Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)/VCR003: Characterization of Nutrient Pools on the Virginia Coast Reserve

Bulk sediment samples are collected by hand corer. Sediment nutrients are collected 1) by directly modified Chambers-Fourqurean lysimeters, and 2) by KCl extraction from cored samples.

Sampling is done at 1) several areas on the mainland, principally in the Phillips Creek area, 2) mid-lagoon habitats, primarily on Middle Marsh Island, and 3) along several transects on Hog Island. On Hog Island, we established four primary marsh transects, two in the north and two in the south of the island. Ammonium, phosphate, carbon, salinity, and aeration are measured at stations located at fixed distances from marsh creeks.