Vegetation Monitoring at Gulf Islands National Seashore: Results for 2024
Carlson JE. 2026. Vegetation Monitoring at Gulf Islands National Seashore: Results for 2024. Gulf Coast I&M Network, Lafayette, LA.
This report summarizes park vegetation history and forest health monitoring results from the first round of sampling at Gulf Islands National Seashore in Mississippi and Florida. A total of 34 plots were sampled in 2024, within the focal units of Naval Live Oaks Area, Davis Bayou, Fort Pickens, Horn Island and Petit Bois Island. Key metrics included species richness for both native and invasive species, per-species percent cover in nested subplots, and tree mortality, growth, and recruitment. Sampled communities range from rich southeastern forests, marshes, slash pine woodlands, pine savannas and vegetated dunes. Results for 2024 are provided as a formatted pdf report and an appendices packet with full species list, maps, and a wide range of supporting tables and figures. These documents will be made publicly available through the IRMA datastore by the end of 2026.
- Type
- Resource Brief
- Authors
- Carlson, Jane
- Date of Issue
- 2026
- Publisher
- Gulf Coast I&M Network, Lafayette, LA.
- Units
- GUIS , GULN
- Keywords
- barrier island, fire effects, forest communities, GULN Brief, GULN report, GULN Vegetation Monitoring, long-term monitoring, marsh, pine flatwoods, plant communities, recruitment, trees