Invasive species Dr. Thomas Dale Bishop University of Georgia

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

tdbish@sc.rr.com http://lmer.marsci.uga.edu/bios/bishop.html 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. Thomas Dale Bishop University of Georgia

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

tdbish@sc.rr.com http://lmer.marsci.uga.edu/bios/bishop.html Principal investigator Dr. Clay L. Montague University of Florida

University of Florida

montague@ufl.edu Affiliated investigator Dr. Ronald T. Kneib University of Georgia Marine Institute

University of Georgia Marine Institute Sapelo Island Georgia 31327 USA

Affiliated investigator Jacob Shalack University of Georgia Marine Institute

University of Georgia Marine Institute Sapelo Island Georgia 31327 USA

shalack@uga.edu Research technician 2026

D. Bishop has been monitoring oyster reef crab populations in the Duplin River annually since 2002. One decapod crustacean found in this survey, Petrolisthes armatus (the green porcelain crab), is an invasive species that has expanded its range from Indian River, FL to as far north as South Carolina since 1999. From 2003 to 2004, the number of P. armatus as a proportion of the three most common reef crabs increased from 6% to 60%. Over the same period, the percentage of flat-backed mud crabs (Eurypanopeus depressus) decreased from 77% to 18%. This shift may have resulted from competition for space as both are crabs are found in the upper interstices of oyster reefs. Moreover, P. armatus is a filter feeder and may compete with oysters for food resources. Several other crab species have been added to the growing list of non-native species within the Georgia domain: both the spotted mangrove crab (Goniopsis cruentata) and the Caribbean mud fiddler (Uca thayeri thayeri) were collected from the Duplin River in 2008. These new collections were made in collaboration with C. Montague (UF), R. Kneib (UGA) and J. Shalack. An additional project, conducted in conjunction with SINERR and UGA Marine Extension, was design to assess the occurrence of the invasive green mussel, Perna viridis, in Georgia estuaries (in conjunction with SINERR and UGA Marine Extension) was concluded in 2005. No significant populations were found at the sample sites monitored in the Savannah, Altamaha or Satilla Rivers. Although established populations continue to be found in the near shore region, significant invasion of the estuaries has not occurred.

Question 2: How do the spatial and temporal patterns of biogeochemical processes, primary production, community dynamics, decomposition, and disturbance vary across the estuarine landscape, and how do they relate to environmental gradients? (more information)

LTER NSF Altamaha River Georgia Satilla River Savannah River GCE Eurypanopeus depressus Goniopsis cruentata oyster reef crab Perna viridis Petrolisthes armatus Uca thayeri thayeri invasive species population Overall geographic extent of the research project -81.493498 -81.195661 31.552554 31.304063 2002-01-01 2004-12-31

National Science Foundation grant numbers OCE-9982133 and OCE-0620959

estuary marsh complex Eulonia - Transitional salt marsh/upland forest site at the upper reach of the Sapelo River near Eulonia, Georgia. The main marsh area is to the north of the channel where the upland is controlled by DNR. Several small creeks lie within the study area. Residential development is increasing on the upland areas south of the channel. A hydrographic sonde is deployed within this site attached to a private dock to the south of the main channel near the HW-17 bridge. The sonde is accessed from a dock on a private residence off of highway 17. As of late 2017 the property is owned by Linda Hornby. She asks that we notify her by text about an hour before arriving to service the sondes. There is no reason to go to this property other than for sonde work. -81.428481 -81.410732 31.546750 31.533963 Hunt Camp - Barrier island/marsh site on western Sapelo Island. This site is located at the upper reaches of the Duplin River, and is within the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. Existing well fields border small marsh area to northwest, some wells have been installed to south end of hammock where marsh is more extensive and permanent plots are located. Two existing hydrographic sondes and weather stations within this site are operated by SINERR (Hunt Camp dock) and UGAMI (flume dock). -81.295506 -81.258908 31.497026 31.462320 Four Mile Island - Low salt marsh/estuary site encompassing the southwestern end of Four Mile Island and the Sapelo River near Sapelo Sound. The large island is totally marsh, with no upland, and no development. Nearby areas, like "Sutherland Bluff", are developing with golf courses. A hydrographic sonde is deployed within this site attached to channel marker 4 (under U.S. Coast Guard permit). Salinity regime is similar to seawater. -81.318961 -81.292844 31.552554 31.533604 North Sapelo - High salinity marsh/Sapelo Sound site. Few or no small creeks, but one large creek is easily accessed. Further upstream upland drainage is affected by culvert at Reynolds' duck pond. Upland is heavily forested. Hydrographic sonde is deployed adjacent to this site attached to a channel marker (under U.S. Coast Guard permit). A huge mud flat is present at the northern tip of Sapelo Island. -81.233249 -81.195661 31.546868 31.515188 Meridian - Inland marsh and tidal creek site near Meridian, Georgia. The primary marsh site is to the south of the dock in front of the Sapelo Island Visitor Center. Some small creeks and one large creek (Hudson Creek) are present. Upland is heavily forested. Marsh to the north of the dock can be used for additional studies if larger areas are required. Upland to the North is being developed for residential use, so future access is uncertain. The USGS super station site (weather station plus multiple-sensor sonde) is deployed off the ferry dock. Salinity is similar to seawater because there is little freshwater input from the upland. -81.370752 -81.357256 31.463533 31.448419 Folly River - Salt marsh/tidal creek site at the Folly River near Doboy Sound. No upland areas present. The north side of Doboy Sound immediately opposite is similar, but creeks are not as nice. No existing markers are close enough for sonde deployment, so we will initially use the existing sonde at Marsh Landing operated by UGAMI for surrogate hydrographic data. -81.354413 -81.327201 31.442538 31.417640 Dean Creek - Doboy Sound/salt marsh site at the southern end of Sapelo Island near Dean Creek and the Sapelo lighthouse. A few small creeks are present, but a large creek (Dean Creek) is easily accessed. Upland is composed of small hammocks and some constructed causeways, with sand dune complexes east of Dean Creek and extending to the beach. Upper end of the watershed is affected by a culvert at Beach Road and heavy student use of marsh immediately adjacent to culvert. A hydrographic sonde is deployed in Doboy Sound near Commodore Island approximately 1.5km from this site. GCE6 is also the focus of Sapelo Island Microbial Observatory research on microbial diversity and genomics (http://simo.marsci.uga.edu) -81.299522 -81.264378 31.394072 31.371003 Carrs Island - Freshwater marsh site along the northern bank of Hammersmith Creek at the south end of Carrs Island. Upland area is heavily forested. Northern 3/4 of the island was diked for rice agriculture, but the southern 1/4 is undisturbed. A hydrographic sonde is deployed in the Altamaha River near Hammersmith Creek, adjacent to this site. -81.493498 -81.475900 31.348774 31.334364 Alligator Creek - Mid-estuary/salt marsh site on the west side of Friday Cap Creek along the Altamaha River. This is a brackish marsh with salinities around 14 PSU during drought, less than 5 PSU normally. A hydrographic sonde is deployed adjacent to this site in the Altamaha River near Alligator Creek, attached to the US Coast Guard Daymarker 2 pilings. -81.426272 -81.410634 31.317808 31.304063 Rockdedundy Island - Lower estuary tidal creek and marsh site at Rockdedundy Island west of Wolf Island. A hydrographic sonde is deployed approximately 2km from this site in the Altamaha River near Rockdedundy Island, attached to the US Coast Guard Daymarker 201 pilings. -81.346730 -81.326495 31.358142 31.339173 Seay, J.E., Bishop, T.D. and Tilburg, C.E. 2006. Poster: Spatial and temporal variations of Porcelain Crab larval abundance in a Georgia Estuary. Southeastern Estuarine Research Society Fall 2006 Meeting, 19 October - 21 October 2006, Savannah, Georgia. Shalack, J. and Bishop, T.D. 2004. Poster: Spatial and temporal variability in recruitment of decapod megalopae in the Duplin River, Georgia. Semiannual Meeting of the Southeastern Estuarine Research Society. Invertebrates - Poster Session. Southeastern Estuarine Research Society, 15-17 April 2004, Ft. Pierce, FL. http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/files/pubs/Shalack_SEERS_Duplex_Crabs_Apr04_revised.pdf Bishop, T.D., Hurley, D. and Alber, M. 2003. Presentation: An inventory of the macroinvertebrate fauna of oyster reefs in the Duplin River, Georgia, with emphasis on non-indigenous species occurrence. 2003 Estuarine Research Federation meeting. Sept. 14-18, 2003, Seattle, WA. Ogburn, M.B., Bishop, T.D. and Alber, M. 2003. Poster: Population dynamics of two salt marsh snails in three Georgia estuaries. Southeastern Estuarine Research Society meeting. March 2003, Atlantic Beach, NC. Bishop, T.D. 2003. Presentation: Invasive biology and status of the green porcelain crab (Petrolisthes armatus) in Georgia waters. South Georgia Invasive Species Workshop, sponsored by The Nature Conservancy and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. October 2003, Brunswick, GA. Alber, M., Cronin, T., Giblin, A., Howarth, R., Jay, D., Justic, D., Kimmerer, W., Montagna, P., Knowles, N., Najjar, R., Peterson, B., Scavia, D., Ulanowicz, D. and Walker, H. 2003. Presentation: Effects of climate-induced changes of freshwater inflow on estuaries: Report of the ERF biocomplexity working group. 2003 Estuarine Research Federation meeting. September 2003, Seattle, WA. Bishop, T.D. and Hurley, D. 2003. Poster: The non-indigenous porcelain crab, Petrolisthes armatus: population trends in the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. National Estuarine Research Reserve System / National Estuarine Research Reserve Association Annual Meeting. October 2003, Charleston, S.C. Bishop, T.D. and Hurley, D. 2003. Poster: The non-indigenous porcelain crab, Petrolisthes armatus: population trends in the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. 2003 Estuarine Research Federation meeting. September 2003, Seattle, WA. Alber, M. 2001. Presentation: Understanding freshwater inflow to Georgia estuaries: from science to policy. 2001 Estuarine Research Federation Meeting. Estuarine Research Federation, St. Pete Beach, Florida. INV-GCEM-1302 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2012 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=434 INV-GCEM-1208a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2011 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=429 INV-GCEM-1208a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2011 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=430 INV-GCEM-1101a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2010 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=427 INV-GCEM-1101a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2010 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=428 INV-GCEM-1010a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2009 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=329 INV-GCEM-1010a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2009 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=330 INV-GCEM-0811 - Fall 2008 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creek bank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=308 INV-GCEM-0812a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2008 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=314 INV-GCEM-0812a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2008 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=315 INV-GCEM-0804a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2007 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=310 INV-GCEM-0804a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2007 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=306 INV-GCEM-0804b - Fall 2007 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creek bank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=307 INV-GCEM-0705b - Fall 2006 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creek bank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=298 INV-GCEM-0705c1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2006 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=299 INV-GCEM-0705c2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2006 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=300 INV-GCEM-0511 - Fall 2005 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creek bank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-9 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=265 INV-GCEM-0704a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2005 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=292 INV-GCEM-0704a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2005 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=293 INV-GCEM-0705a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2004 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=296 INV-GCEM-0705a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2004 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=297 INV-GCEM-0411b - Fall 2004 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creekbank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=227 INV-GCEM-0411a - Spring 2004 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creekbank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=226 INV-GCEM-0704b1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Spring 2004 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=294 INV-GCEM-0704b2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Spring 2004 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=295 INV-GCEM-0502a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2003 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=236 INV-GCEM-0502a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2003 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=237 INV-GCEM-0401 - Fall 2003 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creekbank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=181 INV-GCEM-0501a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Spring 2003 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=234 INV-GCEM-0501a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Spring 2003 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=235 INV-GCEM-0305 - Spring 2003 crab population monitoring: mid-marsh and creekbank abundance based on crab hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=108 INV-GCEM-0210c - Crab population monitoring: Fall 2002 mid-marsh and creekbank crab abundances based on hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=25 INV-GCEM-0412b1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2002 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=232 INV-GCEM-0412b2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2002 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=233 INV-GCEM-0412a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Spring 2002 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=228 INV-GCEM-0412a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Spring 2002 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=229 INV-GCEM-0210b - Crab population monitoring: Spring 2002 mid-marsh and creekbank crab abundances based on hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=24 INV-GCEM-0210a - Crab population monitoring: Fall 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank crab abundances based on hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=23 INV-GCEM-0301a - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=30 INV-GCEM-0301b - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=75 INV-GCEM-0305b1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Spring 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=129 INV-GCEM-0305b2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Spring 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=130 INV-GCEM-0209 - Crab population monitoring: Spring 2001 mid-marsh and creekbank crab abundances based on hole counts at GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=20 INV-GCEM-0305a1 - Mollusc population abundance monitoring: Fall 2000 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc abundance based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=109 INV-GCEM-0305a2 - Mollusc population size distribution monitoring: Fall 2000 mid-marsh and creekbank infaunal and epifaunal mollusc size distributions based on collections from GCE marsh, monitoring sites 1-10 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=110