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)
          
          
                                 FY2 Progress Report 
                              FY3 Continuation Proposal
           
                                    
                        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
                                                    D. R. Young (VCU)
                                                    J. C. Zieman
                                                    
          
                       Co-Investigators:            R. C. Kochel (SIU)
                                                    F. P. Day (ODU)
                                                    R. Dolan
                                                    J. J. Murray, Jr.
                                                    R. L. Wetzel (VIMS)
          
          
          
                                    May 15, 1989
          
          
          
          
          
          
          






          
          I. Overview of FY2 (1988-89)
          
               The  second 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 three additional post-doctoral 
          research    associates,   four   new   collaborating    principal 
          investigators, a site manager, and three new graduate students to 
          the  Program.   We continued to pursue an  aggressive  "outreach" 
          program of contact with investigators and administrators at other 
          institutions  and agencies. We also incurred losses  during  FY2, 
          with  the departures of principal investigator William K.  Nuttle 
          and post-doctoral research associate Lenore Fahrig.
          
          Facilities  Development  --  We  have  renovated,  equipped   and 
          occupied  500 additional square feet of laboratory space  at  our 
          VCR/LTER  Laboratory  headquarters  on  the  Eastern  Shore.  The 
          Department  of Environmental Sciences has received state  funding 
          for the establishment of a stable-isotope laboratory.
          
          LTER Activities -- During FY2 we taught 10 courses related to the 
          coastal   research   program,  gave   27   off-Grounds   research 
          presentations,  submitted  or published 13  LTER-related  papers, 
          submitted  16  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 have identified 25 new start-up  research 
          projects  for the 1989 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 research activities  will 
          involve nine Principal Investigators, five Co-Investigators, five 
          post-doctoral  research associates, two collaborating  scientist, 
          nine  graduate  students  and five undergraduates.  Most  of  the 
          projects  initiated  during  FY1 extended deeply  into  FY2,  and 
          several  will  extend into FY3.  During FY1/2 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 FY2. 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 participated in 
          the  production  of a planning video ("Planning for  Tomorrow:  A 
          Citizen's  Guide  for  Managing  Growth  on  Virginia's   Eastern 
          Shore"),  and  hosted  two brief visits to the  VCR/LTER  Lab  by 
          senior  TNC  officials  and  foundation  representatives.   In  a 
          different  vein,  the  issue  of  access  to  transportation  for 






          personnel and equipment emerged as a major stumbling block to the 
          Hog Island research effort. Discussions continue on this issue.
          
          II. Program Staffing
          
               A.  Project Coordinator post-doctoral research associate  -- 
          Luis  M. Lagera, Jr. (Ph.D. University of Virginia, 1988)  joined 
          the staff on April 1, 1989. Luis is a native of the  Phillipines, 
          but  he has been in the U.S. for the past 7 years. He is  broadly 
          trained  in  estuarine ecology and environmental  chemistry.  His 
          research   interests   include  organic  matter   processing   in 
          estuaries,  nutrient  controls  of primary  production,  and  the 
          trophic importance of tropical macrophyte communities. Luis  will 
          coordinate  the  various  subprojects of  the  VCR/LTER  Program, 
          including  coordination  of scientific  objectives,  experimental 
          design, facilities and personnel. He will work with the Principal 
          Investigator  to  ensure  that the  research  activities  of  the 
          Program remain focused, on schedule and within budget. Luis  will 
          conduct research in biogeochemistry and estuarine productivity.
          
               B.  Modelling post-doctoral research associate  --  Jonathan 
          Evans  (Ph.D. Duke University, 1989) will join the staff on  July 
          1,  1989.  Jon  completed his doctorate in botany  at  Duke  this 
          spring. 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 serve as the coordinator  for 
          our terrestrial studies on Hog Island. He also will provide wide-
          ranging botanical expertise to our modelling program.
          
               C.   Microevolution  post-doctoral  research  associate   -- 
          Takahiro  Asami (Ph.D. University of Virginia, 1988)  joined  the 
          Program  on  May  1 to work on studies  in  genetics  and  micro-
          evolution. Hiro is well-versed in population genetics,  including 
          the field and laboratory procedures for genetical analysis. He is 
          experienced  with  both  electrophoresis  and  mitochondrial  DNA 
          analysis. Hiro is supported in part by a grant from the  Virginia 
          Museum of Natural History.
          
               D. Remote sensing archivist -- Mr. Samuel G. Patterson (M.S. 
          University of Tennessee) joined the staff on February 1, 1989. He 
          is  responsible  for updating and managing the archive  of  maps, 
          coastal charts and remotely-sensed imagery.
          
               E. Site manager -- This important staff position was finally 
          filled  on  April 1, 1989. Our concept of this  position  changed 
          gradually  during FY1 and early FY2, from the original idea of  a 
          combination  post-doc/site manager to a  combination  technician/ 
          waterman/site  manager. A national advertisement in  winter  1989 
          attracted 100 applicants, 9 of whom were invited to the  VCR/LTER 
          Lab   for   an   interview.  Two  finalists   were   invited   to 
          Charlottesville  for  staff  interviews.  We  finally  hired  Mr. 
          Charles  Randolph Carlson, a native and current resident of  Cape 
          Charles.  Randy  served for 7 years in the U.S. Coast  Guard.  He 
          received  a Bachelor of Science degree in biology  from  Virginia 






          Wesleyan  University  in 1985. After 5 years in  advertising  and 
          public  relations  in Norfolk, Randy has worked as  a  commercial 
          waterman for the past 2 years. 
          
               F.  Additional  scientific staff -- Thanks to  an  ambitious 
          outreach program, we will have almost twice as many investigators 
          on the ground for all or part of the summer of 1989 as in 1988:
          
               Dr.  Richard L. Wetzel is an associate professor  of  marine 
          science at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester 
          Point.  The VCR/LTER Program will fund Dick and a  technician  in 
          FY3  to work with us on the continuing biogeochemical  survey  of 
          Hog  Island and Hog Island Bay. Dick will focus in particular  on 
          the distribution of nitrogen among the landscape elements of  the 
          VCR.
          
               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 has been funded 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.
          
               Dr.  Frank 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 will  fund 
          Frank  and a graduate student this summer to work with us on  the 
          continuing survey of carbon reservoirs on Hog Island. 
          
               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 
          coastal 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 will fund Craig and a graduate  student  in 
          May  1989  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.
          
               F. 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.
          
          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.) -- Effects of subsurface  hydrology  on 
          the growth of salt marsh vegetation.
          
          Michael  Fitch (M.S.) -- Plant community composition on  overwash 
          fans.
          
          Elizabeth  A.  Forys  (M.S.)  -- The  effect  of  immigration  on 
          population   stability  and  genetic  variability   of   Oryzomys 
          palustris on the Virginia barrier islands.
          
          Michael S. Harris (M.S.) -- Recent geologic history of a Virginia 
          barrier  island:  Landform  and sedimentologic  analysis  of  Hog 
          Island.
          
          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.
          
          Two  additional  LTER students will matriculate in  the  Virginia 
          graduate program next fall.  Two graduate students are working in 
          conjunction  with the VCR/LTER Program through a  subcontract  to 
          Dr. George F. Oertel at Old Dominion University, and two with Dr. 
          Donald R. Young at Virginia Commonwealth University.
          
                    2. Undergraduate students -- Five U.Va.  undergraduates  
          are  involved  in  VCR/LTER activities during  1989:  G.  Randall 
          Cutter,  Andre  DesRossier. David Giessler,  Andrea  M.  Scherer, 
          Dennis Leroy Fields.
          
               G.  Collaborating scientists -- Several  potential  VCR/LTER 
          investigators have been identified through our "outreach" program 
          during  FY2. Discussions and/or active collaboration  already  is 
          underway on a number of specific projects: 
          
          Dr.  R. Michael Erwin -- avian ecology and  migration,  Migratory 
          Bird  Lab,  U.  S. Fish and Wildlife  Service,  Patuxent.  Active 
          collaboration.
          
          Mr. James M. Hill -- avian ecology and plant dispersal,  Maryland 
          Natural Heritage Program, Annapolis. Active collaboration.
          
          Dr. Nancy D. Moncrief -- curator of mammalogy, Virginia Museum of 
          Natural History, Martinsville. Active 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.
          
          Dr.  R. Wayne Tyndall -- coastal plant ecology, Maryland  Natural 
          Heritage Program, Annapolis. Active collaboration. 
          
          III. Facilities Development
          
               A. Space on the Grounds  -- Approximately 300 square feet of 
          office  space has been renovated and furnished in Clark  Hall  to 
          house  the LTER GIS facility.  Through the efforts of  Joseph  C. 
          Zieman,  the Department recently received funding from the  state 
          of Virginia ($200,000) to establish a stable-isotope facility  in 
          our Halsey Hall research wing.
          
               B.   Eastern   Shore  Facilities  --   We   have   renovated 
          approximately  500 additional square feet of laboratory space  at 
          the VCR/LTER Laboratory in Oyster, Virginia. This space  includes 
          a   200-square  foot  electronics  lab  and  a  300-square   foot 
          terrestrial ecology lab. Both laboratories will be furnished  and 
          occupied during May 1989.     
          
                    1.  Computing  facility -- Software has  been  acquired 
          which  facilitates the importation (and limited manipulation)  of 
          ERDAS images to the enhanced Zenith AT-class computer.
          
                    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). The  Hog  Island 
          tide  gauge  will be working by June 1. A second  mainlaand  tide 
          gauge may be installed on Red Bank Creek this summer.
          
          
          IV. PI Annual Reports (LTER-Related Activities 5/1/88 -4/30/89)
          
               A. Courses developed/taught
          
                  Blum, L.K. Spring 1989. See H.H. Shugart, Jr.
          
                  Dolan, R. Spring 1989. EVSC 485. Coastal Processes.
          
                  Dolan, R. Spring 1889. See J.H. Porter.
          
                  Dueser, R.D. Spring 1988. EVEC 796. Topics in Population         
                  Ecology: Microevolution.
          
                  Fahrig, L. Spring 1989. See H.H. Shugart, Jr.
          
                  Hayden, B.P. Fall, 1988. EVAT 540. Environmental 
                  Climatology and Meteorology.






          
                  Hayden, B.P. Spring, 1989. EVAT 796. Climate/Ecosystem 
                  Dynamics.
          
                  Mills, A.L. Spring 1989. EVEC 523. Microbial Ecology.
          
          
                  Nuttle, W.K. Spring 1989. EVHY 793. Structure and         
                  Diagenesis of Marsh Sediments.  
          
                  Odum, W.E. Fall 1988. EVEC 722. Estuarine Ecology.
          
                  Porter, J.H. Spring 1989. EVSC 793. Applied Statistics in 
                  Geology.
          
                  Shugart, H.H., Jr. Spring 1989. EVSC 796. Modeling 
                  Coastal Ecosystems.
          
                  Zieman,  J.C. Fall 1988. See W.E. Odum.
          
                  Zieman,  J.C. Spring 1989. EVEC 521. Aquatic Ecology.
          
               B. Seminars, invited lectures and presentations
          
                  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. 10/88. Microbial growth during 
                  the  initial stages (14 days) of seagrass  decomposition. 
                  Atlantic Estuarine Research Society.
          
                  Bonan,  G.B.  and B.P. Hayden.  5/88.  Forest  vegetation 
                  structure  on the Eastern Shore of Virginia circa  18,000 
                  BP. 
          
                  Dueser, R.D. 5/88. Biota of the Virginia barrier islands: 
                  Introduction to a Symposium on the Biota of the  Virginia 
                  Barrier Islands. Virginia Academy of Science.
          
                  Dueser,  R.D.  5/88.  Mammals  of  the  Virginia  barrier 
                  islands.  Symposium on the Biota of the Virginia  Barrier 
                  Islands. Virginia Academy of Science.
                  
                  Dueser,  R.D.,  J.L. Dooley, Jr. and G.J.  Taylor.  7/88. 
                  Habitat  structure,  forest  composition  and   landscape 
                  dimensions  as components of habitat suitability for  the 
                  Delmarva   fox   squirrel   (Sciurus   niger   cinereus).      
                  Symposium  on the Management of Amphibians, Reptiles  and 
                  Small Mammals in North America. 
          
                  Dueser,   R.D.  8/88.  Improving  the  odds  in   species 
                  reintroductions: tests of a model of habitat  suitability 
                  for  the  endangered Delmarva fox squirrel.  Society  for 






                  Conservation Biology.
          
                  Dueser,  R.D. 9/88. Where are we in the recovery  of  the 
                  endangered Delmarva fox squirrel?  Worshop  Presentation. 
                  Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia.
          
          
          
                  Dueser,  R.D.  2/89.  Virginia  Coast  Reserve  Long-Term 
                  Ecological Research Program. Virginia Institute of Marine 
                  Science. 
          
                  Fahrig,  L.  5/88. Dispersal, habitat  heterogeneity  and 
                  population persistence. Ohio State University.
          
                  Fahrig,   L.  8/88.  A  general  model  of   disturbance. 
                  Ecological Society of America.
          
                  Hayden, B.P. 8/88. Climate change and ecosystem  dynamics 
                  at  18,000 BP and during the last century.   Workshop  on 
                  Climate Variability and Ecosystem Response. Niwot  Ridge-
                  Green Lakes Valley LTER Site, University of Colorado.
          
                  McCaffrey, C. and R.D. Dueser. 5/88. Plant communities of 
                  the  Virginia barrier islands. Symposium on the Biota  of 
                  the   Virginia  Barrier  Islands.  Virginia  Academy   of 
                  Science.
          
                  Nuttle, W.K. and S. Rauch. 12/88. Geomorphology of  tidal 
                  creeks  in  marshes along the  Virginia  coast.  American 
                  Geophysical Union.
                
                  Odum,  W.E.  2/89. Coastal wetland  ecology.  The  Nature 
                  Conservancy Speaker Series.  Brownsville.
          
                  Odum, W.E. Barrier island ecology. Lenoir Rhyne College.
          
                  Odum,  W.E. Coastal barrier island ecology. Annual  Sigma 
                  Xi Lecture, Miami University (Ohio).
          
                  Odum, W.E. Barrier island ecology. University of Indiana.
          
                  Porter,  J.H.  and  R.D. Dueser. 6/88.  A  comparison  of 
                  methods  for  measuring small mammal  dispersal  using  a 
                  Monte   Carlo  simulation  model.  American  Society   of 
                  Mammalogists.    
                    
                  Porter,  J.H.  and  R.D. Dueser. 8/88.  Mice  in  motion: 
                  immigration   and   social   resistance   in   Peromyscus 
                  populations. Ecological Society of America.
          
                  Rauch,  S.  and  W.K.  Nuttle.  10/88.   Geomorphological 
                  analysis  of  salt marsh creek systems  at  the  VCR/LTER 
                  site. Atlantic Estuarine Research Society.






          
                  Ray,  G.C., B.P. Hayden, A.J. Bulger and J.G.  McCormick-
                  Ray.   4/88.   Effects  of  global  warming   on   marine 
                  biodiversity.   World   Wildlife  Fund,   Conference   on 
                  "Consequences  of  the Greenhouse Effect  for  Biological 
                  Diversity."
          
          
          
                  Ray, M. W. and L.K. Blum. 10/88. Vertical distribution of 
                  root  and rhizome decomposition rates in creek  bank  and 
                  interior  marsh sediments at the VCR/LTER site.  Atlantic 
                  Estuarine Research Society.
          
                  Shugart,  H.H. 5/18. Computer models of forest  dynamics: 
                  Global scale patterns in forest kinetics. Laboratory  for 
                  Terrestrial   Physics,  Goddard  Space   Flight   Center, 
                  Greenbelt, MD.
          
                  Shugart,  H.H.  5/25.  Computer models  and  the  ecotone 
                  concept.  International  Workshop on  Land  Inland  Water 
                  Ecotones.    Sponsored  by  the  Hungarian   Academy   of 
                  Sciences, IIASA and UNESCO.  Sopron, Hungary
          
                  Shugart,   H.H.  6/16.  Computer  simulation  of   forest 
                  response  to  environmental  change.  Petawawa   National 
                  Forestry  Institute,  Canadian  Forestry  Service,  Chalk 
                  River, Ontario.
          
                  Shugart, H.H. 9/21. The use of ecological models in long-
                  term ecological studies.  International Workshop in Long-
                  Term    Ecological    Research   and    Global    Change. 
                  Berchtesgaden, West Germany.
          
               C. Publications directly related to LTER activities 
          
                  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 review.  Climate  change 
                  and   ecosystem  dynamics  at  18,000   BP.    Quaternary 
                  Research. 
          
                  Dolan,  R., H. Lins and B.P. Hayden.  1988.  Mid-Atlantic 
                  coastal storms. Journal of Coastal Research 4:417-433.
          
                  Dolan,  R. and D.L. Inman.  In press. Inlet  and  barrier 
                  island dynamics. Journal of Coastal Research.
          
                  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. 
          
                  Nuttle,  W.K.  and  H.F. Hemond.  In  press.  Salt  marsh         
                  hydrology: Implications for biogeochemical fluxes to  the         
                  atmosphere and estuaries. Global Biogeochemical Cycles.
          
          
                  Odum,   W.E.  and  J.W.  Harvey.  1988.  Barrier   island 
                  interdunal    freshwater   wetlands.    Association    of 
                  Southeastern Biologists Bulletin 35: 149-155.
          
                  Shugart,  H.H.  1988. The role of  ecological  models  in 
                  long-term  ecological  studies:90-109.  In:  G.E.  Likens 
                  (ed.). Long-term Studies in Ecology. Springer Verlag, New 
                  York.
          
                  Shugart, H.H. and D.L. Urban. 1988. Scale, synthesis, and 
                  ecosystem  dynamics:279-290.  In: L.R. Pomeroy  and  J.J. 
                  Alberts (eds.). Concepts of Ecosystem Ecology .  Springer 
                  Verlag, New York.
          
                  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, D.L. Urban,  W.K.  Lauenroth, 
                  W,J.  Parton  and  G.M. Hornberger.  In  press.  Computer 
                  models and long term ecological research. In: P.G. Risser 
                  (ed.).  Long-term Ecological Reseach and Global  Ecology. 
                  Scope Series, John Wiley, New York.
          
                  Shugart,  H.H.,  G.B. Bonan and  E.B.  Rastetter.   1988.  
                  Niche   theory  and  community  organization.    Canadian 
                  Journal of Botany 66:2634-2639.
          
               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.
          
                  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.  Continuation 
                  pending.
          






                  Dueser, R.D. Microevolutionary studies of mammals on  the 
                  Virginia  barrier islands: Post-doctoral support for  Dr. 
                  Takahiro  Asami.  Virginia  Museum  of  Natural  History. 
                  Funded.
          
                  Dueser,   R.D.   et   al.   Genetic   relationships   and 
                  biogeography  of small mammals on the  southern  Delmarva 
                  Peninsula. Biomedical Research Support Grant,  University 
                  of Virginia.  Funded.
          
          
                  Dueser,  R.D.  REU  support  for  summer  1989  (VCR/LTER 
                  supplement). National Science Foundation.  Pending. 
          
                  Hayden,   B.P.  Coastal  biogeographic  analysis.    NOAA 
                  Strategic Assessment Branch.  Funded.
          
                  Mills,   A.L.    LTER  intersite   study   of   bacterial 
                  productivity  in  water.   National  Science  Foundation.  
                  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.  Pending.
          
                  Odum,  W.E. et al. The VCR/LTER site: Use of EOS data  to 
                  relate  sea-level change to ecological  processes.  Earth 
                  Orbiting System Program, NASA.  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.  Continuation funded.
          
                  Odum,  W.E.  et  al. A remote  sensing  and  geographical 
                  information system laboratory. Academic Computing Support 
                  Program, University of Virginia.  Pending.  
          
                  Shugart, H.H., Jr. Using satellite-measurable  parameters 
                  for  extending  models of ecological processes  to  large 
                  spatial scales: A test case. NASA.  Continuation funded.
          
                  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.  Pending.
          
                  Yound, 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.  Pending.
                  






                  Zieman,  J.C., et al. Isotopic determination of  nitrogen 
                  sources  and  processing in estuarine  environments.  Sea 
                  Grant-Virginia   Graduate  Marine   Science   Consortium. 
                  Continuation funded.
          
                  Zieman,  J.C.  Development of a stable  isotope  research 
                  facility  for  Environmental Sciences.  National  Science 
                  Foundation.  Pending.
          
          
          
               E. Other activities
          
                  Dueser,  R.D. 5/88. Moderator. Symposium entitled  "Biota 
                  of the Virginia Barrier Islands."
          
                  Dueser,  R.D. 7/88. Member. "Vole Damage  Recovery  Team" 
                  for Niwot Ridge-Green Lakes Valley LTER Site.
          
                  Dueser,   R.D.   4/89.  Moderator.   Symposium   entitled 
                  "Virginia's Endangered Species." 
          
                  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. 
          
                  Fahrig.   L.   Collaborative   research   on    landscape 
                  disturbance,  with  M. Walker.  Niwot  Ridge-Green  Lakes 
                  Valley LTER Site.
          
                  Hayden,  B.P. LTER Coordinating Committee Planning  Group 
                  for LTER Initiatives in Paleoecology.
          
                  Hayden, B.P. LTER Climate Committee.
          
                  Hayden,  B.P. 8/88. Workshop on Climate  Variability  and 
                  Ecosystem Response.  Niwot Ridge-Green Lakes Valley  LTER 
                  Site.
          
                  Nuttle,  W.K. Working Group on Hydrology of the  Virginia 
                  Eastern Shore.  
          
                  Nuttle, W.K. Participant in production of planning  video 
                  ("Planning  for Tomorrow: A Citizen's Guide for  Managing 
                  Growth on Virginia's Eastern Shore").
          
                  Odum, W.E. Advisory Committee. North Inlet LTER Program.
          
                  Porter, J.H. LTER Data Management Committee.
          
                  Porter,   J.H.   Initiated   bi-monthly   VCR/LTER   data 
                  management newsletter "DATABITS" with a ciculation of 75.






          
                  Porter, J.H. Demonstration of remotely accessed  "Weather 
                  Records from Virginia." LTER Wide Area Network Workshop.
          
                  Shugart, H.H., Jr. Co-Chairman. LTER Modelling  Workshop. 
                  University of Virginia.
          
               F. Student Reports and Theses
          
                  Barr,  L.  1989.  Sedimentation  and  fallout  cesium-137 
                  cycling in a Virginia salt marsh. M.S. Thesis. Department 
                  of Environmental Sciences. University of Virginia.
          
                  Fetsko,  M.  1988.  The  hydrology  of  the  mid-Atlantic 
                  Eastern Shore: A collection of papers. 
          
                  Frye, J.  1989. Methane movement in Peltandra  virginica. 
                  M.S.   Thesis.  Department  of  Environmental   Sciences. 
                  University of Virginia.
          
                  Hussey, B. 1989. Evapotranspiration from vegetated  marsh 
                  surfaces.   M.S.  Thesis.  Department  of   Environmental 
                  Sciences. University of Virginia.
          
                  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).
          
                  Rauch,  S. 1989. Geomorphological indices for salt  marsh 
                  creek    systems.   Senior   project.    Department    of 
                  Environmental Sciences. 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 as a symposium 
          volume  in  the  August 1989 issue of  the  Virginia  Journal  of 
          Science. 
          
               H.  VCR/LTER Planning Session 1989 -- We held an  integrated 
          review and planning session on Thursday, May 4.
          
                                  VCR/LTER Program
                        1989 Information and Planning Meeting
                                       Program
                                May 4, 1989 Thursday
          
               9:00-12:00    -   Presentation  of sub-project research
                                 plans by individual PI's.
          
               Program Overview- Dueser (9:00-9:15)
               Environmental Context- Dolan (9:15-9:30)






               Research Approach- Shugart (9:30-9:45) 
               Coffee Break - (9:45-10:15)
               Topical Reports
                    PROCESSES
                         Primary Production -Odum (10:15-10:30)
                         Decomposition/Mineralization- Blum (10:30-10:45)
                         Trophic Structure/Carbon Flow- Mills (10:45-11:00)
                         Climatology/Geomorphology- Hayden (11:00-11:15) 
                         Holocene sedimentation- Oertel (11:15-11:30)
               Discussion - (11:30-12:00)
          
               12:00-1:30 - Lunch Break    
          
               1:30-5:30 - Afternoon Presentations 
                    
                    LANDSCAPE 
                         Biogeography- Dueser (1:30-1:45)
                         Nutrient distributions- Zieman (1:45-2:00)
                         Marsh geomorphology/hydrodynamics- 
                              Nuttle (2:00-2:15)
                         Plant population dynamics - Jon Evans (2:15-2:30)
                         Terrestrial belowground production- 
                              Frank Day (2:30-2:45)
                         Terrestrial production and plant physiology- 
                              Don Young (2:45-3:00)
                         
               3:00-3:30 - Coffee Break       
          
                     MONITORING AND DATA MANAGEMENT- Nuttle and Porter
                         (3:30-3:45)
                     MODELLING
                         Disturbance regimes- Fahrig  (3:45- 4:00)
                         Life-form modeling- Shugart (4:00- 4:15)
                Summary - Dueser (4:00-4:15)
                Discussion - (4:15-5:30)
          
               I.  VCR/LTER Information Meeting 1989 -- Our  first  meeting 
          with the outside advisory committee is tentatively scheduled  for 
          September,  1989.   Dr.  Robert  Harris  has  resigned  from  the 
          advisory  committee because of the press of business in  his  new 
          position at the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Jerry  Franklin, 
          chairman  of  the LTER Coordinating Committee, has  accepted  our 
          invitation to join the advisory committee beginning next fall.
          
          V. Research Activities for 1989 (FY2) and Beyond
          
               Thirty-three  high-priority  projects  were  identified  for 
          initiation during FY1/2. 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 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  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 FY3. Current progress 
          reports are attached below as Appendix 1.
          
               Major  new initiatives planned for the remainder of FY2  and 
          FY3  include the stable isotope, food chain  and  microevolution/ 
          population  genetics studies outlined in the  original  proposal. 
          The goals of new FY3 projects are attached below as Appendix 2.    
          
          VI.  FY3 Budget Justification
          
               The  FY3  budget includes funding for  85% of one  month  of 
          summer  salary for each PI ($47,000), and staff funding for  four 
          post-doctoral research associates, a site manager and a full-time 
          secretary/  bookkeeper ($99,000). Based on past experience,  much 
          of the funding budgeted for PI salaries almost certainly will  be 
          converted   to   support  for   technicians   and   collaborating 
          scientists.
          
               Approximately,  $47,000  is  budgeted  for  student  support 
          during FY3. The students for whom this support is requested  also 
          have  been  awarded approximately $40,000 in  U.Va.  support  for 
          academic    year   1989-90,   in   fellowships    and    teaching 
          assistantships.
          
               Only  $15,000 is requested for equipment acquisition  during 
          FY3.  Items that have been identified for purchase include a  new 
          (replacement)  small outboard motor, a personal computer for  use 
          by the post-doctoral research associates, a laser printer for the 
          Program  office,  and  partial support  for  the  acquisition  of 
          additional meteorological instrumentation for the VCR/LTER site.
          
               Funding is requested for the final year of the subcontract 
          to Dr. George F. Oertel of Old Dominion University ($30,000). 
          
               Approximately $20,000 in University matching money will be 
          available to the VCR/LTER Program during FY3.
          






          
          
          
          
                                     APPENDIX 1
          
          
                     VCR/LTER Project Progress Reports for FY1/2
          






          
          
          
          
          
                                     APPENDIX 2
          
          
                       VCR/LTER Project Descriptions for FY2/3