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) FY3 Progress Report FY4 Continuation Proposal Department of Environmental Sciences University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia 804-924-0555 Principal Investigator: W. E. Odum Co-Principal Investigators: L. K. Blum R. D. Dueser B. P. Hayden A. L. Mills H. H. Shugart J. C. Zieman Co-Investigators: F. P. Day (ODU) R. Dolan J. Evans R. C. Kochel (SIU) L. M. Lagera, Jr. G. F. Oertel (ODU) J. H. Porter R. L. Wetzel (VIMS) D. R. Young (VCU) May 15, 1990 I. Overview of FY3 (1989-90) The third year of NSF/LTER funding for the Virginia Coast Reserve Long-term Ecological Research Program has been another year of building, both literally and figuratively. Our major activities can be summarized under several subject heads: Program Staffing -- We recruited two additional post-doctoral research associates, five new collaborating scientists, and six new graduate students to the Program. We continued to pursue an aggressive "outreach" program of contact with investigators at other institutions and agencies. Facilities Development -- We have completed the renovation of 500 additional square feet of laboratory space at our VCR/LTER Laboratory headquarters on the Eastern Shore. The Department of Environmental Sciences has received university funding for expansion of our remote sensing/GIS laboratory. LTER Activities -- During FY3 we taught 7 courses related to the research program, gave 27 off-Grounds research presentations, submitted or published 21 LTER-related papers, submitted 21 research proposals, and edited the forthcoming symposium volume on the "Biota of the Virginia Barrier Islands." The PIs of the VCR/LTER Program worked vigorously to become active in LTER Coordinating Committee activities and inter-site initiatives. Research Planning -- We established the main thrusts of the VCR/LTER field research during FY1/2/3, including production ecology, microbial ecology, hydrology, geochemistry and remote sensing. Reflecting this diversity of ongoing projects, we have identified only 6 new start-up projects for the 1990 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. FY3/4 activities involve 7 Principal Investigators, 6 Co-Investigators, 1 post-doctoral research associate, 1 collaborating scientist, 10 graduate students and 5 undergraduates. Most of the projects initiated during FY2 extended deeply into FY3, and several will extend into FY4. During the FY2/3 field seasons, we identified several specific issues for long-term study. Relationship with VCR/TNC -- Our working relationship with the Virginia Coast Reserve of The Nature Conservancy continued to develop during FY3. Cooperation of the VCR staff made possible a timely start for several shore-based experiments at Brownsville. TNC acquired the extensive Fowling Point marsh, an area with tremendous potential for LTER use. VCR/LTER staff hosted two brief visits to the LTER Lab by senior TNC officials and foundation representatives. A VCR/LTER - VCR/TNC coordinating committee has been established to facilitate communication and coordination between the research program and VCR administration. Reasonable progress was made during FY3 on the nagging issue of access to transportation for personnel and equipment on Hog Island. Discussions continue on this issue. II. Program Staffing A. Modelling post-doctoral research associate -- Jonathan Evans (Ph.D. Duke University, 1989) joined the staff on July 1, 1989. With his expertise on the physiology and ecology of dune plants, Jon gives us tremendous added strength in several areas of barrier island ecology. He will conduct research in plant ecology on Hog Island, and also will provide wide-ranging botanical expertise to our modelling program. B. Soils post-doctoral research associate -- Souhail Al- Abed (Ph.D. University of Nebraska, 1988) joined the staff on a part-time basis on June 1, 1989. He adds great expertise in the areas of weathering processes and soil formation, sulfur biogeochemistry, and the hydrology of unconfined aquifers. Souhail will continue to work with us through the end of FY3. C. Additional scientific staff -- Thanks to an ambitious outreach program, we had almost twice as many investigators on the ground for all or part of the summer of 1989 as in 1988. We expect to operate at a comparable level in 1990 (FY3). Dr. Richard L. Wetzel is an associate professor of marine science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. The VCR/LTER Program has funded Dick and a technician during FY3 to work on the continuing biogeochemical survey of Hog Island and Hog Island Bay. Dick focused in particular on the distribution of nitrogen among the landscape elements of the VCR. His work will continue to be supported by the VCR/LTER Program during FY4. Dr. Donald R. Young is an assistant professor of biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Don is a plant physiological ecologist who studies the architecture and physiology of evergreen shrubs. He was funded during FY2 (summer 1989) and early FY3 on an NSF/ROA grant through the VCR/LTER Program to begin research on the physiology, water relations and primary production of Myrica shrubs on Hog Island. His work during the remainder of FY3 will be funded by the VCR/LTER Program and the National Geographic Society. Dr. Frank P. Day is a professor of biological sciences at Old Dominion University. Frank is an ecosystem ecologist with particular interest in below-ground processes (e.g., root production and carbon turnover). The VCR/LTER Program funded Frank and a graduate student during FY2 (summer 1989) to work on the continuing survey of carbon reservoirs on Hog Island. His work during the remainder of FY3 and FY4 will be supported by separate funding from the NSF. Dr. R. Craig Kochel is an associate professor of geology at Southern Illinois University. While on the U.Va. faculty several years ago, Craig initiated a continuing research program in geomorphology on Assateague Island. Through his years of experience with analyzing and interpreting barrier island stratigraphy, Craig has developed an exceptional ability to associate sedimentary processes with sedimentological patterns. The VCR/LTER Program funded Craig and a graduate student during FY2 (summer 1989) and early FY3 for a geological study of overwash deposits on Hog Island, including the installation of a network of sites for long-term monitoring of overwash processes. Dr. Nancy D. Moncrief is curator of mammalogy at the Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville. Her research areas include population genetics, microevolution, and systematics. She joined the VCR/LTER Program as an active collaborator in June 1989, and has continued to work throughout FY3. She will continue to collaborate with Ray Dueser in studies of the genetics of insular mammals following the latter's departure for Utah State University at the end of FY3. D. Students 1. Graduate students -- Seven 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: Terry L. Cook (Ph.D.) -- Long-term vegetation dynamics on Hog Island. (Completion in August, 1990) Mary-Lynn Cummings (M.S.) -- Population survival in a stochastic environment: The "principal components" of insular fox habitat (Medical leave of absence). Michael L. Fetsko (M.S.) -- A water balance estimate for Brownsville, Virginia. (Completion in May, 1990). Michael Fitch (M.S.) -- Plant community composition on overwash fans. (Completion in August, 1990) Elizabeth A. Forys (M.S.) -- Effect of immigration on population stability and genetic variability of Oryzomys palustris on the Virginia barrier islands. (Completion in August, 1990) Michael S. Harris (M.S.) -- Recent geologic history of a Virginia barrier island: Landform and sedimentologic analysis of Hog Island. (Completion in August, 1990) Bonnie J. Larson (M.S.) -- Conservation strategies for the endangered Delmarva fox squirrel on a barrier island landscape. (Completion in August, 1990) Michele M. Monti (M.S.) -- Distribution, production and function of macroalgae on the Virginia barrier islands. David T. Osgood (M.S.) -- Elemental partitioning in bayshore salt marshes (C:N:P). Samuel G. Patterson (Ph.D.) -- Salt marsh accretion and erosion on the Virginia barrier islands. Three graduate students are working in conjunction with the VCR/LTER Program through a subcontract to Dr. George F. Oertel at Old Dominion University, one with Dr. Frank P. Day at Old Dominion University, three with Dr. Donald R. Young at Virginia Commonwealth University, and one with Dr. R. Craig Kochel at Southern Illinois University. 2. Undergraduate students -- Five U.Va. undergraduates are involved in VCR/LTER activities during 1990: Randy Cutter, Binney Girdler, Mark Priest, Bill Stanley and Lou Taylor. E. Collaborating scientists -- Several collaborative VCR/LTER investigators have been identified through our continuing outreach program during FY3. Discussions and/or active collaboration already is underway on a number of projects: Dr. Mark M. Brinson -- marsh ecology. Department of Biology, East Carolina University. Planning collaboration. Dr. Robert Christian -- marsh ecology. Department of Biology, East Carolina University. Planning collaboration. Dr. R. Michael Erwin -- avian ecology and migration. Migratory Bird Lab, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Patuxent. Active collaboration. Dr. Tanya Furman -- geology and mineralogy. Virginia Museum of Natural History. Active Collaboration. Mr. James M. Hill -- avian ecology and plant dispersal. Maryland Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. Active collaboration. Dr. Richard R. Mills -- insect ecology. Department of Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University. Discussing collaboration. Dr. Terrance Schwaner -- curator of herpetology, Virginia Museum of Natural History, Martinsville. Planning collaboration. Ms. Karen Terwilliger -- director of non-game wildlife program, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond. Active collaboration. III. Facilities Development A. Space on the Grounds -- Renovation has continued on approximately 300 square feet of office space in Clark Hall to house the LTER GIS facility. It is planned that additional space will be appropriated for this facility during the last quarter of FY3. Through the efforts of Joseph C. Zieman, the Department is continuing the development of a stable-isotope facility in our Halsey Hall research wing. B. Eastern Shore Facilities -- 1. Computing facility -- Computing capability at the LTER Lab has been upgraded during FY3 through the acquisition of a high-speed Zenith 386 computer and a new Bernoulli system. 2. Analytical laboratory -- The "clean" lab has been modified to support the preparation of samples for stable isotope analysis. C. Field instrumentation -- Meteorological stations have been installed on both the mainland and Hog Island. A tide gauge is operating on the mainland (Phillip's Creek) and on Hog Island (Machipongo Station). Eighteen groundwater wells have been drilled on the mainland (Brownsville Farm) and 72 on transects 1 and 5 on Hog Island. Cross-island transects 1, 2, 4 and 5 have been cleared and staked at 50-m intervals, and permanent plots have been established on 1 and 5. Topographic benchmarks have been surveyed on each transect. Water level recorders will be installed at pond and marsh sites on Hog Island in summer 1990. IV. PI Annual Reports (LTER-Related Activities 5/1/89 -4/30/90) A. Courses developed/taught Dolan, R. Spring 1990. EVSC 485. Coastal Processes. Dueser, R.D. Spring 1990. EVSC 420. Conservation Ecology. Evans, J. Fall 1989. EVEC 793. Seminar in Coastal Ecology. Hayden, B.P. Fall, 1989. EVAT 540. Environmental Climatology and Meteorology. Hayden, B.P. Spring, 1990. EVAT 793. Climate/Ecosystem Dynamics. Mills, A.L. Spring 1989. Microbial Ecology. Shugart, H.H., Jr. Fall 1989. See J. Evans. B. Seminars, invited lectures and presentations Al-Abed, S.R. and A.L. Mills. 12/89. Sulfur and organic matter distribution in barrier island soils. Symposium on Barrier Island Ecology of the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Blum, L.K. and A.L. Mills. 5/89. Microbial growth and activity during the initial stages of seagrass decomposition. American Society of Microbiologists. Blum, L.K. and A.L. Mills. 10/89. Microbial oxygen consumption and growth during the initial stages of seagrass decomposition. Estuarine Research Federation. Conn, C.E. and F.P. Day. 4/90. Belowground biomass allocation on a barrier island. Association of Southeastern Biologists. Cook, T.L. and R.D. Dueser. 12/89. Vegetation pattern on the Virginia barrier islands. Symposium on Barrier Island Ecology of the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Dueser, R.D. 11/89. Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research Program. Virginia Commonwealth University. Evans, J. 8/89. The effect of resource integration on fitness-related traits in a clonal dune perennial, Hydrocotyle bonariensis. Ecological Society of America. Evans, J. 12/89. Clonal growth and resource integration: a mechanism for survival in barrier island dune environments. Symposium on Barrier Island Ecology of the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Forys, E.A. and R.D. Dueser. 12/89. The effect of immigration on island colonization and population persistence of Oryzomys palustris on the barrier islands of Virginia. Symposium on Barrier Island Ecology of the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Hayden, B.P. et al. 8/89. MAB, LTER and the Virginia Coast Reserve. AIBS Annual Meeting. In: Symposium and Workshop: Coastal Barrier Biosphere Reserve on the U. S. East Coast. Hayden B.P. 11/89. Global climate change and the Virginia Coast Reserve: Site perspectives. Symposium on Climate Change and Long Term Ecological Research Sites. Hayden, B.P. 11/89. Global climate change and the Virginia Coast Reserve: Site capabilities. Symposium on Climate Change and Long Term Ecological Research Sites. Hayden, B.P. 11/89. Global climate change and the Virginia Coast Reserve: Network interaction. Symposium on Climate Change and Long Term Ecological Research Sites. Hayden, B.P. 2/90. Global climate change: an evaluation. Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences. Hayden, B.P. 4/90. Multivariate analysis of species assemblages. Ocean Assessment Division, NOAA Strategic Assessment Branch. Lagera, L.M., Jr. 2/90. Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research Program. The Nature Conservancy Speakers Series. Brownsville. Lagera, L.M., Jr. and R.D. Dueser. 4/90. Viriginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research Program: Third- year update. Virginia Water Resources Conference. Oertel, G.F., M.S. Kearney, H.J. Woo and S.P. Leatherman. 3/89. Landform controls on barrier lagoon evolution. Northeastern Section, Geological Society of America. Oertel, G.F., J.C. Ludwick and D.L.S. Oertel. 7/89. Sand accounting methodology for barrier island sediment budget analysis. Coastal and Ocean Management 89, ASCE. Porter, J.H. and R.D. Dueser. 8/89. Social motivation for dispersal. Ecological Society of America. Ray, M. W. and L.K. Blum. 10/89. Vertical distribution of root and rhizome decomposition rates in creek bank and interior marsh sediments at the VCR/LTER site. Estuarine Research Federation. Ray, M. W. and L.K. Blum. 10/89. The effects of tidal inundation on Spartina decomposition at the VCR/LTER site. Estuarine Research Federation. Shugart, H.H., Jr. 8/89. Tree-based Models for Forest Dynamics. Institute for Statistics and Information, University of Vienna. Smith, T.M., H.H. Shugart, Jr. and D.L. Urban. 8/89. A nested scale forest landscape model. Ecological Society of America. Symposium on Global Ecology. Smith, T.M., H.H. Shugart, Jr. and D.L. Urban. 8/89. Modeling vegetation across biomes: Forest/Grassland transition. International Association of Vegetation Sciences. University of Uppsala (Sweden). Shugart, H.H., Jr. 8/89. Concluding remarks. International Association of Vegetation Sciences. University of Uppsala (Sweden). Shugart, H.H., Jr., G.B. Bonan, D.L. Urban and T.M. Smith. 8/89. Results from individual-plant based models of forest dynamics with implications for evaluation of global change. International Association of Vegetation Sciences. University of Uppsala (Sweden). C. Publications directly related to LTER activities Blum, L.K. and A.L. Mills. In review. Microbial growth and activity during during the initial stages (14 days) of seagrass decomposition. Marine Ecology Progress Series. Bonan, G.B. and B.P. Hayden. In press. Forest vegetation structure on the Eastern Shore of Virginia circa 18,000 BP. Virginia Academy of Sciences. Bonan, G.B. and B.P. Hayden. In press. Climate change and ecosystem dynamics at 18,000 BP. Quaternary Research. Brunt, J.W., J.H. Porter and R. Nottrott. 1990. Internet connectivity in LTER: Assessment and recommendations. A report to the National Science Foundation. 36 pp. Dolan, R. and S. Trossbach. 1989. New shoreline erosion data for the mid-Atlantic coast. Journal of Coastal Research 6:471-477. Dolan, R., S. Trossbach and M. Buckley. 1989. Erosion along the Atlantic coast: 17-22. In: Barrier Islands. American Society of Civil Engineers. Dueser, R.D., J.H. Porter and J.L. Dooley, Jr. 1989. Direct tests for competition in North American rodent communities: synthesis and prognosis: 105-125. In D.W. Morris, Z. Abramsky, B.J. Fox and M.R. Willig (eds.). Symposium on Patterns in the Structure of Mammalian Communities. Special Publication of the Museum No. 28. Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas. Emanuel, W.R., I.C. Prentice, T.M. Smith, H.H. Shugart and A.M. Solomon. 1989. Models for analysis of vegetation responses to global environmental change: 251-260. In: R.D. Noble, J.L Martin and K.F. Jensen (eds.). Air Pollution Effects on Vegetation Including Forest Ecosystems. Proceedings of the second US-USSR symposium, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. Broomall, Pennsylvania. Fahrig, L. In review. Interacting effects of disturbance and dispersal on individual selection and population stability. Comments on Theoretical Biology. Horn, H.S., H.H. Shugart and D.L. Urban. 1989. Simulators as models of forest dynamics: 256-267. In: J. Roughgarden, R.M. May and S.I. Levin (eds.). Perspectives in Ecological Theory. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. Inman, D.R. and R. Dolan. 1989. The Outer Banks of North Carolina: Budget of sediment and inlet dynamics along a migrating barrier system. Journal of Coastal Research 5:193-237. Nuttle, W.K. and H.F. Hemond. In press. Salt marsh hydrology: Implications for biogeochemical fluxes to the atmosphere and estuaries. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. Oertel, G.F., G.T.F. Wong and J.D. Conway. 1989. Sediment accumulation at a fringe marsh during transgression, Oyster, Virginia. Estuaries 12:18-26 Oertel, G.F., M.S. Kearney, S.P. Leatherman and H.J. Woo. 1989. Anatomy of a barrier platform: outer barrier lagoon, southern Delmarva Peninsula, Virginia. Virginia Journal of Marine Geology 88:303-318. Oertel, G.F., J.C. Ludwick and D.L.S. Oertel. 1989. Standardization of the volume-change element of barrier island sediment budget analysis: 43-61. In: D. Stauble (ed.). Barrier Islands, Proceedings of Sixth Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Management, ASCE. O'Neill, R.V. et al. In press. Multiple landscape scales: an intersite comparison. Landscape Ecology. Porter, J.H. and R.D. Dueser. 1989. A comparison of methods for measuring small mammal dispersal by use of a Monte-Carlo simulation model. Journal of Mammalogy 70:783-793. Shugart, H.H. and D.L. Urban. 1989. Factors affecting the relative abundance of forest tree species: 249-274. In: P.J. Grubb and J.B. Whittaker (eds.). Toward a More Exact Ecology. Jubilee Symposium of the British Ecological Society. Blackwell, Oxford. Shugart, H.H., G.B. Bonan, D.L. Urban, W.K. Lauenroth, W.J. Parton and G.M. Hornberger. 1989. Computer models and long-term ecological research: 217-266. In: W. Goerke (ed). Long-term Ecological Research: A Global Perspective. German National Committee for the UNESCO- Programme, "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB). Bonn, DDR. Smith, T.M., H.H. Shugart and D.L. Urban. 1989. Modeling vegetation across biomes: Grassland/Forest transition: 240-241). In: Forests of the World: Diversity and Dynamics. E. Sjogren (ed.). Svenska Vaxgeografiska Sallskapet. Uppsala, Sweden. 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. Continuation funded. Day, F.P. Belowground processes and nitrogen availability across a dynamic, nutrient-poor, barrier island landscape. National Science Foundation. Pending. 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. Dueser, R.D. REU support for summer 1989 (VCR/LTER supplement). National Science Foundation. Funded. Dueser, R.D. Ecology of the Delmarva fox squirrel (Sciurus niger cinereus) in secondary habitat. Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Funded. Dueser, R.D. Small mammal and carnivore population studies on Parramore Island. Wistar Institute. Pending. Hayden, B.P. Gulf Coast shrimp biogeography. NOAA. Funded. Hayden, B.P. Marine biogeography. NOAA. Funded. Howard, A.D. et al. A remote sensing laboratory for the University of Virginia. Academic Computing Support Program, University of Virginia. Pending. Lagera, L.M., Jr. et al. The role of groundwater discharge in sediment flux and benthic production. Virginia Water Resources Research Center. Funded. Mills, A.L. REU support for summer 1990 (VCR/LTER supplement). National Science Foundation. Pending. Mills, A.L. et al. Comparative analysis of carbon and nutrient cycling in tidal creeks of the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay and the coastal lagoon complex. Virginia Graduate Marine Science Consortium. Pending. Moncrief, N.D. and R.D. Dueser. Genetics of the Delmarva fox squirrel and an analysis of genetic relationships among the southeastern subspecies of Sciurus niger. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funded. Odum, W.E. et al. A remote sensing and geographical information system laboratory. Academic Computing Support Program, University of Virginia. Funded. Odum, W.E. et al. Enhancement of meteorology and hydrology data acquisition and archiving facilities at the VCR/LTER. (VCR/LTER supplement). National Science Foundation. Pending. Oertel, G.F. and G.T.F. Wong. Naturally occurring geochemical-polynological tide gauge for interpreting global sea-level rise and coastal inundation. National Science Foundation. Pending. Ray, C.G. et al. Conservation of biological diversity of the Delmarva coastal barriers ecosystem. MAB Program, U.S. Department of State. Pending. Shugart, H.H., Jr. et al. Remote sensing and GIS applied to inter-comparison of ecological processes at coastal LTER marsh-estuarine ecosystems (VCR/LTER supplement). National Science Foundation. Funded. Young, D.R. Ecology of evergreen shrubs on barrier islands. National Geographic Society. Funded. Young, D.R. and R.D. Dueser. Effects of summer drought on Myrica water relations and photosynthesis at the Vriginia Coast Reserve LTER site (VCR/LTER ROA supplement). National Science Foundation. Funded. E. Other activities Carlson, C.R. Numerous presentations on the VCR/LTER Program to local education and civic groups. Carlson, C.R. VCR/LTER Representative. UVa-VCR Coordination Committee. Dueser, R.D. Team Leader. Delmarva Fox Squirrel Recovery Team. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dueser, R.D. Member. Oral Rabies Vaccine Advisory Committee. Virginia State Department of Health. Evans, J. Chairman. Plant ecology session. Symposium on Barrier Island Ecology of the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Evans, J. Chairman. Maritime forest session. Symposium on Barrier Island Ecology of the Mid-Atlantic Coast. Hayden, B.P. LTER Climate Committee. Hayden, B.P. LTER Network Working Group on Climate CHange and Long-Term Ecological Research Sites. Lagera, L.M., Jr. Editor, "OYSTERSPAT," a periodical VCR/LTER newsletter with a circulation of 100. Lagera, L.M., Jr. VCR/LTER Representative. UVa-VCR Coordination Committee. Lagera, L.M., Jr. Planning Committee. 1991 Eastern Shore Natural Resources Research and Management Conference. Lagera, L.M., Jr. Numerous presentations on the VCR/LTER Program to education groups, civic groups, and state and federal agencies. Odum, W.E. Advisory Committee. North Inlet LTER Program. Porter, J.H. LTER Data Management Committee. Porter, J.H. NSF-LTER Connectivity Team. Porter, J.H. Planning Committee. Data management workshop for biological field stations. Porter, J.H. Editor, "VCR/LTER DATABITS," a quarterly data management newsletter with a ciculation of 75. Porter, J.H. Managing Editor, "LTER DATABITS," a data management newsletter with network-wide distribution. F. Student Reports and Theses Ray, M.W. 1989. Belowground decomposition and production dynamics in a Virginia salt marsh. MS Thesis. University of Virginia. G. Symposium on the Biota of the Virginia Barrier Islands -- We held a symposium on Friday, May 27, 1988, in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Virginia Academy of Science. There were 31 participants who presented 22 papers dealing with the distribution, ecology and evolution of the biota of the VCR/LTER study site. The collected papers will be published in the September 1990 issue of the Virginia Journal of Science. H. VCR/LTER Information Meeting and Planning Session 1990 -- We held a review and planning session on May 4 - 6. This session was attended by the VCR/LTER Advisory Committee, including Drs. Robert Costanza, William Lauenroth, John Vernberg, and Richard Wiegert. Dr. John Kraft was unable to attend because of illness. VCR/LTER Program 1990 Information and Planning Meeting May 4-6, 1990 May 3 (Thursday) -- Travel day for Advisory Committe May 4 (Friday) -- Zehmer Hall 9:00 am - 5:30 pm INTRODUCTION 9:00 - 9:10 Greetings and introductions - Dueser 9:10 - 9:30 Program Overview - Dueser 9:30 - 9:50 Environmental Context - Dolan 9:50 - 10:00 Discussion TOPICAL REPORTS: PROCESSES 10:00 - 10:20 Primary Production - Odum 10:20 - 10:40 Decomposition/Mineralization - Blum 10:40 - 10:50 Coffee break 10:50 - 11:10 Trophic Structure/Carbon Flow - Mills 11:10 - 11:40 Climatology/Geomorphology - Hayden 11:40 - 12:10 Holocene sedimentation - Oertel 12:10 - 1:00 LUNCH BREAK TOPICAL REPORTS: LANDSCAPE 1:00 - 1:20 Biogeography - Dueser 1:20 - 1:40 Nutrient distributions - Zieman 1:40 - 2:00 Aquatic production and nutrient distributions - Lagera 2:00 - 2:20 Plant population dynamics - Evans 2:20 - 2:40 Terrestrial belowground production - Day 2:40 - 3:00 Terrestrial plant physiology - Young 3:00 - 3:30 Coffee Break TOPICAL REPORTS: DATA MANAGEMENT AND MODELING 3:30 - 3:50 VCR/LTER data management - Porter 3:50 - 4:20 VCR/LTER modeling activities - Shugart PROGRESS SUMMARY AND ASSESSMENT 4:20 - 4:30 Summary - Dueser 4:30 - 5:30 General discussion 6:00 - 7:00 Cocktails 7:15 - Dinner at Southstreet May 5 (Saturday) -- Travel day for Oyster field trip 7:00 Caravan departs from Clark Hall for Oyster 7:15 Caravan stops for quick breakfast at Hardy's 7:30 - 11:30 Travel to Oyster 11:30 - 1:00 Tour and lunch at LTER Laboratory 1:00 - 2:15 Tour of Phillip's Creek Marsh 2:30 Depart from Red Bank for Hog Island 3:15 Coffee break 3:30 - 6:00 Tour of Hog Island facilities 6:30 Dinner at the Machipongo Station 8:00 "MAB, LTER and the VCR" - Hayden 8:30 Social stuff May 6 (Sunday) -- Travel day for Advisory Committe 6:00 VCR/LTER fitness trials 8:00 Breakfast 10:30 Depart Hog Island for Norfolk Airport I. VCR/LTER Information Meeting 1990 -- Our first meeting with the outside Advisory Committee ocurred during the 1990 planning meeting. Dr. Jerry Franklin, chairman of the LTER Coordinating Committee, was unable to attend this meeting because of the press of business. V. Research Activities for 1990 (FY3) and Beyond Thirty-three high-priority projects were identified for initiation during FY1/2, and 25 during FY2/3. Several of these projects, particularly those involving the acquisition of existing data sets and photography, were essentially complete by the end of FY2. Many of the FY1/2/3 field projects were designed to produce one-time 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 was available. Much of the field research effort during FY1/2/3 was 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. Most of the FY1 field research projects continued into or through FY2, and several will continue into FY4. Most of the projects initiatied during FY3 will continue into FY4. Current progress reports are attached below as Appendix 1. Only 9 new projects have been proposed for FY3/4. Major new initiatives planned for the remainder of FY3 and FY4 include studies of plant population ecology, insular populations of carnivores, and remote sensing. Our new GIS/remote sensing laboratory will finally be up-and-running for FY4. The goals of new FY4 projects are attached below as Appendix 2. VI. FY4 Budget Justification APPENDIX 1 VCR/LTER Project Progress Reports for FY2/3 APPENDIX 2 VCR/LTER Project Descriptions for FY3/4