Texas Gulf Coast Field Studies

North Lake College has been conducting field studies programs on the south Texas coast for the past 22 years. Formerly associated with CVC we now welcome Eastfield College Students to the field program. The focal point of the program is along the Texas coastal bend which is in the general area of Corpus Christi. Most of our work is done on the Welder Wildlife Foundation and in the general area of Port Aransas, on Mustang Island. Mustang Island is a barrier Island and allows access to both bay shore and open ocean ecosystems. The program includes classes in botany, field biology and physical fitness for a total of eight credits. For more information about how to enroll in the program, its cost and the class schedule see our frequently asked questions section below.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TRI-FOLD FLIER
(Includes some Hawaii Information as well)

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Out first stop is at the Welder Wildlife Foundation near Senton, Texas. The Welder area is the largest private wildlife refuge of its type in the state of Texas. It borders on the Aransas River and Aransas Bay on the south Texas coast. Welder researchers carry on a wide variety of wildlife and range management studies. Additionally the Welder Foundation provides housing and facilities for a number of graduate students from around the country.

Much of our work is completed in the field. Here our students work on terrestrial plant and insect studies on Welder lands.

After our two days at the Welder area we travel to Port Aransas, Texas for the remainder of out work. Port Aransas is located on the northern end of Mustang Island. Mustang Island is a barrier island facing the Gulf of Mexico on one side Corpus Christi Bay on the other, thus we have opportunities to study a number of different coastal ecosystems. Here we are preparing a sample collected with a plankton net in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel.

Students working with marine life collected from the shallow waters of Aransas Bay.

Here we are taking a look at a sea horse, a somewhat unusual find on the Texas coast.

We spend half a day at the Texas State Aquarium where we get to see many habitats common the the Texas coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally we do a behind the scenes tour where we learn how the aquarium operates and maintains its marine life.

Another half day is spent at the Corpus Christi Museum. Here we learn about the natural history of the Texas coastal bend.

The sandy beach is a unique and hostile environment for the organisms that make it their home. Ron is explaining to the class some of the adaptations that allow organisms to survive in such an environment.

Students collect and identify marine life along the beach.

While working on the coast we use the pier lab an the University of Texas Marine Science Institute as our lab facility.

Two students working with their insect collections.

Students use the pier lab to work on their collections and to study the marine life we collect in the field.

Their are no natural rocky shore habitats on the Texas coast, but jetties built to protect ship channels and passes between the gulf and the bays provide a rocky substrate for the development of a rocky shore habitat. This is a very interesting area of study.

Salt marshes and tidal flats are important ecosystems in the coastal bays of the Texas coast.

Students collecting marine life in the shallow coastal flats.

We use seines in many of the shallow bay areas to survey the marine life of the area.

Students seining through cord grass along a salt marsh.

TEXAS GULF COASTAL FIELD STUDIES
North Lake College has been conducting field studies programs on the south Texas coast for the past 22 years. Formerly associated with CVC we now welcome Eastfield College Students to the field program. The focal point of the program is along the Texas coastal bend which is in the general area of Corpus Christi. Most of our work is done on the Welder Wildlife Foundation and in the general area of Port Aransas, on Mustang Island. Mustang Island is a barrier Island and allows access to both bay shore and open ocean ecosystems. The program includes classes in botany, field biology and physical fitness for a total of eight credits. For more information about how to enroll in the program, its cost and the class schedule see our frequently asked questions section below. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE TRI-FOLD FLIER (Includes some Hawaii Information as well) CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
	Out first stop is at the Welder Wildlife Foundation near Senton, Texas. The Welder area is the largest private wildlife refuge of its type in the state of Texas. It borders on the Aransas River and Aransas Bay on the south Texas coast. Welder researchers carry on a wide variety of wildlife and range management studies. Additionally the Welder Foundation provides housing and facilities for a number of graduate students from around the country.
	Much of our work is completed in the field. Here our students work on terrestrial plant and insect studies on Welder lands.
In the background is a shallow oxbow lake formed from the meandering of the Aransas River. We are working with the aquatic and semiaquatic environments associated with the lake.
	After our two days at the Welder area we travel to Port Aransas, Texas for the remainder of out work. Port Aransas is located on the northern end of Mustang Island. Mustang Island is a barrier island facing the Gulf of Mexico on one side Corpus Christi Bay on the other, thus we have opportunities to study a number of different coastal ecosystems. Here we are preparing a sample collected with a plankton net in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel.
Students observing a Portuguese-man-o-war collected from the RV Katy, a research vessel from the University of Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas. We use the Katy for two different outings, collecting marine life and studying water chemistry from a number of different habitats in the coastal bays.
Students working with marine life collected from the shallow waters of Aransas Bay.
	Here we are taking a look at a sea horse, a somewhat unusual find on the Texas coast.
	We spend half a day at the Texas State Aquarium where we get to see many habitats common the the Texas coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally we do a behind the scenes tour where we learn how the aquarium operates and maintains its marine life.
Another half day is spent at the Corpus Christi Museum. Here we learn about the natural history of the Texas coastal bend.
	The sandy beach is a unique and hostile environment for the organisms that make it their home. Ron is explaining to the class some of the adaptations that allow organisms to survive in such an environment.
Students collect and identify marine life along the beach.
	While working on the coast we use the pier lab an the University of Texas Marine Science Institute as our lab facility.
	Two students working with their insect collections.
Students use the pier lab to work on their collections and to study the marine life we collect in the field.
Their are no natural rocky shore habitats on the Texas coast, but jetties built to protect ship channels and passes between the gulf and the bays provide a rocky substrate for the development of a rocky shore habitat. This is a very interesting area of study.
	Salt marshes and tidal flats are important ecosystems in the coastal bays of the Texas coast.
	Students collecting marine life in the shallow coastal flats.
We use seines in many of the shallow bay areas to survey the marine life of the area.
Students seining through cord grass along a salt marsh.