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

Aquatic habitats study
Although they comprise over 88% of the area within the
park's boundaries, the aquatic habitats (grassbeds,
nearshore areas, beaches, ponds, and lagoons) are among the
most poorly understood environments in the Seashore.
Research is underway to develop an inventory of the seasonal
diversity, distribution, and abundance of the major
macrofaunal components of the Park's aquatic habitats. The
research will initiate a simplified long-term monitoring
program through which Park personnel could detect adverse
impacts on Park resources related to petroleum development,
chronic pollution, or dredging practices.
Identifying Indicator Species
Another objective of the Park research program is the
identification of species, communities, or populations that
could serve as indicators of environmental change, and the
development of field methods to monitor their status. These
indicator species will serve as the focus of long-term
environmental monitoring programs in the Park. Two species,
the Osprey (Pandion hallaetus) and the mud shrimp
(Callichirus islagrande) have been identified as indicator
species thus far, and long-term monitoring programs have
begun.
Osprey
The Mississippi barrier islands support the largest
concentration of breeding Osprey on the Gulf Coast. Feeding
as they do near the top of the trophic web, Osprey are
excellent indicators of environmental quality. Their
populations are also fairly stable and easy to monitor. A
long-term study is underway in the park to determine the
population's productivity, habitat requirements, and
vulnerability to human disturbance. A long-term monitoring
program will be initiated on the basis of this research.
Beach invertebrates
Populations of beach invertebrates such as the common mud
shrimp have been targeted as indicator species as a result
of the aquatic macrofauna survey currently underway in the
Park. Populations of nearshore and beach invertebrates are
being monitored in hopes of detecting chronic long-term
environmental degradation resulting from pollution and
dredging practices, or the impact of catastrophic events,
such as oil spills.
Restoring Extirpated Populations
Worldwide biological diversity is declining at an alarming
rate. Scientists estimate that perhaps as many as one
million of the earth's species will have become extinct by
the turn of the century. Parks and reserves are an
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