Research Activities
The LowCountry Institute has developed partnerships with regional universities and state and federal organizations to create an exciting research program to address local issues. Spring Island (office location of LCI) has been used as an outdoor laboratory for a wide variety projects. Other research projects have focused on the greater Port Royal Sound watershed.
To date, LCI has provided $87,000 and the university partners have provided over $350,000 in support for these programs (1999-2008). Much of this research was also supported by a partnership between LCI and the Spring Island Trust, which has almost 20 years of experience of experimenting with the best ways to manage local habitats effectively, especially those that are in close proximity to residential areas.
research: example projects
Protecting Biodiversity at the Wildland-Urban Interface
The Low Country region continues to face developmental pressure as more people move towards the coast. As habitat fragmentation continues, The LowCountry Institute is interested in conserving biodiversity in residential and urban settings. Often using Spring Island as a laboratory, LCI researchers investigate ways to ensure habitats can support both people and wildlife.
Two graduate students completed master’s degrees in 2007 from Coastal Carolina University.
- Mario Lawrence studied small mammals and habitat preferences and species distribution patterns on Spring Island.
- Travis Scott studied habitat selection of bats on Spring Island. Research projects like this demonstrate that it is possible to still maintain wildlife habitat in residential communities.
- Working as a partnership with Clemson University and the Smithsonian Institute, graduate student Ali Rodrian is wrapping up her master’s degree on dispersal of fledgling bluebirds. Building upon a long-term dataset, Rodrian banded and tracked bluebirds on Spring Island and evaluated what factors (e.g. supplemental feeding) influenced dispersal in young bluebirds.
- Retired SCDNR biologist Tom Murphy is leading an investigation looking at movement patterns and population structure of alligators on Spring Island. In addition, we are looking at the ability to modify the behavior of potentially nuisance gators by capturing and tagging individuals. Preliminary data suggests alligators that have been handled become more cautious around people, reducing the potential for negative encounters.