How Are Scientists Saving Texas’ Natural Habitats?

Erosion, sea-level rise, and subsidence are gradually devouring the more than 300-island chain along the Texas side of the Gulf of Mexico Coast that are critical waterbird nesting grounds. In turn, scientists are launching innovative restoration initiatives to save these valuable habitats.

A research effort led by the Harte Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi is employing drone surveys and bird tracking technology to determine which of the islands are most likely to be restored.

The funding for these endeavors is provided by NOAA’s RESTORE Science Program, and researchers are evaluating costly restoration techniques costing up to nearly $1 million an acre. Data gathered will inform decisions to either deploy sediment additions or rock rubble barriers in an effort to mitigate increased erosion. The program also capitalizes on the Colony Island Network Design and Implementation methodology, first addressing islands that both provide protective nesting cover and crucial bird foraging ground, as reported by Express News.

Additional efforts at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute include restoration of Deadman Island in Aransas Bay—a key rookery island whose revival should revive diminishing bird numbers. Freese and Nichols also worked with Audubon Texas to design new nesting islands that can replace coastal habitat losses.Scientists emphasize that action needs to be sooner rather than later, since the continued erosion of these natural refuges can lead to further declines in bird numbers and destabilize the delicate balance of coastal ecosystems. The recovery of these eroding islands not only serves a broad array of bird species well but also helps to underpin the overall health of Texas coastal wetlands, ensuring long-term ecological integrity and providing lasting benefits to local communities.