mississippi has the largest man-made beach in the...
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An Introduction to Mississippi Mainland Natural Beaches
Christina Mohrman
NOAA Environmental Cooperative Science CenterGrand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Introduction to Introduction to Mississippi Beaches
Pascagoula
Biloxi
Gulfport
Mississippi Beaches
N
Barrier Islands
Natural Beaches
Petit Bois IslandMainland Natural Beach
Photo by: Thomas Mohrman
Biloxi/GulfportMainland Natural Beach
Mississippi has the largest man-made beach in the
world world
26 miles from Biloxi to Gulfport
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Photo by: Will Underwood
Mainland Natural BeachGrand Battures
Natural beaches are imperiled in Mississippi because of their rarity, restricted range, and
threats that make them vulnerable to f th d lifurther decline
There are less than 1,000 acresof natural beach in Mississippi
Important PlantsSaltmarsh Hay (Spartina patens)
Coastal Panicgrass (Panicum amarum)
Beach Morning Glory (Ipomoea stolonifera)g y ( p f )
Groundsel (Baccharis halimifolia)
Marsh Elder (Iva frutescens)
Saltmarsh Hay
Plants are important sand stabilizers
Coastal Panicgrass Beach Morning Glory
Plants are indicators of elevation
GroundselMarsh Elder
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Important AnimalsTerrapins and Birds
Diamondback Terrapin
Beach Nesting–Summer Birds
Wilson’s PloverPhoto by: Olivia Graves
Photo by: Olivia Graves
Least TernPhoto by: Olivia Graves
Black Skimmer
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Winter Birds
Ruddy Turnstone
Photo by: Olivia Graves
Western Sandpipers
Photo by: Jake Walker
Black-bellied Plover
Photo by: Olivia Graves
Ecological ProcessesEcological ProcessesEcosystem Functions
• Elevation Profile/Beach Parts
• Beaches are dynamic
– Constantly being reworked: deposition, erosion, overwash
• Beaches buffer wind, water, and waves
• Beaches support nesting and foraging
Upper Beach
MS Sound
Salt Marsh
Upper Beach
Mainland Natural Beach Profile – Cross View
Lower Beach
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Black Needlerush
Storm Wrack
Photo by: Will Underwood
GroundselMarsh Elder
Saltmarsh Hay
Lower Beach
Upper Beachand Berm
Important for Bird Foraging
Important for Bird Nesting
Important for Terrapin Nesting
Surf
SwashImportant for Bird Foraging
Beaches are dynamic
Overwash
Photo by: Will Underwood
New sand deposited from
offshoreErosion
Photo by: Janet Wright
Overwash
Photo by: Will Underwood
Erosion – exposed marsh platform
Nesting Habitat
Photo by: Tom Mohrman
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Foraging and Roosting Habitat
Photo by: Olivia Graves C d Conservation and Management Issues
Conservation and Management Issues
• Natural Forces
– erosion, storms, sea level rise
Photo by: Will Underwood
• Coastal Development and Urbanization– habitat loss and degradation
– bulkheading, vegetation clearing
– invasive species (plants, fire ants)
– channel modification and dredging
– excessive nest predation
– marine debrismarine debris
Suggested Readings
Diamonds in the Marsh: A Natural History of the DiamondbackTerrapin by Barbara Brennessel
The Smithsonian Guide to Seaside Plants of the Gulf and AtlanticCoasts from Louisiana to Massachusetts by Wilber H. Duncan andMarion B. DuncanMarion B. Duncan
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. 2005. Mississippi’sComprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. MississippiDepartment of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Mississippi Museumof Natural Science, Jackson, MS.
Jackson, N.L. et al. 2002. ‘Low energy’ sandy beaches in marineand estuarine environments: a review. Geomorphology 48: 147‐162.
NOAA Environmental CooperativeScience Center at Florida A&M University
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
6005 Bayou Heron RoadMoss Point, MS 39562
Phone: [email protected]
Christina F. Mohrman
ECSC Coordinator of Research Programs/Services