Map of SIMO Study Sites on and near Sapelo Island, Georgia

Dean Creek

Description:

Dean Creek is a tidal channel dissecting a pristine Spartina alterniflora salt marsh. The channel is characterized by water depths of 1-5 m and daily tidal excursions of up to 3 m.

Habitats Studied:

Surface water

Sampling:

Surface water samples are collected in acid-rinsed polypropylene carboys from a depth of 0.25 meters.

For DNA extraction, samples are sequentially filtered through 1.0 µm and 0.2 µm pore-size polycarbonate filters. Separate DNA extractions are carried out the 'attached' (>1.0 µm) and 'free-living' (0.2 - 1.0 µm) size fractions.

Geographic Coordinates: 81.2699°W, 31.3929°N

Related Research: Dean Creek is located within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research study area (Site GCE6 - Dean Creek). This site is the focus of ongoing studies on marsh ecology and hydrography. Various ecological data sets from GCE6 - Dean Creek are available in the GCE Data Catalog.

Dean Creek Marsh

Description:

Dean Creek Marsh is a pristine Spartina alterniflora-dominated salt marsh. The marsh site is flooded by tidal water twice daily, and is characterized by a thin layer of aerobic sediments (<5 µm) underlain by anaerobic, sulfide generating sediments.

Habitats Studied:

Decaying plants and sediment

Sampling:

All samples are collected at low tide.

Decaying plant material is collected from three permanent plots of 'tall form' S. alterniflora (~1.5 m in height). Senescent blades representing two temporal stages of decomposition are collected: 'early decay' blades are yellow-brown in color; 'late decay' blades are brown-black in color and are collapsed onto the sediment surface. For DNA extraction, 3-cm portions of 10 blades are pooled.

Sediment samples are collected in duplicate from three marsh zones: tall form Spartina zone (~1.5 m in height), short form Spartina zone (~0.5 m in height), and unvegetated creek bank. Duplicate sediment samples are collected as cores in modified 60-cc plastic syringes. For DNA extraction, the top 1.5 cm of the sediment core is pooled.

Geographic Coordinates: 81.2797°W, 31.3884°N

Related Research: Dean Creek Marsh is located within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research study area (Site GCE6 - Dean Creek). This site is the focus of ongoing studies on plant and insect ecology and microbial decomposition. Various ecological data sets from GCE6 - Dean Creek are available in the GCE Data Catalog.

Doboy Sound

Description:

Doboy Sound is an open tidal bay near the southern end of Sapelo Island, characterized by water depths of 5-10 m and daily tidal excursions of up to 3 m.

Habitats Studied:

Surface water

Sampling:

Surface water samples are collected in acid-rinsed polypropylene carboys from a depth of 0.25 meters, with access by small boat.

For DNA extraction, samples are sequentially filtered through 1.0 µm and 0.2 µm pore-size polycarbonate filters. Separate DNA extractions are carried out the 'attached' (>1.0 µm) and 'free-living' (0.2 - 1.0 µm) size fractions.

Geographic Coordinates: 81.2915°W, 31.3862°N

Related Research:

Doboy Sound is located within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research study area (Site GCE6 - Dean Creek). This site is the focus of studies on hydrography and physical oceanography. Various ecological data sets from GCE6 - Dean Creek are available in the GCE Data Catalog.

UGAMI - University of Georgia Marine Institute

Description:

The University of Georgia Marine Institute is located on the southern end of Sapelo Island, and serves as the base of operations for SIMO field research.

Geographic Coordinates:

81.2800°W, 31.3975°N

Related Research:

The University of Georgia Marine Institute has been a center of coastal ecological and geological research since its inception in 1953. The main goals of the research conducted at the Marine Institute are to understand the process which affect the health of the salt marshes and coastline and to identify the role of the near-shore environment in the maintenance of our coastal resources. For more information about UGAMI, please visit http://www.uga.edu/ugami/.

UGAMI is also located within the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long Term Ecological Research study area (Site UGAMI - UGA Marine Institute). This site is the focus of studies on marsh ecology and meteorology. Various ecological data sets from UGAMI are available in the GCE Data Catalog.