Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-138-2025 (submitted: 03/18/2025, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Soil biogeochemistry across belowground productivity gradient
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Deepak Mishra | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | 2025 MONet Summer Soil Sampling Call, in-kind | ||
| Mailing Address: | Department of Geography | Phone Number: | (706) 542-8927 |
| University of Georgia | E-mail Address: | dmishra@uga.edu | |
| Athens, Georgia 30602 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Kyle Runion (University of Texas at Austin), Mark A Lever (University of Texas at Austin) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
Our objectives are to assess soil biogeochemical conditions along a belowground productivity gradient in salt marshes. In an ongoing LTER project investigating salt marsh productivity, we recently generated spatiotemporally-explicit biomass predictions in Spartina alterniflora marshes on the Georgia coast. From these, we have identified locations where marsh grass belowground biomass has declined and a potential marsh drowning pathway has initiated over the past decade. Here we propose to collect soil samples for extensive biogeochemical and physical analyses through the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) Molecular Observation Network (MONet) program. This would involve collection of nine sets of soil cores. One set consists of six cores: two 3 in diameter x 30 cm deep cores, and four 2 in diameter x 10 cm deep cores, all within one meter of each other. Push cores would be collected via a plastic cylinder and stored on ice. The nine sets would be distributed across four marsh units, with paired sampling locations representing declining and stable belowground productivity, as identified by our previous work. Sample collection would take place between June and August 2025.
Where will the project be located?
Five paired sampling locations (< 1 km in distance) . Approx coordinates represent a declining and a stable belowground productivity location, respectively. 1. Near GCE6, Dean Creek/Shell Hammock Road, approx coordinates: (31.397820, -81.288718) and (31.399695, -81.288935) 2. Near 'Flux Marsh B', approx coordinates: (31.4406009, -81.2782641) and (31.4406768, -81.2794993) 3. Near Marsh Landing, approx coordinates: (31.411474, -81.295454) and(31.412599, -81.295458) 4. Near UGAMI Marsh, approx coordinates: (31.3993546, -81.2823498) and (31.3998205, -81.2850809) 5. Near Hunt Camp/Belle Marsh, approx coordinates: (31.4677386, -81.2739292) or (31.468666, -81.273304)
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: 06/01/2025 End Date: 08/31/2025
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
3 people once during summer 2025
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
None
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
No
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Removal of soil cores. Nine sets of cores, each consisting of two 30 cm cores and four 10 cm cores.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Impact is expected to be minimal and marsh platform soil structure is expected to recover in less than a year.
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-138-2025_GIS_runion_2025_monet_points.zip (Zip archive, 1.9 kb, submitted 03/18/2025)
GCE-138-2025_Maps_runion_2025_monet_points.kml (KML file, 3.39 kb, submitted 03/19/2025)
