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The 2024 Coastal Summer Semester program ended on Friday, June 28 with our thirteen students presenting their final research projects, which ran the gamut from plant physiology to community ecology to animal behavior. Dr. Tom Hancock, who co-led the course, said “To go from research proposal to finished product in less than two weeks is remarkable. Watching their final research presentations gave me a glimpse into what the next generation of scientists will be able to achieve.”  We wish them all the best of luck!

It is with sadness that we pass along the news that John Teal passed away on June 14, 2024. John began his career at the UGA Marine Institute and his legacy carries on. We routinely use the “Teal boardwalk” to access the marsh, and we explain to students and other visitors how influential his early work was in terms of evaluating the energy balance of a salt marsh. We continue to build on that work today as part of the research that is conducted by the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems Long-Term Ecological Research Project. John’s books are on display in our visitor’s center along with the original sketch for the boardwalk. We also have a disc golf course that we call the “Teal 9”. To read more see https://www.whoi.edu/who-we-are/about-us/people/obituary/john-moline-teal/

This summer, 6 student interns are in residence at the UGA Marine Institute conducting research with GCE-LTER investigators. 2 Univ. of Houston students are working with Dr. Steve Pennings on salt marsh disturbance experiments; 1 student (Dalton State College) is working with the GCE field crew on sampling and monitoring; 2 students (Creighton Univ.) are working with Dr. John Schalles on ground-truthing field survey data; and 1 student (Univ. of Georgia) is working with Dr. Jeb Byers on predator-prey dynamics in ephemeral habitat. We wish them all an excellent summer and success in all their future endeavors!

Thirteen undergraduate students arrived at UGAMI on June 1st to begin their month-long residential academic experience. During the first two weeks of June the students take ECOL 4225, Methods in Marine Ecology, which introduces them to Sapelo Island ecosystems and organisms, and provides experience in a multitude of techniques used in ecological research. During the second two weeks, students get to apply this knowledge and conduct an independent research project. Students earn eight hours of credit for their efforts, all while making new friends, meeting professionals in the field, and advancing their careers. For more information contact Dr. Tom Hancock.

A team of UGA engineering students has completed a year-long capstone project that explored flood mitigation options to protect the UGAMI campus from storm surge. The group identified three potential solutions for consideration (Strong, Cost-Effective, and Green), provided information on the challenges, feasibility, and estimated costs associated with each one, and developed flood maps for storm events of different severity. The students presented their project at the Spring 2024 Engineering Capstone Design showcase where they won first place in the Community Impact – Public Client division. We thank this hard-working group of students as well as Adam Fouche, the Director of the UGA Office of Emergency Preparedness, and Engineering Professor Felix Santiago-Collazo, who served as mentors to the group.

UGAMI is accepting applications for a Laboratory Professional. The successful candidate will be an integral part of the UGAMI operations team, which is dedicated to providing users with exceptional opportunities for research and education in coastal ecosystems. The Laboratory Professional will coordinate laboratory facilities at UGAMI, ensuring that the Institute is compliant with environmental safety requirements, providing for safe and responsible use by visiting classes and researchers, assisting with instruction, coordinating asset management, and providing administrative support. Apply by May 27, 2024 for full consideration. Contact Dr. Thomas Hancock at thomas.hancock@uga.edu with any questions.

For a complete job description and to apply: https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/371827 

The Ecological Society of America SEEDS program (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability) worked with the Georgia Coastal Ecosystems LTER to bring a group of 20+ undergraduate students to UGAMI for a four-day immersive field experience April 25-28. Most participants were from underrepresented groups or first-generation college students. Their visit included an introduction to UGAMI and the GCE-LTER, a tour of the Island, a career panel discussion, and a chance to conduct mini research projects (including a report out!). We hope their time with us helps them on their way to a bright future in science.  

The western drywood termite is native to California. So what the heck is it doing in the attic of the lab at UGAMI? According to Brian Forschler, who is a Professor of Entomology at UGA, the termites were likely living in wooden crates used to transport films to Sapelo from California back when R.J. Reynolds was on the Island. Dr. Forschler and his team have been tracking the termites since 2011 as part of a long-term study on managing this pest species. The foreign termites were originally limited to the central portion of the attic (above the auditorium where the movies were shown), but starting in 2021 they were also seen in other parts of the UGAMI attic. The termites grow very slowly and so there is no imminent danger, but this past week Dr. Forschler worked with a team from the GA Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control (GCASPC) to treat the attic with a borate/glycol formulation to both reduce the current population and prevent future infestations. They also used it as a training opportunity, since this species is not something you see every day!