Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-80-2016 (submitted: 08/10/2016, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Effects of feral horses on the ecosystem properties of Cumberland Island salt marshes
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Steven C. Pennings | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Houston | ||
| Award Information: | Collaborators from England have modest graduate student support for this project. | ||
| 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: | Elizabeth King (University of Georgia), Kate Davidson (Swansea University) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
We will exclude horses from 8 replicate 4 x 4 m plots in areas dominated by Spartina alterniflora to assess impacts of horse grazing on multiple aspects of salt marsh function and structure. Attached file has experimental details. All work will be done on Cumberland Island.
Where will the project be located?
Cumberland Island, Georgia. Exact location of plots to be determined in consultation with National Park Service personnel.
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: 10/18/2016 End Date: 10/30/2021
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
Up to 4 people will visit the site up to three times a year for 1-5 days on each sampling period.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
Horses will be deployed with barbed wire fences in consultation with NPS personnel at Cumberland Island. See attached file for details.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Plants and invertebrates will be collected from plots under the UGAMI collecting permit covering Steven Pennings and collaborators.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
During the experiment, we expect plants to grow better due to reduced grazing. After the experiment, the plots will return to conditions typical of the site.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No. These will not be needed because we will visit the site only a few days per year.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
We expect that horses will rapidly graze the plots once fencing is removed. We expect that any trails that we make will recover within one year.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-80-2016_Permit_LOAck-Pennings_Feral_Horse_Research_9.23.16 (10/01/2016-indefinite)
Files attached to this application
GCE-80-2016_Documents_Mammal_experiment_proposal_KD_JG_SP.docx (MS Word file, 861.08 kb, submitted 08/10/2016)
GCE-80-2016_Documents_CUIS_saltmarsh_grazing_handover_KD.pdf (PDF file, 626.33 kb, submitted 07/23/2018)
