Coastal Streams in Texas
Coastal plain streams are historically understudied by stream ecologists; the same can be said of arid-land streams. The Texas coastline is largely alluvial coastal plain and ranges from arid lands toward Mexico, to semi-arid around TAMUCC, to mesic as you approach Louisiana. The region is sub-tropical and serves as a mixing zone between tropical and temperate species. For all of these reasons the stream ecology of coastal Texas is both fascinating, potentially unique, and can serve as a model system for addressing questions about how streams will respond to climate change.
An ongoing research project in the Patrick Lab will be to increase our understanding of the ecology of these systems. Thematic questions include the role of precipitation-driven hydrological variation and water management on in-stream ecology, the role of spatial turnover in riparian vegetation along the coast in stream structure and function, the strength of the connection with the downstream marine food webs, and natural variation in fish and invertebrate distributions within each river corridor and along the coast wide precipitation gradient.
In 2016, we began performing field surveys and working to establish a long term sampling program with the annual BIOL4432 course to monitor environmental change.
Now, in 2017, with funding from the Texas College Research Fund and the National Science Foundation, we have expanded that sampling program to study the effects of Hurricane Harvey. We are currently monitoring nine streams along the precipitation gradient and are collecting high frequency data on flow, temperature, oxygen, and light. We are also collecting monthly data on habitat, water chemistry, and microbial, invertebrate, and fish communities. The purpose of this intense sampling is to determine how long-term climate conditions determine stream ecosystem resistance and resilience to extreme weather events.
Stay tuned to see what we find!
An ongoing research project in the Patrick Lab will be to increase our understanding of the ecology of these systems. Thematic questions include the role of precipitation-driven hydrological variation and water management on in-stream ecology, the role of spatial turnover in riparian vegetation along the coast in stream structure and function, the strength of the connection with the downstream marine food webs, and natural variation in fish and invertebrate distributions within each river corridor and along the coast wide precipitation gradient.
In 2016, we began performing field surveys and working to establish a long term sampling program with the annual BIOL4432 course to monitor environmental change.
Now, in 2017, with funding from the Texas College Research Fund and the National Science Foundation, we have expanded that sampling program to study the effects of Hurricane Harvey. We are currently monitoring nine streams along the precipitation gradient and are collecting high frequency data on flow, temperature, oxygen, and light. We are also collecting monthly data on habitat, water chemistry, and microbial, invertebrate, and fish communities. The purpose of this intense sampling is to determine how long-term climate conditions determine stream ecosystem resistance and resilience to extreme weather events.
Stay tuned to see what we find!