Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-124-2022 (submitted: 06/05/2022, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Assessing how fish and invertebrate community structure changes on oyster reefs across varying salinity regimes
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | James Byers | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | (not specified) | ||
| Mailing Address: | Room 194B, Ecology Bldg. | Phone Number: | (706) 583-0012 |
| Odum School of Ecology | E-mail Address: | jebyers@uga.edu | |
| Athens, Georgia 30602 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Matthew Pierce (University of Georgia) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
The objectives of this study are to (1) assess the invertebrate and fish communities on oyster reefs along a naturally occurring salinity gradient, (2) quantify the difference in physical traits of oysters and oyster reef structures in different salinity regimes and at the terrestrial edge and water's edge of the reef, (3) monitor the recruitment and recovery of oyster reefs after oyster and invertebrate harvesting to quantify the anthropogenic impact from harvesting pressure, (4) compile baseline data to inform further investigations into the impact of salinity and harvesting on oyster reef health and functioning regarding provided ecosystem services in the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research domain. It is important to understand how oyster's physical traits and oyster reef communities change with changes in abiotic and anthropogenic stressors.
Since this is a pilot study investigating the effects of salinity on oyster physical traits and oyster reef community structure, we plan to limit our sampling to two quadrat samples per reef in each salinity regime. Our salinity regimes are defined as Low (0-23 ppt), Medium (24-29 ppt), and High (30-35 ppt). Reef sampling will occur between the months of June and July of 2022. At each reef salinity and water temperature will be measured using handheld meters, historical data, and the deployment of microCAT sondes to determine salinity regime for that location. Using minnow traps and crab traps deployed at each reef, we will identify species composition on the reef and estimated fish biomass to quantify reef use by the fish community. Fish measurements are going to be taken in the field and fish will be returned to the wild. Reef invertebrate communities will be sampled once at the top edge and waters edge of the reef. All oysters and invertebrates will be collected within the 0.5 x 0.5 meter quadrat by hand to the surface. Oyster and invertebrate samples will then be washed and sieved before oysters are measured and counted, invertebrates will be identified, weighed, measured, and counted. At each reef rugosity measurements will be taken to measure reef surface complexity. This will be done using a pre-measured chain and tape measure. Plots will be marked and photographed to track changes over a year and after a year oysters in the plot will be counted for recovery. Two spat sticks will be deployed at each reef for 2 weeks, one at the top of the reef and one at the bottom of the reef. These will be used to quantify recruitment and average spat size. Two paving bricks with spat will be deployed at each reef to track growth rates and predation. The goal of this study is to quantify the fish and invertebrate community of oyster reefs to quantify how oyster reef ecosystem services change across a salinity gradient.
At each reef three minnow traps and two crab traps will be deployed for a single tidal cycle of ~6 hours. After the ~6-hour period the traps will be retrieved. Traps will be kept submerged for the period that samples are being processed. Fish will be non-lethally processed and returned to the wild. The first 20 fish of each species (or lowest group) will be measured for total length from the tip of the snout to the end of the caudal fin. All individuals of a species will be weighed together to estimate species live biomass for each reef. All individuals from a species will be placed into a pre-weighed bucket and weighed using a spring scale in grams. Minnow trap sampling will be done once every week for 3 weeks per reef. Once fish biomass measurements are taken and fish are photographed for identification they will be returned to the wild.
Where will the project be located?
Dean Creek (SINEER Trail) Site 1 (31.396522, -81.271721) Dean Creek (SINEER Trail) Site 2 (31.395810,-81.271222) Dean Creek (SINEER Trail) Site 3 (31.393698, -81.269626) Marsh Landing Rd. Marsh 31.418560, -81.295612 Little Sapelo Island Marsh (31.419102, -81.297671) GCE Site 1 (31.538975, -81.423636) Oakdale Creek near Airport Rd. (31.412723, -81.286020) Oakdale Creek near Middle Rd. (31.415324, -81.284868) Dean Creek Marsh (31.386833, -81.282704) Dean Creek Marsh Site 2 (31.388610, -81.284648) High Point Marsh (31.527371, -81.231042) GCE High Marsh Site (31.461055, -81.270422) Barge Landing (31.459403, -81.277589) Hunt Camp/Moses Hammock (31.478605, -81.272660) Raccoon Bluff at Blackbeard Creek (31.472596, -81.228083) UGAMI Lighthouse Creek Site 1 (31.397295, -81.281487) UGAMI Lighthouse Creek Site 2 (31.396811, -81.280993) Shell Hamock Marsh (31.394419, -81.288206) Oakdale Creek Marsh (31.401448, -81.293289) Meridian Ferry Dock (31.456535, -81.362899) GCE Site 10 (31.482323, -81.267873) GCE Site 3 (31.515919, -81.231663)
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: 06/13/2022 End Date: (ongoing)
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
2 people for 2 days for 7 weeks at each site, then 1 person once a month
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
One 8 ft long pvc stake will be placed at each of 9 reefs as location markers, two 2 ft long rebar stakes will be placed at each reef to hold two 6 inch oyster spat sticks and mark quadrat locations, two paving bricks with spat tiles glued to them will be placed at each reef (one brick on each reef will be placed in a vexar cage). All prior listed equipment will be deployed for the duration of the project stated above except the paving bricks which will be removed after 2 weeks. Three minnow traps and two crab traps will be deployed at each reef once a week for a single high tide cycle (~6 hours) for 3 weeks. All equipment will be removed within a week of the study's conclusion. MicroCAT sondes will be deployed at each site that does not currently have a MicroCAT sonde deployed by the GCE-LTER or SINEER for one week in June and one week in July.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Yes, animals will be collected. All invertebrates will be collected from a 0.5 x 0.5 meter quadrat once at the top of the oyster reef and once at the water's edge of the oyster reef. Organisms include oysters, mussels, barnacles, crabs, snails, worms and any other infauna and epifauna within the quadrat. Invertebrates will be collected and taken to the lab for identification and measuring. Each reef (3 per location) will be sampled once using the quadrat method described, due to the differences in the possible numbers of invertebrates in a given area no estimated amount can be calculated. Minnow traps will be used to collect juvenile and adult fish as well as crustaceans on the oyster reefs being monitored, but will not be collected. Fish will be measured and released back into the wild. The estimated number of fish to be captured via minnow traps is between 1500-2000. Crab traps will be deployed to observe larger biota using the oyster reefs.
I am a sub-permittee on the UGAMI Scientific Collection Permit under the master permit #1000531205 and am also on a scientific collection permit through the GADNR with James (Jeb) Byers.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
One 8 ft long pvc stake will be placed at each reef as a location marker. The pvc stakes may collect barnacles and other organisms while out in the field, but no other impacts are expected. The two 2 ft long rebar stakes that will be placed at each reef to hold two 6 in oyster spat sticks and mark the quadrat locations is not expected to have any impact outside of spat collection. The two paving bricks with spat tiles glued to them that will be placed at each reef (one brick on each reef will be placed in a vexar cage) are likely to collect invertebrate organisms over time, but no other impacts are expected. The one microCAT sonde that will be deployed at sites that do not currently have one (one total) is expected to have no impacts on the site from deployment due to the short intervals they will be deployed (1 week each month). The minnow traps and crab traps will be deployed below mean low water and will be removed after the ~6 hour high tide cycle with no likely impacts. Minor trampling of vegetation will occur from sampling and monitoring due to the small frequency of trips. Invertebrates will be collected and taken to the lab for identification and measuring. Each reef will be sampled at the top of the reef and at the water's edge using the quadrat method described, due to the differences in the possible numbers of invertebrates in a given area no estimated amount can be calculated.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
The project design will not include boardwalks due to the easy accessibility to the sampling locations from nearby roads. Little distance will need to be traveled to reach the oyster reefs being sampled.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Impacts from vegetation trampling are expected to last for no longer than two months based on prior observations. The impact to the invertebrate community on the oyster reef and removal of oysters is not expected to impact the community for an extended period of time since I will be collecting from established reefs with currently intact communities. The locations of invertebrate collection will be monitored monthly for a year to track recovery.
Site Photographs:
Files attached to this application
GCE-124-2022_Maps_Oyster_Sampling_Monitoring_Sites.png (PNG image, 530.21 kb, submitted 06/13/2022)
