Vegetation Sampling Day 1

This past Saturday me and the two other students in my group went out to the site where we will be performing vegetation transects. We went there with the goal of performing transects that were 16m long with 5, 1m square quadrants in which we would estimate the % coverage, stem count, and canopy height for each species in the plot. however we worked with Jason one of the volunteers at the NERR and he showed us a way to sample these transects using a camera and a computer program to obtain the same results. because we have to work at low tide the amount of sampling we can do is time constrained and with this method of sampling we can gather the data from the transects much faster then doing it by hand and the data can then be brought back to the lab and analysed. this allows for the sampling to be done much faster and effectively. Because of this we decided to switch to this method. So what we ended up doing this Saturday was to measure three transects using both methods and so we can later compare the data to see if one method is more accurate then the other and how different the methods results really are. 
some of my class makes working on collecting the data for one of their quadrants.

An Early Start to the First Day of Sampling

            Due to the early low tide, we started sampling around 8:30 am on October 26, 2013. As part of the benthic faunal group, our first task was to deploy the settlement trays which will be used to analyze diversity and abundance of benthic invertebrates in the Tolomato River as well as oyster spat settlement. Six settlement trays were deployed. Three are located in the restored site behind reef 3, 6, and 8 and three are located in the non-restored site at similar distances from the shore as the trays in the restored site. Four bricks were placed in each tray (not shown in the picture below) in the corners with 2 out the 6 trays (1 in each site) having two bricks with 4 oyster shells attached with zip ties. These oyster shells will be the ones analyzed for spat settlement.

Settlement tray filled with oyster shells (1 bucket of oyster shells used)

            Next, we took 12 sediment core samples, 8 in the restored site and 4 in the non-restored site. For the restored site we took triplicate core samples for between reefs and behind reefs (3, 6, and 8) for fauna analysis. We also took triplicate core samples for sediment analysis. Due to the incoming high tide we did not get a chance to take counts for fiddler crab burrows, however, overall it was a very productive day. When returning to UNF, we had to stain and preserve our core samples for faunal analysis. This will take about a week before we can start identifying the benthic species found in the samples. We intend to start the fiddler crab burrow counts next Saturday and our settlement trays will be analyzed in two weeks from Oct. 26, 2013 in which oyster spat settlement will be counted.    

Fish trapping day

Hey gang,

This past saturday 10-26-2013 my group (the fish group) set up our traps for sampling the diversity of fish species on the oyster reefs and some off the reefs. While the B-traps do not produce as much catch as the seine that we used the week before, they did surprisingly well. I was surprised to see how much they did catch. After looking at the hole that the fish had to swim in I had my doubts that they would catch anything. But turns out we did get a couple of specimens, like hog choker, tongue fish, a mullet, blue crabs, and some shrimp. We did have one misshape with trap number eight, the wings that funnel everything into the trap came out of the sediment after a huge barge like ship went by and its wake came washing onshore. While sampling for fish we did take water sample for water quality testing that we worked up back in the lab on campus. Turns out that the samples should be put on ice while in transit, especially for Chlorophyll-a (to keep it out of the sun) and ammonia, which we learned is highly volatile, and needs to be chilled in order to keep the sample from degrading. All in all not a bad day, caught some fish and didn't break the mulle, even though it was smoking pretty good from the extra "weight".

Fish Group Research Day 1

Hi all,
This past Saturday was day one for our group! The day started out a bit later than usual but once we were all assembled there was no holding us back! We begin the morning out at the middle beach where we collected 6 or 7 buckets of oyster shells to take out to the restoration site to have ready for the benthic group. From there we headed over to the GTMNERR, unfortunately we ended up having to make two trips out to the site due to all the materials, but the ride there and back for Dr. Smith, Jon and I wasn't to bad. Once we finally were all able to get out to the site, we hit the ground running.... well kind of, by the time all the materials and people were on site and ready to work it was super hot!! But we didn't try to let that bother us, Jon and I got right in to collect water for the turbidity and water quality test. After that, the seine nets were dragged and the fishes were caught, counted and measured at different sites within the oyster reef restoration site as well as outside the reef; all in an effort to determine the diversity of fish species. Due to time and the slight effects of heat exhaustion we had to cut the sampling a bit shorter than we had thought, however we felt what we collected was sufficient. Overall, the day was pretty good and a great team effort!

Day one, Fish and water quality group

October 19th was the first day for the fish and water quality group to do do some sampling. The group is composed of Natalia, Eric, Jon, and Shannon as our grad student support. Dr. Smith and Nadja went with us and it was a big help having them there.
Before we made it to the restoration site we stopped by the beach to pick up some oysters for the benthic group trays. When we got to the education center, transportation was a bit tricky since we had so many things to get to the restoration site.
After we made it to the site we proceeded to gather water quality data and start seining. The tide was higher than expected, we did not know if we were going to be able to catch much. To our surprise we caught a variety of things. It was very interesting to see some the different species that call the Tolomato River home. Jon and Eric did a great job working the seine.

Here are some pictures of our first sampling day

The necessary equipment loaded in the Ford 350 that Dr. Smith drove like a pro

 

 Processing the specimens caught at the edge of the river 

More Oyster Bagging Event

I wanted to share some pictures and information about the oyster bagging event that took place on October 12th.
The oyster bagging event is an important step towards the stabilization of the shoreline. Oyster shells are lined up and remain in quarantine until they are ready to be bagged by volunteers and taken to the restoration site. These bags are the material for the artificial reefs that intend to slow down the erosion in the shore of Tolomato River.
Volunteers are always needed for these events. There were several groups of people participating. It is wonderful to see that people care and want to work hard.

About 500 bags were done at this event

Working hard

Some additional information 

http://gtmvolunteerprojects.wikispaces.com/file/view/Living%20Shorelines%20Project_volunteer.pdf/384100076/Living%20Shorelines%20Project_volunteer.pdf

GTMNERR Vegetation Sampling

Hi my name is Collin Hayes and I am a Biology-Coastal Environmental Science Major at the University of North Florida. On September 28, 2013 we visited the restoration site to measure vegetation diversity and distribution along the shore using the transect sampling technique. To sample the vegetation the class was split into three teams and moved to different locations along the shore. Our team started at the waterline and measured nine meters inland at N30, W8. Along the nine meter transect we established four quadrants, at three meter intervals, each 1m^2. What we were able to conclude from the findings was that within the first two quadrants closest to the water line Spartina alternaflora was the dominant plant species with almost no competition from other plant species. We suspect Spartina alternaflora to be the dominant species due to its ability to resist the high salinity level and temporary submergence during tidal flux.  In the following two quadrants we start to see more diversity and dominance of other plant species, such as Sporobolus virginicus and Batis maritime. As the conditions become less extreme further inland other species are able to establish themselves and out-compete Spartina alternaflora. High species diversity is important for the support of a healthy ecosystem and resistance against succession events. One thing I must say is that after doing this field activity is that it is very difficult to count and identify all the variety of grass species. I think we were lucky since many of the grass species were flowering during our visit.
    

Oyster Bagging Event

On October 12, 2013 our class participated in the oyster bagging event at the GTMNERR along with several other groups of volunteers. This is just one step in the GTMNERR's Oyster Shell Recycling and Living Reef Restoration Project.

Oyster Shell Recycling Program

A few local restaurants participate in the program by separating their shucked oyster shells into recycling bins which are then picked up by volunteers. The shells are brought to the site above (Middle Beach Access parking lot) to be sterilized by leaving them out in the sun for 90 days. The oyster shells are bagged and then used to restore oyster reef along the Tolomato River. The day was hot and the oyster smell was particularly strong, but overall it was a fun and interesting experience. Everyone worked really hard and as a result, over 200 bags of oyster shell were piled up at the end of the day.

Sources: http://www.gtmnerr.org/Oyster-Reef-Restoration-Project.php, http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-01-26/story/oyster-shell-recycling-project-rebuilding-shoreline-st-johns-county

Courtesy of Dr. Smith

Over 200 bags of oyster shell!!!

This coming Saturday, October 19, 2013, will be the start of our research projects. I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. I'm in the benthic faunal group with Julianne, Collin, and Kierstin and we plan to focus on comparing benthic invertebrate diversity and abundance between a restored and non-restored site. Before we can start sampling we will assess the sites we want to sample in and work out some of our methods. Currently, we are working on finalizing methods for measuring oyster spat settlement.      

Introduction to Restoration Ecology

My name is Sharilyn Taylor. I am a senior at the University of North Florida. I will be graduating this December with my Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (major) and Environmental Studies (minor). My current undergraduate research is focused on the effects of hive insulation on honey bee colony development and productivity. My plan is to continue studying honey bees by applying to the Entomology and Ecology graduate program at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. 

I was excited to find out that the University of North Florida was offering a Transformational Learning Opportunity (TLO) in Restoration Ecology. This course is fulfilling my degree requirement for Botany. Over the duration of this course, I will be working with Brian and Jesse on a project studying vegetation near the oyster restoration site at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. 

September 7, 2013 - Introduction of coastal habitats and the GTMNERR

   Riding in the "Mule" 

On our first visit, Dr. Smith showed us the different ecosystems located at the GTMNERR. We used vehicles called "Mules" to ride around GTMNERR. We drove pass Guana Lake and Estuarine, 
which is separated by a dam. We then drove down a trail through 
the maritime forest on our way to the oyster restoration site. We passed by an ancient burial mound, which is currently inhabited by gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). 

At the oyster restoration site, we observed the different types of vegetation and how their abundance changed depending on elevation. The plants that live in this harsh environment have adaptations that help them to survive and reproduce. For instance, Black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) have two adaptations that allow them to tolerate the high salinity and daily tidal oscillations of salt marshes.
Black mangroves are referred to as salt excreters because they can discharge large amounts of salt through sap on the underside of their leaves. They also have pneumatophores (aerial root), which allow the black mangroves to breathe when its root system is submerged under water.

Distribution of vegetation

We also observed how the distribution of vegetation changes with elevation. Vegetation that are well adapted to changes in moisture and salinity live at the river's edge and along the riverbank, while vegetation that are not adapted to these changing conditions tend to grow further inland at higher elevations. Behind the oyster restoration site for example, the maritime forest is approximately 25 to 30 meters from the river's edge, while the salt marsh extends between 15 to 25 meters from the river's edge.  

Rough periwinkles (Littorina saxatilis) were found throughout the salt marsh attached to smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora). They were also found on other types of marsh grass. Periwinkles make incisions in the marsh grass with their radula and feed on the 
   fungi that infects the damaged plant tissue.

Rough periwinkle

Atlantic mud fiddler crabs (Uca pugnax) filled the ground beneath the marsh grass. I tried to be careful and watch my step as I walked through the salt marsh so that I did not trample them. Fiddler crabs have noticeable sexual dimorphism (physical difference between males and females of the same species). Male fiddler crabs have one enlarged claw, while females have two claws that are the same size. Males use their enlarged claw for communication and attracting females. However, female fiddler crabs have an advantage when it comes to feeding because their claws are both the same size. The enlarged claw on males can become quite clumsy during feedings. 

Male fiddler crab

Female fiddler crab

I learned a lot on the first day at GTMNERR and I cannot wait to see what I will learn in the weeks to come.

Vegitation Sampling

My name is Jesse VanderMey and last week we did vegetative sampling at the GTMNERR. We performed transect samplings of 9 meters with 1 meter quadrants at 0,3,6, and 9 meter intervals. In these quadrants we measured the number of plants from each species and the percent of the quadrant that each species covered. these recordings were taken at the low tide so as to be able to measure the data more effectively. What we found was that at the water line up till about 7 meters from the waters edge Spartina alterniflora was abundant and was almost exclusively the only plant inhabiting this region. However at this transition mark the Spartina diminished drastically disappearing within less then a meter. It was replaced by Sporobolus virginicus, Salicornia virginica, and Batis maritima. These small shrubs seemed to out compete the Spartina. I think the reason for this transition is because as the elevation increases the salinity of the soils decrease. Spartina is able to survive and reproduce in a much more saline environment then the other species of plants and this allows it to colonize the areas that are more impacted by salt water influx. However the plants that have a lower saline tolerance seem to be able to out compete the Spartina in regions where salinity is not a issue for them. This causes the Spartina to dominate the water line but to disappear as the elevation increases.

Spatina Alterniflora colonizing the edge of the low tide water line.

Fish sampling

In week 3 we did some fish sampling. We used the a seine in Guana River and Guana Lake during high tide and analyzed, measured, and released the organisms that we caught. We caught several organisms in both areas, these included anchovies, flounders, trouts, shrimp, crabs, and more.
The guys did a great job at pulling the huge seine though the water, it did not look easy.

 

 When the seine was pulled in we worked fast to make sure we kept mortalities low and so we would not stress the fish. We handled them carefully and when we were done recording they were released. This data, along with water quality information collected that day too, allowed us to get a picture of the distribution of organisms and how disturbances can affect this. That day the tide was high and there were a lot of fishermen on site.

A Rainy Day at the GTMNERR - Day 4

Our fourth day out in the field consisted of vegetation analysis along the Tolomato River. We used a transect/quadrant method to carry out the vegetation analysis. Quadrat analysis for this lab was conducted using 4 marking flags that designated a 1 meter-squared area. Four quadrats were placed along a transect that started from the edge of the shoreline moving farther up away from the water (9 m).

Quadrat 1 (closest to the shore)
(Courtesy of Julianne)

Quadrat 4 (farthest from the shore)
(Courtesy of Julianne)

Counting the individuals of the different plant species in the quadrats was no easy task. The percent coverage (an estimate of how much of the quadrat was covered by a particular plant species) was also recorded. By having these two measurements we can avoid overestimating small abundant plant species over larger, rarer plant species.

Counting and sampling different plant species
(Courtesy of Julianne) 

For all 3 groups, Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) was the only plant species present in quadrats 1 and 2 which were closer to the shoreline. Other plant species identified in quadrats 3 and 4, which were farther from the shoreline, were Salicornia virginica (glasswort) and Batis maritima (saltwort).

Batis maritima

Salicornia virginica

Before we left the restoration site, another interesting observation was made. A large boat passed by at a very high speed producing a very large wake. This is a leading cause of shoreline erosion.

Even though the day was rainy and gloomy, we had a good time sampling in the field. The muddy ride back in the mule was an interesting experience in which many laughs were shared. I hope to continue learning and experiencing what the area of field biology is all about.

(Courtesy of Sharilyn)