Data for evaluating the Sr/Ca temperature proxy with in-situ temperature in the western Atlantic coral Siderastrea siderea

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How might this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How might this data set be cited?
   Kuffner, Ilsa B., 20161103, Data for evaluating the Sr/Ca temperature proxy with in-situ temperature in the western Atlantic coral Siderastrea siderea: U.S. Geological Survey Data Release doi:10.5066/F7XP732P, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.5066/F7XP732P

   This is part of the following larger work.
   Kuffner, Ilsa B., Roberts, Kelsey E., Flannery, Jennifer A., Morrison, Jennifer M., and Richey, Julie N., Unpublished material, Fidelity of the Sr/Ca proxy in recording ocean temperature in the western Atlantic coral Siderastrea siderea: Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (G-Cubed) 2016-Volume 20, Issue 11.

   Online Links:

   • https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GC006640

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -82.7728
   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -80.0956
   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 25.59047
   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.62687
   

3. What does it look like?
4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Beginning_Date: 16-Aug-2009

   Ending_Date: 15-May-2012

   Currentness_Reference:

   ground condition

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
   

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      
   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      
7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Growth_SST_Sr_Mg_39_corals.csv, Growth_SST_Sr_Mg_39_corals.xlsx

   These files contain attribute information for the dataset evaluating the Sr/Ca temperature proxy with in-situ temperature in the western Atlantic coral Siderastrea siderea including coral growth rates, underwater temperature where coral was growing, and mean values for geochemical data. To view the data in a tab-delimited format arranged by column, please use the Excel spreadsheet. (Source: USGS)

   Coral_ID

   Coral identification number (Source: USGS) Coral identification numbers were arbitrarily assigned.

   Site

   Site name is a three-letter abbreviation for the off-shore reef in the Florida Keys where the coral was grown during the study (Source: USGS) FWY = Fowey Rocks, MLR = Molasses Reef, SMK = Sombrero Key Reef, and PLS = Pulaski Shoal

   LE_dye

   Linear extension rate (mm / year) measured with alizarin Red S staining (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1.4
   Maximum:	5.0
   Units:	millimeters per year (mm / year)

   LE_geo

   Linear extension rate (mm / year) measured using geochemical data (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1.7
   Maximum:	5.4
   Units:	millimeters per year (mm/year)

   Cal_avg

   Annual average calcification rate (mg / day / cm2 planar surface area) measured by buoyant weight (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	1.40
   Maximum:	6.53
   Units:	Milligrams per day per square centimeter of planar surface area (mg / day / cm2)

   MgCa

   Mean magnesium to calcium ratio (mmol Mg / mol Ca) during year between stain lines (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	3.22
   Maximum:	5.70
   Units:	Ratio of millimoles of magnesium to moles of calcium (mmol Mg / mol Ca)

   SrCa

   Mean strontium to calcium ratio (mmol Sr / mol Ca) during year between stain lines (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	8.82
   Maximum:	9.22
   Units:	Ratio of millimoles of strontium to moles of calcium (mmol Sr / mol Ca)

   Sr_max

   Maximum strontium to calcium ratio (mmol Sr / mol Ca) during year between stain lines (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	8.97
   Maximum:	9.34
   Units:	Ratio of millimoles of strontium to moles of calcium (mmol Sr / mol Ca)

   Sr_min

   Minimum strontium to calcium ratio (mmol Sr / mol Ca) during year between stain lines (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	8.69
   Maximum:	9.16
   Units:	Ratio of millimoles of strontium to moles of calcium (mmol Sr / mol Ca)

   SST_avg

   Mean sea-surface temperature at coral location during year between stain lines (degree Celsius) (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	25.4
   Maximum:	27.0
   Units:	Celsius

   SST_min

   Minimum monthly sea-surface temperature at coral location during year between stain lines (degree Celsius) (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	20.3
   Maximum:	23.6
   Units:	Celsius

   SST_max

   Maximum monthly sea-surface temperature at coral location during year between stain lines (degree Celsius) (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	30.1
   Maximum:	31.0
   Units:	Celsius

   PassQA

   Answer to question “did coral pass quality control assessment” (yes or no) (Source: USGS) Answer to question “did coral pass quality assessment (QA)” (yes or no). Reason for not passing QA is either geochemical and or photographic evidence of diagenesis (e.g., secondary calcification) or linear extension rate below 1.66 mm per year.

   SrCa_MgCa_all_drill_paths.csv, SrCa_MgCa_all_drill_paths.xlsx

   These files contain attribute information for the dataset evaluating the Sr/Ca temperature proxy with in-situ temperature in the western Atlantic coral Siderastrea siderea and include coral geochemical data for all drill paths. When viewing, SrCa_MgCa_all_drill_paths.csv, please note that “NAN” stands for “not a number” (value was deemed erroneous and omitted). To view the data in a tab-delimited format arranged by column, please use the Excel spreadsheet. (Source: USGS)

   Coral_ID

   Coral identification number (Source: USGS) Coral identification numbers were arbitrarily assigned.

   Site

   Site where coral was growing during the study (FWY = Fowey Rocks, MLR = Molasses Reef, SMK = Sombrero Key Reef, and PLS = Pulaski Shoal) (Source: USGS) FWY = Fowey Rocks, MLR = Molasses Reef, SMK = Sombrero Key Reef, and PLS = Pulaski Shoal

   Drill_path_number

   Drill path number is an arbitrarily assigned number for a particular sequence of drilling points across the coral slab. (Source: USGS) There were up to three drilling paths per coral slab arbitrarily labeled "1," "2," and "3."

   Date_est

   Estimated date (decimal year) (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	2009.542
   Maximum:	2012.458
   Units:	Year to the nearest one-hundredth decimal place. The geochemical values corresponding to these points in time represent approximately two weeks to two months of coral growth, depending upon the number of samples per annual growth band.

   SrCa_mmol_mol

   Strontium to calcium ratio (mmol Sr / mol Ca); NAN = “not a number” (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	8.672
   Maximum:	9.352
   Units:	Ratio of millimoles of strontium to moles of calcium (mmol Sr / mol Ca)

   MgCa_mmol_mol

   Magnesium to calcium ratio (mmol Mg / mol Ca); NAN = “not a number” (Source: USGS)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	2.765
   Maximum:	11.661
   Units:	Ratio of millimoles of magnesium to moles of calcium (mmol Mg / mol Ca)

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   The entity and attribute information provided here describes the tabular data associated with the dataset. Please review the detailed descriptions that are provided (the individual attribute descriptions) for information on the values that appear as fields/table entries of the dataset.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:

   The entity and attribute information was generated by the individual and/or agency identified as the originator of the dataset. Please review the rest of the metadata record for additional details and information.

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Ilsa B. Kuffner
2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   Acknowledgment of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program, as a data source would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected.

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Ilsa B. Kuffner

   U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

   600 4th Street South

   Saint Petersburg, FL
   

   U.S.A.

   727-502-8000 (voice)

   ikuffner@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

Data were obtained to test the hypothesis that the coral Siderastrea siderea faithfully records sea-surface temperature (SST) in the Sr/Ca record throughout the subtropical (Florida, USA) seasonal cycle along a 350-km longitudinal gradient. These data will be used to improve quality control protocols for using Sr/Ca as a proxy for sea-surface temperatures and the inferences about past climate variability that are the product of these types of studies.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 01-May-2011 (process 1 of 1)

   The United States Geological Survey collected the Siderastrea siderea coral slabs used in this study in May 2011 and May 2013. Coral colonies with ID numbers in the 100s were monitored for growth from summer 2010 to May 2011. Corals with ID numbers in the 200s were monitored from May 2011 to May 2013. Mean calcification rates were quantified by weighing the corals using the buoyant weight technique (see Kuffner et al. 2013) every spring and autumn. Corals were stained with alizarin Red S to mark annual timestamps in the skeletons. At the end of monitoring, 4-mm slabs were sliced from the central growth axis of each coral. Annual linear extension rates were determined by scanning the slabs on a flatbed scanner and using iSolution Capture® version 3.1 image analysis software (IMTi-Solution Inc., Vancover, BC Canada) to measure the distance between the stain lines and distance from the last stain line to the surface of the coral. Linear extension rate data reported here are means of the two years adjusted to a 365-day year. Linear extension rate estimated using the geochemical (Sr/Ca) data was calculated by averaging the distances (mm) between the Sr/Ca maxima (corresponding with lowest estimated temperatures). Coral slabs underwent quality assessment for evidence of diagenesis (e.g., secondary calcification) and low growth rates, and those that did not pass were removed from the study (see Kuffner et al. [in review] for details). Subsampling of coral slabs for estimating Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca values was done using a tri-axial micromill by removing skeletal samples along a continuous thecal wall with a 0.5 mm drill-bit and 0.5 mm forward increment. Between 88 and 237 μg of subsampled skeletal powder was weighed out for each sample from each of the corals and was acidified using ultrapure 2% HNO3 in order to obtain sample solutions with a target Ca concentration of 20 ppm. A PerkinElmer 7300 dual view inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) was used to make the Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca determinations. The average corrected internal gravimetric standard (IGS) precision was at or better than 0.013 mmol per mol for Sr/Ca, and 0.046 mmol per mol for Mg/Ca. The Sr/Ca records were converted to SST using the calibration equation Sr/Ca = -0.043*SST + 10.11. Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Jennifer Flannery

   U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Geology Science Center

   Chemist

   600 4th Street South

   Saint Petersburg, Florida
   

   U.S.A.

   727-502-8000 (voice)

   jflannery@usgs.gov

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
   Kuffner, Ilsa B., Roberts, Kelsey E., Flannery, Jennifer A., Morrison, Jennifer M., and Richey, Julie N., Unpublished material, Fidelity of the Sr/Ca proxy in recording ocean temperature in the western Atlantic coral Siderastrea siderea: Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (G-Cubed) 2016-Volume 20, Issue 11.

   Online Links:

   • 10.1002/ggge.xxxxx

   Kuffner, I.B., T.D. Hickey, and J.M. Morrison, 2013, Calcification rates of the massive coral Siderastrea siderea and crustose coralline algae along the Florida Keys (USA) outer-reef tract: Coral Reefs Volume 32, pages 987-997.

   Online Links:

   • http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-013-1047-8

   Kuffner, I. B., 2015, Underwater temperature on off-shore coral reefs of the Florida Keys, U.S.A.: Lancet U.S. Geological Survey data release doi: 10.5066/F71C1TZK.

   Online Links:

   • http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F71C1TZK.

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?
   No formal attribute accuracy tests were conducted.
2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
   No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
   No formal positional accuracy tests were conducted.
4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
   Dataset is considered complete for the information presented, as described in the abstract. Users are advised to read the rest of the metadata record carefully for additional details.
5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
   No formal logical accuracy tests were conducted.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:

Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. The U.S. Geological Survey requests to be acknowledged as originator of these data in future products or derivative research.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   
   Ilsa B. Kuffner

   U.S. Geological Survey

   600 4th Street South

   Saint Petersburg, FL
   

   U.S.A.

   727-502-8000 (voice)

   ikuffner@usgs.gov
2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? Growth_SST_Sr_Mg_39_corals.csv, Growth_SST_Sr_Mg_39_corals.xlsx, SrCa_MgCa_all_drill_paths.csv, SrCa_MgCa_all_drill_paths.xlsx
3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   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.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	CSV (Comma Separated Values) (version N/A)
     Network links:	http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/data-release/doi-F7XP732P/data/Growth_SST_Sr_Mg_39_corals.zip http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/data-release/doi-F7XP732P/data/SrCa_MgCa_all_drill_paths.zip

   • Cost to order the data: None. No fees are applicable for obtaining the dataset.

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 18-Mar-2019

Metadata author:

Ilsa B. Kuffner

U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Research Marine Biologist

600 4th Street South

Saint Petersburg, Florida

U.S.A.

727-502-8048 (voice)

ikuffner@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)