Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-51-2013 (submitted: 08/02/2013, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
High marsh annual monitoring of Borrichia Juncus mixtures
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Steven C. Pennings | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Houston | ||
| Award Information: | Part of GCE LTER core award | ||
| 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: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
The goal of the project is to determine if annual changes in precipitation or other abiotic factors shift the composition of the high marsh vegetation in areas initially dominated by Borrichia and Juncus.
Methods: Plots will be established at Moses Hammock (side closest to Sapelo Island) and Dean Creek (lighthouse road). At each site, eight plots (0.5 x 0.5 m) will be marked with PVC poles. A single person will visit the plots for about half an hour once a year to measure vegetation composition. We expect to monitor these plots indefinitely.
Where will the project be located?
Moses Hammock (side closest to Sapelo Island) and Dean Creek (lighthouse road).
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a provisional map and arrange with my sponsor to collect and register GPS coordinates
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 08/30/2013 End Date: (ongoing)
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
One person for about half an hour once a year.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
Each plot will be marked with pvc pipes (half inch diameter) at the corners of the plot.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
No collections will be made.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Impacts will be very minimal, because plots will be visited by only one person, only once a year. It is unlikely that a trail will form given that plots will only be visited once a year.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No. Plots are in the high marsh and will be visited only once a year.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Impacts will be minimal to begin with. Once the monitoring stops and PVC pipes are removed, any vegetation that was trampled on the last visit should recover within a few months.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-51-2013_Permit_LOA__HighMarshMonitorSapelo_2_20_14 (02/20/2014-indefinite)
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-51-2013_Maps_GCE_51.kmz (Compressed KML file, 0.81 kb, submitted 02/05/2014)
