Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-94-2019 (submitted: 03/28/2019, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Crab creek disturbance and recovery
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Steven C. Pennings | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Houston | ||
| Award Information: | GCE-LTER | ||
| 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 document the magnitude of disturbance to multiple variables caused by headward eroding marsh creeks, and the time scale of recovery. We will use a space-for time substitution to sample along the axis of headward eroding creeks, thereby documenting recovery over 40 or more years. We will sample 50 plots (0.5 x 0.5 m) along each creek axis; each plot will be marked with a single pvc flag.
Where will the project be located?
South end of Sapelo Island. We will work at headward eroding creeks southwest of marsh landing, the marine institute, and the road to Nannygoat Beach.
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a spreadsheet containing GPS coordinates for my study sites
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 06/01/2019 End Date: 10/31/2019
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
One or two people will work at each creek daily for about a month.
Please list keywords (as many as are appropriate) that describe your project:
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
Tea bags will be buried and PVC flags deployed at each plot for 6 months.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
About 60 plant stems will be collected to create an allometric relationship between shoot height and dry mass.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
The major short-term impact will be limited trampling. We expect no long-term impact.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
These are not needed, because each plot will be visited only a few times.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
We expect that trampled vegetation will fully recover within one growing season.
Research Permits:
Georgia DNR Coastal Resources Division: GCE-94-2019_Permit_LOA_for_GCE_94 (06/01/2019-10/31/2019)
Study Area Map:
Files attached to this application
GCE-94-2019_Maps_Crab_creek.kmz (Compressed KML file, 0.7 kb, submitted 04/09/2019)
[web link: https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/Maps/GCE-94-2019_Maps_Crab_creek.kmz]