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 ..................................................................................................................................................