Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-140-2025 (submitted: 04/09/2025, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Characterization of the Food Webs and Nekton Communities of the GCE and SINERR Domain
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Jimmy Nelson | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | GCE Visiting Scholar, GCE, and Nelson and Ziegler Startup Funds ~$100K | ||
| Mailing Address: | Phone Number: | ||
| E-mail Address: | Jimmy.Nelson@uga.edu | ||
| Co-investigators: | |||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
We will be sampling nekton using trawls, gill nets, and fish traps to be capturing small nekton to build nekton food webs in larger SINERR domain and on the oyster reefs and marsh in and along the Duplin River. We are working closely with the SINERR and will use their vessels to conduct the trawls and set gill nets. We will use land based resources from UGAMI (vehicles) to conduct the fish trapping in For the trawl work we will be using the SINERR resources and vessels. We will coordinate with Rachel Guy from SINERR to schedule sampling dates.
Where will the project be located?
SINERR trawl sites, oyster reefs, and Duplin River marshes
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: 06/15/2025 End Date: (ongoing)
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
Monthly June - October
Please list keywords (as many as are appropriate) that describe your project:
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
We will use otter trawls, 2m gill nets with 0.5-2in mesh size, and minnow traps
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
Yes we will be collecting nekton species (fish and macroinverts) we will collect no more than 20 individuals for stable isotope analysis and return all other individuals alive after they are identified, weighed, and measured.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Minimal trampling of vegetation to deply minnow traps. Removal of small numbers of nekton monthly.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
Hours to days.