Free Bird's Adventures

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Dauphin Island Marsh and Wetlands

Whether the Weather

Look for the weather station seen in the photo below. It is maintained by the , along with several others in and around .

What does this Station Measure?

Atmospheric measurements:

Underwater measurements:

How is the Data Used?

These data can be used in many different ways. Here are just a few examples: Researchers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab might use them to better understand phenomena such as that cause in Mobile Bay. Climate scientists might input the data into a model that will predict . It might be used to analyze as the storm passes the station.

Who is NOAA?

"NOAA" stands for the . The U.S. Government established this scientific agency in 1970. It has many responsibilities, including research into Earth's weather, climate, and oceans, issuing daily weather forecasts and severe storm warnings, and providing citizens, planners, emergency managers, and policymakers with reliable information when they need it. Some NOAA offices that you may be familiar with include the , the , and the .

What is a ?

You might be familiar with weather or storm prediction models used by forecasters on your local news stations. Computer models are that use measured data to simulate systems. The might make predictions or illustrate predictions that have already happened.

The speed at which computers can process numbers has made the use of models practical. Accuracy depends on the quality of understanding of natural processes across different systems, and the algorithms used to simulate them are continually improving. The more data that goes into a model, the more precise it can be.

The image below left shows a computer model's prediction of from .

This kind of prediction is used to issue warnings to residents of areas that are expected to flood.

The image below the middle shows the track of Hurricane Ivan as measured. Its landfall was 30 miles east of what was predicted. One major limitation forecasters face is incomplete data coverage, especially over the oceans. Much of the needed data is only collected by data boys at a few points on the surface of the sea.

The image below, on the right, was created from measured data, not to make a prediction, but to illustrate the actual storm flooding from Hurricane Ivan.

Invertebrate Trail

The invertebrate trail is an action based on the award-winning series "."

These plaques represent 8 different , or groups of invertebrates with specific body plans, ranging from simple to complex. Each phylum appeared in the oceans during the , about 530 million years ago. These plaques are designed so students can make rubbings of each one for classroom study.

The Living Marsh

Dedicated to the Memory of ; 1974-1991

"A Teacher's Friend" Discovery Hall Student 1985, 1989, 1990

Research on March Restoration at Dauphin Island Sea Lab

are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth.

They provide food, refuge, and user habitats for many animals, filter runoff that drains into our coastal waters, and buffer our coastlines from damaging storm surges. Salt marshes are declining at an alarming rate due to coastal development and environmental stress-induced erosion.

The devices installed in the Living Marsh are called . They are part of a study designed to determine how closely the ecology of this created marsh mirrors that of a natural marsh also located on Dauphin Island (above). The flume traps sample animals that enter the vegetation to forage and hide from predators.

Flume traps allow the animals to enter the as the tide rises (A, Above center). The trap is closed at high tide (B), and as the tide goes out, fish, crabs, shrimp, and other animals are collected in the net.

We then identify and count the animals we catch in the created marsh and compare them with those seen in the reference marsh.

We also compare the animals that live in the mud and among the roots by taking cores from the marsh bottom (below). These small animals, many of which require a microscope to see, including worms and small shrimp, burrow into the sediment.

We also compare how the animals interact with each other in the retired and natural marshes. We are particularly interested in how intensely feed on (see below). We tether snails to the bases of marsh-grass shoots at each marsh and allow crabs to attack and eat the bait during a set period. We also compare the number of repaired shell cracks (signs of failed attacks by crabs) in the snail populations at each site. This allows us to compare how intensively crabs are using resources in the marsh.

We hope this research will help us understand how new marshes develop over time and what we can do to help newly created marshes provide all of the benefits of natural salt marsh habitats.

Above:

Upper Right:

Right: and (inset) shell scar inflicted by the blue crab. Marked by the arrow.

Dauphin Island Environment Marine

Energy from the Sands of Time

, one of many oil companies operating in , operates the platform east of . These platforms extract (), a clean-burning petroleum product. The platform lies in 11 feet of water, with drilling operations to depths of over 20,000 feet. Once natural gas is found and brought to the surface, it is transferred via an underwater pipeline to processing plants on the mainland.

These photographs demonstrate the porous quality of millions-of-year-old sandstone. Ten percent of the sandstone's volume is natural gas compressed within it.

Pores to a pressure between 10,000 and 20,000 pounds per square inch.

The natural gas field found within and the is the largest field discovered in the continental United States. Concerned citizens, scientists, and worked with the oil companies to implement an environmentally safe, clean operation with a zero-discharge policy. This policy prohibits discharging , , and from the platform into state waters. Instead, these materials are offloaded and taken to the mainland for proper disposal.

Mr. Sand and his friends Part II

The grains accumulate and form dunes. Even as they grow, they move as the wind blows them.

As the dunes shift and grow, they stabilize once dune grasses, like sea oats, start sprouting. The plant's roots help anchor it, encouraging further dune growth. And the more due growth, the more plant growth- a friendly relationship.

These stabilized dunes attract even more plants, like wax myrtle, yucca, and, eventually, the majestic live oak.

These rooting plants add moisture and shelter, promoting even more plant colonization.

More and more animals are attracted to plant growth, from plant-eating insects to insect-eating beach mice to owls, hawks, and raccoons.

Thriving with plant life, a dune will continue to grow.

But the bigger it gets, the more exposed it becomes to aeolian (wind) and marine (water) forces, like erosion.

Mr. Sand and his friends, Park III

During autumn and winter storms, sand is blown offshore. Someday, it will be returned to shore to build new dunes.

So, as the seasons change, do the dunes. With gentle wind and waves, sand heaps onshore in the spring, forming new dunes. In the summer, sea oats and plants help them grow. In the stormy winter, the dunes erode (wear down).

Susceptible to strong onshore winds, Mr. Sand and his friends tend to move inland, covering everything in their path.

We must help Mr. Sand and his friends by not walking or driving on the dunes. Many places have boardwalks built over the dunes and plants to protect them.

Sand fences, like boardwalks, are another way of protecting dunes. They serve as obstacles, allowing grains to collect and form new dunes. Planting grasses like sea oats can also help in exposed areas and along pathways.

These conservation practices can only help if we cooperate. Mr. Sand and his friends, along with the forces of nature, form dunes and beaches for you to enjoy.

Let's take care of them in the future.

Mr. Sand and his friends Part I

Come, let Mr. Sand guide you through the life of a dune. Learn how to protect the sand dunes, Mr. Sand, and his friends who live with him.

Once upon a time, about 250 million years ago, bedrock was formed. The hot, molten rock formed granite and gave rise to the . As the granite and other rocks eroded from the mountains, they formed grains of sand. This sand washed down to the and was deposited on beaches and dunes that are now underwater.

Waves and currents washed Mr. Sand away from these old deposits, and he and his friends moved onto the beaches we see now.

The more Mr. Sand and his friends wash along the beach, the more they wear down. They become rounder and more uniform in size and texture.

Away from the mainland, underwater mountains of sand grow grain by grain, becoming "." Some can grow so much that they emerge above sea level and become "."

Dry grains of sand are susceptible to wind, drifting until the wind speed drops.

Once Mr. Sand and his friends land, they collect on the "lee," or sheltered side of obstacles along their flight path.

: A Silent Killer

Marine Debris Timeline

What is marine debris?

Marine debris refers to trash that litters our coasts and oceans.

It includes all the objects found in marine and coastal environments that do not naturally occur there. Marine debris is not only a hazard to ships, divers, and beachgoers but also creates a serious threat to our precious marine life.

Marine debris consists of articles made by people and deliberately discarded or accidentally lost. In most cases, it results from careless handling or disposal of solid waste items, including liquid waste containers; it can also result from materials lost at sea in bad weather, such as fishing gear and cargo.

Marine debris consists mainly of non-biodegradable waste made of persistent materials, such as plastic, polystyrene, metals, and glass, from a wide variety of sources.

(thrown or lost into the sea): brought indirectly to the sea with rivers, sewage, stormwater, or winds, which are left by people on beaches and shores.

Where is marine debris found:

. Marine debris is found everywhere worldwide, in marine and coastal environments.

Marine debris can be blown around and is found floating on the water's surface. Almost 90% of floating marine debris is plastic.

. Marine debris is mixed in the water column, from the surface to the bottom of the ocean.

Marine debris is found on the seabed. As much as 70% of all marine debris sinks to the bottom of the seabed, both in shallow coastal areas and deeper parts of the ocean.

Marine debris is found lying on beaches and shores.

How does marine debris harm wildlife?

. Entanglement

Everyday items like , , and can impede the movement of marine animals. Once entangled, animals have trouble eating, breathing, or swimming, all of which can be fatal. Plastics take hundreds of years to break down and may continue to trap and kill animals year after year. Smaller marine creatures get trapped inside plastic and glass containers, slowly dying.

Ingestion

Birds, fish, and mammals often mistake plastic for food. Some birds even feed it to their young. With plastic filling their stomachs, animals experience a false sense of fullness and may die of starvation. Sea turtles mistake plastic bags for , a favorite food. Due to its durability, buoyancy, and ability to absorb and concentrate oceanic toxins, plastic is especially harmful to marine life.

Other threats to wildlife

The seabed is smothered, toxic substances accumulate and disperse, environmental changes are caused by invasive species, and habitat disturbances are caused by mechanical cleaning of marine debris.

How does marine debris harm people?

Contamination of the beaches and harbors creates health hazards to people.

Marine debris also endangers the safety and livelihood of fishermen and recreational boaters. Nets and monofilament fishing lines obstruct propellers, and plastic sheeting and bags block cooling intakes.

Where am I?

Dauphin Island is at the junction of Mobile Bay, the Mississippi Sound, and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the easternmost in a series of changing barrier islands that form the southern boundary of the Mississippi Sound.

Mobile Bay is 53 kilometers (35 mi) long, 16 kilometers (10 mi) wide, and averages 3 meters (10ft) deep. It is a drowned river valley that was once deeper and extended farther north. About 6,000 years ago, the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta formed as Mobile Bay widened and deepened. Mobile Bay has the seventh-largest river discharge in North America (219 to 13,977 cubic meters per second or 5 to 322 billion gallons per day) and is the third-largest in the Gulf of Mexico.

Most ocean waters that enter the Gulf of Mexico come through the Yucatan Channel between Mexico and Cuba.

These waters form circular currents that flow across the continental shelf and mix with freshwater from the land. The water exits the Gulf of Mexico through the Straits of Florida between Florida and Cuba.

Life in a Salt Marsh

A real partnership

Black needle rush and smooth cordgrass are grass-like plants of Coastal Alabama salt marshes. They provide oxygen to organisms living below the salt marsh surface and serve as a refuge for many animals.

Decomposing plant matter in an environment without oxygen produces the "rotten egg" odor familiar to marshes. However, Cordgrass and Needlerush root systems are spongy and porous, allowing oxygen into the waterlogged soil. This will enable organisms below the marsh surface to survive.

Fiddler Crab (Uca spp)

Fiddler Crabs and other small mud crabs burrow into the marsh surface, feeding on the plant matter. Their aquatic larval stages contribute significantly to the food chain.

Smooth Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora)

Smooth Cordgrass for Cordgrass along the edge of the open water, below the average high tide line. Cordgrass has flattened leaves and a light green color.

Black Needlerush (Juncus roemerianus)

The Black Needlerush comprises the largest vegetated zone of Alabama's salt marshes and is near and above the average high tide line.

Needlerush leaves are round with pointed tips.

Marsh Periwinkle (Littorina irrorata)

The Marsh Periwinkle is a small snail that inhabits shallow bays, ponds, and tidal marshes. It is often seen climbing Spartina stalks to feed on algae and avoid predators.

Ribbed Mussel (Geukensia demissa)

The Ribbed Mussel attaches to mature plants at the mud surface and hardens the marsh, helping it resist erosion. These mussels filter a gallon of seawater an hour for food, fertilize the marsh with their waste, and are food for crabs, birds, and mammals.

Nature interpretive Trial at Dauphin Island

Water for Life

Life on Earth is dependent on clean water. is defined as the stability of water for a particular use. A definition of good water is different for drinking water than for a lake. Because water is essential to life, we monitor various chemical, physical, and biological characteristics to ensure good water quality.

Water, Water Everywhere

, the water in the ground, is an essential source of water on Earth. The ground varies from place to place; some materials hold water better than others. An is an area of ground that holds water well/. Water moves into the ground from rain, snow melt, or other sources. Then it sinks until it reaches a layer it can't move through. This layer might be clay or certain kinds of rock.

Water can fill aquifers, where deep water can remain for hundreds of years, and shallow water can flow to the surface, reaching ponds, lakes, and springs.

There is much more freshwater underground than on Earth's surface, and groundwater is drawn up from wells.

Water Quality=Quality of Life

To evaluate a pond's ability to support life, we might measure characteristics like the following: dissolved oxygen(DO)-because fish and most other aquatic animals breathe DO: - if pH pH is too far from neutral, either acidic or basic, organisms may be unable to survive; -warmer water holds less oxygen, so animals might avoid areas of high temperature. In this pond, we might also check (the salt concentration) at certain times.

Freshwater has a salinity of 0 ppt (parts per thousand). When is hit by a hurricane, saltwater may wash over parts of the island and enter the pond or the groundwater. This can affect the island's human population, which uses groundwater in their homes, and the animals that live in the pond.

These are just a few examples of water qualities that might affect those using the water.

At Gaillard Lake, you can see where the water table becomes a level surface. When you look at the lake, can you tell oxygen, pH, temperature, or salinity levels? Does the water look dirty?

You may not be able to determine levels by looking, but if you pay attention, you might notice hints about a lake's water quality. Can you find a diversity of fish, turtles, alligators, frogs, or insects in the water? Are birds feeding from the lake? These signs suggest good water quality, but they are not definitive; sometimes animals are forced to use poor-quality lakes. The water cooler is not a definite marker either - this lake is often brown, like tea. This is natural. It is from tannins that leach out of soaking leaves or pine needles.

are used to assess water quality. Some, like those seen above (larvae of left to right: ), have a low tolerance for pollution. The water quality is likely good if they are found in a sample. Others, like the at left, have a high tolerance for pollution. If a sample contains mostly animals like these and very few from the first group, water quality is likely poor.

In the U. S., for water intended for human use, there are established standards for acceptable levels of dissolved or suspended matter, such as bacteria, , and other potentially harmful substances. Our usually follows a path such as this one: water is withdrawn from a natural source, filtered and sterilized, piped into our homes, flushed down our drains, filtered, treated, and the solid waste is taken to one disposal site, while the water is released back to a natural location. Water used in homes on Dauphin Island is groundwater from the island (it is not piped in). Processed water is stored in the on the right.

at Dauphin Island

Nature Interpretive Trail

Trail

These yellow sections of the trail to the Gulf and around the lake include several signs to help the visitors better understand and appreciate the unique environment of the Audubon Bird Sanctuary.

Mike Henderson, Project Supervisor. Additional identification by Ralph Havard, McCune Dudley, and John Porter

Signs construction/installation-Greg Vesely, Candy Ladnier, Anthony Young

Please Help Protect Your Park

The Dauphin Island Park & Beach and Alabama State Lands

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Funding for this project is in part by the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972

As amended, administered by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Foreign Invasion

Organisms that arrive in an ecosystem where they did not evolve are called . Of those, the ones that harm their new ecosystem are . There are several species on Dauphin Island. A few of them are highlighted below.

Infiltration

Plants, animals, and other organisms are moved from their native lands in different ways. These pathways of introduction often involve humans who move them accidentally or intentionally.

A few examples include the release of exotic pets, escape from operations, spread from garden plantings, transport in ships' ballast water, and transport of fruits and vegetables. As humans move more people and goods worldwide, there is greater potential to introduce organisms into areas that harm them.

Setting in: Once in a new place, some organisms settle in more successfully than others. Certain factors allow an introduced species to become invasive:

They are adaptable-they can survive in a range of climates, habitats, and soil types; they eat a wide variety.

They reproduce quickly and produce many offspring.

They spread out to new areas

Few animals will eat them in the new habitat.

They competed aggressively for resources.

How does this affect us?

is the variety of life. It can be defined at different levels, from diversity within a species to that in a particular forest to that of the entire Earth. The higher the biodiversity in a given area, the healthier the species or ecosystem, as it is more resilient to disease or disturbance, such as fire or flooding.

Humans need healthy ecosystems for many reasons. We are more nutritious with a diversity of organisms for food and medicine. Functioning ecosystems provide essential services such as water filtration, oxygen production, and nursery habitat.

Invasive species threaten biodiversity by directly killing or by competing with them for resources, causing native species to die or stop breeding.

of the Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary

Reptiles and Amphibians of Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary

Galliard Lake and Tupelo Swamp

2-4 feet

AKA . This poisonous aquatic snake is thick-bodied and will gape when threatened, revealing its white mouth lining.

6-15 inches.

Often confused with the less common , these turtles are not aggressive unless handled out of the water.

4-8 feet

Individuals of this large, shy aquatic species periodically "raft" to the island from the rivers north of Mobile.

6-15 inches

With its flat, leathery shell, this turtle easily distinguishes itself from others. Its death includes crawfish, insects, fish, and frogs.

2-4 inches

This reclusive salamander prefers quiet pools without fish. The left, a terrestrial intermediate stage, can be found under rotting wood.

2-6 inches

This large frog inhabits permanent bodies of water surrounded by vegetation.

Their mating call is a distinct, loud, and resonant grunt.

Lists sixes are typical of Dauphin Island representatives

The project was led by Brian Jones, funded by , and made possible by the Dauphin Island Park and Beach Board.

All photographs by Brian Young (except the alligator photo by Boon Harada)

Nature Interpretive Trial at Dauphin Island

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Dauphin Island Marsh and Wetlands

Dauphin Island Environment Marine

Nature interpretive Trial at Dauphin Island

Footprints in the Sand and other Poems by famous authors