Abstract Detail

Conference Wide

Hauber, Donald [1].

Plant Communities of the Mississippi River Delta or Coastal Marshes.

This is a field trip (mostly by boat) into the active “birdfoot” delta of the MS River delta. We will drive (2 hours) following the river along LA 23 until it literally ends in Venice, LA. The drive goes through Plaquemines Parish which mostly exists as a strip of land 1-2 miles wide.  In Venice, we will board a couple of flatboats and launch where Grand Pass branches off of the main channel. We will motor 20 min down the main channel to the Head of Passes and take Main Pass to Brant Pass and ultimately out to the Gulf. Along the way we will make a stop at Pilottown to stretch our legs along the boardwalk and eat lunch. We will then venture into the interior marshes where the emergent vegetation is most diverse, but unfortunately experiencing invasion by the introduced Typha angustifolia and Phragmites australis (a variety of sublineages) which is the dominant vascular plant in the exterior marshes. These marshes are also sustaining damage by invasive species of the 4-legged variety – nutria and wild pig. Expect to see Sagittaria latifolia, S, platyphylla, Colocasia esculenta, Schoenoplectus deltarum, Spartina alternaflora, Zizaniopsis sp., and submerged aquatics like Potamogeton sp., Ceratophyllum sp. and others. Birders will enjoy the variety of wildlife such as great egrets, snowy egrets, brown pelicans, great blue herons, numerous raptors, and maybe a roseate spoonbill. Alligator sightings are common. Lunch and water will be provided
Boats will launch from the US Fish & Wildlife station in Venice, LA; We will still go if there is rain in the forecast so monitor the weather and bring rain gear and change of clothes and towel. Bring boots or old athletic shoes you don’t mind getting muddy for trek in the marsh. Be aware of the heat/humidity which is no different from New Orleans except there’s no shade. Bring light clothes, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. If there is a tropical storm in the Gulf, trip will be cancelled and participants refunded. Leaders: Don Hauber and Andy Nyman

Broader Impacts:

1 - LOYOLA UNIVERSTIY, DEPT OF BIOL SCI-BOX 27, 6363 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70118, USA

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Activities:Field Trips
Session: FT01
Location: Lobby/Riverside Hilton
Date: Saturday, July 27th, 2013
Time: 7:00 AM
Number: FT01001
Abstract ID:1344
Candidate for Awards:None