Fennessey Ranch provides valuable opportunities for conducting research on a variety of topics, including habitat mapping, water quality and quantity, restoration science, and ecosystem services.
Research needs include
- Impacts of oil and exploration on groundwater, habitat usage, and invasive species expansion
- Riparian habitat research
- Wetland migration – salt marsh expansion to upland habitats
- Post-hurricane recovery – wildlife, vegetation, and ecology
- Monitoring water quality in the Mission River – nutrient concentration, flow, and nutrient loading to Copano Bay, and chlorophyll/algal biomass
- Fish and invertebrate biodiversity
Monitoring Programs
Our monitoring programs enhance management decisions that improve the conservation of the Ranch.
Wildlife Monitoring
Provides an estimation of species diversity, species numbers, annual population trends, population density, age structure, or sex ratio using accepted survey techniques. Regular, periodic counts of nongame wildlife species are also used to enhance management or increase knowledge of local, regional, or state status. This practice includes developing checklists of wildlife diversity for the property and utilizing national online databases.
Vegetation Monitoring
Includes observations of percent cover (trees, shrubs, and grasses/forbs), soil type, and species present. These observations allow staff to monitor short-term variability and long-term changes in the vegetative communities of the Ranch, and they also serve to determine species diversity and the presence of invasive species.
Hydrology
Annual monitoring of both groundwater wells and the Mission River is conducted to assess groundwater conditions and connection with surface flows. Flow rate and water quality attributes such as salinity, temperature, pH, nutrients, and bacteria help determine current conditions. The Ranch has also provided opportunities for researchers to understand the impacts of flood or drought events on vegetation and wildlife.
Get More Information
Interested researchers may contact Katie Swanson, Stewardship Coordinator.