Colonization of Iva plants by insects 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 2026

The goal is to understand how far marsh insects disperse to colonize Iva plants. We will place 15 potted Iva plants in the marsh (each supported on a 2 x 4 post so that they don't get excessive tidal flooding) at variable distances (< 10 meters into the high marsh) from natural stands of Iva. Insects arriving on the plants will be sampled every few days for 2 months. Plants and support posts will then be removed.

marsh population density LTER NSF GCE insects Iva plants invertebrate ecology population ecology terrestrial insect ecology Overall geographic extent of the research project -81.282950 -81.278834 31.398877 31.395295 2014-06-15 2014-08-15

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estuary marsh complex UGA Marine Institute - The University of Georgia Marine Institute is located on the southern end of Sapelo Island, a barrier island off the central Georgia coast. -81.282950 -81.278834 31.398877 31.395295 Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Maps/GCE-58-2014_Maps_Colonization_of_Iva.kml

Near the marine institute dike at the south end of Sapelo Island (GPS location 31.399487, -81.287263).

15 potted Iva plants, each supported on a 2 x 4 post so that they don't get excessive tidal flooding.