Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-100-2019 (submitted: 05/31/2019, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Field Monitoring of Spartina alterniflora marsh disturbance
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Christine Angelini | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Florida | ||
| Award Information: | (not specified) | ||
| Mailing Address: | Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences | Phone Number: | |
| University of Florida | E-mail Address: | christine.angelini@essie.ufl.edu | |
| Gainesville, Florida 32611 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Merryl Alber (University of Georgia), Amanda C. Spivak (University of Georgia), Sydney Laine Williams (University of Florida) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
We are interested in characterizing the patterns of disturbance in Spartina marshes. In conjunction with monthly drone surveys (GCE-96-2019), we propose to conduct field monitoring at three marsh sites on Sapelo Island, tracking responses to observed perturbations. Perturbations will include areas where wrack accumulates, where dieback occurs, where creeks slump, as well as any other areas where marsh plants are visibly disturbed. Field work will also occur at two "sandbox" sites, unrelated to the proposed drone surveys. The drone and sandbox sites will be approximately 50 ha and 5 ha respectively. Disturbed sites will be delineated using an RTK-GPS. Response variables will be tracked using a variety of methods: aboveground biomass (stem density and height measurements); belowground biomass (quarterly soil cores); plant production; benthic algae (benthotorch); macroinfauna (measuring mussel mounds, counting burrows and snails, and observing birds/mammals with wildlife cameras); decomposition (teabags); organic material (soil samples for carbon and nitrogen); Inorganic nutrients (porewater ammonium concentration analysis); and abiotic conditions (redox probes).
Where will the project be located?
The three sites will be located at Dean Creek, the GCE flux tower, and Moses Hammock. The two sandbox sites will be located on the north side of Lighthouse Road and at airport marsh to study dieback occurrence and wrack accumulation respectively (see attached .kmz file for the maximum extent of the proposed locations--we will refine this to target areas of approximately 50 ha and 5 ha once we have collected preliminary data).
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a GIS file describing my study sites (ArcGIS shapefile, Google Earth KML/KMZ)
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 06/17/2019 End Date: 12/31/2024
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
2 people for 2-3 days out of every month during the summer growing season; then followed by 1 person for 2-3 on a quarterly basis for the remainder of the year
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
40 Flag stakes will be used at each site to mark sampling plots; stakes will remain out in the marsh for the entirety of the project
5 wildlife cameras will be deployed at each site for a week out of every sampling period; cameras will remain in the marsh only when in use
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
no plants or animals will be collected, only soil core samples will be taken (see below)
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Trampling will occur during monitoring periods, foot trails may form but will likely not impact the marsh past one growing season.
Three 2-4cm diameter by 10cm deep cores will be taken every 6 months from the monitoring plots; all other measurements will be non destructive.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No. The impact of installing boardwalks would exceed that of field monitoring
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Trails will likely recover within a growing season.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-100-2019_Permit_RLS20190029_Angelini_Williams (07/19/2019-12/31/2024)
