Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-44-2013 (submitted: 04/29/2013, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Algal survey and light availability experiment along salinity gradient
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Christopher B. Craft | ||
| Home Institution: | Indiana University at Bloomington | ||
| Award Information: | GCE LTER | ||
| Mailing Address: | Indiana University - School of Public and Environmental Affairs | Phone Number: | (812) 856-1837 |
| Room 408. MSB II. | E-mail Address: | ccraft@indiana.edu | |
| Bloomington, Indiana 47405 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Owen Langman (Indiana University) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
I will conduct a novel survey of algal diversity and productivity along the salinity gradient which will provide baseline data for future algal work relating the algal community to sea-level rise. The second portion of the research is an experiment toward that end; I will thin stands of vegetation in several sites along the salinity gradient to simulate a disturbance on marsh vegetation and test hypotheses of increased productivity and shifts in relative abundance of algal species due to increased light penetration to the benthos. I will collect samples for determining chlorophyll a, species identification, light and nutrient availability, and a number of other environmental characteristics.
Where will the project be located?
The clipping experiment will take place at six GCE sites: GCE site 7, GCE site 8, GCE site 9, GCE site 1, GCE site 4, and GCE site 6.
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: 06/01/2013 End Date: 08/26/2013
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
2 people for 2 days at each site in both June and August.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
- PAR sensors will be deployed for 24 hours at each site.
- Short PVC pipes will be used to mark plot corners. Due to the nature of the experiment (clipping), two PVC pipes per plot will be sufficient to delineate. Plot corners will be removed during the August visit.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Approximately six 100 sq cm of epiphytic algal scrapes will be taken from the vegetation at each site in a non-destructive manner. Shallow 5 cm diameter benthic cores will be taken for soil analyses and benthic algae and diatoms. Sampling will be replicated in June and August.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
- Vegetation clipping: At each site, two 5x5m plots will be clipped at two elevations (near bank and marsh plain)
- PVC stakes: Two PVC stakes will be placed at opposing corners of the 5v5 clipping plot.
- Trampling: Ingress and egress from site,
- Soil removal: approximately 250g of soil would be removed from each plot (500g per site total). Most of the soil removed during the first sampling in June will be returned during the August sampling.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No. Trampling will be minimal and the duration of the experiment is only 3 months.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
The clipped plots will recover by the following year and the effects of the trampling should be gone within a month after the field visit.
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-44-2013_GPS_Clipping_Sites_-_Proposed.kmz (Compressed KML file, 1.36 kb, submitted 05/17/2013)
