USCB Holds Inaugural Pritchards Island Research Symposium
The University of South Carolina Beaufort welcomed researchers, students, and community partners to the inaugural Pritchards Island Research Symposium, held April 7 at the Fripp Island Beach Club. The event highlighted the scientific studies, conservation efforts, and interdisciplinary collaboration taking place on the university's pristine barrier island.
The symposium opened with remarks from USCB Chancellor Al Panu; Dr. Kim Ritchie, associate professor and director of Pritchards Island Research; and Warren Parker of the Pritchards Island Research and Living Shorelines Coalition (PIRLS). They emphasized the island’s role as a living laboratory and a hub for scientific discovery, student engagement, and environmental stewardship. PIRLS sponsored the symposium.
The keynote address was delivered by Margaret Spring, Chief Conservation and Science Officer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Her talk, “Measuring the Vital Signs of a Changing Ocean for a Resilient and Healthy Future,” set the tone for the day, underscoring the urgency of understanding and protecting coastal ecosystems.
Sessions throughout the day explored a wide range of topics connected to the unique environment and opportunties on Pritchards Island.
Speakers included:
- Michelle Pate, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
"Historical Flipper Tagging Project."
Pate manages the SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Project, which utilizes both historical metal flipper tagging and modern genetic tagging (DNA) to track loggerhead and other endangered sea turtles along the South Carolina coast. The ongoing tagging efforts provide critical data on population size, nest site fidelity, and migration habits.
- Chris Kehrer, Port Royal Sound Foundation
"Hard Shells and Fragile Habitats: Beginning a Long-Term Monitoring Project of Eastern Diamondback Terrapins."
Kehrer is part of the Beaufort Terrapin Project, which studies local Eastern Diamondback Terrapin populations to better understand population trends, movement, and threats facing this important salt marsh species. Now in its third year, the collaborative research effort has provided hands-on field experience for more than 60 students and produced data that is helping inform conservation strategies, including efforts to reduce roadway deaths of nesting terrapins along Sea Island Parkway. - Dr. Eric Montie, USCB Natural Sciences Department
"Listening to and Remotely Sensing Marine Life Surrounding Pritchards Island"
Montie shared insights into acoustic monitoring and remote sensing technologies used to study marine life around the island, demonstrating how innovative tools are expanding researchers’ ability to understand underwater ecosystems. Montie is the Director of the Marine Sensory and Neurobiology Lab and The Lowcountry Dolphin Conservation Program. In conjunction with SECOORA (Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association), and ESONS (Estuarine Soundscape Observatory Network in the Southeast), he deploys underwater acoustic recorders to monitor estuarine ecosystem health by "eavesdropping" on marine life, physical phenomena, and human activities. - Lydia Moore, Wormsloe Institute
"Seasonal Patterns in Bat Community Composition at Pritchards Island.
Using acoustic monitoring technology, echolocation analysis, and sonograms, Moore and Jake Zadik of Lowcountry Environmental LLC examine species richness, seasonal shifts in bat communities, and the timing of migration along the South Atlantic Coast. They are exploring how factors like climate, lunar illumination, habitat structure, and wind conditions influence species including hoary, silver-haired, and eastern red bats, and examining conservation concerns including increasing mortality linked to wind turbines. - Tom O’Brian & William Oakley, Brays Island and USCB Natural Sciences Department
Birds of Pritchards Island: What We Know and Where We Are Headed
Ornithological research on Pritchards has focused on monitoring migratory shorebirds and their habitat useage. Bird surveys took place in Spring and Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 and recorded species diversity, total number of individuals of each species, and habitat useage. Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpdunlins, Red Knots, and Wimbrels were some of the species observed. Banded birds were noted. Upcoming projects include year round passive acoustic monitoring, breeding bird surveys, fall song bird migration monitoring, winter marsh bird monitoring and continued seasonal shorebird surveys. - Dr. Ryan Hanscom, USCB Natural Sciences Department
Next-Generation Natural History on Pritchards Island
Hanscom explores how coastal wildlife are responding to rapid environmental change caused by sea level rise, habitat fragmentation, and human pressure. Using wildlife cameras, acoustic monitoring, GPS telemetry, accelerometers, and machine learning models, he and collaborating researchers are studying animal movement, behavior, habitat use, and species interactions that have traditionally been difficult to observe in dense, nocturnal coastal environments including Pritchards Island. Early findings from tracking eastern diamondback rattlesnakes and other wildlife suggest animals are using a wider range of habitats — including marsh and upland environments — than previously understood.
Dr. Ryan Hanscom presenting about "Next Generation Natural History on Pritchards Island"
Students played a central role in the symposium, giving a series of lightning talks in the afternoon. These reflected USCB’s commitment to hands-on learning and undergraduate research opportunities.
- Taylor DeSilva (Biology, '26)
Sea Turtle Conservation Program
Loggerhead nesting and monitoring takes place from May through October. USCB tudent interns and community volunteers monitor and protect nests and collect data for research. They relocate imperiled nests to above the critical high tide line. The sea turtle project is led by Dr. Kim Ritchie, USCB’s director of research for Pritchards Island. The island is notably frequented by "Mama Pritchard," a tagged loggerhead that has returned to lay eggs on the Pritchards Island roughly every two years since 2002. All work is conducted under SCDNR Permit #MTP507. - Matty Holt (Biology, '25)
Beneficial Bacteria from Sea Turtle Eggs
Holt, working with other student researchers and Dr. Kim Ritchie, examined beneficial bacteria found on and inside loggerhead sea turtle eggs, exploring whether this could play a role in improving hatchling health and conservation outcomes. By sampling nests from Pritchards Island and Hilton Head Island, the team identified dozens of bacterial isolates capable of inhibiting harmful pathogens, with bacteria from inside eggs showing significantly stronger antibacterial activity than bacteria found on exterior shells. The research may help scientists better understand sea turtle immune defense and explore future probiotic applications to protect nests from disease and fungal infections during incubation. - Hayden Dunning (Biology, '26)
Bottlenose Dolphin Monitoring Expansion
Dunning described current efforts to expand bottlenose dolphin monitoring into the tidal creeks and inlets of Pritchards Island, building on long-term studies in the May River and surrounding systems. Working under the direction of Dr. Eric Montie, the team at USCB's Marine Sensory and Neurobiology Lab explores dolphins’ role as key indicators of ecosystem health and shared findings about seasonal population patterns, emerging concerns about declining calf numbers, and observed threats such as vessel strikes and water quality changes. Using photo-identification, environmental monitoring, and continued surveys, the project aims to advance understanding of dolphin health, habitat use, and conservation across the Lowcountry. - Loren Quintana (Biology, '27)
Wildlife Activity via Camera Trapping
Quintana presented research on wildlife activity and habitat use on Pritchards Island using camera trapping technology to monitor animal movement across ocean, marsh, and maritime forest habitats. The study analyzed sightings of deer, raccoons, and coyotes during different periods of the day and night, including dawn, daylight, dusk, and nighttime activity. Coyotes are recent additions to Pritchards Island, and it is unknown how a few young coyotes arrived last year. By comparing where and when animals were most active, the research provided insight into how wildlife species use the island.
Two presenters explained marsh elevation monitoring and historic shoreline shifts along Pritchards Island, offering insights on how coastal landscapes are evolving.
- Courtney Kimmel, Port Royal Sound Foundation
RSET Stations & Marsh Elevation Change
Courtney Kimmel presented ongoing research examining how salt marshes in the Port Royal Sound watershed are responding to sea level rise and environmental change. Her talk explained how scientists use Rod Surface Elevation Table (RSET) stations — stainless steel rods driven deep into marsh sediments — to measure whether marshes are gaining elevation through sediment accretion or losing elevation through subsidence over time. Kimmel described how quarterly measurements taken from the stations help researchers account for seasonal variation and build long-term data sets that can reveal the future stability of local marsh systems. She also highlighted the collaborative effort between the Port Royal Sound Foundation, the University of South Carolina Beaufort, SECOORA, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to install 12 new RSET stations across the watershed, creating the region’s first comprehensive marsh elevation monitoring network - Dr. Daniel “Tye” Pettay, USCB Department of Natural Sciences
Historic Shoreline Change of Beaufort Barrier Islands
Pettay addressed the question "How do barrier island processes differ between adjacent barrier islands with a range of human interventions?" Using Historical aerial images and satellite imagery, he and collaborators are conducting shoreline mapping to measure change. Erosion has been greater on undisturbed Pritchards Island than on neighboring islands where sea walls, beach renourishment and other erosion-fighting strategies have been employed.
An interdisciplinary session concluded the formal program, highlighting the intersection
of art and science as a way to interpret and communicate the island’s significance.
- Joanna Angell, USCB Department of English, Interdisciplinary Studies & The Arts
Art and Science on Pritchards Island
For the last two years, USCB Sea Islands Center Gallery artists' residencies and exhibitions have been inspried by Pritchards Island. USCB has hosted April Flanders, Eveline Kolijn and Hillary Waters Fayle. They each took several trips to Pritchards Island and work was showcased in exhibitions entitled, respectively, "Tidalectics," "Altered Environments" and "Echo".
The symposium closed with reflections on future directions for research and collaboration, followed by an informal networking session. Participants agreed that the island represents a rare opportunity — amid burgeoning growth and tourism — to study natural processes, plants and animals in one of Beaufort County's last wild places.
- USCB -
CW 04/15/2026