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 Funded Proposals for May 2004 Title: Identification and Distribution of Harmful Algae in Relation to Water Quality Parameters in Mobile Bay CCMP Action Plan: LR-A1 Step 4a & 4c; EPI-A1 Step 2a Amount: $5000 Dauphin Island Sea Lab: Hugh McIntyre This project will sample waters within Mobile Bay for enumeration of microalgal species that are known to form harmful algal blooms (HABs). The temporal and spatial distribution of HAB species will be compared with the physical and chemical characteristics of the water mass to determine if their abundance can be related to given suites of environmental conditions. Material describing HABs and the existence or lack of environmental correlates of their abundance will be deposited into a database of HAB research for the Gulf of Mexico, and incorporated into undergraduate and graduate coursework at Dauphin Island Sea Lab (DISL) and into lesson plans used for the K-12 program taught by Discovery Hall at DISL. Title: Effects of Forest
Management Edges on Amphibian/Reptile Assemblages and Toxicant Loading in
the Mobile-Tensaw Delta (Baldwin Co., Alabama) The primary objective of the work is to investigate whether anthropogenic habitat fragmentation, due to current forest management activities (clear cutting), affects the distribution and abundance of amphibians and reptiles in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Accomplished by: (1) systematically sampling amphibians and reptiles along a fragmented gradient, utilizing visual transects, drift fences, funnel traps, and frog traps; and (2) applying ecological diversity indices to species captured and identifying gaps in species distribution and abundance. A second objective is to document the effects of forest fragmentation on the levels and potential loading sources of toxicants (such as heavy metals and pesticides) in waters and organisms of the Delta. We will sample and analyze toxicants from waters and tissues of selected amphibians and reptiles (bronze frogs and ribbon snakes) along a fragmented gradient. Our ultimate goal will be to contrast fragmented vs. contiguous habitat to determine if amphibians and reptiles are harmed by fragmented edge habitat. This study will identify species valuable to monitoring the effects of habitat fragmentation on the ecosystem health of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. Photographs will be taken and made available to MBNEP. Live specimens will be on display at USA. A publication will result in a peer-reviewed journal. Title: Herpetofauna of
Dauphin Island This project will serve to educate the residents and visitors of Dauphin Island about the different species of reptiles and amphibians currently living on the island. This project will address permanent signs, informative pamphlets, and posters made available to the public. Peripherally ecotourism outreach and wetland monitoring efforts will be addressed. The goals of this project will be: 1) create and install permanent signs with photographs and descriptions of the common herpetofauna found on the island; 2) publish the results of the study in a peer-reviewed journal; 3) present results of the study to the Dauphin Island Elementary School, to reach young, inquisitive, local minds; 4) prepare and distribute pamphlets and posters to island visitors (e.g. Dauphin Island Sea Lab school groups, Elderhostel tour groups, birders); 5) identify exotic species of reptiles and/or amphibians that may have been introduced to the island. Title: Restoring Grasses
for Mobile Bay Students at Gulf Shores High School will establish water tanks simulating Mobile Bay conditions. The students will seed and grow SAV endemic to Mobile Bay. Four times a year students will collect plant material, select areas to grow SAVs, and chart their progress by observing grassbeds and associated aquatic life. Volunteers will be utilized in partnerships developed with Claude Peteet Marine Lab, Bon Secour NWR, Weeks Bay NERR (working closely with DISL). Data will be reported on a website. Title: Student
Monitoring of Ecological Change in D’Olive Bay, Baldwin Co., AL Biology students and teachers from the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science will monitor and map water quality measurements, vegetation distributions, sedimentation, and land use within D'Olive Bay and/or the D'Olive Creek watershed as the focus of project-centered courses in biology. We will develop maps and models outlining our findings about ongoing sedimentation, natural vegetation change, and land use change in the study area. We will develop presentations on our results and deliver them as appropriate to civic groups and schools in the Mobile Bay area. We will develop teaching units on sedimentation and erosion with the study area as their focus. We will teach students to use GIS as a mapping, research, and decision-making tool.
Title: Workshop: Water Runs Down Hill This project involves a 6-hour seminar to be taught twice to engineers for CEUs. The subject is cost/benefit analysis of open-space design for residential subdivisions with self-contained waste-water treatment systems. Curriculum to be taught by George Crozier, Ph.D., Terry Plauche’, ASLA, Emily Sommer, CCIM, Kevin White, Ph.D. Title: Interpretive
Estuary Display in CVB Welcome Center This project will design and install interpretive displays about the waters and wildlife of the Mobile Bay Estuary as part of the renovation and expansion of the CVB’s Welcome Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama. An estuarine display will be one of several. Other environmental or wildlife topics to be included will be he Alabama Coastal Birding Trail and the sea turtle nesting/hatching season. The goal of the project is two-fold. First, it is to enhance the visitors’ experience through informative displays describing the environmental assets and attractions of the area – give them additional activities to enjoy while they are here. Second, the displays will educate visitors about the estuarine system and its wildlife, its value, its threats and how human interactions can affect it, both positively and negatively. In 2003, 10.9 percent of Gulf Shores/Orange Beach visitors listed “wildlife/environment” as activities they enjoyed here. Research shows that approximately 70 percent of these visitors are or will be repeat visitors. We can measure our success by tracking changes in the reports of enjoying “wildlife/environment.” Our goal is to increase that number by 10 percent in a two-year period. Funded Proposals for December 2003 Title: Importance
of Native versus Exotic Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) to Waterfowl
Populations Title: Microarray
protocol development in a rhodophytan system: toward a model
characterization of seaweeds in Mobile Bay
Title: Habitat Needs of Neotropical
Migrants on Dauphin Island Title: Groundwater
Level Trends in Aquifers by Public Water Supply Wells Title: Nonpoint
Source Pollution Solution for Teachers Funded Proposals for May 2003 Title: MAGIC – Mosquitoes and Gambusia in the Community Title:
Alabama Sea Turtles Website Title: Pier
Street Boat Launch Water Sampling Funded Proposals for January 2003 Title: Earth Matters Collection Title: Alabama CoastWatch Enterococcus Monitoring Funded Proposals for January 1, 2002 Title: Alabama Coastal Kids Quiz |
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