Projects
Coastal Ecosystems Group
A complete listing of funded research grants from 2007 to the present is available here. Listed below are a selection of recent projects conducted by Coastal Ecosystems Group researchers.
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Seasonal Hypoxia in the Mississippi Bight
Recent studies have found severe hypoxia in the bottom waters off the Mississippi Sound and in the Mississippi Bight. This finding shows that dead-zones are not restricted to the Mississippi River plume in Louisiana. |
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Shading of Marsh Plants by Docks and Piers
A one year study to do an engineering analysis of shading effects by docks and piers of different construction (height x width x decking type). Responses by Spartina and Juncus to a range of shade stress were also tested and presented in images on this site. |
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Giant Salvinia and Invasive Aquatic Plants
Salvinia molesta, a floating invasive aquatic plant, is one of the top ten worst invasive aquatic weeds in the world. It was discovered in the lower Pascagoula River in 2005 and evidence suggests that this species is spreading along the northern Gulf of Mexico . |
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Chandeleur Islands Seagrasses - Monitoring and Assessment
A post-Katrina project to determine the status and trends of the large seagrass meadows along the lee of the Chandeleur Islands, LA. Ties in with data collected by previous researchers at GCRL in 1998 & 1999, looking at impacts of Hurricane Georges. |
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The Diversity and Role of Root-Associated Fungi in Saltmarsh and Seagrass Plants and Implications for Restoration Success
The main objective of the proposed work is to investigate the presence and ecological role of natural mycorrhizal fungi in estuarine plant habitats found along the Mississippi coastline, and to determine the effect of the presence of mycorrhizal fungi on seagrass and salt marsh restoration, survival, and function. |
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Identifying Critical Habitat Across Multiple Scales for Estuarine-Dependent Fishes with a Landscape: Quantitative Tools, Model Development, and Validation
Collaborators:
We are attempting to quantify and model critical or nursery habitat for young stages of estuary-dependent fishes at multiple scales along a dynamic river mouth estuary coupling both stationary (ecological) and dynamic (physiological) components of the environment. This requires real-time water quality data coupled with fish abundance along a changing landscape in space and time. |
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Salt Panne Ecology
Collaborators
The goal of this project is to develop a quantitative assessment and understanding of the role and use of these salt panne habitat in salt marsh ecosystems. Collections are made within the Grand Bay NERR and on Deer Island. We are sampling for vegetation, terrestrial arthropods, benthic invertebrates, decapod crustaceans, fish, birds, and mammals. |
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Migration and Habitat Use of the Gulf Sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi
We are focusing on movements and habitat use of the threatened Gulf sturgeon mainly in the Pascagoula River ecosystem and adjacent Mississippi Sound using acoustic array technology. We are collaborating with Dr. Todd Slack (ERDC- USACE) and his team on this project and his work on Gulf sturgeon in the Pearl River. Finally, we are initiating a long-term tagging and tracking project with NOAA and a number of colleagues from Louisiana through Florida on large-scale movements among estuaries and river systems in the northern Gulf of Mexico. |