Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge

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Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. West over Bayou Heron showing pilings from old logging road bridge in center of photo. Grand Bay, Mississippi.jpg
West over Bayou Heron showing pilings from old logging road bridge in center of photo. Grand Bay, Mississippi
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Map of the United States
Location Mobile County, Alabama, Jackson County, Mississippi, United States
Nearest city Grand Bay, Alabama
Coordinates 30°24′57″N88°25′11″W / 30.41583°N 88.41972°W / 30.41583; -88.41972 [1] Coordinates: 30°24′57″N88°25′11″W / 30.41583°N 88.41972°W / 30.41583; -88.41972 [2]
Area32,000 acres (130 km2)
Established1992
Governing body U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Website Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge

Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1992 under the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 to protect one of the largest expanses of undisturbed pine savanna habitats in the Gulf Coastal Plain region. The refuge is located near Grand Bay, Alabama in Mobile County, Alabama and Jackson County, Mississippi, and when complete will encompass over 32,000 acres (130 km2). The refuge is part of the National Wildlife Refuge system. The Refuge Complex Manager also administers the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. Access to refuge lands (especially interior portions) is limited, but is available mostly on the Mississippi side and by boat.

Contents

Habitat

East over Bayou Cumbest looking east showing maritime pine islands on Crooked Bayou Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. East over Bayou Cumbest looking east showing maritime pine islands on Crooked Bayou.jpg
East over Bayou Cumbest looking east showing maritime pine islands on Crooked Bayou

The habitat is varied and includes wet pine savannah, maritime forest, tidal flats, nontidal wetlands, salt pans, salt marshes, bays and bayous. [3]

Research

Research projects include studying the ecological effects of rising sea levels, the ecology of vertebrates in tidal marshes, the ecology of the reserves habitats, monitoring the effects of mercury pollution, coastal plant ecology and mapping, and monitoring environmental conditions on a long-term basis. [4]

Flora and fauna

The varied parts of the refuge provide suitable habitat for many migrant and resident species of bird. These include the scarlet tanager, the black-throated green warbler, the black-and-white warbler, the eastern towhee, the gray catbird, the painted bunting and the secretive white-eyed vireo. [5]

Nine species of carnivorous plants including pitcher plants, butterworts and sundews are present in the reserve. These plants have modifications which enable them to catch insects which provides the nitrogen they need that is deficient in their swampy habitat. [5]

Related Research Articles

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The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern New Jersey along the Atlantic coast north of Atlantic City, in Atlantic and Ocean counties. The refuge was created in 1984 out of two existing refuge parcels created to protect tidal wetland and shallow bay habitat for migratory water birds. The Barnegat Division is located in Ocean County on the inland side of Barnegat Bay. The Brigantine Division is located approximately 10 miles (16 km) north of Atlantic City along the south bank of the mouth of the Mullica River. The two divisions are separated by approximately 20 miles (32 km). The refuge is located along most active flight paths of the Atlantic Flyway, making it an important link in the network of national wildlife refuges administered nationwide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Forsythe Refuge is a part of the Hudson River/New York Bight Ecosystem and The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. The refuge is named for Edwin B. Forsythe, conservationist Congressman from New Jersey.

Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve

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Cape May National Wildlife Refuge

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The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum is a 1000-acre (4.05 km2) National Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia and Tinicum Township, Delaware County, in Pennsylvania. Adjacent to the Philadelphia International Airport, the refuge serves to protect the largest remaining freshwater tidal marsh in Pennsylvania. Established in 1972 as the Tinicum National Environmental Center, it was renamed in 1991 after the late H. John Heinz III who had helped preserve Tinicum Marsh.

Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve

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Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge

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Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

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Elkhorn Slough Body of water in Monterey County, California

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San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge

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Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

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Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

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Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge

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Supawna Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

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References

  1. "Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  3. "Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge". OhRanger.com. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  4. "Research overview". Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Retrieved 2015-08-06.
  5. 1 2 "Grand Bay: Wildlife and Habitat". U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Retrieved 2015-08-06.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from websites or documents ofthe United States Fish and Wildlife Service .