COASTAL AND MARINE SYSTEM SCIENCE PROGRAM
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY-CORPUS CHRISTI
SUBJECT: Spatiotemporal dynamics of foraging habitat availability for waterbirds in intertidal zones of the Gulf of Mexico
SPEAKER: Antonio Cantu de Leija
DATE: June 25, 2025
GRADUATE ADVISOR: Dr. Dale E. Gawlik
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Dr. Loretta Battaglia, Dr. James Gibeaut, Dr. Bart Ballard (TAMUK-CKWRI)
TIME: 9:00 – 9:50 a.m.
PLACE: Tidal Hall 310
ABSTRACT
The availability of waterbird foraging habitats is linked to the reproductive performance and survival of waterbird species, making it an important consideration for their conservation. In coastal systems, intertidal zones provide the primary foraging areas. Although coastal environments are naturally dynamic and complex, human activities and rising sea levels are exacerbating coastal changes and impacting waterbird foraging habitats. This leaves coastal resource managers in need of new, data-driven tools to inform conservation efforts. This dissertation examines foraging habitat availability and the potential effects of sea level rise for four imperiled wading birds: the reddish egret (Egretta rufescens), little blue heron (Egretta cearulea), tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor), and roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) along the west coast of Florida and the upper Laguna Madre in Texas. Additionally, because intertidal zones are characterized by dynamic topographic changes, accurate and updated elevation data is necessary for reliable models of foraging habitat availability. Therefore, this work also evaluates satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) in models of intertidal foraging habitat. Findings highlight how patterns of foraging habitat availability differ with varying hydrologic regimes, how and why some areas are more vulnerable to sea level rise than others, and demonstrate the utility of SDB for advancing coastal habitat modeling.
