Documents - Presentations - Oral Presentations

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Abstract - We studied aboveground biomass dynamics and spatial patterns of Marsh Cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, on the Central Georgia Coast. This keystone species accounts for 98% of the aerial extent of salt marshes in Georgia and comprise about 33% of all salt marsh on the U.S. Western Atlantic Coast. Geospatial techniques were used to scale up in situ biomass measurements within the NSF Georgia Coastal Ecosystems research domain on the Central Georgia Coast to landscape scale estimates using 290 Landsat 5 TM scenes from 1984 to 2011. Climate and hydrological variables were then used to explain variations in aboveground production for each of the three height classes of S. alterniflora. River discharge, total precipitation, minimum temperature, and mean sea level had positive relationships with and best explained biomass variation for all dates. Over the 28-year study period we documented biomass declines of 31.6 %, 33.4 %, and 38.7% for tall, medium, and short S. alterniflora height classes. These biomass declines were linked to increased drought severity and frequency over the last half of our study period. We then applied a larger, synoptic scale approach to riverine and tidal watersheds containing 620 square kilometers of S. alterniflora marshlands on the Georgia Coast (Savannah River to St Simon’s Sound) and found similar inter and intra-annual biomass patterns. Importantly, S. alterniflora biomass production was greatest in areas closest to larger inputs of freshwater and high precipitation. We infer that these areas of high production, especially in the Lower Altamaha River Watershed, were better buffered against drought stress, including soil salinization, and also experienced greater nitrogen loading rates. Overall, this much larger study area experienced a 20.6% average decline, representing a reduction of about 108,000 MT in aboveground live carbon biomass. This loss in marsh production presumably affects valuable ecosystem services, including wetland soil carbon sequestration and organic matter export (both particulate and dissolved). Thus, declines in marsh production could significantly reduce nutritional support to food webs and carbon biogeochemical cycling, as well as commercial fish and shellfish production, in Georgia’s estuaries and coastal ocean ecosystems. Finally, we are carrying our analyses forward using newer Landsat 8 OLI imagery. In addition, Landsat 7 ETM imagery is serving as a “bridge” to cross-calibrate between the Landsat 5 and Landsat 8 sensors and provide “gap coverage” between 2011 and 2014.

Abstract - This talk will provide perspectives on aquatic ecosystem stress responses acquired from 40+ years of field experiences in inland, estuarine, and coastal waters. Increasing, our study units are expressing multiple stressors and accelerated rates of ecosystem response. I'll use several examples from larger scale, synoptic studies using remote sensing to examine salt marshes, algal blooms, and fates of suspended sediments. Finally, I'll emphasize the value of place-based, local knowledge and talking with the stake-holders experiencing changes in aquatic systems.

Abstract - This workshop will introduce researchers to the use of drones for imaging study sites and best practices for creating actionable products and time series. We will start with the basics: FAA licensing, flight training, and designing a mission plan. We will discuss avoiding common hazards such as adverse weather conditions and low flying aircraft. The workshop will cover the use of color and multi / hyperspectral imaging, including the use of ground control points for georeferencing and reflectance panels for image calibration. We will demonstrate software for creating orthomosaics of drone imagery and performing common classification techniques. Finally, we will discuss the scaling of this high-resolution imagery to space-borne remote sensing technologies.

Abstract - Regardless of Q/A procedures, data quality issues are guaranteed with environmental sensor data. Without good Q/C data users can draw invalid conclusions (untrustworthy data). Therefore Q/C analysis is a critical part of any monitoring program.

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Abstract - In initial work, we studied aboveground biomass dynamics and spatial patterns of Spartina alterniflora, the keystone species of Central Georgia’s salt marshes. Geospatial techniques were used to scale up in situ biomass measurements to landscape scale and applied to 290 Landsat 5 TM scenes from 1984 to 2011. We documented biomass declines of 31.6 %, 33.4 %, and 38.7% for tall, medium, and short Spartina classes. The declines strongly correlated with increased drought frequency and severity and coincided with marsh die-back events and increased snail grazing. To explain temporal patterns, we compared biomass estimates with a suite of abiotic drivers. River discharge, total precipitation, Palmer Drought Severity Index, and mean sea level best explained biomass variations. We then extended our analysis to a much larger area (620 km2; St. Simons Sound to the Savannah River) and found the same inter and intra-annual biomass patterns. Moreover, higher biomass was associated with proximity to larger rivers (Altamaha, Ogeechee, and Savannah) and greater precipitation. In 2001, after an extended and severe drought, there was little net growth between late winter and fall and many marsh areas had net biomass loss. We’re now using Landsat 7 and 8 imagery to update our analysis to the present time. Collectively, these approaches address a key question: Are the serious declines we documented in Spartina alterniflora biomass and marsh health cyclical, or are they longer-term, directional trends related to climate change?

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Abstract - In this presentation I will share findings from a series of 19 interviews with long -term residents of McIntosh County Georgia. The interviews were designed to gather basic information about local perceptions of land -use and environmental change in this coastal county over the last 50 years. They were also conducted in order to gather information about resident’s primary environmental concerns and explore local ecological knowledge held by long-term residents. I will share the way participants voiced concerns about the loss of wetlands, changes in freshwater flow and salinity, and changes in populations of marine organ isms. Some commonly shared ideas raise additional questions about perceptions of environmental health. For example, the idea that trawling in areas like Sapelo Sound may have been beneficial and that the absence of this activity may have lead to a decline in water quality and the health of shellfish and finfish populations.

Abstract - Use of the GCE Data Toolbox to retrieve and analyze LTER data uploaded to the PASTA framework of the Network Information System and ClimDB climate database was described and demonstrated.

Abstract - The wise management of NOAA's Estuarine Research Reserves and other coastal sites requires accurate and timely information on the spatial extent, ecosystem health, and geospatial relationships of diverse habitats. Tools to delineate habitats using high resolution imagery, masking techniques, and the unique spectral characteristics of micro and macro vegetation to map wetlands, water, mudflats, and other habitats can provide a solution.

Abstract - The Metabase is a generalized relational database management system for managing LTER metadata, including personnel lists, site geography (study area polygons, point locations), instrumentation, research projects and data sets (studies, methods, entities, attributes, files). The database is also linked to bibliographic and taxonomic databases, supporting automatic cross-links between personnel, research, publications and data. The database also supports reciprocal queries between resources, for example data sets by investigator, and data sets referenced in publications. This database allows centralized management of all project information, and supports automated metadata generation for data sets and cross-links between related resources on the web.

Abstract - If current trends continue, in 2100 we can expect environmental information systems will have access to vast stores of data from automated sensor systems, scientists and the public will interact with these systems using natural human interfaces (including touch, speech and 3-dimensional vision), and natural language will replace technical query languages and syntax. In short, we will be approaching the "Star Trek" era of computing where concept replaces syntax and speech replaces text as the means of requesting information. To get there, we need ubiquitous and sophisticated metadata for all environmental data we collect.