Seagrass work on TV

For my postdoctoral work in Florida, I studied nutrient impacts on seagrass beds. This segment of a local television show featured our work. Each clip is about 5 minutes long.
Nutrients in Florida Bay Part 1
Nutrients in Florida Bay Part 2

Technician positions open

We are hiring a field technician to assist with field sampling of plant and animal communities in restored coastal marshes in Port Arthur, TX. Field work will include deployment of nets and field experiments from airboats and pirogues. Laboratory tasks will include sorting, grinding, reducing, and analyzing of plant, soil, water, and animal samples. Sample processing will include some analytical procedures using a variety of laboratory equipment, such as nutrient and pigment analyses. Additional tasks will include reading and recording results in accordance with standard procedures, data entry and associated computer activities, writing reports, supervising student workers, and performing related duties as required.

BS in biology with related college courses in plant and community ecology and relevant work experience is desired.

The position is 30-40 hours/week and is eligible for benefits. Salary is $9.49/hour (negotiable).

To apply, submit an application online here (search for job posting# 090580). Position is available immediately and will remain open until filled.

TWO PART-TIME STUDENT WORKER POSITIONS ($7.25/hour) FOR TAMUG STUDENTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE STARTING IMMEDIATELY! VIEW JOB POSTING OR CONTACT DR. ARMITAGE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED.

In the news

This story in a local newspaper, the Bay Area Citizen, is about management of a Nassau Bay wildlife area, where I'm serving as an adviser.

Internships available with Houston Audubon Society

Houston Audubon Society

440 Wilchester Blvd.

Houston, TX 77079

Title: Sanctuary Management Interns (2)

Agency: Houston Audubon Society

Location: Primarily High Island and the Bolivar Peninsula

Job Description: Assist with management of Houston Audubon Sanctuaries on the Upper Texas Coast.

Duties: Control exotic plant species by cutting, pulling, mowing and herbicide application. Erect sanctuary signs, post boundaries, maintain fences, pick up trash, and perform other tasks as necessary. Interact with sanctuary visitors. Bird censusing and nest monitoring may be included. Use all tools and equipment in a safety conscious manner at all times.

Qualifications: Excellent physical condition. Ability to perform hard physical work for extended and irregular periods, under adverse conditions and in all extremes of weather. Mechanical aptitude and knowledge of machinery. Experience with chainsaws and other power tools. Ability to work with a wide variety of people and to work independently of supervisor. Enthusiasm for working outdoors. Personal vehicle necessary.

Minimum Qualification: College coursework in natural or biological sciences.

Benefits: Travel expenses between sanctuaries reimbursed.

Salary: $10 / Hour (10-hour week)

Last date to apply: February 16, 2009

Starting date: March 10, 2009

Documentation needed: Resume with cover letter and 2 references.

Contact: Winnie Burkett

Sanctuary Manager

wburkett@houstonaudubon.org

How do marsh and mangrove habitats compare?

In seagrass beds in Florida, nutrient supply appears to be more important than canopy complexity for epifauna. How does that conclusion apply to salt marshes in Texas?

Most Texas salt marshes are dominated by Spartina alterniflora (cordgrass). This forms a dense, complex canopy (left) that is critical habitat for a variety of animals, including snails, shrimp, and juvenile fish. But, in some parts of the Texas coast, native mangroves (Avicennia germinans) are behaving like invasives and converting marshes into dwarf mangrove forests. This change may have been influenced by climate change, which brings milder winters and less frequent freeze events to limit the spread of mangroves. Continuing climate change may accelerate mangrove proliferation, particularly in transition zones like Port Aransas.




Mangroves have aerial root structures (left) that may provide analogous habitat to salt marshes for marsh fauna. I have observed snails using marsh grasses and mangrove pneumatophores in similar ways. But will other important marsh fauna, like brown shrimp or juvenile fish, use marsh and mangrove structures in the same way? In other parts of the world, the answer is "no," but here in Texas, where we are at the transition between marsh and mangrove habitats, the answer is unknown. We will soon begin collecting fauna from both habitats to find out.

Hurricane impacts in brackish marshes and other questions

The restoration site at Port Arthur survived Hurricane Ike fairly intact. There wasn't much debris, and by the time we returned to the site, water levels had returned to normal. Salinity was high, though, about 15 ppt, when the site is normally about 3-5 ppt. Some species of plants looked fine, but others were stressed. Interestingly, some stands of Spartina alterniflora seemed fine, but others were dying. Is this a difference between native and non-native strains? Or is it a function of plant age?

Planting stands of Spartina alterniflora in this restored site results in robust monocultures of S. alterniflora. See the new species (an aster?) trying to recruit into the Spartina stand? Will it be able to establish in this dense stand? Does planting S. alterniflora limit plant diversity on a longer time scale?

One day, soon after the storm, I visited the salt marshes on Galveston's east end. I was stunned at the number of snails (Littorina) that were clinging onto the grass. It is not unusual for Littorina to climb up Spartina stems during high tide, but the density of snails at this site surprised me. Were they trying to get away from something?

More Hurricane Ike views: This house is "For sale by owner"

Boats on Sportsman Road

This just in: Plastic grows on trees

Another side of Hurricane Ike

We've all seen a lot of pictures of the devastation to homes and businesses caused by Hurricane Ike. As a biologist, I see that damage and more. Here are some of the pictures you won't see on the news.

Many trees were still standing after the storm, but inundation by salt water killed them where they stood. The only plants that survived were native dune and marsh grasses.

The dunes on Galveston Island were badly eroded, but in some places with robust dunes, the vegetation held enough of the sand in place to prevent massive erosion. The beaches are ragged but still standing (and so are the building behind them). Beaches in front of the seawall had no vegetation to guard against erosion, and those beaches eroded and are now underwater.

Bread makers are generally not found on the beach.

Mardi Gras beads were strung over mangroves. Many mangroves survived, but the salt water inundation was hard on them too. Many are displaying salt burn like terrestrial plants.

Ok, this picture has been on the news, but it was too striking to pass by. I think it was Murdoch's souvenir shop. It is now a bird roost.

Our recycling center. Where am I supposed to take my plastics now?

The TAMUG campus had relatively minor wind damage and didn't flood. We even got internet back yesterday (but no phones yet, so don't call me). Because the Galveston city infrastructure is in such bad shape, classes have been relocated to College Station for the rest of the semester. Research goes on for now in a modified fashion (nothing stops the science!), and we expect to be fully operational again by January.