Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-21-2012 (submitted: 01/20/2012, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Do hydrological conditions at creek heads stimulate Sesarma reticulatum recruitment?
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Steven C. Pennings | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Houston | ||
| Award Information: | $105,854 | ||
| Mailing Address: | Department of Biology and Biochemistry | Phone Number: | (713) 743-2989 |
| University of Houston | E-mail Address: | scpennin@central.uh.edu | |
| Houston, Texas 77204-5513 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Huy Vu (University of Houston) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
The goal of this proposal is to develop an understanding of creek development under the conditions of RSLR that integrates both physical and biological processes. We will test the hypothesis that the hydrological conditions at creek heads stimulate crab recruitment (explaining the high densities of crabs at the creek heads). We will experimentally create artificial creek heads by running 3" PVC pipe perpendicularly from creeks to the marsh platform to test the hypothesis that high densities of Sesarma are driven by high water flow. Pipes will be buried at a depth of 20-40 cm and will end in perforated, vertical standpipes. These "drains" will create localized areas of high water flow on the marsh platform. Water flow through the pipes on ebb tides will be high enough to prevent clogging. The experiment will contain 3 treatments (artificial creek, disturbance control, unmanipulated control), each replicated three times. We will monitor soil redox potential, the oxygen content of water in burrows, marsh surface elevation, crab burrow density, crab species composition, and stem density (n=3 plots per replicate per treatment). Topographic surveys will be made of these areas using standard surveying equipment in order to monitor changes in elevation and to compare them to changes occurring at natural creek heads
Where will the project be located?
The southeastern corner of Little Sapelo Island.
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will arrange with my research sponsor to collect and register GPS coordinates
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 03/15/2012 End Date: 08/15/2015
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
Initially: ~6 people daily for 2 weeks. Then 2 people bimonthly.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
3" PVC pipes (~10-20m, pipes will be buried, 3.5yrs), boardwalk legs (3.5yrs), 3/4" PVC to mark the experimental plots. All experimental infrastructures will be removed at the end of the experiment.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Common marsh crab species will be collected (Uca, Panopeus, Eurytium, and Sesarma).Crabs will be measured, sexed, and released back to the marsh. Collection of specimens will occur at the end of the experiment. We will be using the general UGAMI collection permits
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Installation and removal of 3 inch pvc pipe will cause temporary disturbance. We will "turf" the top layer of soil so that we do not create a bare area at these times. We will work from portable boardwalks to minimize disturbance to the site. The artificial creek head may cause some erosion (perhaps 30 cm deep and 1 m radius) at the location of the standpipe. When the experiment is ended and the pipe removed, this area should fill back in.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
We will use portable boardwalks to install and remove 3 inch pvc pipe. We will use portable boardwalk platforms to sample the plots around the creek heads (~ 4 boardwalk leg units per replicate will be installed for the duration of the experiment).
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
All infrastructure will be removed when the experiment is completed. We expect revegetation of the disturbed areas within 3 years after the completion of the experiment. We will "turf" the top layer of soil so that we do not create a bare area when installing or removing 3 inch pvc pipe. The artificial creek head may cause some erosion (perhaps 30 cm deep and 1 m radius) at the location of the standpipe. When the experiment is ended and the pipe removed, this area should fill back in naturally; if not, we will fill the area with mud from the creekbank, which should promote rapid revegetation.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: 021312.0245pm_022412. LOPhydrologicalstudy (02/24/2012-02/24/2015)
