Amanda D Hackney

Black Cat GIS and Biological Services

Intertidal oyster reefs are an important habitat type within the estuarine landscape and provide many unique ecosystem services. Within West Galveston Bay, Texas, this habitat type is relatively understudied, and the spatial extent has not been recently quantified. Along with the quantity of intertidal reef habitat, information on the present compo...

Green Island, located in the Lower Laguna Madre is a major nesting site for Reddish Egret and was named a Priority Reddish Egret Nesting Colony site by the Gulf Coast Joint Venture in 2009. The National Audubon Society (NAS) has leased Green Island from the State of Texas since 1923 and manages the island as a sanctuary for colonial waterbirds. Sin...

Account caught on field camera of predation event involving an unknown snake species eating American Oystercatcher eggs.Due to the poor quality of the images, we were unable to precisely identify the snake to species. However, based on its size, movement, and coloration, we postulated that it was either an Eastern Ratsnake or North American Racer.

Overview of current waterbird trends in Galveston Bay using Texas Colonial Waterbird Society data form annual surveys. Emphasis on brown pelican and laughing gull population increases.

Barrier islands and coastal beach systems provide nesting habitat for marine and estuarine turtles. Densely settled coastal areas may subsidize nest predators. Our pur-pose was to inform conservation by providing a greater understanding of habitat-based risk factors for nest predation, for an estuarine turtle. We expected that habitat conditions at...

Reptiles are experiencing global declines and pond turtles (Emydidae) are particularly vulnerable. The diamondback terrapin uses multiple habitats to fulfill its life history requirements, in the estuarine environments of the Gulf Coast and Atlantic states (US). Interacting effects of coastal development, overharvesting, abandoned crabbing gear, ro...