Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-104-2020 (submitted: 04/08/2020, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
What is the growth strategy of Spartina alterniflora
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Christine Angelini | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Florida | ||
| Award Information: | Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research (NWO) Vidi Grant to Tjisse van der Heide | ||
| 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: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
Coastal marshes create unique intertidal habitats and are important for coastal protection. Grasses are an important component in coastal marshes and can colonize large areas through clonal growth. Their expansion patterns are closely coupled to ecosystem engineering capacity as it correlates with sediment trapping and stabilization and affects biogeochemistry in the sediment. To understand what drives clonal expansion patterns in Spartina alterniflora and how this affects ecosystem engineering capacity of the species we will conduct three experiments. In the first experiment we will test the effect of restoration measures using sediment stabilizing elements (BESE) crossed with facilitation by ribbed mussels on Spartina alterniflora growth and shoot organization. In the second experiment, we will test whether plant growth strategy and morphology (eg short or tall form) is flexible by translocating them to an area characterized by intermediate growth form of Spartina alterniflora. In the third experiment, the foraging behavior and resulting effects on shoot organization of Spartina alterniflora will be determined.
Methodology:
For the first experiment, Spartina alterniflora transplants will be collected from the edges of the experimental site and deployed with and without mussels and sediment stabilizing elements (4 treatments, 6 replicates: 24 plots). We will place 9 control plots (mussels, stabilizing element, or both) to test effect of treatments on sediment conditions without Spartina transplants. For the second experiment, we will take short and tall form transplants from the surrounding area and creek sides, respectively. The transplants are crossed with and without presence of facilitating mussels (4 treatments, 6 replicates: 24 plots). For the third experiment, transplants will be taken from the field and planted in a bare area within the lighthouse marsh. At either side of the transplant, at 30 cm distance, we will place transplants, mussels, both or nothing (control). Experiment 3 will consist of 6 repeated blocks, totaling 30 plots.
For all experiments, the size of S. alterniflora transplants will be ~ 15 shoots. Mussel treatments can be realized by tightly arranging ± 10 mussels per plot around plant stems. More information is supplied in the attachment.
Both experiments will be located in bare areas, eg die backs, in the middle of Spartina alterniflora vegetation in the high marsh. Experiment 1 + 2 are adjacent.
Where will the project be located?
Experiment 1 + 2: Lighthouse marsh, 31°23'27.37"N; 81°16'45.53"W Experiment 3: Airport marsh, 31°25'12.51"N; 81°17'37.36"W
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
GPS coordinates are listed in the project location field
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 05/01/2020 End Date: 11/01/2022
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
For experimental deployment, 4 people will access the site for 3 days. For monitoring, 1 person will access the site once every 2 months. Once every 6 months a group of 4 or 5 people will access the site.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
We will deploy biodegradable structures (BESE), rebar rods to secure BESE and marking flags. The BESE structure is made of three layers and final dimensions per plot measure 0.5m*0.5m*0.06m (LxWxH). The structures will be pushed in the sediment.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Leaf and rhizomal samples (one per experimental plot) will be collected at the end of the experiment for nutrient analyses.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
We will replant bare areas in the marsh created by eg droughts by providing them with facilitative measures. The Spartina alterniflora transplants will be taken from the vegetation surrounding the bare areas by removing clusters of ±10 shoots. We will translocate ribbed mussels from the surrounding marsh to the plots while leaving source mussel mounds largely intact. As restoration measure we deploy biodegradable structures (BESE). Likely impacts will be plant growth.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No; The site will only be visited a few times throughout the year by a low number of people thus disturbance to the marsh is infrequent and small scale.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Negative Impacts: none anticipated; Positive impacts: regrowth on bare areas.
Files attached to this application
GCE-104-2020_General_experimental_design_permit_marsh.docx (MS Word file, 570.7 kb, submitted 04/08/2020)
