Current Projects
Artificial and Natural Reefs
Our research in Artificial and Natural Reefs includes:
  • Trophodynamics of Oil/Gas Platforms
  • Affects of Sea Urchin populations on Fouling Communities of Oil/Gas Platforms
  • Monitoring overall "health" of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
  • An assessment of the condition of the reefs of Veracruz, Mexico
  • A series of studies at the reefs of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico
Current Research Projects:
  • Review of the reef associated fisheries for inclusion in a book on the reef resources of the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Wes Tunnell, Principal Investigator

  • Long-term monitoring of the coral reef system of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Dr. Wes Tunnell and Dr. Beaver, Principal Investigators

  • Examination of a mass spawning of reef corals within the Veracruz Reef System and potential consequences for reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Dr. Carl Beaver, Principal Investigator
Coastal Ecology & Management
Our research in Coastal Ecology & Management includes:
  • The use of GIS applications for surveying rookery islands
  • Tidal flat ecology
  • Shorebird and waterfowl ecology
  • Riparian corridor characterizations
  • Invasive species
  • Rocky shores
  • Benthic investigations in freshwater and coastal marshes, deltas, and estuaries
  • Wetland ecology, restoration, creation, and enhancement
Current Research Projects:
  • ASARCO Nature Reserve: Year One Implementation of Conservation Plan -ASARCO, Inc. Dr. Liz Smith, Principal Investigator

  • Development of a Habitat-based Model of South Texas for Continental Populations of Redheads - U.S.G.S. Biological Resources Division. Dr. Liz Smith, Principal Investigator

  • Hydrologic Assessment of Potential Restoration Sites in Nueces/Corpus Christi Bay - U.S.F.W.S. Coastal Ecosystems Team. Dr. Liz Smith, Principal Investigator

  • Identification of Potential Conservation, Restoration and Enhancement Sites in the Texas Coastal Bend - Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program GIS Project Development - Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program. Dr. Liz Smith, Principal Investigator

  • Characterization of Butterfly Communities within Native Riparian Corridors along Lower Rio Grande, Texas - funding pending. Dr. Liz Smith, Principal Investigator

  • Functional Evaluation of Created seagrass Meadows in upper Laguna Madre, Texas. Dr. Liz Smith, Principal Investigator

  • Environmental Impact Statement for The Generic Essential Fish Habitat Amendment to the fishery management plans of the Gulf of Mexico. An EIS for amendment of the Magnuson-Stevenson Fisheries Act. Dr. Kim Withers and Dr. Carl Beaver, Principal Investigators

  • An examination of inshore shrimp fishery in Aransas, Corpus Christi, and Upper Laguna Madre bays of Texas. Drs. Withers, Dokken and Beaver, Principal Investigators
  • Aquatic nuisance species. Dr. David Hicks, Principal Investigator

  • Ballast water invasive species. Dr. David Hicks, Principal Investigator

  • Coastal Assessment for Texas Parks & Wildlife. Dr. Kim Withers, Principal Investigator
Ecotoxicology
Our research in Ecotoxicology includes:
  • Marine sediment analysis
  • Effects of contaminants and environmental factors on behavior, growth, reproduction and survival of benthic organisms
  • Culturing test organisms
  • Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) studies
  • Development of novel sediment toxicity test methods
  • Sediment quality assessment studies
Current Research Projects:
  • Effects of globally transported African dust to Caribbean marine ecosystems. Dr. Marion Nipper, Principal Investigator

  • A General Methodology for Evaluating Bed Sediments for Narcosis Toxicity. Dr. Marion Nipper, Principal Investigator

  • Development of a Sediment Profile Imaging and Micro-sampling System (SPIMS) for Evaluating Quality of Bedded Sediments, Drs. Marion Nipper and Scott Carr. Principal Investigators

  • Sediment quality assessment and toxicity identification evaluation studies in Kauai Hawaii. Drs. Scott Carr and Marion Nipper, Principal Investigators

  • Porewater toxicity assessment in the state of Washington. Dr. Marion Nipper, Principal Investigator
Water Quality
Our research in Water Quality includes:
  • Trace metals investigations and analysis
  • Nutrient Loading
  • Affects of water quality on benthic organisms
  • Fecal coliform analysis
  • Stormwater and sewage treatment plant outfalls

Current Research Projects:
Education & Outreach
Our Education and Outreach projects include:
  • Workshops
  • Field Trips
  • Educational materials, such as signs, pamphlets, and other materials
  • Seminars
Current Outreach Projects:
  • National Ocean Sciences Bowl. Dr. Liz Smith, Principal Investigator

  • Coastal Aquatic Education Program. Jay Tarkington, Principal Investigator

  • Educational signs for Shamrock Island. Dr. Smith, Principal Investigator
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