Long term monitoring of salt pans at Marsh Landing 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

I installed sixteen permanent plots (1.5 x 2 m) at the edge of the Marsh Landing salt pan in 1997. I have been monitoring the vegetation in these plots annually to determine how changes in climate and sea level affect the size of the salt pan and the vegetation bordering the salt pan.

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)

marsh population density population diversity LTER NSF GCE Borrichia Juncus plants Salicornia Spartina plant ecology Overall geographic extent of the research project -81.297445 -81.294606 31.418899 31.416399 1997-01-01

GCE-LTER project, total award $4,920,000

estuary marsh complex Marsh Landing - Marsh landing, where the Georgia DNR ferry docks on its route between the mainland (Meridian) and Sapelo Island. -81.297445 -81.294606 31.418899 31.416399 GPS data file (Trimble, Excel) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gps_data/GCE-14-2011_GPS_GCE14_Pennings.zip Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/maps/GCE-14-2011_Maps_Point_ge_GCE14_Pennings.kml Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/maps/GCE-14-2011_Maps_Research_GCE14_Pennings.kml

Just north of the Marsh Landing road, in the salt pan, approximately at 31 25 02.20N; 81 17 33.87W based on google earth.

Each plot is marked with about six short wooden or pvc stakes.

Permit application or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Permits/GCE-14-2011_Permits_040512.1058am_040612.LOPGCE14.pdf Permit application or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Permits/GCE-14-2011_Permits_NWP_Form_GCE_14.docx