Abstract:

This dataset reports on the preferences of two estuarine herbivores (grass shrimp Palaeomonetes pugio and amphipod Gammarus mucronatus) for submerged vegetation (widgeongrass Ruppia maritima) grown in 4 different concentrations of oil: none (0 mL oil/L tank volume), low (0.26 mL oil/L tank volume), medium (0.53 mL oil/L tank volume), and high (1.05 mL oil/L tank volume). Carbon:Nitrogen ratios of plants and proportion loss of plant material after feeding by herbivores are presented for two experiments: 1) paired choice comparisons, and 2) foraging rate determination. All experiments were conducted in the laboratory at Louisiana State University. Related measurement, oil analysis, and cohesion data can be found in GRIIDC dataset R1.x139.143:0047.

Suggested Citation:

Martin, Charles W.. 2018. Laboratory experiments to determine herbivory of submerged vegetation exposed to oil. Distributed by: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Information and Data Cooperative (GRIIDC), Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi. doi:10.7266/N79G5KBF

Publications:

Martin, C. W., & Swenson, E. M. (2018). Herbivory of oil-exposed submerged aquatic vegetation Ruppia maritima. PLOS ONE, 13(12), e0208463. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0208463

Purpose:

The dataset was developed to determine the influence of oil on the palatability of Ruppia maritima.

Data Parameters and Units:

Oil Treatments: None= 0 mL of oil Low= 5 mL of oil Medium= 10 mL of oil High= 20 mL of oil Worksheet: Choice Test Replicate: User designated trial number; Herbivore: Organism used in study (either Palaeomonetes pugio or Gammarus mucronatus); Experiment: Type of experiment that was conducted (Choice=where a herbivore was offered a choice between two grasses exposed to one of the four oil treatments or Rate=where a herbivore was offered a single grass exposed to one of the four oil treatments; Comparison: description of choice comparison (LvH = Low vs High; LvM = Low vs Medium; HvM = High vs Medium; NvH = None vs High; NvL = None vs Low; NvM = None vs Medium); Leaf: Oil level to which specific leaf being measured was exposed (N=None, L=Low, M=Medium, H= High); Initial agar/leaf weight: Weight of the leaf before experiment, in grams; Final agar/leaf weight: Weight of the leaf after experiment, in grams; Proportion loss 24 hours: proportion consumed by herbivore during the experiment. Worksheet: Foraging Rate Replicate: User designated trial number; Herbivore: Organism used in study (either Palaeomonetes pugio or Gammarus mucronatus); Experiment: Type of experiment that was conducted (Choice=where a herbivore was offered a choice between two grasses exposed to one of the four oil treatments or Rate=where a herbivore was offered a single grass exposed to one of the four oil treatments; Duration: Length of time the trial was conducted (either 24 or 48 hours); Leaf: Oil level to which specific leaf being measured was exposed (N=None, L=Low, M=Medium, H= High); Initial agar/leaf weight: Weight of the leaf before experiment, in grams; Final agar/leaf weight: Weight of the leaf after experiment, in grams; Proportion loss: Proportion consumed by herbivore during the experiment. Worksheet: CN Ratio Oil exposure level: Level of oil to which the vegetation was exposed (None=N, Low=L, Medium=M, or High=H); C:N ratio: Carbon to Nitrogen ratio in plant leaf tissue from randomly selected leaves in one of 10 tanks containing the corresponding oil exposure level.

Methods:

Plant loss was measured as the proportion change in mass according to the following calculation: (original tissue weight - final tissue weight)/original tissue. Plants were grown for a 1-month period and exposed to oil (if applicable) for that period as well. Animals for this study were collected in existing Ruppia beds in the field and according to all permits, laws, and regulations.

Individual Files: