A Disappearing Act: Gulf Coast Barrier Islands and threats posed by climate change
Introduction to the Barrier Island Ecology of the Texas Coast
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Introduction to the Barrier Island Ecology of the Texas Coast
description
Introduction to the Barrier Island Ecology of the Texas Coast. located on the northeast corner of Mustang Island facilities include: classrooms, library, research laboratories, and two large research vessels. The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Introduction to the Barrier Island Ecology of the Texas Coast
Introduction to the Barrier Island Ecology of the Texas Coast
The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institute
• located on the northeast corner of Mustang Island
• facilities include: classrooms, library, research laboratories, and two large research vessels
Marine Education Visitor’s Center
RV Katy
What is Marine Biology?
...the study of the function and ecology of marine life.
• how organisms carry out their basic functions
• interaction of organisms and their physical and biotic environment
Ecology is studied at many interacting hierarchical levels.
Biosphere Ecosystem Community Population Individual
Physiography and Geology• young, dynamic system of barrier
islands
• shaped by prevailing southeasterly winds
• mostly 20-50 ft above sea level
• Padre is the longest barrier island in North America at 113 miles
General Features Habitats on the outer side barrier
islands:
wave action salinity temperature
Major Divisions of Marine Habitats
Habitats Include:• sand-shell beaches• fore island dunes• stabilized dunes• vegetated barrier flat• wind-tidal flat• lagoon grass flat• Laguna Madre- separates Padre from the Texas mainland
More Habitats & Communities Jetties & Groins Sandy Beaches
Flotsam & Jetsam Offshore Bottoms
Bay Shore: Mudflats Oyster Reefs
Plankton & Nekton
Sandy Beach with Sargassum
Jetties & Groins
the northwestern gulf coast’s only rocky intertidal habitats
crevice habitats splash zone
Jetty
Groin
Sea Wall
Breakwater
Other Jetty Inhabitants
• Rock Louse• Hermit Crab• Sea Urchins
Spartina
Sandy Beaches• abrasive sand• alternating periods of dry and wet• pounding waves
Result: most animals that cannot swim well or crawl fast burrow into the sand.
Sandy Beach and Near-Shore Inhabitants
• tube-building worms• sand dollars• Calico Crab, Hepatus• Purse Crab, Persephona• Spider Crab, Libinia
Tube Dwellers
Flotsam and Jetsam
Organisms are carried ashore from deeper waters offshore.
Offshore Bottoms
• depth up to 200m• commercial shrimping• sediments and shell fragments
provide habitat
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