Species Inventory Update at NAS Corpus Christi, Waldron, and Cabaniss Air Fields

Identification of species and the habitats in which they occur is the basis on which conservation practices can be developed. Aside from documenting threatened and endangered species on natural areas of local Naval Air Fields, numerically abundant species are also important as prey items, predators, or invasives which can disrupt natural ecosystems.

This project focuses on vertebrates (amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals). Training in negotiating airplane runways with air traffic by the Navy has been a valuable technique to graduate student research assistants. Volunteer undergraduate students have assisted in data collection utilizing bat detectors, dip nets, rodent traps, cameras with movement detectors, nooses, pitfalls, and arrays.

There are many comparisons to be made with the fauna here on our campus, Ward Island.

For more information, please contact Dr. Graham Hickman.