Metadata: Identification_Information: Citation: Citation_Information: Originator: Kathryn E.L. Smith Originator: James G. Flocks Originator: Gregory D. Steyer Originator: Sarai C. Piazza Publication_Date: 20140929 Title: Wetland Paleoecological Study of Coastal Louisiana: Surface Sediment and Diatom Calibration Dataset Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data Online_Linkage: https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/0877 Description: Abstract: Wetland sediment data was collected from coastal Louisiana as part of a pilot study to develop a diatom-based proxy for past wetland water chemistry and the identification of sediment deposits for tropical storms. The complete dataset includes forty-six surface sediment samples and nine sediment cores. The surface sediment samples were collected in fresh to brackish marsh throughout the southwest Louisiana Chenier plain and are located coincident with Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS). Sediment cores were collected at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge. The data described here include both sedimentary properties and diatom species counts for the surface sediment samples. Purpose: To investigate the use of diatoms as a proxy for past water chemistry and identification of historic storms. Supplemental_Information: This metadata describes data on laboratory analyses of surface sediment samples collected at CRMS sites (surface_sediment_properties.txt) and diatom species counts from these same samples (surface_sediment_diatom.txt). For diatom species counts, attributes are assigned a species code that is defined by the taxa's genus and species name. A description of the code set is found in the included taxa_list.txt file. Time_Period_of_Content: Time_Period_Information: Range_of_Dates/Times: Beginning_Date: 20100202 Ending_Date: 20100401 Currentness_Reference: field collection date Status: Progress: Complete Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: As needed Spatial_Domain: Bounding_Coordinates: West_Bounding_Coordinate: -93.698100 East_Bounding_Coordinate: -89.604200 North_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.962400 South_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.243800 Keywords: Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Metadata Identifier Theme_Keyword: USGS:b5f15e23-9809-4ab0-8c6b-675a2181331f Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category Theme_Keyword: biota Theme_Keyword: environment Theme_Keyword: geoscientificInformation Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: USGS Thesaurus Theme_Keyword: geology Theme_Keyword: ecology Theme_Keyword: wetland ecosystems Theme_Keyword: diatoms Theme_Keyword: unconsolidated deposits Theme: Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Theme_Keyword: samples Theme_Keyword: sediment Theme_Keyword: cores Theme_Keyword: diatoms Theme_Keyword: paleoecology Theme_Keyword: paleoecological indicator Theme_Keyword: wetlands Place: Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Place_Keyword: Louisiana Place_Keyword: Chenier Plain Place_Keyword: Gulf of Mexico Stratum: Stratum_Keyword_Thesaurus: None Stratum_Keyword: Subsurface Stratum_Keyword: Sediment Stratum_Keyword: Benthic Access_Constraints: None Use_Constraints: Prior to use of these records in any analysis or report, the USGS must be notified and if used the provenance of the original data must be acknowledged. Acknowledge the use of specific records from contributing USGS databases and recognize the limitations of data. Point_of_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Kathryn Smith Contact_Position: Ecologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: physical and mailing Address: 600 4th Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: Florida Postal_Code: 33701 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-803-8747 Browse_Graphic: Browse_Graphic_File_Name: pages/figures/Fig1_map.jpg Browse_Graphic_File_Description: Map of the location of sample sites in the Chenier Plain of southwest Louisiana (inset A). Surface sediment sample stations (circles) were collected throughout the Chenier Plain at monitoring stations. Sediment cores (stars) were collected at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge (inset B). Browse_Graphic_File_Type: JPG Data_Set_Credit: Data are provided by the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) through funding from the Coastal and Marine Geology Program. The USGS National Wetlands Research Center (NWRC) and Louisiana Department of Natural Resources are recognized as essential collaborators in sample collection. Native_Data_Set_Environment: Microsoft Windows 7; Microsoft Excel Version 14.0; ESRI ArcGIS 10.1 Cross_Reference: Citation_Information: Originator: Kathryn E.L. Smith Publication_Date: 2012 Title: Paleoecological Study of Coastal Marsh in the Chenier Plain, Louisiana : Investigating the Diatom Composition of Hurricane-Deposited Sediments and a Diatom-Based Quantitative Reconstruction of Sea-Level Characteristics Publication_Information: Publication_Place: Gainesville, FL Publisher: University of Florida Thesis (Ph.D.) Data_Quality_Information: Attribute_Accuracy: Attribute_Accuracy_Report: The validity or accuracy of information is dependent on sample collection, preparation, and analyses. When replicate samples were collected for sediment properties, the standard deviation is provided. Several replicate species counts were conducted to determine consistency and were found to be similar, suggesting procedures had a high-degree of accuracy; however, no statistical procedures detailing accuracy were conducted. Species identities are dependent on available flora and uncertainty in species identifications are noted. Logical_Consistency_Report: No tests for fidelity were performed. Completeness_Report: Data are complete. Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy: Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report: Expected horizontal accuracy for site surveys is 0.005 to 0.020 meters. http://www.lacoast.gov/crms/doc/ATTACHMENT_3_GPSGUIDE.pdf Lineage: Process_Step: Process_Description: Sediment sample field collection: Surficial sediment samples were collected from a network of permanent wetland monitoring stations called the Coastwide Reference Monitoring System (CRMS). All sampled stations were located in the Chenier Plain in southwest Louisiana and were sampled to include representative salinity regimes for the region. Samples were collected by pushing a 10-cm diameter polyvinyl carbonate cylinder into the sediment and removing the surface 0-2 cm surface by extrusion. This procedure was selected because it replicated the sampling procedure interval of the sediment cores. Samples were labeled using CRMS site identification numbers and environmental data (salinity, water level, elevation, sediment accretion, and vegetation) for each site was obtained from CRMS monitoring data. All samples were stored in leak-proof containers, treated with isopropyl alcohol and placed on ice immediately to preserve the sample and reduce the chance of bacteria growth during transport. The samples remained refrigerated until processed, where they were homogenized and divided into sub-samples for laboratory processing. Process_Date: 2010 Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: physical sediment samples Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Kathryn Smith Contact_Position: Ecologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: physical and mailing Address: 600 4th Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: Florida Postal_Code: 33701 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727502-8000 Process_Step: Process_Description: Laboratory procedure: All surface sediment samples were processed in the laboratory for bulk density, organic carbon (by loss-on-ignition), and grain size. A 30-mL sediment sample was weighed wet, dried in an oven at 60 °C, and weighed again to calculate bulk density (dry mass divided by volume). Loss-on-ignition (LOI) was determined by grinding the dried sample to a fine powder and combusting a subsample at 650 °C for four hours. Approximately 50 percent of the samples were measured in triplicate to calculate sample error. Grain size was measured by laser diffraction using a Coulter LS 200 particle-size analyzer after organic digestion. For organic matter digestion, approximately 5g of sediment was placed in a 50-mL test tube, 15-mL of sodium hypochlorite was added, and placed in a warm water bath (80 °C) for 15 minutes. The sample was then centrifuged and supernatant was carefully removed using a pipette as to not remove sediments. The sodium hypochlorite digestion was conducted at least three times to remove all organic matter. After digestion, 7 percent sodium hexametaphosphate solution was added to deflocculate clays. At minimum, three aliquots were analyzed three times to generate a total of nine grain-size distributions for each sample. Estimates of percent sand, silt, clay and mean phi were calculated from grain size distributions for each aliquot using GRADISTAT version 8. The nine datasets were checked for any unusual variations (for example, exceptionally high or low values which can be caused by partially undigested organics or debris) and data were removed if values deviated significantly from the majority of aliquots (1 standard deviation from the mean). The remaining data were averaged to create a single estimate of grain size (percent sand, silt, and clay, and mean sediment size) for each sample. Data was copied into Microsoft Excel, double-checked for errors, and exported to a comma-delimited text file. Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: physical sediment samples Process_Date: 2011 Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: surface_sediment_properties.txt Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Kathryn Smith Contact_Position: Ecologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: physical and mailing Address: 600 4th Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: Florida Postal_Code: 33701 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-502-8000 Process_Step: Process_Description: Microfossil analyses: Approximately 0.5 mL of sediment was digested in a 100-mL beaker using hydrogen peroxide and potassium dichromate. Samples were rinsed twice with deionized (DI) water (the beaker was filled with DI water; sample was allowed to settle overnight, decanted to 500-mL mark, and refilled, etc.). Since samples contained a significant fraction of fine-grained sediment (silt and clay), a 7 percent sodium hexametaphosphate solution was added to deflocculate fine-grained sediments. Each sample was continually rinsed until decant was clear. A known volume (5 or 10 mL depending on the density of diatoms and sand grains) of diatom solution was added to settling trays containing four cover slips and allowed to dry (Battarbee, 1973). Cover slips were sealed to microscope slides using Zrax diatom mountant (refractive index ~ 1.7+). A minimum of 300 diatoms were identified to species and counted using a Nikon Optiphot light microscope at 1000x magnification (Plan 100x / 1.25 oil DIC objective). The identification of species and autecology, including general salinity preferences, was determined from taxonomic literature. Data was copied into Microsoft Excel, double-checked for errors, and exported to a comma-delimited text file. Source_Used_Citation_Abbreviation: physical sediment samples Process_Date: 2011 Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: surface_sediment_diatoms.txt Source_Produced_Citation_Abbreviation: taxa_list.txt Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Kathryn Smith Contact_Position: Ecologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: physical and mailing Address: 600 4th Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: Florida Postal_Code: 33701 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-502-8000 Process_Step: Process_Description: Keywords section of metadata optimized by correcting variations of theme keyword thesauri and updating/adding keywords. Process_Date: 20180328 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Arnell S. Forde Contact_Position: Geologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical address Address: 600 4th Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: FL Postal_Code: 33701 Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-502-8000 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: aforde@usgs.gov Process_Step: Process_Description: Added keywords section with USGS persistent identifier as theme keyword. Process_Date: 20201013 Process_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: VeeAnn A. Cross Contact_Position: Marine Geologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: Mailing and Physical Address: 384 Woods Hole Road City: Woods Hole State_or_Province: MA Postal_Code: 02543-1598 Contact_Voice_Telephone: 508-548-8700 x2251 Contact_Facsimile_Telephone: 508-457-2310 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: vatnipp@usgs.gov Spatial_Data_Organization_Information: Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Point Point_and_Vector_Object_Information: SDTS_Terms_Description: SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: Entity point Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 46 Spatial_Reference_Information: Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition: Geographic: Latitude_Resolution: 8.98315284119521e-009 Longitude_Resolution: 8.98315284119521e-009 Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal Degrees Geodetic_Model: Horizontal_Datum_Name: D WGS 1984 Ellipsoid_Name: WGS 1984 Semi-major_Axis: 6378137.0 Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 298.257223563 Entity_and_Attribute_Information: Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: surface_sediment_properties.txt Entity_Type_Definition: Sediment properties for surface sediment samples Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute: Attribute_Label: Site Attribute_Definition: Site identification number Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: A three- to four-digit number depicting the site identification number as defined by CRMS. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Latitude Attribute_Definition: Latitude coordinate in decimal degrees (WGS 1984) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 29.5632 Range_Domain_Maximum: 29.9624 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: decimal degrees Attribute: Attribute_Label: Longitude Attribute_Definition: Longitude coordinates in decimal degrees (WGS 1984) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: -93.6981 Range_Domain_Maximum: -92.0418 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: decimal degrees Attribute: Attribute_Label: Date Attribute_Definition: Date sample was collected Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Date is in MM/DD/YYYY format Attribute: Attribute_Label: BD Attribute_Definition: Bulk density (g/mL) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.0657 Range_Domain_Maximum: 0.6347 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: grams per milliliter Attribute: Attribute_Label: LOI Attribute_Definition: Loss-on-ignition (organic carbon) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 10.34 Range_Domain_Maximum: 88.53 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: percent Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_sand Attribute_Definition: Grain size: percent silt Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0 Range_Domain_Maximum: 100 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: percent Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_silt Attribute_Definition: Grain size: percent silt Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0 Range_Domain_Maximum: 100 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: percent Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_clay Attribute_Definition: Grain size: percent silt Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0 Range_Domain_Maximum: 100 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: percent Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_mean Attribute_Definition: Grain size: mean grain size (phi) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 4.5 Range_Domain_Maximum: 30.8 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: phi intervals Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_sd Attribute_Definition: Grain size: mean grain size standard deviation (phi) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.08 Range_Domain_Maximum: 3.5 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: phi intervals Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_sort Attribute_Definition: Grain size: sorting (describes the distribution of grain size) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 2.1 Range_Domain_Maximum: 7.5 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: phi intervals Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_skew Attribute_Definition: Grain size: skewness (describes grain size distribution) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: -0.5 Range_Domain_Maximum: 0.25 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: phi intervals Attribute: Attribute_Label: GS_kurt Attribute_Definition: Grain size: kurtosis (describes grain size distribution) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0.6 Range_Domain_Maximum: 1.2 Attribute_Units_of_Measure: phi intervals Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: surface_sediment_diatoms.txt Entity_Type_Definition: Diatom counts for surface sediment samples Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute: Attribute_Label: Site Attribute_Definition: Site identification number Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: A three- to four-digit number depicting the site identification number as definied by the CRMS. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Gen_spec* (multiple attributes represented by unique species codes, see Entity and Attribute Overview) Attribute_Definition: Percent of total diatoms counted that were identified by species. The attribute label is coded by species name. Please see the Entity and Attribute Overview for additional information. Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0 Range_Domain_Maximum: 100 Detailed_Description: Entity_Type: Entity_Type_Label: taxa_list.txt Entity_Type_Definition: Diatom species codes and species definitions, with authority, references, and count information. Entity_Type_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute: Attribute_Label: Code Attribute_Definition: Species code Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: The species code is typically in the form Gen_spec where Gen is a three-letter code for the Genus and spec is the four-letter code for the species. The inclusion of cf suggests the species appears similar to the reference identification, but may be slightly different in some of the descriptive characteristics. The code spp suggests a species complex, where specimens were identified only to the genus level. The code spp1 indicates a species not identified in available flora, but consistent specimens were grouped accordingly. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Taxon Attribute_Definition: Full species name Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Full species name with both Genus and species. The most recent nomenclature was used whenever possible. The inclusion of cf suggests the species appears similar to the reference identification, but may be slightly different in some of the descriptive characteristics. The code spp suggests a species complex, where specimens were identified only to the genus level. The code spp1 indicates a species not identified in available flora, but consistent specimens were grouped accordingly. Attribute: Attribute_Label: Authority Attribute_Definition: Species Authority Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: The full authority for the binomial name is given as described in the Catalogue of Diatom Names (http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/diatoms/names/) Attribute: Attribute_Label: Reference Attribute_Definition: Reference used to identify the specimen Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Unrepresentable_Domain: Citation (author and year only) used to identify the specimen. Full reference is available within the References Cited section of the data series (https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/0877/) Attribute: Attribute_Label: Total_Surf Attribute_Definition: Total number of surface sediment sites in which the species was identified (N=46) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0 Range_Domain_Maximum: 46 Attribute: Attribute_Label: Total_Core Attribute_Definition: Total number of core sediment samples in which the species was identified (N=47) Attribute_Definition_Source: USGS Attribute_Domain_Values: Range_Domain: Range_Domain_Minimum: 0 Range_Domain_Maximum: 47 Overview_Description: Entity_and_Attribute_Overview: * For diatom species counts, the attribute labels are defined by a species codeset that was created from the scientific species name. Species codes can be found in the Taxa list in the data series https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/0877 or in the included taxa_list.txt file. Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: Smith, K.E.L., Flocks, J.G., Steyer, G.D., and Piazza, S.C., 2014, Wetland Paleoecological Study of Coastal Louisiana: Sediment Cores and Diatom Calibration Dataset: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 877. [Available at https://doi.org/10.3133/ds877/] Distribution_Information: Distributor: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Kathryn Smith Contact_Position: Ecologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: physical and mailing Address: 600 4th Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: Florida Postal_Code: 33701 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-8502-8000 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: kelsmith@usgs.gov Distribution_Liability: This publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution imply any such warranty. The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the data described and (or) contained herein. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Standard_Order_Process: Digital_Form: Digital_Transfer_Information: Format_Name: text file (TXT) File_Decompression_Technique: ZIP Digital_Transfer_Option: Online_Option: Computer_Contact_Information: Network_Address: Network_Resource_Name: https://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/0877 Fees: None, if obtained online Metadata_Reference_Information: Metadata_Date: 20211109 Metadata_Contact: Contact_Information: Contact_Organization_Primary: Contact_Organization: U.S. Geological Survey Contact_Person: Kathryn Smith Contact_Position: Ecologist Contact_Address: Address_Type: mailing and physical Address: 600 4th Street South City: St. Petersburg State_or_Province: FL Postal_Code: 33701 Country: USA Contact_Voice_Telephone: 727-803-8747 Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: kelsmith@usgs.gov Metadata_Standard_Name: Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998 Metadata_Time_Convention: local time