Long-Term Ecological Research on Landscape Development and Ecological Processes In A Tide-Dominated Barrier-Lagoon Complex: LTER NSF Award BSR-8702333 (UVA 5-26676) FY1 Progress Report Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 804-924-0555 Principal Investigator: R. D. Dueser Co-Principal Investigators: L. K. Blum B. P. Hayden G. M. Hornberger A. L. Mills W. K. Nuttle W. E. Odum G. F. Oertel (ODU) H. H. Shugart J. C. Zieman Co-Investigators: M. Castagna (VIMS/ES) R. Dolan J. J. Murray, Jr. R. L. Wetzel (VIMS) May 25, 1988 I. Overview of FY1 (1988) The first year of NSF/LTER funding for the Virginia Coast Reserve Long-term Ecological Research Program has been a year of building, both literally and figuratively. Our major activities can be summarized under several subject heads: Program Staffing -- We have recruited two post-doctoral research assistants and 11 graduate students to the Program, and have pursued an aggressive "outreach" program of contact with investigators and administrators at other institutions and agencies. Facilities Development -- We have renovated, equipped and occupied approximately 1,300 square feet of office, laboratory and student space on the Grounds and approximately 5,500 square feet of office, laboratory, computing, housing and utility space at our headquarters on the Eastern Shore. LTER Activities -- We have taught seven courses related to the coastal research, given 17 off-Grounds research presentations, submitted or published 11 papers, submitted nine research proposals, and planned the forthcoming symposium on the "Biota of the Virginia Barrier Islands." In addition, the PIs of the VCR/LTER Program have worked vigorously to become active in LTER Coordinating Committee activities and inter-site initiatives. Research Planning -- We have identified and initiated 33 high priority start-up research projects for the 1988 field season, each related to one or more of the LTER core topic areas. All of the core topic areas will be addressed by at least two projects. FY1 research activities involve eight Principal Investigators, two Co-Investigators, two post-doctoral research associates, three collaborating scientists, 11 graduate students and four undergraduates. Most of the projects designed to begin during FY1 will extend deeply into FY2. Even in advance of the FY1 field season, we have begun to identify specific issues and concerns for long-term study. Relationship with VCR/TNC -- The working relationship between the VCR/LTER Program and the Virginia Coast Reserve of The Nature Conservancy has continued to develop during FY1. The VCR provided the start-up funds required to renovate a TNC property ("The Newman Farm") for use as our Eastern Shore facilities. Under the terms of a lease agreement between the University and TNC, the VCR will recoup this expense through a monthly rental fee on the property. The University and the VCR shared in the expense of the dedication ceremony held on November 14, 1987. A standardized "Project Description Form" has been developed to facilitate communication of research plans and site requirements. Frequent discussions between Program staff and VCR staff have facilitated a timely start for several shore-based experiments. The issue of access to transportation for personnel and equipment on Hog Island remains under discussion. II. Program Staffing A. Data management post-doctoral research associate -- John H. Porter (Ph.D. University of Virginia) joined the staff on December 1, 1987. He has designed and assembled four microcomputer systems for the Program, including identical advanced microcomputer/Bernoulli systems for data management on the Grounds and on the Eastern Shore; implemented an internal electronic mail system linking all of the PIs; developed a D-BASE software package for collating and cross-referencing LTER Project Descriptions; assisted in the design of an advanced-capability geographical information system for the Program; and participated in planning and experimental design for most of the field and lab research projects planned for 1988 and 1989. B. Modelling post-doctoral research associate -- Lenore Fahrig (Ph.D. University of Toronto) joined the staff on September 1, 1987. She is working on an innovative scale- independent modelling approach to disturbance and landscape dynamics. Several of the 1988 field projects are designed in part to provide data useful for testing the assumptions and/or predictions of this model. Lenore also has worked closely with PIs who are planning marsh studies, to provide strong biological- modelling input comparable to the physical-modelling expertise in the group. C. Secretary -- Ms. Lyndele M. McCain joined the staff as half-time secretary on November 15, 1987. D. Remote sensing archivist -- Ms. Susan J. Trossbach (B.S. University of Virginia) joined the staff on January 15, 1988. She is responsible for updating and managing the archive of maps, coastal charts and remotely-sensed imagery. E. Site manager -- This important staff position remains unfilled at the outset of the FY1 field season. Our concept of this position has changed gradually during FY1, from the original idea of a combination post-doc/site manager to a combination technician/waterman/site manager. An early, unsuccessful attempt to fill this position with a post-doctoral research associate in plant ecology convinced us that we were unlikely to recruit the caliber of young scientist we need as long as the position required living full-time on the Eastern Shore and carrying out the responsibilities that we foresee for the site manager. Several candidates for the re-defined position have been identified for interviews this spring and early summer. F. Students 1. Graduate students -- Nine M.S. and two Ph.D. students are conducting pilot or thesis research at the University of Virginia in conjunction with the VCR/LTER Program: Katherine M. Brosemer (M.S.) -- Hydrologic Controls on Denitrifier Activity in a Salt Marsh Soil Laura H. Barr (M.S.) -- Accretion in a Virginia Salt Marsh as Indicated by Cesium Profiles Terry L. Cook (Ph.D.) -- Long-term vegetation dynamics on Hog Island Mary-Lynn Cummings (M.S.) -- Population Survival in a Stochastic Environment: The "Principal Components" of Insular Fox Habitat Michael L. Fetsko (M.S.) -- Effects of Subsurface Hydrology on the Growth of Salt Marsh Vegetation Elizabeth A. Forys (M.S.) -- Biogeography of Rodents on the Virginia Barrier Islands Beth H. Hussey (M.S.) -- The Measurement of Evapotranspiration in Tidal Marshes Bonnie J. Larson (M.S.) -- Conservation Strategies for the Endangered Delmarva Fox Squirrel on a Barrier Island Landscape Michele M. Monti (M.S.) -- Distribution, Production and Function of Macroalgae on the Virginia Barrier Islands Samuel G. Patterson (Ph.D.) -- Salt Marsh Accretion and Erosion on the Virginia Barrier Islands Margit Waters-Ray (M.S.) -- Effect of Varying Hydrologic Regimes on Spartina Decomposition At least two additional LTER students will matriculate in the Environmental Sciences graduate program next fall. Two graduate students are working in conjunction with the Program through a subcontract to Dr. George F. Oertel at Old Dominion University. 2. Undergraduate students -- Four U.Va. undergraduates are involved in VCR/LTER activities during 1988: David Giessler, Margaret A. McManus, Samuel D. Rausch, and Tracye L. Comess. G. Collaborating scientists -- Several potential VCR/LTER investigators have been identified through our "outreach" program during FY1. Discussions and/or active collaboration already is underway on a number of specific projects: Dr. Frank P. Day -- ecosystem ecology, Old Dominion University Mr. James M. Hill -- avian ecology, Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. Active collaboration. Dr. Suzanne M. Jenkins -- wildlife epidemiology, Virginia State Department of Health, Richmond. Active collaboration. Dr. Mark W. Luckenbach -- marine benthic ecology, Virginia Institute of Marine Science Dr. R. Wayne Tyndall -- coastal plant ecology, Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. Dr. Monica Turner -- consumer ecology and ecological modelling, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Dr. Donald R. Young -- physiological plant ecology, Virginia Commonwealth University. Active collaboration. III. Facilities Development A. Space on the Grounds -- Approximately 400 square feet of office space has been renovated and furnished in Clark Hall to house LTER post-doctoral research associates and the LTER data- management facilities. Approximately 900 square feet of newly- constructed laboratory and student office space was occupied in Halsey Hall this spring. B. Eastern Shore Facilities -- We have renovated, furnished and occupied a research field station 2 km north of Oyster, Virginia. These facilities include a 5,000 square foot farm house, three small outbuildings and a large metal barn for vehicle, boat and equipment storage. 1. Computing, housing, library, office, utility -- The house has been renovated to provide a "clean" lab, office/computer room, library, site manager apartment, and housing for 12 investigators. The computer facility includes an enhanced Zenith AT-class machine *** with twin drive Bernoulli box *** This machine is equipped with both the SPSS and the SAS statistical analysis packages. 2. Analytical laboratory -- The "clean" lab includes special wiring and plumbing, a deionized water system, regular and flammable-materials refrigerators, two freezers, digital top- loading balance, digital pH/mv meter, YSI salinity-conductivity- temperature meter, YSI oxygen meter, Orbisphere oxygen meter, and Hitachi spectrophotometer with vacuum sampler. The drying facility includes two large-volume drying ovens and a muffle furnace. C. Field instrumentation -- Sites have been selected and equipment ordered for installation of tide gauges and meteorological stations on both the mainland and Hog Island. Two sites have been selected for the installation of marsh boardwalks. D. Boats -- Two new boats have been acquired for the Program. These include a workhorse 24' Privateer with 225 hp Yamaha outboard, intended for all-weather, year-round use and for transporting heavy loads, and a 21' Privateer with 150 hp Yamaha for rapid transit to distant locations on the study area. Each boat is equipped with a compass, depth gauge and marine radio. A 24' aluminum Jon boat with a 70 hp Johnson outboard has been acquired on surplus from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. A well-used but serviceable 13' Boston Whaler with a 35 hp Johnson outboard will be used for shoreline activities and in marsh creeks. Dock space has been rented in the harbors of Red Bank and Quinby, Virginia. IV. PI Annual Reports (LTER-Related Activities 9/1/87 -5/1/88) A. Courses developed/taught Blum, L.K. Spring 1988. See W.K. Nuttle. Dolan, R. Spring 1988. EVSC 485. Coastal Processes. Dolan, R. Spring 1988. See B.P. Hayden. Dueser, R.D. Spring 1988. EVEC 796. Topics in Population Ecology: Island Biogeography. Dueser, R.D. Spring 1988. See B.P. Hayden. Hayden, B.P. Spring 1988. EVGE 796. Barrier Island Dynamics: The Virginia Coast Reserve. Nuttle, W.K. Fall 1987. EVSC 793. Structure and diagensis of marsh sediments. Nuttle, W.K. Spring 1988. EVSC 793. Hydrology and Diagenesis of Wetland Sediments: Modelling Below-Ground Carbon Dynamics. Odum, W.E. Spring 1988. See B.P. Hayden. Zieman, J.C. Spring 1988. EVSC 426. Marine Organisms and Environments. Zieman, J.C. Spring 1988. EVEC 796. Process-Modelling of Nitrogen Dynamics. B. Seminars, invited lectures and presentations Blum, L.K. 1/88. Role of bacteria in macrophyte decomposition. Department of Biological Sciences. Old Dominion University. Blum, L.K. 5/88. Rotten vegetation: What do microbes do with plant carbon? Department of Biology. Sweet Briar College. Blum, L.K. and A.L. Mills. 10/87. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial production in Zostera and Spartina detritus and sediments. 9th International Estuarine Research Conference. New Orleans. Brosemer, K.M., W.K. Nuttle, E.L. Winstead, J.S. Levine and W.R. Cofer. 10/87. Denitrifier activity and biogenic emissions of N2O from wetlands: The effect of tidal action. Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union. San Francisco. Brosemer, K.M. and W.K. Nuttle. 4/88. Hydrologic controls on denitrifier activity in a salt marsh soil. 1988 Water Resources Research Forum. Richmond. Dueser, R.D. 3/88. Multivariate statistical approaches to community ecology. Workshop on Innovative Approaches to Community Ecology. Department of Biological Sciences. Bowling Green State University. Dueser, R.D. 3/88. Habitat evaluation as a component of conservation strategies: A case study with the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel. Department of Biological Sciences. Bowling Green State University. Dueser, R.D., G.D. Therres and G.J. Taylor. 3/88. Translocation histories for the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel in Maryland: Guidelines for implementing a conservation strategy. Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference. The Greenbriar. West Virginia. Dueser, R.D. 4/88. Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research Program. 1988 Water Resources Research Forum. Richmond. Fahrig, L. 3/88. A general, scale-independent model of disturbance. Annual Meeting of the U.S. Chapter of the Internat. Association of Landscape Ecology. Albuquerque. Hayden, B.P. 4/88. Opportunities for analysis using the NOAA Strategic Assessment Branch GIS. Workshop on GIS. Chena Hot Springs, Alaska. Lagera, L. and J.C. Zieman. 3/88. The relative significance of macrophyte decomposition and phytoplankton respiration in the consumption of oxygen in the lower Chesapeake Bay. Chesapeake Bay Research Conference. Baltimore. Odum, W.E. 1/88. Virginia barrier islands. Association of Biology Teachers. Athens, Georgia. Shugart, H.H., Jr. 11/87. Forest succession models. Department of Forestry. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Shugart, H.H., Jr. 1/88. Models of ecosystem response to variations in land use. Workshop on Landscape History and Ecological Succession. Duke University. Shugart, H.H., Jr. 4/88. Approaches and techniques available for modelling global vegetation change:Overview on numerical modelling techniques. Modelling Global Change. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis. Laxenburg, Austria. Zieman, J.C. 1/88. Stable isotope ratios of ecological components in south Florida and Chesapeake Bay: Comparisons of variation due to sources and processing. Annual ASLO-AGU Ocean Sciences Meeting. New Orleans. C. Publications directly related to LTER activities Dolan, R. and B.P. Hayden. In press. Atlantic coastal storms. Journal of Coastal Research. Dolan, R. and D.L. Inman. In press. Inlet and barrier island dynamics. Journal of Coastal Research. Dueser, R.D. and K. Terwilliger. 1988. Status of the Delmarva fox squirrel in Virginia. Virginia Journal of Science 38:380-388. Dueser, R.D., J.H. Porter and J.L. Dooley, Jr. In press. Direct tests for competition in North American rodent communities: synthesis and prognosis. Symposium on Patterns in the Structure of Mammalian Communities. Fahrig, L. In review. Interacting effects of disturbance and dispersal on individual selection and population stability. Comments on Theoretical Biology. Franklin, J.F., H.H. Shugart and M.E. Harmon. 1987. Tree death as an ecosystem process. BioScience 37:550-556. Nuttle, W.K. and H.F. Hemond. In review. Salt marsh hydrology: Implications for biogeochemical fluxes to the atmosphere and estuaries. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Schneider, R.L. and W.E. Odum. In press. Barrier island interdunal freshwater wetlands. Journal of Southeastern Biologists. Shugart, H.H. 1987. The dynamic ecosystem consequences of coupling birth and death processes in trees. BioScience 37:596-602. Shugart, H.H., P.J. Michaels, T.M. Smith, D.A. Weinstein and E.B. Rastetter. 1988. Simulation models of forest succession:125-151. In: T. Rosswall, R.G. Woodmansee and P.G. Risser (eds.). Scales and Global Changes: Spatial and Temporal Variability in Biospheric and Geospheric Processes. John Wiley and Sons. London. Shugart, H.H., G.B. Bonan and E.B. Rastetter, In press. Niche theory and community organization. Canadian Journal of Botany. D. Proposals submitted Blum, L.K. and A.L. Mills. The role of dissolved organic constituents from anaerobic decomposition in oxygen dynamics in the water column. Sea Grant-Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium. Funded. Dueser, R.D. Ecology and population dynamics of raccoons on Parramore Island. Virginia State Health Department. Funded. Dueser, R.D. Population status and habitat requirements of the Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Funded. Hayden, B.P. and P.J. Michaels. Climate variability and climate change of ecological significance at Long-Term Ecological Research sites. National Science Foundation. Declined. Mills, A.L. G. F. Oertel, et al. Organization and dynamics of landscape units in the Coastal Lagoon Complex. National Science Foundation. Declined. Nuttle, W.K., L.K. Blum and R.D. Dueser. Facilities for the study of above- and below-ground ecological processes in a marsh/barrier island system: VCR/LTER. National Science Foundation. Declined. Odum, W.E. et al. Nutrient retention and transformation in Chesapeake Bay wetlands as influenced by subsurface hydrology and internal biogeochemical recycling mechanisms. Sea Grant-Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium. Funded. Shugart, H.H., Jr. Using satellite-measurable parameters for extending models of ecological processes to large spatial scales: A test case. NASA. Funded. Zieman, J.C., R.L. Wetzel and S.A. Macko. Isotopic determination of nitrogen sources and processing in estuarine environments. Sea Grant-Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium. Funded. E. Other activities Hayden, B.P. LTER Coordinating Committee Planning Group for LTER Initiatives in Paleoecology. Hayden, B.P. LTER Climate Committee. Nuttle, W.K. Working Group on Hydrology of the Virginia Eastern Shore. Odum, W.E. LTER Review Panel. National Science Foundation. Odum, W.E. Advisory Committee. North Inlet LTER Program. Porter, J.H. LTER Data Management Committee. Shugart, H.H., Jr. Chairman. National Science Foundation LTER Advisory Committee on Scientific and Technological Planning. F. Student Reports Fetsko, M. 1988. The hydrology of the mid-Atlantic Eastern Shore: A collection of papers. Wright, E.J. 1988. A history of the Eastern Shore from articles published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (1665-1850). G. Symposium on the Biota of the Virginia Barrier Islands -- We have planned a symposium to be held on Friday, May 27, in conjunction with the 1988 meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science. There are 31 participants scheduled to present 22 papers dealing with the distribution, ecology and evolution of the biota of the VCR/LTER study site. The collected papers will be published as a symposium volume in the winter 1989 issue of the Virginia Journal of Science. Symposium Session: Biota of the Virginia Barrier Islands Session Chairman: Raymond D. Dueser. Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia. 8:10 Announcements and introductory remarks 33. 8:15 Preliminary vascular flora of the Virginia barrier islands. Cheryl A. McCaffrey. Bureau of Land Management, Burns, Oregon. 34. 8:35 Phytoplankton assemblages associated with the Virginia barrier islands. H.G. Marshall and Cindy Shomers. Dept. of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University. 35. 8:55 Plant communities of the Virginia barrier islands. Cheryl A. McCaffrey and Raymond D. Dueser. Bureau of Land Management, Burns, Oregon, and Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia. 36. 9:15 Vegetation dynamics on the Virginia barrier islands. Gerald F. Levy. Dept. of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University. 37. 9:35 Do fundamental plant ecological principles on the North Carolina Outer Banks apply to the Virginia barrier islands? Wayne R. Tyndall. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis, Maryland. 38. 9:55 Forest vegetation structure on the Eastern Shore of Virginia circa 18,000 BP. Gordon B. Bonan and Bruce P. Hayden. Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia. 10:15 Break Session Chairman: John M. Hall. The Nature Conservancy, Nassawadox, Virginia. 39. 10:25 Mammals of the Virginia barrier islands. Raymond D. Dueser. Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia. 40. 10:45 A longitudinal survey of the beach nesting and colonial birds of the Virginia barrier islands, 1975- 1987. Bill Williams, J. William Akers, Jerry W. Via and Ruth A. Beck. James City County, Virginia Public Schools; Charlottesville, Virginia; Dept. of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and Dept. of Biology, College of William and Mary. 41. 11:05 Herpetofauna of the Virginia barrier islands. Roger Conant, Joseph C. Mitchell and Christopher A. Pague. Albuquerque, New Mexico; Dept. of Biology, University of Richmond; and Dept. of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University. 42. 11:25 Seasonal composition of finfish in waters behind the Virginia barrier islands. Brenda L. Norcross and David Hata. Dept. of Biological and Fisheries Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences. 11:45 Discussion Session Chairman: Richard S. Sojda. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cape Charles, Virginia. 43. 1:05 Barrier islands and their role in the distribution, variability and evolution of tiger beetles of the Cicindela dorsalis complex (Coleoptera:Cicindelidae). C. Barry Knisley and James M. Hill. Dept. of Biology, Randolph-Macon College, and Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis, Maryland. 44. 1:25 Marine amoeba in waters of Chincoteague Bay, Virginia: Ecological significance of "Old" and "New" Species. Thomas K. Sawyer. Rescon Associates, Royal Oak, Maryland. 45. 1:45 Biology of large grazing mammals on the Virginia barrier islands. Ronald R. Keiper. Dept. of Biology, Pennsylvania State University. 46. 2:05 Aerial searches and denning ecology of barrier island red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Terry L. Bashore and Patricia M. Krim. Coastal Ecology Research Laboratory, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, and Dept. of Biology, Shippensburg University. 47. 2:25 Den site characteristics and food habits of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) on Assateague Island. Patricia M. Krim. Dept. of Biology, Shippensburg University. 48. 2:45 Small mammal habitat associations on Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island. Jack A. Cranford. Dept. of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 49. 3:05 Ecology of feral house mice (Mus musculus) on Wallop's Island, Virginia. Gordon L. Kirkland and Thomas V. Fleming. Vertebrate Museum, Shippensburg University, and Dept. of Biology, University of Alabama. 3:25 Break Session Chairman: Karen Terwilliger, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond, Virginia. 50. 3:35 Status of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) on the Virginia barrier islands. Mitchell A. Byrd. Dept. of Biology, College of William and Mary. 51. 3:55 Status and distribution of the least tern (Sterna albifrons) on the Virginia barrier islands. Ruth A. Beck, J. William Akers, Jerry W. Via and Bill Williams. Dept. of Biology, College of William and Mary; Charlottesville, Virginia; Dept. of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and James City County, Virginia Public Schools. 52. 4:15 Piping plover ecology and management. Michael E. Patterson, James D. Fraser and Joseph W. Roggenbuck. School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. 53. 4:35 Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Raymond D. Dueser. Dept. of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia. V. Research Activities for 1988 (FY1) and Beyond As indicated above, 33 high-priority projects have been identified for initiation during FY1. Several of these projects, particularly those involving acquisition of existing data sets and photography, will be essentially complete by the end of FY1. Many of the FY1 field research projects are designed to produce survey data on basic ecosystem characteristics (e.g., spatial variability in soil organic matter and soil nutrient pools) for which little or no site-specific information is presently available. Most of the field research projects outlined below, on the other hand, will continue into or through FY2. Much of the field research effort during FY1 will be devoted to designing, perfecting and implementing sampling methods appropriate to long- term studies. The PIs have corresponded extensively with PIs from other LTER and lter sites, to discuss sampling philosophies, procedures and pitfalls. Major new initiatives planned for FY2 include the stable isotope, food chain and microevolution/ population genetics studies outlined in the original proposal.