Gulf Coast Research Laboratory

Coastal Ecosystems Group

Projects

Beneficial Use of Dredge Materials - preconstruction analysis of structure and function

Mark Peterson, Jinx Campbell, Bruce Comyns, Chet Rakocinski

We have developed functional metrics of ecosystem function for restoration projects using beneficial-use materials.

The Diversity and Role of Root-Associated Fungi in Saltmarsh and Seagrass Plants and Implications for Restoration Success

Jinx Campbell, Patrick Biber

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.

Maintaining responsible coastal and estuarine waterfront development in Mississippi: mapping and quantifying shoreline habitat types

Bruce H. Comyns, Mark S. Peterson

This project focuses on quantifying altered and natural marsh edge habitats in coastal Mississippi.

Spatial and temporal nekton assemblage structure in coastal saltmarsh habitats

Mark S. Peterson, Chet F. Rakocinski

Collaborators:

Grand Bay NERR – Gretchen Waggy, Mark Woodrey, Dave Ruple.
University of California-Davis – Christa Woodley

This project examines spatial and temporal nekton density and use in salt marsh edge habitat vs mud flat habitat types within the Grand Bay NERR site. Its focus is on delineating EFH for nekton.

Identifying critical habitat across multiple scales for estuarine-dependent fishes with a landscape: quantitative tools, model development, and validation

Mark S. Peterson, Richard Fulford

Collaborators:

Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Houston, TX – Marisa Weber
University of North Carolina-Wilmington – Melissa L. Partyka
University of New Mexico – Stephen T. Ross

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.

Salt Panne Ecology

Mark S. Peterson

Collaborators:

Grand Bay NERR (Gretchen L. Waggy, Mark S. Woodrey, Chris A. May)
MSU Coastal Research and Extension Center (Mark S. Woodrey, David W. Held)
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (Jeffery Clark)
The University of Georgia (Robert J. Cooper)

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.