DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rjdfn2zmd
title: Data from: Structure and function of restored and natural salt marshes: Implications for ecosystem resilience and adaptive potential

description: Salt marshes have ecological and economic value, but shoreline
 development, the increasing rate of sea-level rise, and other human
 impacts have caused significant loss of salt marshes. As a result,
 restoration of these ecosystems is widespread. For restoration and
 management to be effective, it is imperative to improve our understanding
 of marsh-building plants that serve as the ecological foundation of these
 habitats. Given the observed differences in characteristics between
 populations of smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora,
 restoration plantings may impact the biodiversity and resilience of
 restored ecosystems. Understanding differences in the structural and
 functional outcomes of active planting of restoration sites will enable
 the long-term success of restoration efforts to be improved. Natural and
 restored salt marshes in Long Island Sound were studied in 2021–2022
 for S. alterniflora genetics, biomass, stem morphology,
 and faunal community composition. The average genotypic diversity
 of S. alterniflora was more than 4 times higher in
 restored than in natural marshes, and differentiation between each
 restored site and natural sites decreased with time. No difference was
 observed in live S. alterniflora belowground biomass;
 however, mean dead belowground biomass in natural marshes was more than 3
 times greater than in restored marshes. Marsh platform invertebrates
 differed between the restored and natural sites, with natural marsh edge
 habitats having 9 times higher density of Geukensia demissa and 3
 times as many crab burrows than in restored marshes, but there was no
 detected difference in species richness or abundance of nekton at high
 tide. With restoration practitioners seeking resilient, self-sustaining
 ecosystems, it is important to evaluate whether restored marsh
 characteristics are consistent with those goals and modify restoration
 planning accordingly to incorporate genetics, structure, and function.
description: Please see publication for full methodology: "Structure and
 function of restored and natural salt marshes: implications for ecosystem
 resilience and adaptive potential" (Estuaries and Coasts).
description: # Data from: Structure and function of restored and natural salt marshes:
 Implications for ecosystem resilience and adaptive potential
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rjdfn2zmd](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rjdfn2zmd) These data were collected in 2021-2022 field research in 12 salt marsh sites (plus 1 common garden site) in Connecticut, USA. The full methods and results can be found in a publication in the journal "Estuaries and Coasts" (Crosby et al. 2024). ## Description of the data and file structure All raw data have been aggregated into individual csv files corresponding to different datasets and/or data types. The included data are: (1) Spartina alterniflora plant metrics (density, height, diameter, flowers), (2) water quality data from the field sites, (3) details about the common garden planting experiment, (4) S. alterniflora plant metrics from the transplanted plants in the common garden (density, height, diameter, flowers), (5) S. alterniflora biomass (above and belowground) from the field sites and common garden, (6) flooding depth measurements from each field site, (7) marsh edge slope measurements, (8) sediment grain size, (9) site elevation (as measured with an RTK unit), (10) plant species composition at the field sites, (11) air temperature and (12) water temperature data as downloaded from the nearest NOAA weather station, (13) surveys of marsh fauna on the marsh surface at low tide, (14) surveys of nekton using the marsh at high tide, (15) lengths of nekton observed in the dataset provided in tab #14, (16) S. alterniflora plot-level genotypic diversity, (17) S. alterniflora site-level genotypic diversity, (18) S. alterniflora genetic differentiation (Fst), (19) Fis (genetics), and (20) Gis (genetics).  **Missing Values:** Field values in the data files of "NA" or "nan" or "-" or blank fields (empty cells) should be treated as no data available. In some instances, field values of "-" indicate that data were not collected due to completeness of all measurements possible for that sample; for example, if only 5 stems were present in a plot, then only 5 stem heights were able to be measured and the 6th-10th stem height fields were marked with a dash ("-"). **Descriptions of Variables in Each Data file:** ###### 1\_Spartina plant metrics * Year: The year during which the measurements were made. * Month: The month during which the measurements were made. * Date: The date on which the measurements were made. * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. * Plot: The identifying number of the plot for each site (replicate). * Live S. alterniflora Stem Dens (per 0.25x0.25m): The number of live stems of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* counted within a 0.25-m square. * S. alterniflora Flower Density (per 0.25m2 plot): The number of stems of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* with flowers present counted within a 0.25-m square. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 1 (cm): The height (from the ground to the tip of the tallest leaf when held upright) of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 2 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 3 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 4 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 5 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 6 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 7 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 8 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 9 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 10 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 1 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot, measured at the place where the first leaf (lowest to the ground) emerges from the stem. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 2 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 3 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 4 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 5 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 6 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 7 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 8 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 9 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 10 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. ###### 2\_Water quality data * Sampling Event: The season and year when the data were collected. - Year: The year during which the measurements were made.  - Month: The month during which the measurements were made. - Date: The date on which the measurements were made. - Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. - Water Temperature (Deg C): The temperature of the water adjacent to the site (in degrees Celcius) measured using a portable water quality meter. - Soil Temperature (Deg F): The temperature of the soil (in degrees Fahrenheit) measured by inserting a soil thermometer ~15cm into the ground. - Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L): The concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water adjacent to the site (in mg per liter) measured using a portable water quality meter. - Salinity (ppt): The salinity (i.e., concentration of salt) of the water adjacent to the site (in parts per thousand) measured using a portable water quality meter. ###### 3\_Common garden planting * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. * Harvest from Source: The date on which *Spartina alterniflora* plants were harvested from a given study site for planting in the common garden site (a salt marsh in Westport, CT). * Planted at Common Garden: The date on which those *Spartina alterniflora* plants were planted into the common garden site (a salt marsh in Westport, CT). * Water Temp (Deg C): Same as "2" above. * Salinity (ppt):  Same as "2" above. * DO (mg/L):  Same as "2" above. * Time/Notes for Water Quality Data: Any relevant notes recorded by the field team at the time of sampling. ###### 4\_Spartina plant metrics from common garden * Year: The year during which the measurements were made. * Month: The month during which the measurements were made. * Date: The date on which the measurements were made. * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. * Plot: The identifying number of the plot for each site (replicate). * Live S. alterniflora Stem Dens (per 8-cm diameter core): The number of live stems of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* counted within an 8-cm diameter circle. * S. alterniflora Flower Density (per 8-cm diameter core): The number of live stems of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* with flowers counted within an 8-cm diameter circle. - S. alterniflora Stem Height 1 (cm): The height (from the ground to the tip of the tallest leaf when held upright) of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 2 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 3 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 4 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 5 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 6 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 7 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 8 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 9 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Height 10 (cm): The height of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 1 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot, measured at the place where the first leaf (lowest to the ground) emerges from the stem. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 2 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 3 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 4 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 5 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 6 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 7 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 8 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 9 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. * S. alterniflora Stem Diameter 10 (mm): The diameter of one randomly-selected stem of the plant species *Spartina alterniflora* within the plot. ###### 5\_Spartina biomass * Field Site: The origin salt marsh from which the sample was collected. - Site Sampled: The site where the sample was collected prior to processing. For rows where the 3rd column has a value of "Field," this column has the same value as "Field Site." For values of "Common Garden," those samples were collected from the "Field Site" and transplanted to a common garden (all planted together at one salt marsh) for the summer growing season, and then harvested from the common garden. Those samples show the letters "CG" and a dash prior to the origin salt marsh name or an abbreviated version of that name. For example, a core from Branford that was transplanted to the common garden is shown as "CG-Bran" in this column. - Field or Common Garden: Whether this sample was collected directly from a salt marsh or had been transplanted into the common garden. - Natural or Restored Site?: Whether the salt marsh sampled was a natural marsh or a marsh that had previously been planted with plants as part of a habitat restoration project. - Core: The replicate number (1-10 for field, and 1-5 for common garden) of each sample for each site. - Dead 0-10: The dry weight in g of the dead* Spartina alterniflora* (plant) material present in the top 10cm (10cm closest to the surface) of an 8-cm diameter cylindrical sample (sediment core). - Dead 10-20: The dry weight in g of the dead *Spartina alterniflora* (plant) material present in the next 10cm (10cm beneath the 10cm closest to the surface) of an 8-cm diameter cylindrical sample (sediment core). - Dead Above: The dry weight in g of the dead* Spartina alterniflora* (plant) material present in the aboveground components (i.e., stems, leaves) of an 8-cm diameter cylindrical sample (sediment core). - Live 0-10: The dry weight in g of the alive *Spartina alterniflora* (plant) material present in the top 10cm (10cm closest to the surface) of an 8-cm diameter cylindrical sample (sediment core). - Live 10-20: The dry weight in g of the alive *Spartina alterniflora* (plant) material present in the next 10cm (10cm beneath the 10cm closest to the surface) of an 8-cm diameter cylindrical sample (sediment core). - Live Above: The dry weight in g of the alive* Spartina alterniflora* (plant) material present in the aboveground components (i.e., stems, leaves) of an 8-cm diameter cylindrical sample (sediment core). ###### 6\_Flooding depth * Date: Date on which the measurements were made. * Site:  The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. * Replicate: The replicate number for a measurement at each site. * Water height (cm): The maximum height of the water at high tide on the date indicated. * Time: The time following the high tide when the recorded maximum height was observed. ###### 7\_Marsh edge slope * Date: Date on which the measurements were made. * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. * Plot: The identifying number of the plot for each site (replicate). * 0m: The vertical distance from the elevation of the marsh platform to the bottom sediment at 0m from the marsh edge (by default, this is 0 for all plots). * 0.5m from marsh platform edge: The vertical distance from the elevation of the marsh platform down to the bottom sediment at 0.5m seaward from the marsh edge. * 1m: The vertical distance from the elevation of the marsh platform down to the bottom sediment at 1m seaward from the marsh edge. * 1.5m: The vertical distance from the elevation of the marsh platform down to the bottom sediment at 1.5m seaward from the marsh edge. * 2m: The vertical distance from the elevation of the marsh platform down to the bottom sediment at 2m seaward from the marsh edge. * Calculated Marsh Edge Slope: The slope of the marsh edge, as calculated by the regression of a line through those points (from 0 to 2 m). ###### 8\_Sediment grain size * CESE ID no.: Unique identifier associated with sample, from processing laboratory. * Beaker ID no.: Unique identifier associated with sample, from processing laboratory. * Field ID No.: Unique identifier associated with sample, from field collection. * Fraction % &gt; 63um: Percentage of sediment within the sample that was larger than 63um but less than 2mm in size. * Fraction % &lt; 63um: Percentage of sediment within the sample that was smaller than 63um in size. * Fraction % &gt;2mm: the sample that was larger than 2mm in size. * Comments and Notes: Any relevant comments or notes related to the sample. ###### 9\_Site elevation * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. * Restored/Natural: Whether the salt marsh sampled was a natural marsh or a marsh that had previously been planted with plants as part of a habitat restoration project. * Plot: The identifying number of the plot for each site (replicate). * Elevation (m): The ground elevation estimated by the RTK (real-time kinematics) rover based on the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88) in meters. * Northing (m): The y coordinate value in planar coordinate system USA/NAD83/CT state plane (feet) denoted in meters. * North Point (ft): Northing geographic data point in USA/NAD83/CT state plane (feet). * North Std deviation: The standard deviation value for northing or y-coordinate point measurements * Easting (m): The x coordinate value in planar coordinate system USA/NAD83/CT state plane (feet) denoted in meters. * East Point (ft): Easting geographic data point in USA/NAD83/CT state plane (feet). * East std dev.: The standard deviation value for easting or x-coordinate point measurements * Horizontal Root Mean Square (HRMS): The root mean square calculation of all horizontal or x-coordinate measurements taken to produce a value of relative horizontal precision. * Vertical Root Mean Square (VRMS): The root mean square calculation of all vertical or y-coordinate measurements taken to produce a value of relative vertical precision. * Vertical Standard Deviation (VSDV): The standard deviation calculation of all vertical or y-coordinate measurements taken to produce a value of relative vertical error. * Horizontal Standard Deviation (HSDV): The standard deviation calculation of all horizontal or x-coordinate measurements taken to produce a value of relative horizontal error. ###### 10\_Plant species composition * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. - Date: Date on which the measurements were made. - Transect: The replicate (1-3) line within each marsh along which samples were taken. - Plot: The identifying number of the plot for each site (replicate), with the number indicated the distance inland in meters and the letter indicating each of 3 replicates at that distance (A, B, and C). - *Spartina alterniflora*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Spartina patens*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Distichlis spicata*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - Bare Space: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by no plants (visual estimate). - *Salicornia* spp.: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant genera (visual estimate). - *Aster* spp.: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant genera (visual estimate). - *Atriplex patula*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Limonium carolinianum*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Pluchea purpurascens*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Spergularia marina*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Phragmites australis*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Solidago* spp.: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant genera (visual estimate). - *Elatine* spp.: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Sueda* *maritima*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Gerardia maritima*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). - *Iva* *fructescens*: The percent of a 0.5m-square occupied by this plant species (visual estimate). ###### 11\_Air temp Data source: [https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/met.html?bdate=20210401&edate=20211001&units=standard&timezone=GMT&id=8461490&interval=h&action=data](https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/met.html?bdate=20210401&edate=20211001&units=standard&timezone=GMT&id=8461490&interval=h&action=data) Downloaded on 3/23/22 * Month: The month in which the measurement was made. * Date: The date on which the measurement was made. * Time (GMT): The time at which the measurement was made. * Datapoint: A unique identifier assigned by the data generator. * NEW HAVEN Air Temp (°F): The measured temperature of the air in degrees Fahrenheit at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration station in New Haven, CT. * NEW LONDON Air Temp (°F): The measured temperature of the air in degrees Fahrenheit at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration station in New London, CT. ###### 12\_Water temp [https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/physocean.html?bdate=20210401&edate=20211001&units=standard&timezone=GMT&id=8465705&interval=h&action=data](https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/physocean.html?bdate=20210401&edate=20211001&units=standard&timezone=GMT&id=8465705&interval=h&action=data) Data downloaded 3/23/22 Same as above for "11_Air temp," except that the values are for the water temperature instead of the air temperature. ###### 13\_Marsh surface fauna * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the measurements were made. * Treatment: Whether the salt marsh sampled was a natural marsh or a marsh that had previously been planted with plants as part of a habitat restoration project. * GPS: Location where the sample was taken, as recorded using a global positioning system field unit. * Sampling Season and Year: Season and Year in which the measurements were made. * Sampling Season: Season in which the measurements were made. * Year: Year in which the measurements were made. * Date: Date on which the measurements were made. * Sampling time: Time at which the measurements were made. * Low tide: Time of low tide on the measurement date, as determined by the nearest tide gauge. * High tide: Time of high tide on the measurement date, as determined by the nearest tide gauge. * Air temperature (°C): The temperature of the air at the site (in degrees Celcius) measured using a thermometer. * Water temperature (°C): The temperature of the water adjacent to the site (in degrees Celcius) measured using a portable water quality meter. * Salinity (ppt): The salinity (i.e., concentration of salt) of the water adjacent to the site (in parts per thousand) measured using a portable water quality meter. * Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L): The concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water adjacent to the site (in mg per liter) measured using a portable water quality meter. * Transect Number: The replicate (1-3) line within each marsh along which samples were taken. * Distance from marsh edge (m): The distance inland along the transect from the marsh edge. * Transect_Distance: The distance inland along the transect from the marsh edge (0, 30, 10, or end). * Quadrat replicate: Each of 3 replicates at that distance (A, B, and C). * Uca spp. burrows: Number of crab burrows counted within a 0.5m-square. * M. bidentatus: Number of animals of this species (*Melampus bidentatus*) counted within a 0.5m-square. * Geukensia demissa: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * Uca_per_m2: Number of crab burrows counted within a 0.5m-square, converted to a per square meter density. * Melampus_per_m2: Number of animals of this species (*Melampus bidentatus*) counted within a 0.5m-square, converted to a per square meter density.. * Geukensia_per_m2: Number of animals of this species (*Geukensia demissa*) counted within a 0.5m-square, converted to a per square meter density. * M. edulis: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * C. virginica: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * H. sanguineus: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * I. obsoleta: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * L. littorea: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * L. saxatilis: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * N. lapillus: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * M. mercenaria: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * Sesarma sp.: Number of animals of this genus counted within a 0.5m-square. * C. maenas: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * I. trivittata: Number of animals of this species counted within a 0.5m-square. * Other species (Specify) from Notes: Number of other animals counted within a 0.5m-square. ###### 14\_Marsh nekton high tide * Same as "13" above for Site, GPS, Treatment, Year, Date, Low Tide, High tide, Air temperature (°C), Water temperature (°C), Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), and Salinity (ppt). * Sampling time: Time when the unbaited Breder trap was deployed in the marsh. * Sampling end time:  Time when the unbaited Breder trap was recovered from the marsh. * Replicate: The replicate number for each Breder trap at each site (1-6). * F. heteroclitus: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * F. majalis: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * M. menidia: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Stickleback: Number of animals of this type counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * P. pugio: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * H. sanguineus: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * C. variegatus: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * A. rostrata: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * C. maenas: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Fundulus sp.: Number of animals of this genus counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Unknown Teleost: Number of animals of this type counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Amphipods: Number of animals of this type counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Uca pugnax: Number of animals of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Other: Number of other animals counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Notes: Relevant notes recorded by the field team during data collection. ###### 15\_Nekton lengths * Same as "14" above for: Site, GPS, Date, Year, Sampling time, Sampling end time, Low tide, High tide, Air temperature (°C), Water temperature (°C), Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L), Salinity (ppt), and Replicate. * Trap Type: Breder for all. * F. heteroclitus lenths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * F. majalis lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * M. menidia lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Stickleback lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this type counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * P. pugio Carapace Length (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * H. sanguineus Carapace width (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * C. variegatus lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * C. maenas Carapace Widths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * A. rostrata lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Fundulus sp. lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this genus counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Unknown teleost (settler) lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this type counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Amphipods lengths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this type counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Uca pugnax Carapace Widths (cm): The individual length of each animal of this species counted within the Breder trap during one high tide deployment. * Other/Notes: Relevant notes recorded by the field team during data collection. ###### 16\_Genetics plot level genotypic diversity * Population: Plot at each field site (or plant nursery shipment) where samples were taken ("PineA/B" = Pinelands Nursey bag A and bag B; "NEWPA/B" = New England Wetlands Plants Nursey bag A and bag B). * size: Number of samples included. * num: Number of unique genotypes. * eff: Effective number of genotypes. * div: Simpson's diversity index. * eve: Evenness (eff/num). * shu: Shannon-Wiener index. * sch: Shannon index corrected for sample size. * diu: Nei's uncorrected genetic diversity. ###### 17\_Genetics site level genotypic diversity * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the samples were collected ("Pine" = Pinelands Nursey and "NEWP" = New England Wetlands Plants Nursey). * For all others, same as "16" above. ###### 18\_Genetics site level Fst * Site: The name of the study site salt marshes where the samples were collected. * Data Type: Either "Values of F_st for all pairs of populations" or "p-values for all pairs of populations" is shown for each row of data. * All other columns represent the names of individual study sites and the individual values for each Data Type. GenoDive 3.06, 2023-01-23 17:02:56 +0000 Pairwise Differentiation. File: SITELEVELANALYSES 513 of 1303 individuals included, 10 of 10 loci included ###### 19\_Genetics Fis * Population: The name of the study site salt marshes where the samples were collected. * DataType: Either "Values of F for all pairs of populations" or "p-values for all pairs of populations" is shown for each row of data. - The columns "SPAR9_FAM, SPAR05_VIC, SPAR10_NED, SPAR17_PET, SPAR02_FAM, SPAR03_VIC, SPAR14_NED, SPAR16_FAM, SPAR07_NED, SPAR08_PET, Multi-locus" represent individual loci. - This file contains inbreeding coefficients (calculated as Fis and Gis, which ranges from -1 to 1) for each locus at each site, as well as each site overall. The significance values (p-values) of those estimates are also shown. These metrics measure the proportion of genetic differentiation within sites that is due to differences among individuals, also interpreted as the relatedness of individuals, which increases with increased homozygosity. Most of these values are positive and significant at the site level, suggesting significant inbreeding / high relatedness. These statistics were run with only unique clones per population (i.e., clonal replicates are removed). GenoDive 3.06, 2023-01-23 20:22:45 +0000 Hardy-Weinberg. 513 of 1303 individuals included, 10 of 10 loci included ###### 20\_Genetics Gis Same as "19" above, except for G instead of F. GenoDive 3.06, 2023-01-23 20:22:59 +0000 Hardy-Weinberg. 513 of 1303 individuals included, 10 of 10 loci included ## Funding Funding for this work was provided by Connecticut Sea Grant, University of Connecticut, through Award Number NA18OAR4170081, Project Number 390251. These data and related items of information have not been formally disseminated by NOAA and do not represent any agency determination, view, or policy. ## Sharing/Access information [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12237-024-01395-y#citeas](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12237-024-01395-y#citeas)