Full document / COSOC-W-86-002 - the National Sea Grant Library

794
Mississippi
Born *
Island Petit Bois
Island
Gulf of Moilco
Santa I
Fudido Key Fart Pickens
Figure 1. Gulf Islands National Seashore (shaded areas).
Understanding; the Resource
An understanding of the species, communities, and
populations that make up the Seashore is essential to making
informed resource management decisions. Documenting the
diversity, distribution, and abundance of these essential
elements is a key component of several Park research
projects. This baseline data is then incorporated into a
geographic information system. The system provides an
integrated approach to the management and analysis of the
data, and it allows the interrelation of spatially and
temporally referenced data from a variety of sources.
Examples of on-going research projects in this category
include; research on marine bird populations, a barrier
island mammal study, and an inventory of the Park's aquatic
habitats.
Marine bird research
Protected, predator-free breeding habitat for marine birds
in the Gulf has declined steadily over the years. Today,
significant populations of skimmers, terns, and shorebirds
find refuge on a dredge spoil island between Born and Petit
Bois Islands. Research is underway to determine the habitat
requirements, breeding biology, and tolerance to disturbance
of these important populations.
Barrier island mammal study
At least eight species of mammals, including introduced
feral hogs (Sus scrotal, cottontail rabbits (Sylvllacus
florldanus), and Nutria (Mvocastor coypus), are found on the
barrier islands, but little is known of their basic ecology.
An on-going research project is studying the Mississippi
barrier island's native and exotic mammal populations
through a combination of telemetry, life history,
population, and vegetation studies.