Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-59-2014 (submitted: 10/24/2014, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Latitudinal variation of Spartina alterniflora in US 2014
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Steven C. Pennings | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Houston | ||
| Award Information: | Chinese National Science Foundation | ||
| 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
This project is a collaboration with Yihui Zhang from Xiamen University in China.
The goal is to document latitudinal variation in Spartina alterniflora morphology and seed production along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the US.
Methods: We will sample 18 sites from Maine to Texas. At each site, we will sample 10 plots, counting shoots, flowering shoots, shoot height, stem diameter, leaf number. We will sample 10 inflorescences, measuring length, number of spikes, and whether each spike is full or empty. We will take a small soil sample to measure water content and salinity.
Where will the project be located?
GCE site 4.
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
GPS coordinates are listed in the project location field
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 10/30/2014 End Date: 11/05/2014
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
Four or five people for a few hours on one day only.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
None.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
We will collect seed heads to count seed morphology later if there is not time to do it at the site.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Minor trampling from one-time visit.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No, because we will visit only once.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
The areas where we walk should be undetectable within a few days.
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-59-2014_Maps_plant_study.kml (KML file, 11.22 kb, submitted 10/27/2014)
