Texas Mangrove Research Symposium - Mission
Transcription
Texas Mangrove Research Symposium - Mission
Texas Mangrove Research Symposium AGENDA Thursday, February 28 9:00am - 5:00pm University of Texas Marine Science Institute Estuarine Research Center, Seminar Room 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas, Texas 9:00 - 9:15 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS 9:15 - 9:30 Dr. Kiersten Madden, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Monitoring Mangroves: Applying the National Estuarine Research Reserve Approach to Texas 9:30 - 10:00 Tom Tremblay, Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin Baseline Mapping for Mangrove Monitoring in the Coastal Bend, Texas Gulf Coast 10:00 - 10:30 Dr. James Gibeaut, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Proposed Observatory for Understanding Coastal Wetland Change 10:30 - 10:45 BREAK 10:45 - 11:15 Dr. John Schalles, Creighton University The Mangroves of Redfish Bay: Field surveys and high resolution imagery to map distribution, canopy height, and vegetation response to the February, 2011 freeze 11:15 - 11:45 Chris Wilson, University of Texas Marine Science Institute Colonization and age structure of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) trees along the coast of Texas 11:45 - 12:15 Dr. Anna Armitage, Texas A&M University – Galveston Ecological implications of black mangrove expansion into Texas salt marshes: Comparisons among marsh and mangrove habitats 12:15 - 1:00 CATERED LUNCH 1:00 - 1:30 Dr. Steven Pennings, University of Houston Ecological implications of black mangrove expansion into Texas salt marshes: Insights from a largescale mangrove removal experiment 1:30 - 2:00 Dr. Liz Smith, International Crane Foundation Habitat replacement by mangrove establishment: Implications for Whooping Crane use 2:00 - 2:30 Dr. Rusty Feagin, Texas A&M University - College Station Historical Reconstruction of Mangrove Expansion in the Gulf of Mexico: Linking Climate Change with Carbon Sequestration in Coastal Wetlands 2:30 - 2:45 BREAK Texas Mangrove Research Symposium AGENDA Thursday, February 28 9:00am - 5:00pm University of Texas Marine Science Institute Estuarine Research Center, Seminar Room 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas, Texas 2:45 - 4:00 U.S. Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center Tom Doyle, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Modeling mangrove structure and spread across the Northern Gulf Coast under climate change: Effects of storms, sea-level rise, freshwater flow, and freeze. Richard Day, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Biogeography of black mangrove and freeze tolerance Ken Krauss, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Water use characteristics of black mangroves along the Northern Gulf Coast Erik Yando, University of Louisiana at Lafayette The belowground implications of mangrove forest migration: Plant-soil variability across forest structural gradients in TX, LA, and FL Mike Osland, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Winter climate change and coastal wetland foundation species: Salt marshes vs. mangrove forests 4:00 - 4:30 DISCUSSION 4:30 - 4:45 WRAP UP AND ADJOURN Initials Name AA RD Anna Armitage Richard Day MO SP JS LS TT EY Mike Osland Steve Pennings John Schalles Liz Smith Tom Tremblay Erik Yando TD RF JG KK KM DA KB JB EB RC KD ZD SD MAD ND RD CG HG BH WH KH LH CH FK JL SM DN DO PR JR Tom Doyle Rusty Feagin James Gibeaut Ken Krauss Kiersten Madden Dan Alonso Karen Bishop Jorge Brenner Ed Buskey Rhonda Cummins Kelly Darnell Zack Darnell Sayantani Dastidar Mary Ann Davis Nicole Davis Richard Davis Sarah Douglas Catalina Gempeler Hongyu Guo Beau Hardegree Wade Harrell Kent Hicks Lauren Hutchison Cammie Hyatt Felix Keeley Ranjani Wasantha Kulawardhana Jessica Lunt Shanna Madsen Duncan Neblett R. Deborah Overath Patrick Rios Jackie Robinson Organization/Af�iliation Email INVITED SPEAKERS Texas A&M University – Galveston USGS National Wetlands Research Center [email protected] [email protected] USGS National Wetlands Research Center Texas A&M University – College Station Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi USGS National Wetlands Research Center Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve USGS National Wetlands Research Center University of Houston Creighton University International Crane Foundation Bureau of Economic Geology – UT Austin University of Louisiana at Lafayette WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS San Antonio Bay Partnership Texas Sea Grant The Nature Conservancy Mission-Aransas NERR Texas Sea Grant Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Mission-Aransas NERR University of Houston The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor Texas State University Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute University of Houston US Fish and Wildlife Service US Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Mission-Aransas NERR City of Rockport/NERR Advisory Board Texas A&M University – College Station Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Mission-Aransas NERR Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi City of Rockport Water Quality Committee Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CR JS CPS CS JT KT HW CW DW AW LW DY Carolyn Rose James Sanchez Carlota Plantier Santos Chris Shank Jim Tolan Kathryn Tunnell Heather Wade Carolyn Weaver Dawn Whitehead Ashley Whitt Leslie Williams David Yoskowitz Mission-Aransas NERR Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas General Land Of�ice Texas Sea Grant/Mission-Aransas NERR Texas A&M University – Galveston US Fish and Wildlife Service Texas A&M University – Galveston Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Texas Mangrove Research Symposium AGENDA Thursday, February 28 9:00am - 5:00pm University of Texas Marine Science Institute Estuarine Research Center, Seminar Room 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas, Texas 9:00 - 9:15 WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS 9:15 - 9:30 Dr. Kiersten Madden, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Monitoring Mangroves: Applying the National Estuarine Research Reserve Approach to Texas 9:30 - 10:00 Tom Tremblay, Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin Baseline Mapping for Mangrove Monitoring in the Coastal Bend, Texas Gulf Coast 10:00 - 10:30 Dr. James Gibeaut, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Proposed Observatory for Understanding Coastal Wetland Change 10:30 - 10:45 BREAK 10:45 - 11:15 Dr. John Schalles, Creighton University The Mangroves of Redfish Bay: Field surveys and high resolution imagery to map distribution, canopy height, and vegetation response to the February, 2011 freeze 11:15 - 11:45 Chris Wilson, University of Texas Marine Science Institute Colonization and age structure of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) trees along the coast of Texas 11:45 - 12:15 Dr. Anna Armitage, Texas A&M University – Galveston Ecological implications of black mangrove expansion into Texas salt marshes: Comparisons among marsh and mangrove habitats 12:15 - 1:00 CATERED LUNCH 1:00 - 1:30 Dr. Steven Pennings, University of Houston Ecological implications of black mangrove expansion into Texas salt marshes: Insights from a largescale mangrove removal experiment 1:30 - 2:00 Dr. Liz Smith, International Crane Foundation Habitat replacement by mangrove establishment: Implications for Whooping Crane use 2:00 - 2:30 Dr. Rusty Feagin, Texas A&M University - College Station Historical Reconstruction of Mangrove Expansion in the Gulf of Mexico: Linking Climate Change with Carbon Sequestration in Coastal Wetlands 2:30 - 2:45 BREAK Texas Mangrove Research Symposium AGENDA Thursday, February 28 9:00am - 5:00pm University of Texas Marine Science Institute Estuarine Research Center, Seminar Room 750 Channel View Dr. Port Aransas, Texas 2:45 - 4:00 U.S. Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center Tom Doyle, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Modeling mangrove structure and spread across the Northern Gulf Coast under climate change: Effects of storms, sea-level rise, freshwater flow, and freeze. Richard Day, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Biogeography of black mangrove and freeze tolerance Ken Krauss, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Water use characteristics of black mangroves along the Northern Gulf Coast Erik Yando, University of Louisiana at Lafayette The belowground implications of mangrove forest migration: Plant-soil variability across forest structural gradients in TX, LA, and FL Mike Osland, USGS National Wetlands Research Center Winter climate change and coastal wetland foundation species: Salt marshes vs. mangrove forests 4:00 - 4:30 DISCUSSION 4:30 - 4:45 WRAP UP AND ADJOURN Initials Name AA RD Anna Armitage Richard Day MO SP JS LS TT EY Mike Osland Steve Pennings John Schalles Liz Smith Tom Tremblay Erik Yando TD RF JG KK KM DA KB JB EB RC KD ZD SD MAD ND RD CG HG BH WH KH LH CH FK JL SM DN DO PR JR Tom Doyle Rusty Feagin James Gibeaut Ken Krauss Kiersten Madden Dan Alonso Karen Bishop Jorge Brenner Ed Buskey Rhonda Cummins Kelly Darnell Zack Darnell Sayantani Dastidar Mary Ann Davis Nicole Davis Richard Davis Sarah Douglas Catalina Gempeler Hongyu Guo Beau Hardegree Wade Harrell Kent Hicks Lauren Hutchison Cammie Hyatt Felix Keeley Ranjani Wasantha Kulawardhana Jessica Lunt Shanna Madsen Duncan Neblett R. Deborah Overath Patrick Rios Jackie Robinson Organization/Af�iliation Email INVITED SPEAKERS Texas A&M University – Galveston USGS National Wetlands Research Center [email protected] [email protected] USGS National Wetlands Research Center Texas A&M University – College Station Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi USGS National Wetlands Research Center Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve USGS National Wetlands Research Center University of Houston Creighton University International Crane Foundation Bureau of Economic Geology – UT Austin University of Louisiana at Lafayette WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS San Antonio Bay Partnership Texas Sea Grant The Nature Conservancy Mission-Aransas NERR Texas Sea Grant Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Mission-Aransas NERR University of Houston The Aquarium at Rockport Harbor Texas State University Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute University of Houston US Fish and Wildlife Service US Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Mission-Aransas NERR City of Rockport/NERR Advisory Board Texas A&M University – College Station Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Mission-Aransas NERR Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi City of Rockport Water Quality Committee Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] CR JS CPS CS JT KT HW CW DW AW LW DY Carolyn Rose James Sanchez Carlota Plantier Santos Chris Shank Jim Tolan Kathryn Tunnell Heather Wade Carolyn Weaver Dawn Whitehead Ashley Whitt Leslie Williams David Yoskowitz Mission-Aransas NERR Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Univ. of Texas Marine Science Institute Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Texas General Land Of�ice Texas Sea Grant/Mission-Aransas NERR Texas A&M University – Galveston US Fish and Wildlife Service Texas A&M University – Galveston Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Discussion Notes Liz Smith: Mangrove research needs to concentrate on �inding funding that will allow for more information on the types of species that will be impacted by the conversion of salt marsh to mangrove structure; speci�ically, we need to �igure out what will happen with snails, crabs, �ish, etc. to get a handle on if the food web will shift, and how. Liz Smith: Research into the potential impact of mangrove establishment higher in the estuary, given that we will have diminishing freshwater in�lows (due to climate change, water use, etc.). We already have a narrow band of intermediate marsh, and a lower brackish area. If we lose that, will we have mangroves all the way into the delta? We need to look at the diversity of the system with regard to the replacement of marshes along the salinity gradient. Michael Osland: We have a proposal into the Climate Science Center to quantify the relationship between precipitation and temperature on a gradient from the Florida/Alabama border to Mexico. At Liz’s suggestion, we will look into making the Mission-Aransas and San Antonio bay systems Texas priority sites. Kiersten Madden: There is a Gulf workgroup forming for mangroves – would it be possible to form a Texas working group? Tom Tremblay: It might be a good idea to host a special session in conjunction with the 2014 Texas Bays and Estuaries meeting. Rusty Feagin: What’s the general consensus on mangrove expansion? If we were going to restore a site, would you plant mangroves? Anna Armitage: We can’t answer that question yet, because we don’t know enough about the implications, costs, and what you gain or lose when you use mangroves in restoration projects. This is a broad area for future research – understanding how to manage these resources in response to mangrove expansion. Liz Smith: I don’t think that we should take mangroves out of the equation if we don’t have a good understanding of the impacts yet. We also shouldn’t be putting these opinions into our research designs. The public may have one opinion regarding mangrove expansion, but we don’t know, and mangrove expansion may be something that we cannot change at all. With regard to whooping cranes, we want to know quantitatively and scienti�ically what the answer is. However, we need it soon, and we may have to make some management decisions before all of those answers are known. Jim Gibeaut: I want to emphasize Liz’s point about the fact that we may not be able to stop mangrove expansion. There are some good points to mangrove expansion: based on data from Rusty and others, the sedimentation rate from mangroves is higher than Spartina, and therefore they should be able to keep up with sea level rise better than marshes. Given the future rates for sea level rise, it might be a question of whether we have any kind of vegetation habitat rather than simply open water. Having mangroves in the mix might maintain that intertidal vegetation habitat. More research is needed on mangrove expansion in the face of sea level rise and sedimentation. Chris Wilson: People don’t necessarily see mangroves as a positive thing – they see mangroves as an invasive species. The ecotone is changing, and mangroves don’t directly cause the loss of salt marsh. Lauren Hutchison: We’ve conducted focus groups and based on those preliminary results, people don’t know what mangroves are, and the only ones who do are recreational users of those areas. Rusty Feagin: What about restoration managers? We are making large changes in physical landscape by agencies completing restoration projects (mitigation banks, etc.); there is a fair amount of wetland created. It could be possible that the ecosystem services from using mangroves are higher – maybe those services make the use of mangroves a net positive. Beau Hardegree: That might be the case, but we shouldn’t be too hasty and put mangroves in all of our restoration projects. In the past, when mitigation occurs we haven’t used mangroves because mitigation is usually completed in perpetuity – mangroves freeze. New research is showing that mangroves don’t freeze and die off completely as previously thought, so we are looking at mangrove restoration as an option. However, we need to think about where we’re placing them – maybe they shouldn’t be planted in Whooping Crane habitat. John Schalles: No one has brought this up yet, but does the expansion of mangroves present issues for human health and an increase of vector-borne diseases? Are there any implications for avian health? There is currently no research being done on this. Tom Tremblay: There was a previous planting effort in Bajilla Grande when it was realized that Mother Nature was spreading mangroves better than any planting could. Maybe we don’t need to be promoting restoration projects using mangrove, because it will happen anyhow; if we have a choice, maybe we should plant Spartina. Kiersten Madden: Do restoration practitioners know this? Beau Hardegree: There’s a recent feeling that people are using mangroves for in-kind projects. Kiersten Madden: Does that responsibility fall to you to make those decisions? Beau Hardegree: Resource management agencies and the Army Corps of Engineers normally make the decision. Kiersten Madden: We need a representative from the Corps here. Tom Tremblay: Future research might look into morphology classi�ications (clumps, singular, linear formations along inlets) to determine if certain forms are less intrusive than others. We are also currently focusing a lot on Harbor Island, which could possibly be a unique case because of its origin as a relic-ed tidal fan delta, which is unusual for the proliferation of mangroves. There are other forms of expansion (linear, etc.) found elsewhere. We need more research in general, not just here in Harbor Island. Monitoring Mangroves National Estuarine Research Reserve System A P P LY I N G T H E N E R R S A P P R O A C H I N T E X A S PROTECTED PLACES SCIENCE PEOPLE Kiersten Madden Stewardship Coordinator Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve Mission-Aransas Reserve The Mission-Aransas NERR brings together scientists, landowners, policy-makers, & the public to ensure that coastal management decisions benefit flora & fauna, water quality, and people. Research System Wide Monitoring Program Sectors RESEARCH STEWARDSHIP EDUCATION TRAINING Improve understanding of Texas coastal zone ecosystem structure and function Promote public appreciation and support for stewardship of coastal resources Increase understanding of coastal ecosystems by diverse audiences Increase understanding of coastal ecosystems by coastal decision makers System Wide Monitoring Program SWMP: 1. Abiotic 2. Biotic 3. Mapping Standardized Protocols Vegetation Monitoring Protocol The NERRS monitoring protocol for vegetation communities is designed to: 1. Quantify vegetation patterns and their change over space and time; 2. Be consistent with other monitoring protocols used nationally and worldwide; 3. Be consistently used over a wide range of estuarine sites and habitats, and for a variety of reserve specific purposes; 4. Be used as a foundation for quantifying relationships among the various edaphic factors and the processes that are regulating the patterns of distribution and abundance in these communities; 5. Provide detailed information that can be used to support comprehensive remotely sensed mapping of vegetation communities and other NERRS System Wide Monitoring Program data collection, as well as NERRS/NOAA education, stewardship and restoration efforts. Mangrove Protocols Sampling Site For trees with trunk diameter greater than 2.5 cm . . . For trees with trunk diameter less than 2.5 cm . . . Numbered Position Mapped Identified to Species DBH Total Height Trunk Height Prop Root Height Numbered Position Mapped Identified to Species Total Height Trunk Height Prop Root Height 5 4 3 10 m 2 10 m 1m Surface Elevation Table (with marker horizons) 1 Mangrove Protocols WHOLE PLOTS (10 x 10 m) SUB-PLOTS (1 x 1 m) For trees with trunk diameter greater than 2.5 cm . . . For trees with trunk diameter less than 2.5 cm . . . Numbered Position Mapped Identified to Species DBH Total Height Trunk Height Prop Root Height Numbered Position Mapped Identified to Species Total Height Trunk Height Prop Root Height 10 m 10 m 1m 1m SUB-PLOTS (1 x 1 m) 1m WHOLE PLOTS (10 x 10 m) 5 4 1 2 3 Total Height B = 61 NB = 116 TOTAL = 177 Branching = 21 Non-Branching = 17 TOTAL = 38 B = 101 NB = 7 TOTAL = 108 B = 45 NB = 45 TOTAL = 90 15 m B = 55 NB = 179 TOTAL = 234 All Transects 400 Branching 350 B = 29 NB = 14 TOTAL = 43 B = 80 NB = 49 TOTAL = 129 B = 15 NB = 17 TOTAL = 32 15 m B = 44 NB = 45 TOTAL = 89 B = 44 NB = 6 TOTAL = 50 B = 86 NB = 63 TOTAL = 149 B = 69 NB = 36 TOTAL = 105 15 m B = 65 NB = 42 TOTAL = 107 B = 66 NB = 68 TOTAL = 134 Average Total Height (cm) Non-Branching B = 63 NB = 81 TOTAL = 144 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1 B = 23 NB = 8 TOTAL = 31 B = 67 NB = 38 TOTAL = 105 2 3 4 Plot No. B = 22 NB = 3 TOTAL = 25 B = 69 NB = 67 TOTAL = 136 B = 55 NB = 56 TOTAL = 111 Average Total Height (cm) Transect 1 Trunk Height 40 30 20 10 0 Total Height 1 2 3 4 Non-branching All Transects 100 75 50 25 0 1 2 3 Average Total Height (cm) 40 30 20 10 0 1 2 3 4 Average Total Height (cm) Transect 4 120 90 60 30 0 1 2 3 4 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1 180 3 0 1 Average Total Height (cm) 2 3 4 Transect 1 80 Trunk Height 40 0 1 Average Total Height (cm) 120 2 3 4 Transect 2 All Transects 80 40 30 0 1 Average Total Height (cm) 120 2 3 4 Transect 3 80 40 0 1 120 Average Total Height (cm) 4 Plot No. 60 120 2 3 4 Transect 4 80 40 25 20 15 10 5 0 1 120 Average Total Height (cm) Non-branching 2 120 Average Trunk Height (cm) Average Total Height (cm) Transect 5 Branching Non-branching 80 4 Transect 3 Total Height Branching 90 Average Total Height (cm) Branching Average Total Height (cm) Transect 2 2 3 4 0 1 Transect 5 2 3 Plot No. 80 40 0 1 2 3 4 4 Trunk Height Average Trunk Height (cm) 40 Transect 1 30 GTM Reserve 20 10 0 1 2 Average Trunk Height (cm) 40 Average Trunk Height (cm) Average Trunk Height (cm) 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 Transect 2 20 10 0 1 2 Transect 3 30 20 10 0 1 40 2 Transect 4 30 20 10 0 1 2 40 Average Trunk Height (cm) 4 30 40 GTM Reserve 3 Transect 5 30 20 10 0 1 2 What’s the best approach? Is annual monitoring sufficient? Do we need to be monitoring this many “individuals”? Is the GTM approach better suited for this type of mangrove habitat? Kiersten Madden, Ph.D. Stewardship Coordinator Mission-Aransas NERR 361-749-3047 [email protected] www.missionaransas.org Sentinel Sites Tide Gauge Bench Mark with Geodetic Control (NAVD88, etc.) Surface Elevation Table (SET) Surface Accretion From: Montagna et al., 2011 Initial Wetland Surface Elevation Change Sea Level Rise Observed Changes Upland Marker Horizon Subsided Wetland Surface Depth of SET measurement integration Shallow Subsidence Deep Subsidence 1930 25% 1979 58% 1995 39% 2004 58% Baseline Mapping for Mangrove Monitoring in the Coastal Bend, Texas Gulf Coast Thomas A. Tremblay Bureau of Economic Geology, UT Amy L. Neuenschwander Applied Research Laboratories, UT Daniel Gao Texas General Land Office 2010 2001 Ac cretion 1979-2001 Ac cretion 1950s -1979 Erosion 1979-2001 Erosion 1950s -197 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 Kilo meters 2010 2002 Active fan Aransas Bay Inactive fan Carlos Bay Mesquite Bay Allyns Bight Tidal delta 12,000 Spalding Cove Mud Island North Pass 940 786 10,000 ¯ Area (ha) 8,000 11,198 10,332 6,000 Mangrove Aransas Pass 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Km 10 Gulf of Mexico Vinson Slough Emergent marsh Cedar Bayou after Andrews, 1970 600 4,000 500 2,000 0 400 2001-04 Active fan 1979 (ha) 300 82% Mangrove +7 ha/yr Change rate 73% 94% Inactive fan 60% 58% 90% 200 Tidal delta 100 Emergent marsh +38 ha/yr 0 1979 2002-04 Salt marsh in fan/delta complex (% low marsh) Range: 350 to 2500 nm Spectral resolution: 3 nm @ 700 Sampling interval: 1.4 nm @ 350 – 1000 nm Speed: 0.2 seconds/ spectrum Some marsh gain from uplands occurred where high marsh moved into the lower parts of eolian mounds. Eolian mounds are elongate sand mounds that occupy the interdistributary areas of the washover fan (Andrews, 1970). Conclusions • Salt marsh and mangroves have been increasing in area since the mid-1950’s with marshes increasing at higher rates • Within the washover fan/tidal delta complex on San Jose Island, marsh is expanding with a net loss of low marsh and a net increase of high marsh • Wetland change is probably caused by relative sea level rise where low marsh is inundated and high marsh moves into flats or upland HyperScan-VNIR-micro (16 bit camera) Detector size: 2400 x 2400 spatial pixels HyperVision software: ENVI-IDL + flight data capture system with SSD Spectral range: 0.4 to 0.1 μm Summary • Focus on Matagorda Island and San Jose Island • Dynamic area affected by sea-level rise and erosion/accretion, with wetland trends similar to those found on much of the Lower Texas Coast • Objective is to establish methods and protocol for automated mangrove monitoring using the hyperspectral platform The End…? The Order of the Straight Arrow Season 1, episode 3 Proposed Observatory for Understanding Coastal Wetland Change Barrier Island Environments James Gibeaut Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Classify habitat types according to elevation Habitat grid Salt flats Algal flats Intertidal marsh Mangroves Seagrass Wetland Response to Sea Level Rise Wetland Transition Model DEM (original) Interior upland Future date reached? Yes No Adjusted DEM Shoreline change grid Retreat shoreline Apply vertical accretion adjustment 1-year loop Apply local subsidence adjustment Differential subsidence grid Apply global sea level adjustment Output habitat grid Compute statistics of habitat status Maps Statistics Graphs Topographic relationship of habitat types Processes Affecting Marsh Elevation Wetland Observatory Aerial multi/hyper spectral imagery, photography and Lidar Surface Elevation Tables Marker horizons Observatory Water-level loggers Transect photography and sampling Airborne lidar for topographic mapping Terrestrial Lidar & Microsoft Kinect sensor RTK transect survey & Deep set benchmark Detection and removal of shrubs and building 0.1 0.2 0.2 00 0.1 0.4 km km 0.4 ´ http://slvg.soe.ucsc.edu/unvis.html Vegetation mapping https://www.e-education.psu.edu/ Elevation control: deep set benchmarks • Aerial photography • Multi/hyperspectral Image credit: Greg Hauger Real-time Kinematic Surveys Record vegetation height and type Transect monitoring of wetland vegetation change Transect monitoring of wetland vegetation change Surface Elevation Tables (SET) for measurement of elevation change Terrestrial Laser for topographic mapping Future Exploration: low-cost lidar sensor Microsoft Kinect • • • • IR projector & camera for depth map 30 cm to 15 m range Spatial resolution ~7 mm at 5 m Cheap < $150; open source tools Potential Metrics • Micro-topography time series • mount along transect • Water inundation • Near-IR & RGB camera Challenges • • • http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/set/theory.html Field deployment • power, environmental conditions Will change signal be detectable? • mm-level Telemetry Image credit: Greg Hauger 18 Marker horizon locations Marker horizons for measurement of sedimentation rates http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/set/theory.html http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/set/theory.html Total of 168 Marker Horizons Coring for accretion measurements Accretion Rate Calculation 137Cs activity • Field Methods • Coring & compaction • GPS observations • Lab Methods • Grain size analysis • Bulk density • Gamma spectroscopy Cesium (Cs) 137 - 1963 marker horizon due to residual atmospheric fallout prior to 1964 nuclear test ban Is 1963 peak present and above minimum detectable activity (is it really there)? Correct peak depth for grain size influence Correct peak depth for core compaction Minimum Detectable activity 21 Water-level measurements Wetland Observatory Aerial multi/hyper spectral imagery, photography and Lidar Surface Elevation Tables Marker horizons Water-level loggers Transect photography and sampling Terrestrial Lidar & Microsoft Kinect sensor RTK transect survey & Deep set benchmark Wetland Change – Coastal Bend 13,647 Estuarine marsh Tidal flat 10,000 Mangrove 2002-04 1979 1950's Area (ha) 8,000 ¯ 4,000 2,000 Flats/beaches h be ac h m ar s ulf 19 5 19 0 's 79 20 02 -04 G Tid al fla t Pa lu st ri n e Estuarine marsh Se ag ra ss m ar sh Km 10 M an gr ov e 0 2.5 5 Es tu ar in e Wetland Distribution 6,000 Palustrine marsh Aquatic beds Scrub/shrub Upland White et al., 2006 White et al., 2006 0m +0.46m +0.87m Relative Sea-level Rise Mustang Island Inundation by Year 2100 Based on IPCC (2007) sea-level rise projections plus local land subsidence estimate $ modified from Paine et al., 2004 Interior upland Salt flats Algal flats Intertidal marsh Mangroves Seagrass Source: Gibeaut et al., (2009) Accretion Rate Calculation 137Cs activity Is 1963 peak present and above minimum detectable activity (is it really there)? Correct peak depth for grain size influence Correct peak depth for core compaction Minimum Detectable activity The Mangroves of Redfish Bay: Field Surveys and High Resolution Imagery to Map Distribution, Canopy Height, and Vegetation Response to the February, 2011 Freeze John Schalles1, Alissa Hart2, Adam Altrichter3, and Eryn Carpenter1 1Creighton University, Omaha, NE 2Loyala University, Chicago, IL 3Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA • Field Surveys: Anna Armitage, Wayne Carpenter, Tyler Craven, Kiersten Madden, Shanna Madsen, Tyler Monahan, John O’Donnell, John Olley, Drew Seminara, Liz Smith • AISA Eagle hyperspectral imagery and initial processing: Rick Perk, Paul Merani & Don Rundquist (CALMIT – Univ. Nebraska); Jeffrey Vincent (University of Texas – Austin) DREW •Field logistics, and explanations of Texas coastal ecology: Sally Morehead, Kiersten Madden, Dennis Pridgen, Liz Smith, Wes Tunnell, John Woods, Ed Zielinski, Captain Frank • Financial and logistical support: NOAA-NCCOS Environmental Cooperative Science Center, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Mission-Aransas NERR, University of Texas Marine Science Institute, NASA Nebraska Space Institute [email protected] Outline for My Presentation • Airborne Imaging Campaign at Mission-Aransas NERR in 2008 with CALMIT-University of Nebraska AISA-Eagle Sensor • Mapping products for research and management at MANERR and imagery processing work-flow • Field Survey Methodologies – transect approach used in July, 2008 • Delineation of Black Mangrove stands in Redfish Bay, and VARI-green algorithm for estimation of canopy height Spring Break Research Trip: • Depart Omaha early AM Sat, Mar 5 • First night lodging ~ North Texas • Arrive Port Aransas, TX in PM, Sun, Mar 6 • Field work at Mission-Aransas NERR from Mon, Mar 7 to Thurs, Mar 10 and housing (tentative) at U.T Marine Inst. apartment • Drive to Grand Bay, MS on Fri, Mar 11 drop boat off, overnight stay at GB NERR • Depart in AM on Sat, Mar 12 • Last night lodging ~ SE Missouri • Arrive back in Omaha in early evening on Sunday, March 13 • Follow-up field survey work in 2011 and detection of significant mangrove freeze damage and gradient of damage • January, 2013 site revisit to evaluate mangrove recovery and above-ground regrowth patterns • Conclusions and next phases of our geospatial work at MANERR, including seasonal WorldView 2 satellite imagery in 2015. DELAWARE JULY ‘04 MARYLAND CHESAPEAKE JULY ‘05 ACE BASIN JUNE ‘03) • MISSION-ARANSAS JUL ‘08 SAPELO ISLAND JUNE ‘06 GRAND BAY APALACHICOLA BAY OCT ’03, MAY’09 OCT ’02, APR ‘06 ECSC PARTNER SCHOOLS JOINED WITH SEVEN NOAA-NERR SITES FOR EIGHT HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGERY ACQUISITIONS WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA’S AISA EAGLE INSTRUMENT AISA – Eagle Flight Line Mosaic Aransas NWR and inshore waters October, 2008 CALMIT-University of Nebraska Creighton Geospatial Analysis Lab Schalles & Hladik, 2012, Israel Journal Plant Science: VIS and IR Spectroscopy in Plant Science Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) Image versus In-Situ Endmembers Colonizing Along ICWW From: Technical Progress Report on Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve AISA+ Image Acquisition and Analysis. Jeffrey S. Vincent, Ph.D., Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin. May, 2009 In-Situ (narrow IFOV of leaves) Image Spectra Imagery Acquisition • In October, 2008, 1m hyperspectral images were obtained with an AISA Eagle at MANERR • These images were then processed using ENVI software Example of flight line imagery, flown as NE / SW diagonals in parallel tracks with ~30% overlap (imagery acquired in late October, 2008) Gitelson, Kaufman, Stark, & Rundquist. 2002. Novel algorithms for remote estimation of vegetation fraction. Remote Sensing of the Environment 80: 76-87. 1. NDVI: (RNIR - Rred) / (RNIR+Rred) 2. Green VARI: (Rgreen - Rred) / (Rgreen + Rred - Rblue) 3. NIR / GRN: (RNIR) / (Rgreen - 1) NIR AISA Bands Blue: 8 (463 nm) R G B Green: 18 (554 nm) Red: 31 (675 nm) NIR: 50 (856 nm) LOCATIONS OF EIGHT MANGROVE SURVEY TRANSECTS IN REDFISH BAY SCIENTIFIC AREA (ALTRICHTER ET JULY, 2008) – Masking: all non-mangrove components were masked out – The Gvari Vegetation Index was applied to assess plant density/canopy height, using Band Math in ENVI: GVI = (Green – Red) / ((Green + Red) – Blue)* – Color Density Slicing used to display different size classes *Gitelson, A.A. et al., 2002. Novel Algorithms for Remote Estimation of Vegetation Fraction. Remote Sensing of Environment 80: 76-87. 2008 Transect Survey: Transect 6 – Traylor Island Survey transects & AISA imagery Subscene from fllight line 2 with overlay of transect location • 8 transects: 2 x 22 m 22 plots per transect • 1 m2 plots outlined with PVC frame • Checkerboard pattern • Nadir digital photography • 6 measures of canopy height per plot • Estimations of percent cover by plant species and other habitat conditions Enlarged view of subscene, with plot locations matched to respective imagery pixels (pixel size is 1 meter) Registration of sampling transect and AISA flight line subscene Redfish Bay Subscenes • Gvari Index was the best predictor of canopy height (R2 = 0.583) • Median canopy height for all mangrove pixels was approximately 78.5 cm • Mangroves were generally taller near larger channels and lagoons (older specimens and/or more favorable for growth?) Mangroves covered 6.4 million m2 (= 640 ha) in Redfish Bay Freeze Damage Encountered in March, 2011 Estimated median canopy height 78.5 cm Initial histogram of Black Mangrove canopy height frequency distribution at Redfish Bay. Note: taller trees are not being properly captured in this analysis, but median size appears realistic based on 2008 and subsequent field surveys. • We discovered extensive areas of mangroves killed by 2 hard freezes in early February, 2011 • A gradient of decreasing damage was documented from north to south in Redfish Bay • Damage patterns and recovery were analyzed by comparing new high resolution satellite imagery with our 2008 baseline map and transect data Comparison of (L) December, 2009 versus (R) November, 2011 (upper – Traylor; lower – Harbor) Shellbank Island Site Intermediate Damage Site at Redfish Bay First Survey in January, 2013 – Eryn Carpenter CANOPY HEIGHT (cm) 140 MANGROVE CANOPY HEIGHTS JANUARY, 2013 MEAN (Standard Error) 120 100 DEAD CANOPY 80 LIVE CANOPY 60 40 20 0 TRANSECT Example of Vegetation Fraction Calculation 1. Load field digital photograph (shown here is frame DSC00069 taken by Eryn Carpenter at Traylor Island North; Transect 1 – Plot 19, Canopy Heights: 85 cm – dead, 57 cm – live) (27o 57’ 14.094” N, 97o 4’ 24.930” W) 2. Process through “Veg Fraction” custom software (Bryan Leavitt, CALMIT - Univ. of Nebraska) to identify green pixels as fraction of all pixels in the image. March, 2011 Examples (L) Traylor Island North VF = 0.000 (R) Harbor Island West VF = 0.648 3. In this case, the fraction was 0.450 (45.0% of 262,144 pixels; range across all calculations for 7 transects in January, 2013 was 0.069 – 0.758) MANGROVE VEGETATION FRACTION JANUARY, 2013 VEGETATION FRACTION 0.7 0.6 Conclusions and Next Steps * Most of “suitable” wetland habitat in Redfish Bay is now colonized by Black Mangrove; herbaceous vegetation cover generally less than 5% or non-existent MEAN (Standard Error) 0.5 * Median canopy height of mangroves estimated at 78.5 cm; our technique and VARI-green algorithm is underestimating the rather limited but important occurrence of taller plants (esp above ~ 1.8 m) 0.4 0.3 * The Coastal Bend Black Mangroves appear to be quite “hardy”, and are recovering rapidly in areas of severe damage in 2011 freeze event 0.2 0.1 * In 2015, the NOAA-ECSC and MANERR plan to acquire 3 sets of World View 2 imagery in winter, early, and late growing seasons (2 m pixels, 8 bands – very useful for detailed spatial mapping at substantially lower 0 cost than our AISA-Eagle system) TRANSECT Back to Our Mother Ship (March, 2011) The colonization and age structure of red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) trees along the coast of Texas Worldwide Mangrove Distributions Christopher Wilson, Kimberly Jackson and Kenneth Dunton Most recent northern limit described for Rhizophora mangle (29° 42.94’ N) by Zomlefer et al. (2006). Harbor Island, Texas lies at 27° 51.48’ N! How is this plant boundary enforced? Frozen Mangrove = Dead Mangrove Wikipedia.org Stuart et al. (2006) Red Mangroves in Texas Red Mangroves in Texas Continuous account in Texas since 1980’s: - Sherrod et al. 1986* - Tunnell 2002 - Montagna et al. 2007 - Montagna et al. 2011 (Pictures) Sherrod et al., 1986 Methods: Survey Location Methods: Aging Mangroves Duke and Pinzon M. 1992 Calculating Node Production Rate Survey Results: Demographics “Plant and Wait” Population Recruitment Year - 4 propagules were planted in UTMSI WEC 120 18 16 - Plantings included sun and shade plots - The node production rate (4.08 ± 0.74 nodes year -1 ) was used to extrapolate tree age 14 80 12 Total Population Number of Individuals - After two years, the total node number was quantified for each plant 100 10 8 6 60 40 20 4 r2 = 0.94 0 2 Annual growth rate = 0.31 0 1992 * Error becomes larger as you extrapolate further in time 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 0 2012 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Time (years) Extrapolated Settlement Year *Mean node production = 4.08 ± 0.74 nodes year -1 (n = 4) Plantsystematics.org Why the recent plant explosion? 18 Mangrove Growth: Juvenile Reserves Plantsystematics.org 16 12 Duke and Pinzon M. 1992 10 n = 30 - 92 10 8 Reproductive Cohort 6 4 0 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 1 Year 8 2 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 Extrapolated Settlement Year 14 *colors denote separate locations 12 Internodal Extension (cm) Number of Individuals 14 6 4 Number of (Self) Recruits 2 10 8 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 6 Node Number 4 2 0 2004 Reserves likely supplement plant growth during initial year of establishment 2005 2006 2007 2008 Extrapolated Year 2009 2010 2011 12 Mangrove Growth: Rate and Maximum Mangrove Growth: Annual Patterns 10 12 *colors denote individual trees 300 10 250 6 4 2 8 Tree Height (cm) Internode Extension (cm) Internode Extension (cm) 8 6 4 2 0 2000 2004 2006 2008 2010 Extrapolated Year 2012 2000 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 Although mangroves exhibit indeterminate growth, red mangroves in TX have a pronounced annual signal that is subject to perturbation. How cold is too cold? Infrequent freezing temperatures are likely limiting the maximum canopy height of red mangroves. Minimum Temperature (C) 4 100 r2 = 0.85 Growth Rate = 14 cm yr-1 0 2002 Extrapolated Year 6 150 50 0 2002 200 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 Mean Extrapolated Age Red mangroves typically achieve site-specific maximum canopy heights (TX < 3m). Documented Mangrove Facilitation Peterson and Bell (2012) 2 0 -2 -4 -6 -8 -10 -12 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 Year New Hypothesis Alert : Black mangrove trees facilitate the expansion of red mangrove trees through insulation. Freeze index = -Ʃ [Freezing Temperature (˚C)] x [Duration of Temperature (hours)] How did R. mangle get here? How did R. mangle get here? Propagules are positively buoyant Prevailing SW winds in spring and summer Harbor Island Population Numerous eddies spinning off of loop current Harbor Island is easy target Nearest Donor Population (La Pesca, Mexico) Sherrod et al. (1986) Future Directions in Research 1. Persistence and Reproduction a. How cold is too cold? b. Quality and quantity of propagules 2. Trajectory of population a. Carrying capacity TBD b. Reproduction vs. immigration c. Potential to serve as a source population 3. Nutrient Cycling a. No soil aeration! b. OM likely different 4. Fauna a. Canopy b. intertidal structure Questions? Ecological implications of black mangrove expansion into Texas salt marshes: Comparisons among marsh and mangrove habitats Marsh Mangrove • Gulf of Mexico coastal wetlands are transitional between marshes and mangroves • Mangrove expansion rate may be accelerating Temperature (Osland et al. 2013) Sea level rise (Doyle et al. 2010) Anna R. Armitage1, Steven Pennings2, Carolyn Weaver1, Ashley Whitt1, Hongyu Guo2, Zoe Hughes2, Sayatanii Dastidar2 1Texas A&M University at Galveston of Houston 2University Atmospheric CO2 Herbivory Other stressors Habitat change in Texas: One perspective • Has vegetation composition in Texas coastal wetlands changed? – Where? – By how much? – On what time scale? One perspective: Use of remote sensing to identify “hot spots” of expansion over the last 20 years (courtesy W. Highfield, TAMUG) Has vegetation changed? Yes! Mangroves expanded by 74% Marshes decreased by 24% - Landsat TM 5 images from 1990 and 2010 - Used Artificial Neural Networks to classify 10 land cover types Specifically targeted black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) and salt marsh (various species) coverage Mangrove increase • Mangroves increased by 74% • 16 km2 increase • Mostly conversion from: – Upland pasture – indicates upland migration of salt marsh? – Salt marsh – Other wetland – Water – probably salt marsh at low tide in 1990 Mangrove expansion occurred in areas of marsh or upland Marsh decrease • Salt marshes decreased by 24% • 77.8 km2 decrease • Mostly converted to: – Upland pasture – Water – submergence – Other wetland – Bare Only 7.7% of the salt marsh loss was due to mangrove expansion Mangrove area small relative to marshes Marsh loss largely due to habitat loss Questions Mangroves are increasing, marshes are decreasing • What are the species- and process-level implications of these vegetation shifts? • Are there ecological differences between marsh and mangrove habitats? 1. Comparisons among stands of marshes and mangroves 2. Experimental mangrove removal/marsh revegetation Approach • Study sites in “hot spot” of expansion, Port Aransas vicinity – 3 marsh – 4 mangrovedominated (mix) Marsh sites Mangrove sites Advantage: Communities established Disadvantage: Spatial separation Approach Edaphic characteristics: grain size • Transects along elevation gradient perpendicular to shoreline – Used relative elevation as a covariate – Marshes had slightly higher elevation at upper end • Sampled edaphic, vegetation, and nekton characters in Sept. 2012 – 5 evenly spaced stations: • Soil: moisture, salinity, CNP, pH, mV – Plant presence/absence every 10 m – Nekton in seine nets at water’s edge • Pit traps • Light traps Edaphic characteristics: sediment CNP Mangrove-mix Edaphic characteristics: elevation gradient • Soil moisture decreased at higher elevations – No vegetation type effect • Other soil characters that varied only with elevation: – Soil salinity (↑) – Redox (↑) Mangrove-mix Mangrove-mix – pH not affected by elevation or vegetation type (McKee & Rooth 2008) – P competition? – Analyses of leaf tissue ongoing – Concurrent enrichment experiments Vegetation characteristics: Richness • Species richness similar No habitat type effect No elevation gradient Vegetation characteristics: Composition Low elevation • Species composition distinct at low elevation Group average Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis similarity 50 50 6060 7070 Similarity 8080 Mix (S3) Mangrove 3 Mangrove 2 Mix (S2) Samples Mangrove 4 Mix (S4) Mix (S1) Mangrove 1 Marsh (S5) Marsh 6 100 100 Marsh 5 Marsh (S4) 9090 Marsh (S6) Marsh 7 Mangrove-mix Similarity • Soil P higher in marsh sites – No significant elevation pattern • C and N higher in marsh sites, but not significantly • Nutrient availability may be linked to sediment and/or vegetation type • Nitrogen competition between Avicennia and Spartina • Mangrove sites sandier Located on barrier island • No elevation change Vegetation characteristics: Composition High elevation Nekton composition • Species composition heterogeneous at high elevation Group average Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis similarity 0 0 Marsh 20 20 Mangrove-Mix Fish Crabs Shrimp Isopods Gammarids Gastropods Bivalves 40 40 Similarity Similarity Abundance and richness similar Composition different… …May be linked to seagrass density 60 60 Mangrove 4 Mix (S4) Mix (S1) Mangrove 1 Samples Mix (S2) Mangrove 2 Marsh 5 Marsh (S5) Marsh (S7) Marsh 7 Marsh (S6) Marsh 6 100 100 Mix (S3) Mangrove 3 80 80 Nekton characteristics Summary Community composition not linked to vegetation type Further suggests links to seagrass density Resemblance: S17 Bray Curtis similarity What does vegetation type mean for food webs? Isotope analyses are ongoing Marsh Mangrove-Mix 2D Stress: 0 S6 Mix Marsh S7 S1 Site Type S2 S4 S3 S5 Next steps • Still many questions left to be answered! More sites, wider spatial array Seasonal measurements: plant and fishery productivity More process- and ecosystem-level measurements Integrate with experimental approach • Edaphic characteristics: – Few differences definitively linked to vegetation type – Some elevation patterns • Vegetation: – Richness similar, composition different , especially at low elevation – Ongoing studies: Linked to processes such as accretion, nutrient storage? • Nekton: – Richness and abundance similar, composition different – Linked to seagrass? – Ongoing studies: trophic relationships Acknowledgements Funded by Texas Sea Grant (NOAA) Ecological implications of black mangrove expansion into Texas salt marshes: Insights from a large-scale mangrove removal experiment Mangroves are expanding Steven Pennings, Hongyu Guo, Anna Armitage, Zoe Hughes, Carolyn Weaver, Sayatani Dastidar University of Houston Texas A&M University, Galveston Thank You Texas Sea Grant! Osland et al. 2013 GCB Osland et al. 2013 GCB Plot 10 Natural versus manipulative experiments Plot 9 Plot 8 • Natural-large spatial and temporal scale • Experimental-better control of confounding variables Plot 7 Plot 6 Plot 5 Plot 4 Plot 3 Plot 2 Plot 1 3/6/2013 Plot-1 Plot-2 Plot-3 Plot-4 Plot-5 Plot-6 Plot-7 Plot-8 Plot-9 Plot-10 33%M 0%M 66%M 100%M 77%M 22%M 55%M 44%M 11%M 88%M Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Layout of the 24 x 42 m experimental plots on Harbor Island in Port Aransas. Cleared over summer of 2012. M: mangrove cover A B C Selected experimental plots after mangrove clearing. A: Plot 2 (0% mangrove cover); B: Plot 9 (11% mangrove cover) C: Plot 8 (44% mangrove cover). Avicennia germinans 100 100 80 80 60 60 60 40 40 20 100 20 0 Mangrove Pneumatophore 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 100 Spartina alterniflora 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 100 80 80 80 60 60 60 40 40 40 20 20 20 0 0 Batis maritima 100 80 80 60 60 40 40 20 Bare Ground 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 100 Borrichia frutescens 40 20 0 Percentage cover (%) Salicornia virginica 80 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sesuvium maritimum 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 30 Batis maritima 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Plot 20 Salicornia virginica 25 15 20 15 10 10 5 5 0 0 Before 20 0 Percentage cover (%) 100 After Before After Changes in percentage cover for Batis maritima and Salicornia virginica before (in May 2012) and after (in November 2012) mangrove tree clearing in plot 2 (0% mangrove cover plot; cleared in July 2012). Data are means + SE. Plant percentage cover (by species) in the experimental plots before the mangrove clearing. Data shown are averages of the 84 1×1m quadrats in each plot Before (2012) data for soil water content porewater salinity organic content After data to be collected summer 2013 4.0 2.0 Average wind speed (m/s) Daily average wind speed (m/s) 3.5 One-way ANOVA P=0.26 1.5 1.0 0.5 R2=0.73 P<0.01 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 0.0 0 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 0 100 10 20 30 Daily average wind speed across plots before mangrove tree clearing (June 5-July5, 2012). Data are means ±SE. Analyses only included wind data with wind directions from channel into each plots. 50 60 70 80 90 100 Average wind speed across plots after mangrove tree clearing (September 10-November 10, 2012). Analyses only included wind data with wind directions from channel into each plots. 2.0 2.0 1.8 R2=0.73 P<0.01 1.8 SD of wind speed (m/s) P= 0.70 SD of wind speed (m/s) 40 Mangrove cover (%) Plots referred by aimed mangrove cover (%) 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.8 0.6 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0.6 0 Plots referred by aimed mangrove cover (%) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mangrove cover (%) Standard deviation (SD) of wind speed across plots before mangrove tree clearing (June 5-July 5, 2012). Analyses only included wind data with wind directions from channel into each plots. Standard deviation (SD) of wind speed across plots after mangrove tree clearing (September 10-November 10, 2012). Analyses only included wind data with wind directions from channel into each plots. Daily average air temperature (oC) at 1m aboveground One-way ANOVA P=0.37 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 Daily average air temperature (oC) at 1m aboveground 36 35 34 One-way ANOVA P=0.84 32 30 28 26 24 22 20 18 0 25 0 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 100 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 100 Mangrove cover (%) Plots referred by aimed mangrove cover (%) Daily average air temperature at 1m aboveground across plots before mangrove tree clearing (June 5-July5, 2012). Data are means ±SE. Daily average air temperature at 1m aboveground across plots after mangrove tree clearing (September 10-November 10, 2012). Data are means ±SE. 5.4 5.4 5.2 P=0.17 SD of air temperature (oC) at 1m aboveground SD of air temperature (oC) at 1m aboveground 5.2 5.0 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.2 4.0 3.8 3.6 3.4 3.2 5.0 4.8 4.6 4.4 4.2 R2=0.56 P=0.01 4.0 3.8 3.6 3.0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 3.4 0 Aimed mangrove cover (%) 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mangrove cover (%) Standard deviation (SD) of air temperature at 1m aboveground across plots before mangrove tree clearing (June 5-July 5, 2012). Standard deviation (SD) of air temperature at 1m aboveground across plots after mangrove tree clearing (September 10-November 10, 2012). 95 Daily average air relative humidity (%) at 1m aboveground Daily average air relative humidity (%) at 1m aboveground 95 One-way ANOVA P=0.86 90 85 80 75 70 65 One-way ANOVA P=0.13 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 0 11 22 33 44 55 66 77 88 100 0 11 22 Plots referred by aimed mangrove cover (%) Daily average air relative humidity at 1m aboveground across plots before mangrove tree clearing (June 5-July5, 2012). Data are means ±SE. 44 55 66 77 88 100 Daily average air relative humidity at 1m aboveground across plots after mangrove tree clearing (September 10-November 10, 2012). Data are means ±SE. 16 16 P=0.38 SD of air relative humidity (%) at 1m aboveground SD of air relative humidity (%) at 1m aboveground 33 Mangrove cover (%) 15 14 13 12 11 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Aimed mangrove cover (%) 15 14 13 R2=0.53 P=0.02 12 11 10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Mangrove cover (%) Standard deviation (SD) of air relative humidity at 1m aboveground across plots before mangrove tree clearing (June 5-July 5, 2012). Standard deviation (SD) of air relative humidity at 1m aboveground across plots after mangrove tree clearing (September 10-November 10, 2012). Future work Conclusions (so far) Marsh vegetation increasing where mangroves removed Mangrove density has strong effects on microclimate at 1m. Reduces wind Reduces wind SD Increases temperature SD Increases humidity SD Appears to be a threshold between 22 and 33 percent cover Not much happening with soil temperature so far. We hypothesize that effects on temperature and humidity may vary seasonally. Next 2 years Continue plant and climate measurements Next 3-5 years: Soil salinity Wave environment Vegetation Arthropods Benthic macrofauna Nekton Birds Long-term: Soils Carbon cycle Soil infauna Collaborators welcome! “Habitat Replacement by Mangrove Establishment: Implications for Whooping Crane use” Whooping Crane Annual Cycle WBNP Juveniles, Subadults, Adults ANWR Juveniles, Subadults, Adults JUL JAN ARRIVAL AT WBNP APR Whooping Crane Ecological Requirements in Wintering Range ARRIVAL AT ANWR OCT Primary Food Items Whooping Crane Territories 1 Family • • • • Blue Crab Wolfberry Fruits Clams, Snails, Shrimp Acorns, Snakes, Lizards, Insects, Small Rodents ~ 300 acres (200-500) Defended ADULT JUVENILE Aransas National Wildlife Refuge Blackjack Peninsula Coastal Habitat Availability HABITATS TERRITORY Oak Woodland Elevation: 0-9 ft Tidal Range: 1-2 ft Oak Woodland Fresh Marsh Coastal Prairie Shallow Flat Coastal Marsh F F O O O O D D Coastal Prairie Shallow Flat Coastal Marsh Bay BLUE CRAB WOLFBERRY FRUIT WATER R R E E S S O O U U R R C C E E S S Bay Fresh Marsh CLAM CLAM ACORN SNAIL SHRIMP LIZARD SHRIMP SNAKE INSECT SMALL RODENT Land Use/Land Cover Oak Woodland Fresh Marsh Coastal Prairie Shallow Flat Coastal Marsh Employing the Conservation Design Approach on Sea-Level Rise Impacts on Coastal Avian Habitats along the Central Texas Coast Bay LEGEND Woodlands Fresh Marsh Coastal Prairie Shallow Flat Coastal Marsh Bay Funded by the Landscape Conservation Cooperative LAND USE/LAND COVER MAP International Crane Foundation San Antonio Bay Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies – TAMU-CC Conrad Blucher Institute – TAMU-CC Copano Bay The Nature Conservancy of Texas Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve - UTMSI Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Woodlands Shrubland Rangeland Cropland Fresh Marsh Floodplain Coastal Flats Coastal Marsh Oyster Reef Seagrass Mangrove Developed Whooping Crane Territories 1950 Whooping Crane Territories 1961 Woodlands Woodlands Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Mangrove Seagrass Mangrove Seagrass San Antonio Bay 31 Individuals 7 Territories Copano Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) 36 Individuals 9 Territories Copano Bay Gulf of Mexico Aransas Bay San Antonio Bay Gulf of Mexico Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Whooping Crane Territories 1971 Whooping Crane Territories 1979 Woodlands Woodlands Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Mangrove Seagrass Mangrove Seagrass San Antonio Bay Split Territory San Antonio Bay Split Territory Split Territory Split Territory 59 Individuals 17 Territories Copano Bay Gulf of Mexico Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) 76 Individuals 18 Territories Copano Bay Gulf of Mexico Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Whooping Crane Territories 1985 Whooping Crane Territories 1990 Woodlands Woodlands Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Mangrove Seagrass Mangrove Seagrass San Antonio Bay Split Territory Split Territory Split Territory Split Territory Split Territories Copano Bay Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) San Antonio Bay Split Territory 84 Individuals 28 Territories Gulf of Mexico 146 Individuals 37 Territories Copano Bay Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Gulf of Mexico Whooping Crane Territories 2000 Whooping Crane Territories 2006 Woodlands Woodlands Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Mangrove Seagrass San Antonio Bay Mangrove Seagrass Split Territories San Antonio Bay Split Territories Split Territory 180 Individuals 57 Territories Copano Bay Gulf of Mexico Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Mangrove Establishment Split Territory Copano Bay Aransas Bay 237 Individuals 66 Territories Gulf of Mexico Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Mangrove Establishment t Implications for Whooping Crane Conservation – Indicator species: sensitive to environmental changes – Increasing temperature – Decreasing freeze event frequency – Decreasing dissolved oxygen in water – Sensitive to sea-level changes • Habitat conversion from marsh to mangrove reduces habitat availability • Whooping cranes cannot walk through mangroves to forage • Predators may have an advantage within mangrove/upland areas Montagna et al. 2011 Coastal Impacts in The Impact of Global Warming on Texas What ICF is Doing • Provide support letters for mangrove research • Assist in mapping current mangrove establishment in whooping crane winter territory • Assess mangrove habitat use by whooping cranes • Predict future mangrove expansion TOP 2008 Natural Color TOP 2008 Color Infrared Tx Ecological Systems Database Tidal Flat Reg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Grassland Mangrove Shrubland National Wetland Inventory Tidal Flat Reg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Seagrass Mangrove Shrubland Tx Benthic Habitat Database Reg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Seagrass Mangrove Shrubland Whooping Crane Territories 2006 Woodlands Long Island: 2006 Territories Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Mangrove Seagrass San Antonio Bay Split Territories MANGROVE Split Territory Copano Bay Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) 237 Individuals 66 Territories Gulf of Mexico Long Island: 2001-2010 Pts Long Island: 2006 Territories MANGROVE Long Island: TESD Long Island: NWI Tidal Flat Irreg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Reg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Mangrove Shrubland Long Island: Tx Benthic Atlas Tidal Flat Irreg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Reg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Mangrove Shrubland LAND USE/LAND COVER MAP San Antonio Bay Copano Bay Reg. Flooded Brack./Salt Marsh Seagrass Mangrove Shrubland Aransas Bay Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Woodlands Shrubland Rangeland Cropland Fresh Marsh Floodplain Coastal Flats Coastal Marsh Oyster Reef Seagrass Mangrove Developed Whooping Crane Territories 2006 Whooping Crane Recovery Goals (Downlist Criteria) Woodlands Rangeland Coastal Flat Coastal Marsh Mangrove Seagrass San Antonio Bay Split Territory Copano Bay Aransas Bay Split Territories • 1000 individuals • 250 nesting pairs • 10 years ~ 30 lost of the 66 Territories Gulf of Mexico • 250 winter territories @ 500 ac each = 125,000 ac Data Source: FWS (Stehn & Prieto 2010) Future Whooping Crane Expansion Lavaca-Lower Colorado Basin Matagorda Bay System Lavaca-Lower Colorado Basin Matagorda Bay System Future Whooping Crane Expansion Brazos Basin Central Coast System Brazos Basin Central Coast System Suitability, acres Suitability, acres 116,893.02 600000 120000 400000 67,491.79 80000 300000 58,020.25 250,059.60 244,515.34 119,344.88 200000 60000 40000 500,013.96 500000 100000 100000 25,965.79 0 20000 Not Marginal Suitable Suitable 0 Not Suitable Marginal Suitable Highly Suitable Highly Suitable Texas Coast Salt and Brackish Marsh, regularly flooded, irregularly flooded Open Water Texas Coast Salt and Brackish Marsh, regularly flooded, irregularly flooded Open Water Lumb, Gibeaut, Smith in prep Lumb, Gibeaut, Smith in prep Conservation Questions • Does habitat conversion = essential habitat lost? • Is loss primarily related to habitat structure changes? • Are primary food resources impacted? • How will sea level rise affect habitat type and extent? • Where will Whooping Crane expansion occur? Effects of plants as • Sediments modifiers – light, temperature, chemistry regulators of benthic habitats • Food source – Fresh and detrital organic matter • Structural support – Nursery habitat, coastal stabilization, run-off filtration Literature Summary by (Alfaro 2010) Habitat Conversion Trend • Flats > Marshes • Marshes > Mangroves • Upland > Marsh/Mangrove? • Drivers Friess et al. 2011 – Relative sea level rise – Lack of sediment supply – Temperature shifts – Freshwater inflows Coastal Habitat Availability Temporal-Spatial Scales Elevation: 0-9 ft Tidal Range: 1-2 ft Oak Woodland Fresh Marsh Coastal Prairie Shallow Flat Mangroves Bay ? Next Steps • Comprehensive mapping project (multispectral, extensive groundtruthing) • Understand mangrove establishment, ecology, expansion rates • Evaluate use of mangrove habitats by Whooping Cranes, preferred prey items, potential predators • Predict how climate change will affect habitat availability for conservation prioritization Liz Smith, Whooping Crane Conservation Biologist International Crane Foundation Texas Office, 361-543-0303 This presentation dedicated to Dave Smith Day et al. 2008 Thank You! PLEASE CONTACT: Liz Smith, Whooping Crane Conservation Biologist International Crane Foundation Texas Office, 361-543-0303 Historical reconstruction of mangrove expansion: Linkage with carbon sequestration Bianchi, T.S.1, Allison, M.A.2, Zhao, J.1, Li, X.1, Comeaux, R.S.2, Feagin, R.A.3, and Kulawardhana, R.W.3 1 2 3 Dept. Oceanography, Texas A&M University Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin Dept. Ecosystem Science & Mgmt., Texas A&M University Questions 1. Can we determine when mangroves historically colonized a site? 2. Is there a difference in the carbon sequestration rate between A. germinans and S. alterniflora, at a common site? Methods • • • • • Coring (sectioning, bulk density) Sediment accumulation rates (radionuclides) Elemental analysis (TOC, TN, δ13C, δ15N) Biomarkers (lignin phenol metrics) Aerial image interpretation 1. Can we determine when mangroves historically colonized a site? C3 plants (like woody mangroves) = -35 to -20 (-28 = A. germinans) C4 plants (like herbaceous marsh) = -19 to -9 (-13 = S. alterniflora) C3 plants (like woody mangroves) = -35 to -20 (-28 = A. germinans) C4 plants (like herbaceous marsh) = -19 to -9 (-13 = S. alterniflora) Marsh benthic algae = -16 to -27.7 Coastal phytoplankton = -18 to -24 Lignin phenols (per 100 mg OC) Λ6 = vanillyl + syringyl phenols Λ8 = vanillyl + syringyl + cinnamyl phenols Plant sources of lignin C/V= cinnamyl/vanillyl S/V = syringyl/vanillyl • TOC and C:N ratio increased around 1960s • The most obvious differences in TOC are between the two sites • For biomarkers and isotopic composition, there are no big differences between mangroves and marsh core locations • Biomarkers also record changes around 1960s • Aerial images show changes around 1960s 2. Is there a difference in the carbon sequestration rate between A. germinans and S. alterniflora, at a common site? Indices of lignin decay Ad/Al = vanillic acid:vanillin P/(V+S) = p-hydroxyl/(vanillyl+syringyl) Conclusions • Both sites converted from unvegetated flats (likely some algal cover) to vegetated wetland in the 1960s • Biomarkers and mobile materials likely represent the ‘regional’ vegetation dynamics, rather than what is under a particular plant • Lignin deposition (wood) and accretion rate increase under A. germinans plants (compared to S. alterniflora). Lignin carbon pool is stable, compared with other TOC components. • Carbon sequestration rate is likely higher under A. germinans vs. S. alterniflora, over the long-term N