Photomapping of marsh vegetation 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

This project is a collaboration with Dr. Marc Garbey, Department of Computer Science, University of Houston. Our goal is to develop methods for collecting large numbers of high resolution digital images of the marsh, aligning these images, and then extracting data from the images, using modern computer techniques and volunteer scientists. We marked an area of marsh for annual photo-mapping in 2010. Annual maps will allow us to study change over time. We should be able to extract data on plants, Littoraria, Geukensia and crabs from the images.

Area 3: Responses to Salinity and Inundation (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)

marsh population density LTER NSF GCE Borrichia crustaceans Juncus plants Salicornia Spartina Uca plant ecology population ecology population studies Overall geographic extent of the research project -81.299522 -81.264378 31.394072 31.371003 2010-05-01

GCE LTER 2, $4,920,000 for entire project.

estuary marsh complex 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 GIS file (ArcGIS shapefile) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gis/GCE-15-2011_GIS_GCE-15-2011_GIS_Pennings.zip GPS data file (Trimble, Excel) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gps_data/GCE-15-2011_GPS_GCE15_Pennings.zip Map (Google Earth KML/KMZ or map image) https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/maps/GCE-15-2011_Maps_GCE15_Pennings.kml

Along the lighthouse road, near 31o23'34N; 81o16'23 based on google earth.

The perimeter of the mapped area (about 200 x 300 m) is marked with about 30 pvc stakes.

Simon, J., Hopkinson, B.M. and Pennings, S.C. 2022. Insights into Salt Marsh Plant Community Distributions Through Computer Vision and Structural Equation Modeling. Estuaries and Coasts. 46:431-449. (DOI: 10.1007/s12237-022-01147-w) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12237-022-01147-w Schalles, J.F., Hladik, C.M., Lynes, A.R. and Pennings, S.C. 2013. Landscape estimates of habitat types, plant biomass, and invertebrate densities in a Georgia salt marsh. Special Issue: Coastal Long Term Ecological Research. Oceanography. 26:88-97. (DOI: 10.5670/oceanog.2013.50) https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2013.50 Permit application or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Permits/GCE-15-2011_Permits_040512.1031am_040612.LOPGCE15.pdf Permit application or documentation https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Permits/GCE-15-2011_Permits_NWP_Form_GCE_15.docx