date	Time
NAME OF VARIABLE	Name of estuary	Station in the Espiritu Santo or Mameyes	Date that sample was collected	Time of sampling
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Estuary from which the sample was taken	Station from which the sample was taken Low to high = fresh to salt along the estuarine salinity gradient	Day and month of the year that the sample was collected	Time of day that the sample was collected (start time)
UNIT			day/month/year	Am/Pm
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	1= Espiritu Santo, 2= Mameyes	In chapter 1: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8; In chapter 2: 1, 2, or 3	6/08/2004 to 7/30/2004	7:00 am to 11:00 pm
DATA TYPE	Integer	Integer	Date	Other
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)	SITE	SITE	SITE	SITE	SITE
Abbreviation(as it appears on the data file)	DOmg-L_top_	DOmg-L_bottom_	Turbidity_top_	Turbidity_bottom_	Salinity_top_
NAME OF VARIABLE	Surface dissolved oxygen	Bottom dissolved oxygen	Surface turbidity	Bottom turbidity	Surface Salinity
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Dissolved oxygen at 0.25 m above the estuary floor	Dissolved oxygen at 0.25 m below the estuary surface	Turbidity at 0.25 m above the estuary floor	Turbidity at 0.25 m below the estuary surface	Salinity at 0.25 m below the estuary surface
UNIT	milligramsPerLiter	milligramsPerLiter	Ntu	Ntu	PSU
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	4.5 to 13.11	0.53 to 10.35	1.15 to 61.4	1.9 to 71.1	0.05 to 27.47
DATA TYPE	decimal	decimal	decimal	decimal	decimal
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)	SITE	SITE	SITE	FISH	FISH
Abbreviation Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)	Salinity_bottom_	WaterTemp_top_	WaterTemp_bottom_	Scientific_name	Weight
NAME OF VARIABLE	Bottom Salinity	Surface Water Temp	Bottom Water Temp	Scientific name of fish collected	Weight of fish
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Salinity at 0.25 m above the estuary floor	Water temperature at 0.25 m above the estuary floor	Water temperature at 0.25 m above the estuary floor	Scientific name of fish collected	Weight of fish in grams
UNIT	PSU	celsius	celsius		gram
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	0.06 to 37.98	24.57 to 29.85	24.0 to 31.6		1.6 to 1164.5
DATA TYPE	decimal	decimal	decimal	Alphanumeric	decimal
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)	FISH	FISH	FISH, ISOTOPE, GCA	ISOTOPE	ISOTOPE
Abbreviation Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)	Size_full_	Size_standard_	Isotope_number	Type	C
NAME OF VARIABLE	Full length of fish	Standard length of fish	Isotope number	type of sample	δ13C
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Length of fish nose to longest point on tail	Length of fish nose to fork or tail	The identifier given to all fish to link that fish to the muscle sample run for isotope analysis and their gut contents	type of sample collected for isotope analysis	δ13C = [(Rsample/Rstandard) - 1] × 1000 where R = 13C/ 12C
UNIT	centimeters	centimeters			Parts per thousand
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	4 to 57	3 to 51			-32.83 to -12.23
DATA TYPE	decimal	decimal			decimal
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)	ISOTOPE	ISOTOPE	GCA	GCA	GCA
Abbreviation Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)	N	S	Part	Date_of_ID	Food_Item
NAME OF VARIABLE	δ14N	δ34S	Part of stomach	Date of identify-cation	Type of food item
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	δ15N = [(Rsample/Rstandard) - 1] × 1000 where R = 15N/ 14N	δ34S = [(Rsample/Rstandard) - 1] × 1000 where R = 34S/32S	Part of stomach analyzed (gut or intestine)	Date that the gut content was anal-ysized	Type of food item found in the gut
UNIT	Parts per thousand	Parts per thousand
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	-3.56 to 13.17	5 to 22.15
DATA TYPE	decimal	decimal
MISSING DATA CODES

VARIABLES (ATTRIBUTES):

File Name or # above (all in which the variable appears)	GCA	GCA	GCA
Abbreviation Abbreviation (as it appears on the data file)	Number_of_Individuals	Squares_Covered	Comments
NAME OF VARIABLE	Total number of individuals found of each food item	Quantity of guts contents that the food item composed	Comments regarding gut comments
DEFINITION OF VARIABLE	Total number of individuals found in stomach contents for  each food item	Number of squares on a grid covered by each found item	Additional information or observations about the gut contents or the gut content analysis
UNIT	Number	number
PRECISION
RANGE OR LIST OF VALUES	1 to 82	0.01 to 2270
DATA TYPE	integer	decimal
MISSING DATA CODES

COMPUTATIONAL METHODS:

Variable Name	Formula
NA

  FOR DATA MANAGER USE ONLY

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: January 4, 2010

DATE OF LAST ENTRY : August 6, 2004

STAGE OF DATA SET MANAGEMENT (dates) :

RECEIVED: May 31, 2009
ENTERED: May 31, 2009
FILED ON-LINE: January 4, 2010
REVIEWED BY RESEARCHER:

FILING MEDIA :

NAME OF DOCUMENTATION FILE: dsetallfrm_KS LTER DATA.doc
NAME OF ON - LINE CATALOG: lterdb168.htm
RECORD # :   168
DOCUMENT TYPE:
PRIORITY TO BE ENTERED : 

Rev. date of this form: 28 July 200/ 15 July  2001/June 9, 2003/March 16, 2004/12 April 2005/ 8 November 2005