Mechanisms of succession in GA and AL marshes 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 of the project is to study the rate at which vegetation will fill cleared areas, and the role of competition in determining which plants occupy a cleared area. Large plots (ca. 3 x 3 m) were cleared in the mid 1990's for another experiment. When that experiment finished, starting in 2000, I allowed vegetation to reinvade the cleared plots. In portions of each plot I am weeding out certain individual plant species to see how their presence affects the rate of succession and the resulting plant community composition.

marsh biomass population density population diversity LTER NSF GCE Borrichia Juncus plants Salicornia Spartina botany plant ecology 2000-01-01 2006-08-30

GCE-2 award (total project $4,920,000) OCE06-20959

estuary marsh complex GPS data file (Trimble, Excel) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gps_data/GCE-12-2011_GPS_GCE12_Pennings.zip Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/maps/GCE-12-2011_Maps_Point_ge_GCE12_Pennings.kml Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/maps/GCE-12-2011_Maps_Research_GCE12_Pennings.kml

One set of plots is in the marsh at the south end of the airport. The other set of plots is on the lighthouse road, just before you get to the metal spotting tower.

There are ten replicate plots (5 cleared; 5 control) in each of three vegetation zones (Juncus, Juncus-meadow border, meadow-Spartina border) at each of two sites (Airport, Lighthouse; 60 plots total). Each plot is marked with wooden or pvc stakes, and contains small sub-plots that are similarly marked.

We may harvest small subplots (0.5 x 0.5 m) for biomass estimates at the end of the study. This will be done under the UGAMI collection permit.

Permit application or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Permits/GCE-12-2011_Permits_040512.1009am_040612.LOPGCE12.pdf Permit application or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Permits/GCE-12-2011_Permits_NWP_Form_GCE_12.docx