Sapelo Research Application Form
Research Application ID: GCE-25-2012 (submitted: 03/06/2012, status: approved)
Provide a brief title for web display
Hammock monitoring wells adjacent to Sapelo Island
Investigator Information
On Island Sponsor: GCE SINERR UGAMI GADNR
| Principal Investigator: | Merryl Alber | ||
| Home Institution: | University of Georgia | ||
| Award Information: | GCE LTER | ||
| Mailing Address: | Dept. of Marine Sciences | Phone Number: | (706) 542-5966 |
| University of Georgia | E-mail Address: | malber@uga.edu | |
| Athens, Georgia 30602-3636 | |||
| Co-investigators: | Clark R. Alexander Jr. (Skidaway Institute of Oceanography) | ||
Briefly describe the project goals and methodology
The GCE LTER is investigating the underlying mechanisms by which proximity of marshes to upland habitat drives ecosystem change along lateral gradients in the intertidal zone. Our approach to this question involves taking advantage of marsh hammocks as a natural laboratory for evaluating the influence of landscape structure and freshwater input on marsh processes. We are using a combination of observational, modeling, and experimental studies geared towards describing how (and whether) differences in the characteristics of upland environments can affect the adjacent marsh.
The project involves measuring groundwater in wells installed in a transect that runs from Sapelo, through the marsh, over an adjacent marsh hammock, and out into the marsh. Wells are instrumented to collect information on temperature, pressure, and conductivity. The upland area of the hammock is instrumented to collect information on temperature, rainfall, and soil moisture. Surface probes are used to collect soil temperatures. At the outset of the project, a vibracore was used to collect cores from each site to assess sedimentology.
Where will the project be located?
The transect runs from the south end of Sapelo Island, onto an adjacent hammock. (See attached map)
How will you provide GPS coordinates for study sites?
I will provide a GIS file describing my study sites (ArcGIS shapefile, Google Earth KML/KMZ)
What are the expected start and end dates of the project?
Start Date: 06/01/2008 End Date: (ongoing)
How many people will access the site and at what frequency?
The hammock is accessed once every 2 months to download instruments.
Please list keywords (as many as are appropriate) that describe your project:
What equipment will be deployed in the field?
A boardwalk was installed between Sapelo Island and the adjacent hammock (188 feet). The boardwalk is about a foot in width (2 parallel 2x6s with an inch gap). There are a series of 10 wells installed on the transect. Wells consist of 2" diameter PVC pipes with screened ends that equilibrate with existing groundwater sources and levels. Wells can house data loggers and be pumped to sample groundwater. Wells were placed in what we determined as an interconnected sand layer in order to allow sampling of a continuously connected groundwater source along the entire distance of both transects and to prevent clogging of the screening. Two additional lateral wells were installed approximately 5 meters to either side of the main transect near well #7 in order to get data on lateral inflow of groundwater (shown as blue dots). The wells range in depth from 1.8 to 3.4 m below the surface.
Will plants or animals be collected as part of this study?
No - organisms are measured annually but not collected.
What are the likely impacts of the project on the site?
Trampling to access the sites.
Will the project design include boardwalks? If not, explain why not.
The boardwalk was installed to alleviate trampling in the wettest areas (between Sapelo and the hammock)
How long will impacts persist after the research is concluded?
3 years
Site Photographs:
Files attached to this application
GCE-25-2012_Documents_PCI_29.pdf (PDF file, 107.29 kb, submitted 03/13/2012)
[web link: https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/cocuments/GCE-25-2012_Documents_PCI_29.pdf]
GCE-25-2012_GIS_PC_I_29_core_locations.zip (Zip archive, 1.54 kb, submitted 03/23/2012)
[web link: https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/gis/GCE-25-2012_GIS_PC_I_29_core_locations.zip]
GCE-25-2012_Photos_Alber_Alexander_PCi29_wells.png (PNG image, 5101.23 kb, submitted 04/04/2012)
[web link: https://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/private/registration/files/photos/GCE-25-2012_Photos_Alber_Alexander_PCi29_wells.png]