Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-88-2018 (submitted: 01/12/2018, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Optimizing sand dune restoration success
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Christine Angelini | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Florida | ||
| Award Information: | NSF Graduate Student Research Fellowship Program, $32K * 3 years (S. Crotty) | ||
| 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: | Sinead M. Crotty (University of Florida) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
This experiment will be composed of three parts:
Part I: Effects of transplant density, transplant species identity, and biodegradable substrate stabilizing structures (BESE) across dune profiles
Part II: Relative importance of natural biotic nutrient legacies (wrack), fertilization, and substrate stabilization (BESE) in high physical stress dune zones, and
Part III: The role of foundation species transplant density, transplant spatial configuration, and sand dune zone in driving foundation species and foredune growth and recovery
The overarching goal of these experiments is to improve sand dune recovery design. The first and second experiment involve deployment of biodegradable structures to test whether deploying structure and/or nutrients along with foundation species can improve restoration success. The final experiment tests how spatial configuration and density of transplants impacts recovery success.
Methodology: Dune building species will be deployed in different densities, configurations, with and without wrack additions and structural support across dune zones (see attached project description).
Where will the project be located?
Part I will be located across 4 experimental zones on the beach and sand dunes (Swale, fore dune, foredune edge, and pre-hurricane fordune edge); Parts II & III will only be located on the current and pre-hurricane fordune edges. Replicate locations are attached.
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: 03/22/2018 End Date: 04/01/2019
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
For experimental deployment, 5 people will access the site daily for 5 days. After deployment, 2 people will access the site 1x/week for 1 month, after which time 2 people will access the site 2x/month until April 2019, at which time we will harvest the experiment.
Keywords that describe your project
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
We will be deploying biodegradable Bese structures, rebar rods to secure Bese materials, and marking flags. The Bese structures measure approximately 1m*0.5m*0.02m (L*W*D). We will cut them in half and layer 3, so final dimensions will measure 0.5m*0.5m*0.06m. We will additionally use a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS device 3x/year (0, 6, and 12 months). This device leaves no permanent footprint and will be removed immediately after taking measurements.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
No plants or animals will be collected from the study site.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
We will transplant dune-building species (purchased from local plant nursery) and biodegradable structure materials (Bese), so likely impacts will be sand accumulation, plant growth, and initial dune recovery.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
No; boardwalks will alter sand accumulation patterns; minimal access to site by few researchers should not impact site appreciably.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Negative Impacts: none anticipated; Positive Impacts: dune regrowth, recovery will hopefully persist indefinitely
Files attached to this application
GCE-88-2018_Documents_Summer_2018_Dune_Experiments_GCE.pdf (PDF file, 2067.12 kb, submitted 01/12/2018)
