Tracking Long-Term Trends in Seagrass Cover and Condition in Texas Coastal Waters

Summary

The University of Texas at Austin (UT) will examine the long-term health of seagrasses in the Lower Laguna Madre, following protocols that evaluate seagrass condition based on landscape-scale dynamics. UT will focus on “Tier-2” monitoring (Neckles et al., 2011) that includes annual rapid assessment and sampling at 567 stations along the Texas coast. This project contributes to a broader state-wide monitoring effort by the University of Texas Marine Science Institute to assess seagrass condition and distribution, which began in summer 2011 and is currently in its third consecutive year. UTMSI’s sampling effort will serve as a database of existing Texas seagrass resources available for various local, state, and national groups.