Gulf Coast Network Inventory and Monitoring Seagrass Monitoring Project
Segura M. Gulf Coast Network Inventory and Monitoring Seagrass Monitoring Project. 2011
Long-term seagrass monitoring commenced in August 2011 at PAIS and GUIS. Field crews (working under Task Agreements through the Gulf Coast CESU) from University of Texas Marine Science Institute (PAIS) and Dauphin Island Sea Lab (GUIS) initiated a protocol developed by the USGS and implemented throughout the Northeast Coastal and Barrier Network (NCBN). The protocol is based on seagrass metrics (species composition, canopy height, percent coverage) and water quality measures (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, turbidity, chlorophyll-A, and Secchi depth). A tessellated hexagon net (750 m edges) is draped over the sampling frame (mapped seagrass beds within park waters) and a random point is generated for each hexagon which serves as a permanent station that will be occupied (within 10 m) each year for repeated monitoring. This protocol now provides monitoring conformity throughout Texas seagrass beds (NOAA and the Texas General Land Office have funded monitoring on most non-park beds), the GULN parks, and the parks of the NCBN.
- Type
- Project
- Authors
- Segura, Martha
- Units
- GUIS , GULN , PAIS
- Keywords
- GULN Seagrass Monitoring, Halodule wrightii, long-term monitoring, Northern Gulf of Mexico, Sea grass, Seagrass, submerged aquatic vegetation, Texas, Water Quality
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Estuarine Communities
Program
Products
- Assessment of Seagrass Habitat Quality and Plant Physiological Condition in Texas Coastal Waters
- Seagrass Monitoring Program for Texas Coastal Waters
- Assessment of Seagrass Habitat Quality and Plant Condition in Texas Coastal Waters: 2011 and 2012
- Monitoring Seagrass in National Parks of the Gulf Coast Network: Data Quality Standards
- Monitoring Seagrass in National Parks of the Gulf Coast Network: Protocol Narrative
- Resource Brief: Seagrass Monitoring Program Summary
- Standard Operating Procedures for Monitoring Seagrass in National Parks of the Gulf Coast Network