A simple and effective sampler to collect undisturbed cores from tidal marshes

Abstract

Core sampling is a common procedure in wetland ecology. A simple and inexpensive sampler is described for field use. Its main advantages are: 1) extraction of undisturbed cores; 7.6 cm diameter and up to 100 cm depth, 2) it is lightweight, sturdy and reliable, 3) it is made from widely available PVC items and 4) it requires minimal skills to assemble. The sampler is introduced in the wetland soil, by rotation, to the desired depth; the tooth-like edge can cut and penetrate through the dense root systems. The sampler is capped with an industrial-type stopper, and pulled up. The core is held in the sampler by suction-negative pressure. A plunger is then used to slowly remove the soil-core and sub-samples are collected. Alternatively, both ends of sampler could be sealed and taken to the lab. An 8 cm long sub-sample was adequate for soil physical, biogeochemical and molecular analysis. The sampler has been tested for 2 years with more than 200 cores taken from tidal wetlands in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia, USA. A negative correlation between salinity and organic matter content at 3-5 and 8-10 cm was found. For the deeper samples (48-50 cm), a positive correlation between salinity and organic matter was observed. The sampler worked satisfactory and it required no maintenance besides cleaning.

16S rRNA gene amplicon-based metagenomic analysis of bacterial communities in the rhizospheres of selected mangrove species from Mida Creek and Gazi Bay, Kenya

“…For each individual mangrove species, four points (~2 meters distance apart) were selected for sampling. The sampling was done at two depths (1-5 cm and 10-15 cm), using a standardized core sampler [22]. The coring was conducted closely to the mangrove roots in order to capture the rhizosphere.…”

Assessing Carbon Storage Potential of Forested Wetland Soils in Two Physiographic Provinces of Northern Virginia, USA

“…Soil core samples were collected down to 30 cm at each subplot between March and August 2020 using a PVC pipe with handcrafted jigsaw teeth (radius = 3.8 cm) modified from other designs [37,38] and following procedures of previous studies [9,39,40]. After removal, each core (n = 60) was trisected into three depth intervals of equal length using notches on the PVC pipe at 10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm.…”

Diversity and assembly patterns of mangrove rhizosphere mycobiome along the Coast of Gazi Bay and Mida Creek in Kenya

“…Four mangrove trees of each species at intervals of 10 m were chosen. For each individual mangrove species, the sediments (~100 g) were sampled vertically along the base of the plant at two depths (1-5 cm and 10-15 cm), using a standardized core sampler [29]. Eight samples (Four samples from each of the two sampling depths) were collected from each of the four-mangrove species in Gazi Bay and Mida Creek (making a total of 64 samples all together).…”