Center for Coastal Studies CCBNEP Living Resources Report Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Results -Target Organisms: Species of Concern C. Target Organisms 1. SPECIES OF CONCERN Table Of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 407 1.1 Whooping Crane ................................................................................................ 410 1.1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 410 1.1.2 Status and Trends ................................................................................ 410 1.1.3 Conservation and Management ........................................................... 411 1.1.4 Probable Causes and Future Threats ................................................... 418 1.1.4.1 Grazing ................................................................................. 418 1.1.4.2 Disturbance .......................................................................... 418 1.1.4.3 Mortality ............................................................................... 419 1.1.5 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 420 1.2 Piping Plover ...................................................................................................... 423 1.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 423 1.2.2 Status and Trends ................................................................................ 423 1.2.3 Conservation and Management ........................................................... 423 1.2.4 Current Research ................................................................................. 425 1.2.5 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 425 1.3 Brown Pelican .................................................................................................... 428 1.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 428 1.3.2 Status and Trends ............................................................................... 428 1.3.3 Current Research ................................................................................. 430 1.3.4 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 430 1.4 Interior Least Tern ............................................................................................. 432 1.4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 432 1.4.2 Status and Trends ............................................................................... 432 1.4.3 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 433 1.5 Eskimo Curlew ................................................................................................... 435 1.5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 435 1.5.2 Status and Trends .............................................................................. 435 1.5.3 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 436 1.6 Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle ................................................................................. 437 1.6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................... 437 1.6.2 Status and Trends .............................................................................. 439 1.6.3 Probable Causes ................................................................................. 439 1.6.4 Future Threats .................................................................................... 442 1.6.5 Conservation and Management .......................................................... 444 1.6.6 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 445 1.7 Loggerhead Sea Turtle ....................................................................................... 446 1.7.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 449 1.7.2 Status and Trends ................................................................................ 449 405 Center for Coastal Studies CCBNEP Living Resources Report Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Results -Target Organisms: Species of Concern Page 1.7.3 Probable Causes & Future Threats ...................................................... 449 1.7.4 Conservation and Management ........................................................... 450 1.7.5 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 451 1.8 Green Sea Turtle ................................................................................................ 452 1.8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 452 1.8.2 Status and Trends ............................................................................... 452 1.8.3 Probable Causes & Future Threats ..................................................... 452 1.8.4 Conservation and Management ........................................................... 453 1.8.5 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 454 1.9 Leatherback Sea Turtle ....................................................................................... 456 1.9.1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 456 1.9.2 Status and Trends ................................................................................ 456 1.9.3 Probable Causes .................................................................................. 457 1.9.4 Future Threats ..................................................................................... 457 1.9.5 Conservation and Management ........................................................... 458 1.9.6 Literature Cited ................................................................................... 458 1.10 Hawksbill Sea Turtle ....................................................................................... 460 1.10.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 460 1.10.2 Status and Trends ............................................................................. 460 1.10.3 Probable Causes and Future Threats ................................................ 460 1.10.4 Conservation and Management ........................................................ 461 1.10.5 Literature Cited ................................................................................ 461 1.11 Marine Mammals ............................................................................................ 463 1.11.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 463 1.11.2 Status and Trends ............................................................................. 463 1.11.2.1 Texas Coast Stranding Data .............................................. 464 1.11.2.2 Stranding Data by Regions Above, Within, and Below CCBNEP Study Area ....................................................................... 464 1.11.2.3 Stranding Data within CCBNEP Study Area ................... 464 1.11.3 Probable Causes ............................................................................... 466 1.11.4 Future Threats ................................................................................. 471 1.11.5 Conservation and Management ....................................................... 471 1.11.6 Literature Cited ............................................................................... 471 1.12 Brown Mussel ............................................................................................... 474 1.12.1 Introduction .................................................................................... 474 1.12.2 Status and Trends ........................................................................... 476 1.10.3 Management ................................................................................... 477 1.10.4 Literature Cited .............................................................................. 478 1.13 Opossum Pipefish ......................................................................................... 481 1.13.1 Status and Trends ........................................................................... 481 1.13.2 Literature Cited ............................................................................... 481 1.14 Opossum Pipefish .......................................................................................... 482 1.14.1 Status and Trends ........................................................................... 482 1.14.2 Literature Cited .............................................................................. 482 406 Center for Coastal Studies CCBNEP Living Resources Report Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Results -Target Organisms: Species of Concern 1. SPECIES OF CONCERN 1.0 Introduction Of the thirteen counties which make up the CCBNEP study area, only seven counties interface with the estuarine and marine system.