Flux tower monthly vegetation monitoring Dr. Steven C. Pennings University of Houston

Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Houston Texas 77204-5513 USA

scpennin@central.uh.edu https://uh.edu/nsm/biology-biochemistry/people/profiles/steven-pennings/ https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4757-7125 Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Project

Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602-3636 USA

gcelter@uga.edu https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/ Dr. Steven C. Pennings University of Houston

Department of Biology and Biochemistry University of Houston Houston Texas 77204-5513 USA

scpennin@central.uh.edu https://uh.edu/nsm/biology-biochemistry/people/profiles/steven-pennings/ https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4757-7125 Principal investigator Dr. Adrian B. Burd University of Georgia

Dept. of Marine Sciences University of Georgia Athens Georgia 30602-3636 USA

adrianb@uga.edu http://www.marsci.uga.edu/directory/adrian-burd https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6345-8770 Co-investigator Dr. Monique Y. Leclerc University of Georgia

Georgia Experiment Station Crop and Soil Sciences University of Georgia Griffin Georgia 30223 USA

mleclerc@uga.edu http://www.cropsoil.uga.edu/personnel/faculty/leclerc.html https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8666-4400 Co-investigator 2026

We will conduct monthly monitoring of above and below-ground plant biomass in stands of short, medium and tall Spartina in the vicinity of the flux tower to provide high frequency data to support plant modeling and interpretation of flux tower measurements. We plan to conduct these measurements for four years. Methods: 1) We will deploy six permanent plots (0.25 x 0.25 or 0.5 x 0.5 m) in each of three vegetation zones (short, medium and tall Spartina). We will measure the height of all living stems in each plot approximately monthly. 2) We will collect 4 haphazardly-located cores (4 inch diameter, 30 cm depth) in each of the same 3 vegetation zones to measure the root:shoot ratio of Spartina approximately monthly.

Area 3: Responses to Salinity and Inundation (more information)

marsh biomass LTER NSF GCE plants Spartina primary production Overall geographic extent of the research project -81.301987 -81.263124 31.486493 31.410854 2013-06-10

Part of the core activities of the GCE-LTER GCE-III proposal, NSF, ~$5 million.

estuary marsh complex Duplin River - Duplin River transect used for GCE quarterly hydrographic monitoring surveys. Nominal profiling stations are defined at various locations along the Duplin River west of Sapelo Island, Georgia. -81.301987 -81.263124 31.486493 31.410854 GPS data file (Trimble, Excel) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gps_data/GCE-47-2013_GPS_FluxVegPlots2014.zip Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Maps/GCE-47-2013_Maps_Flux_tower_vegetation_monitoring_site.xps

The exact location is under discussion, but plots will be located with 1-2 km of the GCE LTER flux tower in the Duplin River estuary.

We will mark the 24 plots with pvc stakes. We will locate two short leg units (made of untreated 2 x 4s) in front of each plot so that it is possible to approach each plot using a temporary, moveable boardwalk that will be relocated from plot to plot. This will minimize trampling in the immediate vicinity of each plot. Stakes and boardwalk legs will be removed when the project is completed.

We will collect 12 Spartina samples (4 inch diameter cores centered on a Spartina culm) on each sampling date. This collection activity is covered by the UGAMI collecting permit.

PLT-GCEM-1610 - Monthly Vegetation and Invertebrate Population Monitoring near the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER Flux Tower https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=604 PLT-NASA-2006a - Leaf area index for Spartina alterniflora near the GCE-LTER Flux Tower in 2018 and 2019 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=719 Document: Flux Tower Monthly Vegetation Monitoring Protocol https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/resource_details.asp?id=774 Document: Flux Tower Vegetation Chlorophyll Sampling Protocol https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/resource_details.asp?id=828