GCRC Program Summary |
Georgia Coastal Ecosystems - Long Term Ecological Research
PIs: Merryl Alber (1), Tim Hollibaugh (1), Steve Pennings (2), Wade Sheldon (1), Clark Alexander (3), Dale Bishop (1), Jack Blanton (3), Adrian Burd (1), Chris Craft (4), Daniela Di Iorio (1), Mandy Joye (1), Christof Meile (1), Billy Moore (5), Brian Silliman (6), and John Wares (1).
(1) Univ. of Georgia; (2) Univ. of Houston; (3) Skidaway Inst. of Oceanography; (4) Indiana Univ.; (5) Univ. of South Carolina; (6) Univ. of Florida
Support: National Science Foundation - Long Term Ecological Research Program
Timeframe: 2000 - ongoing
Project Overview:
The Georgia Coastal
Ecosystems (GCE) Long Term Ecological Research project is studying the role
of water transport in the ecological linkages between upland areas and the coastal
zone in central Georgia. The GCE study area is a barrier island and marsh complex
located on the central Georgia coast in the vicinity of Sapelo Island and the
Altamaha River, with study sites in Sapelo, Doboy, and Altamaha Sounds. Measurements
are being taken in the 5 core LTER areas (Pattern and control of primary production;
Spatial and temporal distribution of populations selected to represent trophic
structures; Pattern and control of organic matter accumulation and decomposition
in surface layers and sediments; Patterns of inorganic inputs and movements
of nutrients through soils, groundwater and surface waters; Patterns and frequency
of disturbances). Additional studies focus on hydrodynamics and hydrology, assessment
of ground water inputs, and the relationship of flows and fluxes to morphology.
Complementary studies include DIC, O2 and NO3 - fluxes, sediment biogeochemistry
and plant and animal community composition, density and diversity.
For more information,
we refer our readers to the very fine website for the GCE-LTER
(http://gce-lter.marsci.uga.edu/lter/)