Grasshopper distribution within the GCE 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 2001-01-01 2026

Annual sampling of marsh grasshoppers by Pennings (UH) (see Q2) has documented that densities vary greatly among sites. Grasshopper communities were dominated by one species, with a second species common at a few sites. A preliminary analysis of spatial variation in grasshopper densities from 2001 through 2008 (data are means and SE averaged over years) found that densities (all species combined) differed more than ten-fold among sites. Several mechanisms might explain these spatial patterns in grasshopper population density. Experiments to address these hypotheses will be conducted by Pennings (UH) and his students in the next 3 years, and compared with similar studies for marine invertebrates being conducted by the Silliman lab.

Area 2: Patterns within the Domain (more information) Question 5: What is the relative importance of larval transport versus the conditions of the adult environment in determining community and genetic structure across both the longitudinal and lateral gradients of the estuarine landscape? (more information)

LTER NSF Georgia GCE density distribution grasshopper Overall geographic extent of the research project -81.428481 -81.195661 31.552554 31.339173 2001-01-01

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 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 INS-GCEM-2408 - Fall 2024 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=840 INS-GCES-1608 - Long-term mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE-LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=585 INS-GCEM-2308 - Fall 2023 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=809 INS-GCEM-2208 - Fall 2022 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=788 INS-GCEM-2108 - Fall 2021 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=767 INS-GCEM-2008 - Fall 2020 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=729 INS-GCEM-2004 - Abundance of the planthopper Prokelisia at GCE LTER sampling sites in October, 2003-2019 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=711 INS-GCEM-1908 - Fall 2019 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=712 INS-GCEM-1808 - Fall 2018 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=689 INS-GCEM-1708 - Fall 2017 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=671 INS-GCEM-1608 - Fall 2016 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=584 INS-GCEM-1512a - Fall 2014 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=574 INS-GCEM-1512b - Fall 2015 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=575 INS-GCEM-1309 - Fall 2013 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=440 INS-GCEM-1208 - Fall 2012 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=426 INS-GCEM-1112 - Fall 2011 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=338 INS-GCEM-1010 - Fall 2010 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=321 INS-GCEM-0912 - Fall 2009 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=318 INS-GCEM-0808 - Fall 2008 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=309 INS-GCEM-0802 - Fall 2007 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=305 INS-GCEM-0608 - Fall 2006 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=279 INS-GCEM-0511 - Fall 2005 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=273 INS-GCEM-0409 - Fall 2004 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=191 INS-GCEM-0310 - Fall 2003 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=153 INS-GCEM-0208 - Fall 2002 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=19 INS-GCEM-0108 - Fall 2001 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at eight GCE LTER sampling sites https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=6 INS-GCEM-0011 - Fall 2000 grasshopper monitoring -- mid-marsh grasshopper abundance and species diversity at GCE LTER sampling sites 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/app/dataset_details.asp?id=1 Grasshopper density by GCE site https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/public/resources/projects/graph5PenningsQ5.png