Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-95-2019 (submitted: 04/23/2019, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Vegetation sampling using NutNet protocol 2019
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Steven C. Pennings | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Houston | ||
| Award Information: | GCE-LTER intern program | ||
| Mailing Address: | Department of Biology and Biochemistry | Phone Number: | (713) 743-2989 |
| University of Houston | E-mail Address: | scpennin@central.uh.edu | |
| Houston, Texas 77204-5513 | |||
| Co-investigators: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
We will sample vegetation and soils in about 300 plots throughout the GCE domain using the NutNet vegetation sampling protocol. The primary goal will be to determine how soil salinity and N content combine to determine plant biomass and plant species richness. Most of the sampling will be non-destructive (e.g., quadrat counts), but we will take plant tissue samples to measure plant N content. We will also take small soil cores (1 x 10 cm) to measure soil organic content, soil salinity, and soil N. No equipment will be deployed in the field for longer than 1 hour at a given plot.
Where will the project be located?
About 300 plots located throughout the GCE domain. See attached methods and google earth file.
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a provisional map and arrange with my sponsor to collect and register GPS coordinates
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 06/01/2019 End Date: 10/31/2019
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
One or two people will sample quadrats, visiting each plot location only once for 30-60 minutes.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
No equipment will be deployed for longer than 60 minutes at each plot. We will use quadrats to sample the plots.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
We will collect some plant samples for tissue N analysis.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Minimal trampling. Each plot will be visited only once by 1 or 2 people.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No. We will visit each location only once.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Vegetation should recover from trampling within a month.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-95-2019_Permit_LOAck_Pennings_2019.05.31 (05/20/2019-10/31/2019)
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-95-2019_Documents_GCE_Nutnet_sampling_protocol_for_web.docx (MS Word file, 513.17 kb, submitted 04/23/2019)
GCE-95-2019_Maps_GCE_NutNet_sampling_area.kmz (Compressed KML file, 0.95 kb, submitted 04/23/2019)
