Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-143-2025 (submitted: 04/17/2025, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Predicting Thermal Performance of Littoraria irrorata in Salt Marshes
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Craig W. Osenberg | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | GCE-LTER sub-award for biomimic project and thermal responses of marsh organisms (NSF, subaward to Osenberg: $145,000) | ||
| Mailing Address: | Odum School of Ecology | Phone Number: | |
| University of Georgia | E-mail Address: | osenberg@uga.edu | |
| Athens, Georgia 30605 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Gbenga Demehin (University of Georgia) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
The overall research plan is designed to:
i. characterize thermal environments in the marsh (by using biomimics);
ii. to investigate the thermal performance of L. irrorata in different microhabitats of the salt marsh; and
iii. to use that information to explain among year variation in snail dynamics
Cohorts of similarly sized snails will be confined to different marsh microhabitats using cages and mortality will be monitored daily for 15 days. 18 small cages (each with a footprint of 0.09 m2) constructed of ¼" hardware cloth (or vexar). Temperature sensors (biomimics and Hobos) will be attached to the cages using a 4-inch micro zip tie and cages will be secured in place with PVC pipes (4 per cage) inserted into the marsh. Cages will be placed amongst Spartina in Airport Marsh (near 31 o 25.344'N 81o17.466'W) with Spartina to provide food and substrate for the snails.
We will set up the experiments at two marsh habitats: (1) vegetated high marsh with dense Spartina alterniflora canopy and (2) an unvegetated dieback area with bare sediment and no live Spartina (representing a high-stress environment with no canopy).
Small cages (5 cm (height) x 30 cm x 30 cm) will be centered at 2 heights in the marsh;
Level 1: At the sediment surface (high marsh and die back zone)
Level 2: 20 cm above ground (high marsh)
Unshaded Cage Treatments: Cages exposed to natural weather with no modifications.
Shaded (Cooling) Treatments: Cages covered with shade cloth of a micro mesh size to reduce incoming solar radiation and intensity.
30 snails (~20mm shell height) will be numbered with small inscriptions of markers to identify individuals added to each cage. There will be 3 replicate cages per treatment. Snails will be checked every three days (Day 3, 6, 9, 12, and final Day 15); mortality and the location of living snails will be recorded. At the end of the experiment, surviving snails will be released and the study will be repeated in July and August.
Where will the project be located?
The field experiment will be located in Airport Marsh, Sapelo Island within 200 m of 31o 25.344'N, 81o17.466'W and will not be placed in the footprint of any other ongoing study.
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a spreadsheet containing GPS coordinates for my study sites
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 06/03/2025 End Date: 08/31/2025
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
1-2 people daily
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
18 small cages (each with a footprint of 0.09 m2) constructed of metal mesh and PVC, with attached temperature sensors (biomimics and Hobos) will be deployed.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Yes. 1) L. irrorata will be collected and placed in the cages (30 snails per cage). We will have 540 snails in all 18 cages in total. This study will be repeated in July and August (a total of ~1620 snails will be used). All collections will be done under the UGAMI/GCE-LTER permits.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
L. irrorata is a very abundant invertebrate in the marsh, so we anticipate no deleterious effects by collecting several thousand snails. Cages will have a small footprint, which also should have minimal effects. The major (albeit small) effect is likely to be disturbances to the marsh surface due to walking through the marsh.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Cages will be removed after the experiment; footprints should disappear within weeks of the conclusion of the study.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-143-2025_Permit_RLS20250022_Osenburg_ThermalPerformance_signed (06/04/2025-08/31/2025)
