● How have humans impacted Texas Coastal areas?

● What are the ways humans are working to preserve Texas Coastal systems?
● My reflections on the Aquarium Field Trip
● Exploring an ecosystem from the Texas Coastal Plains.

Learn more about beaches >:D

 How have humans impacted
Texas Coastal areas?
It is important to understand how humans impact the Texas Coastal Regions in both
positive and negative ways. The more we know, the more we can help preserve the
ocean and its inhabitants.

1. Fishing​ - Fishers kill large amounts of dolphins and even the ​globally
endangered​ ​monk seal every year. Though, there are laws that can prevent
aquatic animal extinction. You need a fishing license to be allowed to catch fish,
mussels, clams, and crayfish. To be able to catch animals such as anglers you
need a fishing license and a saltwater fishing endorsement.
2. Trash ​- Trash from landfills get carried away in the wind and then land in the
ocean. Some people drop their trash directly into the ocean, knowing that there
are animals that could potentially consume or get caught in their trash. To try to
prevent animals from getting hurt by the trash people host something called
beach cleanups. The name is self explanatory but it’s where a bunch of people
meet up and rid the beach of trash.
3. Oil ​- You know how sometimes there’s a water leak in your apartment, apartment
complex, on the road or anywhere? Well water isn’t the only thing that leaks. I’m
sure you’ve heard of oil leaks or oil spills. Most of the time when we spill oil it
goes into the ocean poisoning hundreds of animals. We do try to prevent oil spills
but the worst part about oil spills is sometimes people throw oil into the ocean
intentionally, knowing that animals are going to die from it.
4. Habitat Destruction​ - We have been destroying animals habitats for a while, we
have to so we can expand and have more stores, homes, restaurants and things
like that. In the process of building beach homes, hotels, and restaurants we
destroy the coral reefs that many animals call home. We do help the animals who
have lost their homes, but in our own human way. Old ships that have sunk into
the ocean are taken back to land, removed of anything that could potentially
harm an animal, and then intentionally sunk again so the animals can have a
place to call home.
5. Sewage Pollution​ - We as people go to the bathroom, it’s natural. There’s no
problem with that, but just like oil, sometimes we spill sewage into our bays.
 My Aquarium Field Trip Reflection
Seeing all those animals made me really happy to be honest. It felt good to know that so many
people were helping these animals. When we went to the beach cleanup, I felt pretty
sentimental. It was heartbreaking to know that we as people dump so much trash into our
beaches and oceans. Taking a moment to realize how many animals are hurt because of the
trash we throw into the ocean is heartbreaking. It made me feel good cleaning up all that trash
cause I could have saved a bird from choking on a cigarette bud or saved an animal from
swallowing plastic. It was a fun experience and I even got community service hours for it! That’s
a win for me and the animals.
Biotic Factors:​ Dolphin fish, bull shark, atlantic bonito, barracuda, lesser electric ray, cobia,
tarpon, red snapper, rock hind, permit.
Abiotic Factors:​ Temperature ranges between 46 and 92 degrees fahrenheit. The most
precipitation is in September 10th (4.8 in) and the least precipitation is in April 11th (2.8 in). The
wind speed is usually between 7.7 to 11.3 mph. The water temperature ranges between 61 to
85 degrees fahrenheit. The humidity on the Texas gulf is 99%.
The Community:​ Barracuda - predator, Striped Bass - prey, Atlantic Bonito - consumer,
Seaweed - producer
Niche Organism: ​Lemon sharks often swim around docks and piers and chill near the surface
of the offshore waters. In the top of the food chain in most cases. Lemon sharks aid in keeping
the fish and stingray population
 References
Shark Sider​, ​Texas Coastal Habitats Overview​, ​Oceana​, ​Prezi​, ​MarineBio​,
Weatherspark​, ​Biology Course Outline​, ​Texas Gateway Agency