Environmental conditions of a salt-marsh biodiversity experiment on the island of Spiekeroog (Germany)

Zielinski, O., Meier, D., Lõhmus, K., Balke, T. , Kleyer, M. and Hillebrand, H. (2018) Environmental conditions of a salt-marsh biodiversity experiment on the island of Spiekeroog (Germany). Earth System Science Data, 10(4), pp. 1843-1858. (doi: 10.5194/essd-10-1843-2018)

[img]
Preview
Text
171503.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

9MB

Abstract

Field experiments investigating biodiversity and ecosystem functioning require the observation of abiotic parameters, especially when carried out in the intertidal zone. An experiment for biodiversity–ecosystem functioning was set up in the intertidal zone of the back-barrier salt marsh of Spiekeroog Island in the German Bight. Here, we report the accompanying instrumentation, maintenance, data acquisition, data handling and data quality control as well as monitoring results observed over a continuous period from September 2014 to April 2017. Time series of abiotic conditions were measured at several sites in the vicinity of newly built experimental salt-marsh islands on the tidal flat. Meteorological measurements were conducted from a weather station (WS, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.870988), oceanographic conditions were sampled through a bottom-mounted recording current meter (RCM, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.877265) and a bottom-mounted tide and wave recorder (TWR, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.877258). Tide data are essential in calculating flooding duration and flooding frequency with respect to different salt-marsh elevation zones. Data loggers (DL) for measuring the water level (DL-W, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.877267), temperature (DL-T, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.877257), light intensity (DL-L, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.877256) and conductivity (DL-C, https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.877266) were deployed at different elevational zones on the experimental islands and the investigated salt-marsh plots. A data availability of 80% for 17 out of 23 sensors was achieved. Results showed the influence of seasonal and tidal dynamics on the experimental islands. Nearby salt-marsh plots exhibited some differences, e.g., in temperature dynamics. Thus, a consistent, multi-parameter, long-term dataset is available as a basis for further biodiversity and ecosystem functioning studies.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The BEFmate project (Biodiversity–Ecosystem Functioning across marine and terrestrial ecosystems) was funded by the Ministry for Science and Culture of Lower Saxony, Germany under project number ZN2930.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Balke, Dr Thorsten
Authors: Zielinski, O., Meier, D., Lõhmus, K., Balke, T., Kleyer, M., and Hillebrand, H.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Earth System Science Data
Publisher:Copernicus Publications
ISSN:1866-3508
ISSN (Online):1866-3516
Published Online:16 October 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Earth System Science Data 10(4):1843-1858
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record