Gulf Islands National Seashore Research Articles

Establishing a benthic macrofaunal baseline for the sandy shoreline ecosystem within the Gulf Islands National Seashore in response to the DwH oil spill

Sandy shorelines present a first line of defense against the catastrophic effects of storms and oil spills within the coastal zone of the northern Gulf of Mexico. Immediately following the DwH oil spill prior to any spill related impacts, we conducted a rapid response survey of the sandy shoreline benthic macrofauna from throughout the National Park Service - Gulf Islands National Seashore (GINS) in Mississippi and Florida. To characterize pre-spill macrofaunal assemblages, we surveyed seven barrier island or peninsular areas comprising nine exposed and 12 protected shoreline sites. A comparable benthic macrofaunal inventory had been conducted 17 years earlier using a parallel study design. The primary objective of this study was to distinguish hierarchical spatiotemporal scales of macrofaunal variation within the 1993 and 2010 GINS data. We hypothesized that the 1993 GINS macrofaunal inventory baseline was stable, despite multiple disturbances by large storms within the intervening 17-year period. Additionally, the relative importance of hierarchical spatial scales of macrofaunal dissimilarity was examined so suitable scales of macrofaunal variation could be identified for assessments of stressor effects at commensurate scales. An Implicit Nested Mixed Model PERMANOVA using Type 1 sequential Sum of Squares delineated variation components of nested scales which ranked Station > Shore Side > Site > Habitat > District > Year. The Year main factor had the smallest effect on macrofaunal variation, confirming that the 1993 GINS macrofaunal inventory can serve as the foundation for a robust baseline including both the 1993 and the 2010 macrofaunal data for the GINS. A literal Hierarchical Nested Mixed Model PERMANOVA using Type 1 sequential Sum of Squares (SS) partitioned effects among nested factors and their interactions. Definitive macrofaunal variation was expressed for all combinations of two levels for each of the three spatially nested fixed factors, District, Shore Side, and Habitat. Variation in macrofaunal dissimilarity for combined levels of fixed factors reflected corresponding differences in the macrofauna. The use of sandy shoreline macrofaunal assemblages as ecological indicators would fulfill the need to focus on cumulative effects of oil spills and should be eminently tractable when responses and impacts are considered on commensurate scales.

Brightness of the Night Sky Affects Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) Sea Turtle Hatchling Misorientation but Not Nest Site Selection

Sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico, which are listed as either threatened or endangered under the US Endangered Species Act, face numerous threats but are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of light pollution on nesting beaches. Light pollution affects the distribution, density, and placement of nests on beaches, and disrupts seafinding in hatchlings emerging from nests; often leading to their death. Rapid urban growth near Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS), Florida, USA, over the last century has contributed to increased light pollution on its beaches. There is concern that light pollution is causing females to lay nests in at-risk locations subject to erosion and flooding, and is causing the observed high rates of hatchling misorientation. From 2015-2016, we measured brightness of the night sky, horizon profile, and lunar variables at GUIS at loggerhead (Caretta caretta) nests to assess the effects of brightness on laying of at-risk nests and hatchling misorientation. In addition, we quantified the effects of relocating at-risk nests on nest success. We found that contrast in brightness between the landward and seaward directions at GUIS was partially responsible for high rates of hatchling misorientation, and there was a strong moderating influence of lunar fraction and lunar altitude on hatchling misorientation: larger lunar fractions and lower lunar altitudes reduced misorientation. We did not document an effect of artificial light, horizon profile, or lunar fraction on the propensity of loggerheads to lay nests in at-risk locations, and found no evidence that relocating nests at GUIS reduced loggerhead nest success. Rather, we found nest success was improved and hatchling misorientation rates were reduced for relocated loggerhead nests.

Review: Naval Live Oaks and Fort Pickens tour, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 7, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore and Naval Live Oaks, Battery Worth, and Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore, National Park Service.

Review Article| November 01 2011 Review: Naval Live Oaks and Fort Pickens tour, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 7, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore and Naval Live Oaks, Battery Worth, and Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore, National Park Service. Naval Live Oaks and Fort Pickens tour, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 7, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore. Guide: David Ogden, National Park Service.Naval Live Oaks, Battery Worth, and Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore, National Park Service.Gail Bishop, chief of interpretation and education; Daniel R. Brown, superintendent.http://www.nps.gov/guis/index.htm Ashley M. Whitehead Ashley M. Whitehead Richmond National Battlefield Park Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar The Public Historian (2011) 33 (4): 87–90. https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2011.33.4.87 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Ashley M. Whitehead; Review: Naval Live Oaks and Fort Pickens tour, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 7, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore and Naval Live Oaks, Battery Worth, and Fort Pickens, Gulf Islands National Seashore, National Park Service.. The Public Historian 1 November 2011; 33 (4): 87–90. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2011.33.4.87 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe Public Historian Search This content is only available via PDF. © 2011 by The Regents of the University of California and the National Council on Public History. All rights reserved.2011 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Review: Public History Community Service Project at Historic Fort Pickens, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 6, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore

Review Article| November 01 2011 Review: Public History Community Service Project at Historic Fort Pickens, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 6, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore Public History Community Service Project at Historic Fort Pickens, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 6, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore. Guide: Roy Oberto, University of West Florida. Jennifer W. Dickey, Jennifer W. Dickey Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Catherine M. Lewis Catherine M. Lewis Kennesaw State University Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar The Public Historian (2011) 33 (4): 90–95. https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2011.33.4.90 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Peer Review Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Jennifer W. Dickey, Catherine M. Lewis; Review: Public History Community Service Project at Historic Fort Pickens, NCPH Annual Meeting, April 6, 2011, Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Public Historian 1 November 2011; 33 (4): 90–95. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/tph.2011.33.4.90 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentThe Public Historian Search This content is only available via PDF. © 2011 by The Regents of the University of California and the National Council on Public History. All rights reserved.2011 Article PDF first page preview Close Modal You do not currently have access to this content.

Review: Fort Barrancas, Gulf Islands National Seashore, National Park Service

Review: <i>Fort Barrancas, Gulf Islands National Seashore, National Park Service</i>

Mercury in Aquatic Systems of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Southeastern USA

This study reports on levels and speciation of mercury (Hg) in different environmental compartments of selected park units in the Gulf Islands National Seashore (USA), and on potential rates of methyl-Hg (MMHg) formation and degradation in sediments. In the aqueous phase, total (THg) and MMHg concentrations ranged from 0.19 to 14.26 ng/L ( n=32 ) and n=32 ), respectively. In sediments, THg concentrations varied from 6.4 to 838 ng/g wet weight ( n=32 ), while MMHg levels ranged from 1 to 17 ng/g ( n=21 ). Potential rates of MMHg formation (M) and degradation (D) in sediments resulted in M/D ratios that were mostly Ulva prolifera points to the tendency of Hg bioaccumulation, and therefore, the need for investigation of Hg levels in fish and shellfish. Overall, our findings show that coastal waters and sediments with very low Hg concentrations could support Hg-contaminated biota, which should justify the need for stringent regulations on Hg introduction to natural systems at both local and regional levels. @JASEM J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage . December, 2010, Vol. 14 (4) 71 - 83

Storm Overwash and the Knickpoint Effect: Northwest Florida Coast, USA

Abstract Storm overwash is a critical issue in coastal management efforts to mitigate damage to infrastructure. This paper contributes to those efforts by documenting the findings of a field survey at the Perdido Key, Florida, section of Gulf Islands National Seashore following the landfall of tropical cyclone Isidore in September 2002. The poststorm survey of overwash sites detected scouring along the northern edge of an access road that faced away from the Gulf of Mexico and the oncoming storm surge. Most sites experienced removal of minor amounts of sand and roadbed material, which left the edge of the overlying asphalt road surface unsupported. However, more severe scouring at one site caused the overlying asphalt road surface to fracture and collapse. An extreme example of this process was observed following the landfall of Hurricane Opal at Pensacola Beach, Florida, in 1995. The scouring process and its effects were consistent with a process recognized in fluvial systems as knickpoint development. R...

Possible Sustained Effects of Hurricanes Opal and Erin on the Macrobenthos of Nearshore Habitats Within the Gulf Islands National Seashore

Possible sustained effects of hurricanes Opal and Erin on the macrobenthos of nearshore habitats of the Florida district of Gulf Islands National Seashore were assessed. Pre-hurricane macrobenthic data originating mainly from a large-scale faunal inventory conducted during 1993 were compared with posthurricane data collected one year after the 1995 disturbances. Nearshore habitats examined included both exposed and protected sand beaches, as well as grassbed and lagoon sites. Within one year after the hurricanes, few faunal effects could be discerned at exposed beach sites, whereas possible faunal effects were apparent in protected nearshore habitats. Abundances of 4 major epifaunal crustacean taxa were notably lower one year after the hurricane disturbances. Assemblages of relatively stable nearshore habitats appeared to be more diverse but less resilient than assemblages of unstable nearshore habitats, possibly reflecting the extent of disturbance normally experienced by assemblages within those habitats.

Gay and Lesbian Tourists at a Southern U. S. A. Beach Event

This study examined economic and social impact measures for a random sample of 1272 gay and lesbian tourists on a five-mile section of the Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola, Florida during Memorial Day Weekend, 1994. The findings suggested young, urban, highly-educated gay and lesbian tourists with high household incomes; traveling frequently in groups to new destinations, and reporting large expenditures across the measurement categories. The findings also suggested that gay and lesbian tourists felt it was very important to be “out” (i.e., visible) in the host community, display gay or lesbian symbols, and receive positive media coverage of their presence. Host community reaction to large numbers of gay and lesbian tourists is discussed.

Flora of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Perdido Key, Florida

LooNEY, P. B., D. J. GIBSON (Institute of Coastal and Estuarine Research, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL 32514), A. BLYTH (1900 Blyth Road, Navarre, FL 32566) AND M. I. COUSENS (Science Education Center, Weber State College, Ogden, UT 84408-2509). Flora of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, Perdido Key, Florida. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 120: 327341. 1993.-An annotated flora of Perdido Key in Escambia County, Florida is presented. The flora results from collections during the period from 1979 to 1991. There are 323 taxa of vascular plants and two non-vascular taxa. The flora included 83 families and 185 genera. Nine new records for Escambia County, Florida, were collected and seven species were found only in the island seedbank. The families containing the largest number of taxa were Gramineae (61), Cyperaceae (34), Compositae (29), and Leguminosae (18). The largest numbers of taxa per genus were found in Panicum (18), Cyperus (10), and Polygala (7). The fewest species (15) occurred in the strand habitats while the greatest number of species (98) occurred in the swales. A monocot/dicot ratio of 0.71 appears to be similar to nine other Gulf of Mexico barrier islands. A gradient of disturbance based on this ratio is hypothesized. There may also be an historical component to this ratio, but more intense study is required for a complete understanding of the floral relationships between barrier islands.

Reestablishment of the Perdido Key Beach Mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis) on Gulf Islands National Seashore

In April 1986, the endangered Perdido Key beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis) existed only as a small population of less than 30 animals on the western end of Perdido Key at Gulf State Park, Alabama This population was vulnerable to extinction from a variety of causes. Fifteen pairs of mice from Alabama were moved approximately 20 km on the same island to Gulf Islands National Seashore Florida between November 1986 and April 1988. The Alabama population was surveyed by live-trapping before each removal and showed a large increase during this study. Eleven pairs of mice were released into enclosures to stimulate burrowing and reduce dispersal at the release site. The last four pairs w e released unrestricted into the dune habitat Trapping in July 1988 revealed that virtually all available dune habitat (11,000 linear m; approximately 160 ha) had been occupied by the mice. Fifty-five individuals were captured including four of the released mice. Exchanges between the populations are recommended to prevent loss of genetic diversity. Future research should investigate demographics, dispersal pattern, and the application of DNA fingerprinting techniques to determine rates of gene flow in the population. The Perdido Key beach mouse provides an excellent model for studying the effects of a population bottleneck on genetic diversity and testing the predictions of population viability analysis.

Threats to coastal national parks: A technique for establishing management priorities

Abstract This paper describes a technique, the Cross‐impact Assessment Process (CAP), which was used to understand the threats to coastal national parks. CAP allowed the Park Service to identify and analyze a core group of threats and associated relationships, and to develop priorities for ameliorating those threats. In 1983, CAP was used at the Gulf Islands National Seashore; Virgin Islands National Park (Biosphere Reserve); and Southeast Region, National Park Service. The threat matrices developed at the two coastal parks were compared with the regional model for the degree of common problem identification and amelioration of park specific threats. The Cross‐impact Assessment Process distilled the conventional wisdom and collective judgments of a broad‐based group of interested individuals. Results from this exercise suggest that parks and visitors are inseparable and that individual parks should have as complete a knowledge of their visitors and associated publics as they have of their biological and p...