TABLE 2A. Column descriptors for Nodes data sheet.
| Column Number | Column Header | Column Description |
| 1 | System | The specific system to which the node information applies. In these datasets, system refers to "estuary". |
| 2 | NodeID | The unordered nominal node specific ID number of the discrete species lifecycle stage.� |
| 3 | SpeciesID | The unordered Species ID number. This is independent of Node ID number and is consistent across nodes depicting different lifecycle stages of the same species. If one wishes to combine across life stages they can substitute this number for the Node ID in analyses. |
| 4 | StageID | The ordinal Stage ID number within species. Adult lifecycle stages are designated as 1. The youngest lifecycle stage is then 2, next youngest 3, etc. Each number corresponds to a particular lifecycle stage that is consistent within a group but not between them (Examples: for trematodes 2 = parthenitae, but for dipterans 2 = larvae). Not all of a species' lifecycle stages are necessarily present a particular food web. |
| 5 | Stage | The unordered nominal description of the lifecycle stage code that is consistent within a particular group. |
| 6 | SpeciesID.StageID | The unique nominal numeric code for a node that combines Species ID and Stage ID, which are separated by a decimal point. |
| 7 | WorkingName | A working name for each node that is intended to be informative and useful. When available, widely used common names were employed. If no common name exists then a species name was used. If no species name was available, then a working or descriptive name was employed. |
| 8 | OrganismalGroup | A category broader than 'Working Name' primarily intended be informative, particularly in letting the user know "what kind" of organism a particular node is. |
| 9 | NodeType | An indication of what a particular node represents (Examples: a taxon or life-stage). |
| 10 | Resolution | The lowest taxonomic level that a node represents (For instance, Family, Species). A species does not need to be identified to a species binomial in order to be treated as a discrete species. |
| 11 | ResolutionNotes | Further information on node resolution (For instance, if a single node is suspected of being a cryptic species complex). |
| 12 | Feeding | A designation as to whether a node is feeding or non-feeding. Autotrophs are considered non-feeding as are certain metazoan lifecycle stages. |
| 13 | Lifestyle(stage) | An unordered enumerated description of whether a particular species' lifecycle stage is symbiotic or free-living, and if symbiotic, what type of symbiont it is. �Symbiosis� is used here consistent with De Bary (1879), referring to all interspecific durable associations, including both parasitism and mutualism. |
| 14 | Lifestyle(species) | An unordered enumerated description of the fidelity a particular species has concerning interactions with other organisms.� |
| 15 | ConsumerStrategy(stage) | The unordered enumerated description of the general consumer strategy of a particular species lifecycle stage. It should describe the majority (usually all) of the trophic interactions of a particular consumer.� |
| 16 | HabitatAffiliation | An unordered enumerated characterization of the habitat zone or type where the organism is found (Examples: a bivalve may be in the soft-sediment or benthos). |
| 17 | Mobility | An ordinal enumerated characterization of the short-term vagility of the free-living nodes (excluding micropredators) in the system.� |
| 18 | Residency� | An unordered enumerated characterization of the long-term vagility �of the free-living nodes (excluding micropredators) in the system. |
| 19 | NativeStatus | An unordered enumerated characterization of whether or not an organism is native or non-native� to the system. |
| 20 | BodySize(g) | The mean body size (grams wet weight, soft & hard parts) of an individual node. If units vary, a separate BodySizeUnits column can be employed. |
| 21 | BodySizeSD | The standard deviation for body size. |
| 22 | BodySizeN | The number of individuals that were sampled to estimate average body size. |
| 23 | BodySizeEstimation | The unordered enumerated description of the method used to quantify body size. |
| 24 | BodySizeNotes | Notes on the calculation the body size for a particular node in a particular system. |
| 25 | Abundance(no./ha) | The average numeric density (number of individuals/hectare) of a particular node in a particular system. If units vary, a separate AbundanceUnits column can be employed. |
| 26 | Abundance95%CL | The 95% confidence limits for the abundance estimate. |
| 27 | AbundanceDF | The degrees of freedom used to calculate the 95% CL for abundance. Note, in these datasets, the stratified sampling design results in fractional degrees of freedom. |
| 28 | Biomass(kg/ha) | The average biomass density (kilograms/hectare, soft & hard parts) of a particular node in a particular system. Count density can be approximated from biomass and body size. If units vary, a separate BiomassUnits column can be employed. |
| 29 | Biomass95%CL | The 95% confidence limits for the biomass estimate. Note, in these datasets, the stratified sampling design results in fractional degrees of freedom. |
| 30 | BiomassDF | The degrees of freedom used to calculate the 95% CL for biomass. |
| 31 | BiomassEstimation | An unordered enumerated description of the method used to quantify the biomass of a particular node in a particular system. |
| 32 | BiomassNotes | Notes concerning biomass of a particular node in a particular system. |
| 33 | Kingdom | Taxonomic unit |
| 34 | Phylum | Taxonomic unit |
| 35 | Subphylum | Taxonomic unit |
| 36 | Superclass | Taxonomic unit |
| 37 | Class | Taxonomic unit |
| 38 | Subclass | Taxonomic unit |
| 39 | Order | Taxonomic unit |
| 40 | Suborder | Taxonomic unit |
| 41 | Infraorder | Taxonomic unit |
| 42 | Superfamily | Taxonomic unit |
| 43 | Family | Taxonomic unit |
| 44 | Genus | Taxonomic unit |
| 45 | SpecificEpithet | Taxonomic unit |
| 46 | NodeNotes | Any general notes on the node |