Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-141-2025 (submitted: 04/10/2025, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Investigating the Role of Sublethal Predation as an Energy Pathway
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Eliot Hall | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | Will be funded by GCE LTER grant IV from advisor Jeb Byers. | ||
| Mailing Address: | Phone Number: | ||
| E-mail Address: | adaeliot@gmail.com | ||
| Co-investigators: | James Byers (University of Georgia) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
This project will address whether sublethal predation is a significant energy pathway between benthic invertebrate prey and their predator populations, and if this pathway is more important to certain consumer groups than others.
I will be assigning 80 individual clams either cropped (cropping the tip of their siphons) or uncropped treatments, and then leave them in the field for 2 days (I intend to do this 3 times). After collection, I will be assessing instances of sublethal vs. lethal predation and measure biomass lost for each individual. I will also be doing a field survey of clams to get an estimate of the total population that shows signs of injury from sublethal predation.
Where will the project be located?
My study site will be in the mudflat to oyster reef region between the lighthouse and South Nannygoat beach
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
GPS coordinates are already registered in the GCE-LTER database
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 05/04/2025 End Date: 05/29/2025
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
1 person (myself), and I will be there everyday for the duration of the project.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
One cage, one clam sieve container, six GoPro cameras, and 70-80 small flags or stakes will be deployed for a maximum of four weeks.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Yes. I will be collecting clams as part of a field survey. I will be collecting roughly 100 clams from the same study location.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
The deployed equipment might temporarily disturb the mudflat area. However, I will collect everything when finished, and with the short duration of the project, I do not expect this project to impact the site.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
I do not expect this project to have any long-term impacts on the site.
Site Photographs:
Files attached to this application
GCE-141-2025_Maps_google_map_screenshot_.png (PNG image, 2601.16 kb, submitted 04/15/2025)
