Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-87-2017 (submitted: 09/12/2017, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Effects of grazing ungulates on salt marsh community structure
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Christine Angelini | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Florida | ||
| Award Information: | J Griffin’s Marie Curie grant | ||
| 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: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
Salt marshes provide valuable ecosystem services including carbon storage, coastal protection, wild species habitat and recreation, and can be used as pasture for domestic and wild ungulates (horses, cattle, deer etc.). However, large grazing mammals can profoundly alter grasslands, and a recent meta-analysis indicated that ungulate grazing results in reduced soil carbon in American salt marshes (Davidson et al. 2017). We will validate this result by measuring soil carbon in multiple long-term grazed and ungrazed saltmarsh sites along a 1000km stretch of the Atlantic coast. At each sampling location, a transect will be run perpendicular to the main creek, starting 20m from the creek edge and running inland. Response variables will be measured in 1mx1m quadrats located at 0m, 50m and 100m along the transect. We will survey along 2 parallel transects per marsh (50m apart). Within each quadrat we will remove one soil core (5cm width x 30cm depth), and take observational, non-destructive measurements of vegetation and invertebrate communities.
Where will the project be located?
We will sample at two salt marsh sites on Sapelo Island, within the Spartina zone. The exact location of our transects will be decided upon arrival at the Island, with advice from Jacob Shalack. Additional Georgia field sites State Lat, Long Cumberland Island National Seashore GA 30.8785, -81.4527 Jekyll Island State Park GA 31.0925, -81.4254 Sapelo Island NERR GA 31.4709, -81.2742
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: 09/25/2017 End Date: 10/31/2018
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
3 people will access each site for 1 day each year.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
No equipment will be deployed in the field for this study.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
No plants or animals will be collected for this study.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
On each marsh site, 6 soil cores will be removed (5cm diameter x 30cm depth). Due to their small size and limited number, this will have no long-term impact on the site.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No. These will not be needed as we will on visit each site once per year.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
There will be no long term impacts at the sites.
