Natural Resource Summary for Padre Island National Seashore FINAL REPORT

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Natural Resource Summary for Padre Island National Seashore FINAL REPORT Natural Resource Summary for Padre Island National Seashore FINAL REPORT February 2005 Prepared by Robert J. Cooper Sandra B. Cederbaum and Jill J. Gannon Warnell School of Forest Resources University of Georgia Athens, GA TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................................ I LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................................................. IV EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................V RESEARCH REVIEWS .............................................................................................................................................1 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES...............................................................................................................................2 VEGETATION ........................................................................................................................................................2 Terrestrial.......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Surveys, descriptions, checklists.................................................................................................................................. 2 General area, Padre Island and Mustang Island...................................................................................................... 2 Padre Island National Seashore .............................................................................................................................. 3 Spoil Islands ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Individual species studies ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Aquatic.............................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Surveys, descriptions, checklists.................................................................................................................................. 5 Seagrass studies........................................................................................................................................................... 6 Turtle grass studies...................................................................................................................................................... 6 Shoalgrass ................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Fungi ........................................................................................................................................................................... 8 MAMMALS ............................................................................................................................................................8 General surveys, checklist................................................................................................................................................. 8 Large mammal survey, studies.......................................................................................................................................... 9 Small mammals survey, studies ........................................................................................................................................ 9 Bats surveys, studies ....................................................................................................................................................... 10 Marine mammal survey, studies...................................................................................................................................... 10 HERPETOFAUNA.................................................................................................................................................11 Reptiles ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11 General surveys, checklists........................................................................................................................................ 11 General studies.......................................................................................................................................................... 11 General sea turtle studies...................................................................................................................................... 11 Green sea turtle studies......................................................................................................................................... 12 Kemp’s ridley sea turtle studies............................................................................................................................ 12 Other Taxa............................................................................................................................................................ 13 Amphibians..................................................................................................................................................................... 13 BIRDS .................................................................................................................................................................14 All species....................................................................................................................................................................... 14 General surveys ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 Anthropogenic effects ................................................................................................................................................ 15 Shorebirds, wading birds................................................................................................................................................. 15 General surveys ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 Species distribution.................................................................................................................................................... 16 Habitat use................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Reproduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 17 Anthropogenic effects ................................................................................................................................................ 18 Waterfowl ....................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Species distribution.................................................................................................................................................... 18 Habitat use................................................................................................................................................................. 19 Anthropogenic effects ................................................................................................................................................ 19 Pelicans........................................................................................................................................................................... 20 General surveys ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Reproduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 20 Anthropogenic effects ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Raptors............................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Habitat use................................................................................................................................................................. 20 Peregrine Falcons ................................................................................................................................................. 20 Burrowing Owls ..................................................................................................................................................
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