Center for Fisheries Research & Development
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AMRAT 2004
Alabama - Mississippi Rapid Assessment Team
Introduction to AMRAT 2004
Participating Organizations and Personnel
Animal Survey
Plant Survey
FAQ
Lab & Field Logistics
Links
Introduction
AMRAT is a group of scientists dedicated to conducting a rapid survey of all plants and animals in Mississippi and Alabama coastal waters in order to provide a "snapshot" of native and non-native species, including harmful invasives.
AMRAT
- Was launched in 2003 with 50 scientists surveying Mobile Bay;
- Is targeting the Mississippi Sound and adjacent waters Aug. 30-Sept. 3;
- Has doubled in size for the 2004 survey with more than 100 scientists from about 26 organizations participating;
- Is headquartered at The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory for 2004
- Groups will include participants in the field collecting samples, while others sort and identify organisms in laboratories at the GCRL;
- Organizers of the collaborative program are the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, the Mobile Bay National Estuarine Program and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium;
- 2004 is conducting the largest rapid assessment of living resources ever held in the Gulf of Mexico.
Mississippi Assessment 2004 Goal
To provide a "snapshot" inventory of organisms present in Mississippi Sound and adjacent marine waters in order to identify non-native or exotic species. The inventory will also provide information on the distribution and abundance of non-natives that have already established populations in local waters. This rapid assessment approach is used to gather information useful for developing management strategies and for planning needed research.
