Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-29-2012 (submitted: 05/09/2012, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Mussel Addition Experiment
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Christine Angelini | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Florida | ||
| Award Information: | None | ||
| Mailing Address: | Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences | Phone Number: | |
| University of Florida | E-mail Address: | christine.angelini@essie.ufl.edu | |
| Gainesville, Florida 32611 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Brian R. Silliman (Duke University), John Griffin (University of Swansea) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
This project aims to test the hypothesis that ribbed mussels increase Spartina productivity and that the magnitude of mussel facilitation of spartina depends on the density of mussels in a mound. To test this hypothesis, we propose a mussel addition experiment in which we would transplant 0, 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 mussels into a Spartina monoculture (n=3 replicates per mussel density) at Airport marsh. We will then take intial, 6-month and 12- month data on the sediment conditions (nitrogen, salinity), infaunal community and cordgrass characteristics. We would then like to pair this experiment with a survey of 30 natural mussel mounds in which we will excavate all the mussels in mounds across a size gradient and collect all the same infaunal, sediment and grass characteristics (live and dead stem height, density, biomass, belowground root and rhizome biomass) so that we can compare our experimental results to natural patterns
Where will the project be located?
Airport marsh: 31°25'18.99"N, 81°17'29.54"W
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: 05/15/2012 End Date: 05/15/2013
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
There will be 2-3 people visiting this site 1x per month
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
We will just be transplanting mussels from adjacent marsh areas into the experimental area and will mark our plots with flags
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Ribbed mussels and Spartina will be collected as a part of this study
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Since the mussels naturally occur at this field site (within 20m of the proposed experimental site) and flags will be removed after the experiment is over, there will be no long- term impacts on this site
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
If we are allowed to put in boardwalks, we will install them. We do not expect to visit the site more than 1x per month though after the initial installation of the mussel transplants.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
There will be no long term impacts on the site
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-29-2012_Permit_img-318095118-0001 (04/02/2013-10/31/2014)
Study Area Map:
Site Photographs:
Files attached to this application
GCE-29-2012_Maps_Airport_Marsh.kml (KML file, 1.42 kb, submitted 05/09/2012)
GCE-29-2012_Maps_Addition_Experiment_Location.jpg (Jpeg image, 145.37 kb, submitted 05/09/2012)
