Monthly Report: September 2015

Transcription

1 Monthly Report: September 2015 BARUCH INSTITUTE OF COASTAL ECOLOGY AND FOREST SCIENCE Highway 17 North PO Box 596 Georgetown, SC P (843) F (843) To: William Bailey and Mary E. Richards Planning Division Savannah District US Army Corps of Engineers 100 W. Oglethorpe Ave. Savannah, GA October 2015 By: Jamie Duberstein Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science Clemson University PO Box 596 Georgetown, SC Cell: Bill and Mary: Please see the bulleted list below for the major actions and accomplishments associated with Cooperative Agreement Number W912HZ for the month of September Please let me know if you would like me to elaborate on the details of any items I ve listed below, or if there are any status updates you d like on unlisted topics. Best Regards, Jamie September 2015 Report, p.1

2 Marsh Vegetation The October synoptic marsh vegetation collection was carried out October, and sample processing (sorting, drying, weighing) is currently underway. Multivariate analysis of the June 2015 synoptic sample found six marsh communities, just as it did for June o An ordination graph is provided in Figure 1. Table 1 lists the following metrics related to the community composition of plots within the 12 marsh monitoring areas: o Average importance of the most dominant species. o Maximum species richness found in any one plot. o Average species richness across all plots containing the pertinent community. o Number of plots containing each community. There are a total of 108 plots across the 12 monitoring areas. o Average early growing season belowground salinity for each community. For each community type, plots were assigned the average early growing season salinity of the area in which it was found. Then a weighted average was computed based on number of plots found within each area, so long as those plots contained the pertinent community. An example: The Cattail Community was found in one plot in the Back 2 area (0.22 psu), two plots in the Front 2 area (0.07 psu), one plot in the Middle 1 area (0.34 psu), one plot in the Middle 4 area (2.29 psu), and two plots in the Middle 5 area (0.89 psu). Computed as: [(1*0.22)+(2*0.07)+(1*0.34)+(1*2.29)+(2*0.89)] / 7 The resulting average early growing belowground salinity for the Cattail Community is 0.86 psu. Water Data Early growing season belowground salinity parameters are provided for each of the 15 monitoring areas in Table 2. A map showing early growing season average salinities per area is provided as Figure 2. o Early growing season is defined as 01 April 30 June Water data were last downloaded on 21 and 22 September o An updated salinity table is provided below as Table 3. September 2015 Report, p.2

3 The well array at Back 4 was moved to a spot within 10 feet of the previous spot. As a reminder, hogs rooted around the well array and had made the ground very soft. The ground is normally quite firm (supported with a network of roots) at this monitoring area. All the belowground salinity/water level sensors were surfacecleaned using specialized cleaning swabs after data were downloaded. This prevents excessive deposition of corrosive materials and maintains accuracy. The belowground sensor at Back 3.5 reported an internal hardware error during our September download. The sensor was removed from the field and is being repaired. A replacement sensor was deployed during the October synoptic marsh sampling event. o There is data loss associated with this malfunctioning sensor. Data loss began 07 September and continued through 11 October. Forest monitoring Monthly measurements of baldcypress tree growth were last taken on 21 September 2015 for Swamp 3, and on 22 September for Swamp 1 and Swamp 2. Average expansion (circumference) from 19 August 21/22 September: o Swamp 1: 0.31 cm o Swamp 2: 0.56 cm o Swamp 3: 0.75 cm September 2015 Report, p.3

4 Table 1. The six marsh communities found throughout the 108 monitoring points in June Maximum species richness refers to the highest number of unique species found within a single 2.69 ft 2 (0.25 m 2 ) sample area. Average salinity reflects belowground salinity conditions during the early growing season, leading up the June 2015 synoptic marsh sampling event. Zone Community Dominants Mesohaline Oligohaline Freshwater Average Importance Max Spp. Richness Avg Spp. Richness Avg salinity (psu) 01 April - 30 June Fresh mix sand spikerush giant cutgrass 8.83 Elliott's aster 5.17 broadleaf arrowhead 8.71 seedbox 3.88 Cutgrass giant cutgrass softstem bulrush sand spikerush 9.79 slenderleaf false dragonhead 4.25 Bulrush softstem bulrush sand spikerush 5.08 giant cutgrass 7.22 cattail 6.11 Bulrush mix softstem bulrush sand spikerush cattail 5.78 green arrow arum Elliott's aster 5.07 Cattail cattail softstem bulrush Cordgrass softstem bulrush smooth cordgrasss sturdy bulrush 6.98 perrenial saltmarsh aster 2.83 # of plots September 2015 Report, p.4

5 Table 2. Early growing season belowground salinity parameters (practical salinity units = psu) measured at (12) marsh monitoring areas and (3) tidal forest areas. Summaries are based on hourly measurements starting 01 April :00 and endung 30 June :00 for most sensors except the Middle 4 aboveground sesor, which ends 22 June due to sensor failures. Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Avg (std. err) Max Min Back (0.00) Back (0.00) Back (0.01) Back (0.01) Back (0.01) Front (0.00) Front (0.01) Middle (0.00) Middle (0.00) Middle (0.01) Middle (0.02) Middle (0.01) Swamp (0.00) Swamp (0.00) Swamp (0.00) September 2015 Report, p.5

6 Table 3. Average, maximum, and minimum salinity (practical salinity units = psu) measured at (12) marsh monitoring areas and (3) tidal forest areas. Summaries are based on hourly measurements starting 01 January :00. The aboveground sensor at Middle 4 had an internal hardware failure 22 June 2015 at 18:23; a replacement sensor was deployed 20 August 2015 at 0:00. The belowground sensor at Back 3.5 had an internal hardware failure 07 September 2015 at 02:05; no replacement has been deployed to date. Summaries for all other areas reflect hourly data through September depending on the sensor. Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err) Max Min Avg (std. Max Min Back 1 January 0.11 (0.01) (0.00) February 0.13 (0.01) (0.00) March 0.06 (0.00) (0.00) April 0.02 (0.00) (0.00) May 0.02 (0.00) (0.00) June 0.01 (0.00) (0.00) July 0.09 (0.03) (0.00) August 0.07 (0.02) (0.00) September 0.00 (0.00) (0.00) Annual 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) Back 2 January 0.09 (0.01) (0.00) February 0.15 (0.01) (0.00) March 0.10 (0.01) (0.00) April 0.18 (0.02) (0.00) May 0.14 (0.01) (0.00) June 0.17 (0.02) (0.00) July 0.14 (0.02) (0.00) August 0.13 (0.01) (0.00) September 0.07 (0.01) (0.00) Annual 0.13 (0.00) (0.00) Back 3 January 0.13 (0.02) (0.01) February 0.17 (0.03) (0.01) March 0.17 (0.02) (0.01) April 0.12 (0.02) (0.01) May 0.07 (0.01) (0.01) June 0.10 (0.02) (0.01) July 0.23 (0.04) (0.01) August 0.22 (0.03) (0.01) September 0.09 (0.02) (0.01) Annual 0.15 (0.01) (0.01) September 2015 Report, p.6

7 Table 3 (Continued). Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err) Max Min Avg (std. Max Min Back 3.5 January 0.17 (0.02) (0.00) February 0.27 (0.03) (0.00) March 0.19 (0.02) (0.00) April 0.27 (0.03) (0.01) May 0.18 (0.02) (0.01) June 0.17 (0.02) (0.01) July 0.34 (0.04) (0.01) August 0.42 (0.04) (0.01) September 0.15 (0.02) (0.02) Annual 0.26 (0.01) (0.00) Back 4 January 0.47 (0.05) (0.01) February 0.58 (0.07) (0.01) March 0.43 (0.05) (0.01) April 0.38 (0.05) (0.01) May 0.42 (0.04) (0.01) June 0.42 (0.05) (0.01) July 0.86 (0.09) (0.03) August 0.92 (0.08) (0.02) September 0.45 (0.05) (0.01) Annual 0.57 (0.02) (0.01) Front 1 January 0.06 (0.01) (0.00) February 0.11 (0.01) (0.00) March 0.06 (0.00) (0.00) April 0.08 (0.01) (0.00) May 0.11 (0.01) (0.00) June 0.07 (0.01) (0.00) July 0.59 (0.01) (0.01) August 0.59 (0.01) (0.00) September 0.04 (0.01) (0.01) Annual 0.07 (0.00) (0.00) September 2015 Report, p.7

8 Table 3 (Continued). Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err) Max Min Avg (std. Max Min Front 2 January 0.21 (0.03) (0.00) February 0.38 (0.06) (0.01) March 0.09 (0.02) (0.00) April 0.20 (0.03) (0.01) May 0.15 (0.02) (0.00) June 0.20 (0.03) (0.03) July 0.53 (0.06) (0.03) August 0.46 (0.05) (0.02) September 0.17 (0.03) (0.01) Annual 0.28 (0.01) (0.01) Middle 1 January 0.11 (0.01) (0.00) February 0.15 (0.02) (0.00) March 0.15 (0.02) (0.00) April 0.11 (0.02) (0.00) May 0.06 (0.01) (0.00) June 0.07 (0.01) (0.00) July 0.13 (0.04) (0.00) August 0.04 (0.01) (0.00) September 0.05 (0.03) (0.00) Annual 0.09 (0.01) (0.00) Middle 2 January 0.28 (0.05) (0.01) February 0.30 (0.08) (0.02) March 0.24 (0.03) (0.01) April 0.09 (0.02) (0.00) May 0.08 (0.01) (0.00) June 0.06 (0.01) (0.01) July 0.08 (0.03) (0.03) August 0.07 (0.02) (0.01) September 0.00 (0.00) (0.01) Annual 0.09 (0.01) (0.01) September 2015 Report, p.8

9 Table 3 (Continued). Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err) Max Min Avg (std. Max Min Middle 3 January 0.17 (0.05) (0.01) February 0.23 (0.11) (0.02) March 0.11 (0.02) (0.02) April 0.06 (0.02) (0.01) May 0.00 (0.00) (0.01) June 0.00 (0.00) (0.01) July 0.00 (0.00) (0.04) August 0.01 (0.00) (0.02) September 0.00 (0.00) (0.01) Annual 0.03 (0.00) (0.01) Middle 4 January 0.28 (0.05) (0.01) February 0.26 (0.06) (0.01) March 0.11 (0.02) (0.01) April 0.11 (0.02) (0.01) May 0.10 (0.01) (0.02) June 0.22 (0.04) (0.04) July N/A N/A N/A 3.33 (0.02) August 0.84 (0.14) (0.01) September 0.18 (0.05) (0.01) Annual 0.21 (0.01) (0.01) Middle 5 January 0.21 (0.02) (0.01) February 0.29 (0.03) (0.01) March 0.13 (0.01) (0.01) April 0.18 (0.02) (0.01) May 0.14 (0.01) (0.02) June 0.18 (0.03) (0.03) July 0.44 (0.05) (0.02) August 0.36 (0.03) (0.01) September 0.18 (0.03) (0.01) Annual 0.25 (0.01) (0.01) September 2015 Report, p.9

10 Table 3 (Continued). Aboveground Salinity (psu) Belowground Salinity (psu) Area Month Avg. (std. err) Max Min Avg (std. Max Min Swamp 1 January 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) February 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) March 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) April 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) May 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) June 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) July 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) August 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) September 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) Annual 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) Swamp 2 January 0.06 (0.00) (0.00) February 0.06 (0.00) (0.00) March 0.05 (0.00) (0.00) April 0.06 (0.00) (0.00) May 0.07 (0.00) (0.00) June 0.07 (0.00) (0.00) July 0.11 (0.02) (0.00) August 0.15 (0.01) (0.00) September 0.12 (0.01) (0.00) Annual 0.09 (0.00) (0.00) Swamp 3 January 0.03 (0.00) (0.00) February 0.05 (0.00) (0.01) March 0.02 (0.00) (0.00) April 0.04 (0.00) (0.00) May 0.02 (0.00) (0.00) June 0.03 (0.00) (0.00) July 0.14 (0.02) (0.01) August 0.13 (0.02) (0.00) September 0.03 (0.00) (0.00) Annual 0.06 (0.00) (0.00) September 2015 Report, p.10

11 Figure 1. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination made using data from the June 2015 marsh vegetation survey. September 2015 Report, p.11

12 Figure 2. Early season (01 April 30 June 2015) belowground salinity averages for marsh and forest monitoring areas in the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. September 2015 Report, p.12