Ecology of the Barrier Island of Texas

Introduction to the Barrier Island Ecology of the Texas Coast

The University of Texas at Austin Marine Science Institutelocated on the northeast corner of Mustang Island

facilities include: classrooms, library, research laboratories, and two large research vessels

Marine Education Visitors Center

RV Katy

What is Marine Biology?...the study of the function and ecology of marine life.

how organisms carry out their basic functionsinteraction of organisms and their physical and biotic environmentEcology is studied at many interacting hierarchical levels.BiosphereEcosystemCommunityPopulationIndividual

Physiography and Geologyyoung, 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 FeaturesHabitats on the outer side barrier islands:

wave actionsalinitytemperature

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 mainlandMore Habitats & CommunitiesJetties & GroinsSandy BeachesFlotsam & JetsamOffshore BottomsBay Shore: MudflatsOyster ReefsPlankton & NektonSandy Beach with Sargassum

Jetties & Groinsthe northwestern gulf coasts only rocky intertidal habitats

crevice habitatssplash zoneJetty

Groin

Sea Wall

Breakwater

Other Jetty InhabitantsRock LouseHermit CrabSea UrchinsSpartina

Sandy Beachesabrasive sandalternating periods of dry and wetpounding wavesResult: most animals that cannot swim well or crawl fast burrow into the sand.Sandy Beach and Near-Shore Inhabitantstube-building wormssand dollarsCalico Crab, HepatusPurse Crab, PersephonaSpider Crab, LibiniaTube Dwellers

Flotsam and JetsamOrganisms are carried ashore from deeper waters offshore.Offshore Bottomsdepth up to 200mcommercial shrimpingsediments and shell fragments provide habitat