Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-156-2026 (submitted: 07/02/2026, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Mussel growth across elevation
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Merryl Alber | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | GCE-LTER | ||
| Mailing Address: | Dept. of Marine Sciences | Phone Number: | (706) 542-5966 |
| University of Georgia | E-mail Address: | malber@uga.edu | |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 | |||
| Co-investigators: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
The goal of the project is to evaluate mussel growth in the field under different elevation/inundation regimes. We intend to place marked mussels along transects that vary in elevation from the creekbank to the marsh platform and harvest them after several months in the field. We are planning three transects, with three plots along each one. At each plot we will place three marked mussels within the Spartina and three in an adjacent area without vegetation. We will measure elevation of each location with an RTK-GPS, and will deploy mussel biomimics at selected sites to record temperature in the field. We will measure mussel length, width, weight, and condition index of a subset of mussels to record baseline conditions at the beginning of the experiment, and that of all mussels at the end. This project will be done in conjunction with the marsh mesocosm experiment at UGAMI, and is planned for July through October 2026.
Where will the project be located?
In the Spartina marsh at Dean Creek, upstream of the PREDEX cages. (This site is also used by Joel Kostka.) See attached map.
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a GIS file describing my study sites (ArcGIS shapefile, Google Earth KML/KMZ)
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 07/20/2026 End Date: 10/23/2026
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
2-3 people will access the site for both set-up and break-down (~3 days); otherwise 1 person will visit for 1 day every month
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
Flags to mark plots (3 transects x 3 plots = 9); lawn staples to secure mussel mimics (6 plots)
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Approximately 60 ribbed mussels (Geukensia).
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
The site will have paths to the plots, which should recover after a growing season.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Approximately 1 growing season.
Study Area Map:
Site Photographs:
Files attached to this application
GCE-156-2026_GPS_IMG_7519.jpeg (JPE file, 4064.31 kb, submitted 07/06/2026)
GCE-156-2026_GPS_Mussels_Field_Study_Site.kml (KML file, 2.69 kb, submitted 07/06/2026)
GCE-156-2026_GPS_Screenshot_2026-07-03_212934.png (PNG image, 2105.17 kb, submitted 07/06/2026)
GCE-156-2026_GPS_Screenshot_2026-07-03_213038.png (PNG image, 1213.25 kb, submitted 07/06/2026)
