GOMESA Application Details

Internal Project Number: 271351
1. Title of Project: The Diamondback Terrapin: A Unique Mississippi Species to Investigate Marsh Health
2. Location of Project: Coastal Mississippi (Harrison, Hancock, and Jackson Counties)
3. Requesting Organization: Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Inc.
4a. Name: Moby Solangi, Ph.D.
4b. Position
4c. Phone Number: 228-896-9182
4d. Fax Number
4e. Address Line 1: 10801 Dolphin Lane
4e. Address Line 2
4e. City, State Zip: Gulfport, Mississippi
4f. Email: moby@imms.org
5. FundingRequested: $2,500,000
Awarded Amount:
6. Other State or Federal Funding Sources: No
7a. Amount of Additional Funds
7b. Source of Additional Funds
8. Total Project Funds Amount: $2,500,000
9. Project Description/Overview: Coastal wetlands cover about 61% of the Mississippi River Deltas. These wetlands contain a unique ecosystem called the "saltmarsh." These saltmarshes are vital in protecting coastlines from natural weather occurrences (e.g., hurricanes, floods, ext.), act as natural filters of pollutants from entering into the Gulf, and provide focal habitat for sentinel species (Nelson and Zavaleta, 2012; Silliman, 2014). In order to measure, monitor, and evaluate the health of the different saltmarshes across Mississippi's coastline, there is a need to monitor the life history of a keystone species. Therefore, an ideal species that is not only unique to the marshes of Mississippi, but also acts as sentinel species within these ecosystems, is the Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin pileata. The Terrapin is a keystone species, meaning that the loss of its population could negatively affect a saltmarsh's health. This includes: 1) ensuring that certain invertebrate species (i.e., the Periwinkle snail) does not “overgraze" the natural marsh grasses, degrading marsh integrity, 2) being measures of pollution as they have a limited home range and are affected by any changes in the environment, and 3) having low reproductive rates which are easily affected by environmental changes within the salt marsh system. Any changes observed in this species can be used to help management agencies make adaptive changes to their conservation efforts to not only conserve a unique species found in Mississippi, but to also protect important wet land ecosystems for the entirety of the Mississippi coastline. Not only would this benefit natural marshes, but it would also create a means to measure the benefits and value of the millions of dollars given to create marshes and wetlands in the aftermath of the BP oil spill.
10. Project Goals/Objectives: The goals of this project are to utilize the Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin as an indicator species for marsh health while also documenting the life history and population dynamics of the species. To do so, we propose the following objectives: 1) Analysis of Terrapin populations within the different saltmarsh ecosystems of coastal Mississippi. We plan to utilize Bayou Caddy and Bay St. Louis in Hancock County, Deer Island in Harrison County, and the Pascagoula River Delta in Jackson County. This will include population estimates, daily/seasonal movement tracking, identification of key nesting beaches, and future indications of the population. 2) Accessing the health of the Terrapins within the different saltmarsh ecosystems of coastal Mississippi. This will include a detailed food web and terrapin-pollution analysis. 3) Addressing the threats of the Terrapins within the different saltmarsh ecosystems of coastal Mississippi. This will include the analysis and identification of predators, home range and vital habitat identification, and environmental-pollution analysis.
11. Which of the following authorized uses set forth in the GOMESA Act does this project fall under?

(A) Projects and activities for the purpose of coastal protection, including conservation, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and infrastructure directly affected by coastal wetlands losses

(B) Mitigation of damage to fish, wildlife, or natural resources.: Yes: Saltmarsh ecosystems aid in protecting the Mississippi's coastlines from natural weather occurrences (hurricanes and floods), act as natural filters of pollutants before harmful chemicals can reach the ocean, and provide focal habitats for sentinel species. To better monitor, measure, and evaluate the health of the saltmarsh, we suggest evaluating the ecology and life history of a sentinel species, the Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin (Malachlemys terrapin pilleata). The Terrapin is a top predator and serves as a “keystone species" within the saltmarsh. This species is important for maintaining the health and stability of a saltmarsh for their pivotal role in the salt marsh's food chain.

(C) Implementation of a federally-approved marine, coastal, or conservation management plan.

(D) Mitigation of the impact of Outer Continental Shelf activities through funding of onshore infrastructure projects.

12. Project Timetable/Milestones: We propose a 5-year project duration to properly address the questions and objectives listed in this proposal. Overall, we plan to provide annual reports to identify our findings, address any concerns, and alter protocols to better answer the questions we have listed in this proposal. 1) YEAR 1- The proposed start date of the project will be February 1st, 2026, before the Terrapin nesting season begins (Late April–Early August). Initial surveys performed by IMMS indicated high Terrapin presence at Bayou Caddy, Bay St. Louis, and Deer Island. Surveys will also continue at other marsh systems and other barrier islands to confirm other indications of Terrapins as stated in the objectives. Any equipment that needs to be purchased will be obtained to achieve the desired objectives. 2) YEARS 1-4 (2026–2030). During the Terrapin nesting season, all set objectives will be performed at the listed marsh systems as well as any new habitats that are identified. This will include the mark-recapture of terrapins, data collection, beach surveys (nest depredation, predator analysis, ext.), drone surveys, wildlife camera deployment, and stable isotope sample acquisition (blood, tissue, and shell samples from Terrapins; Plant tissue from primary producers; and tissue samples from prey and predators). Further, data collection and data analysis will occur during the "off season" (i.e., September–March). This will include wildlife photo analysis, stable isotope analysis, toxicology analysis, and drone survey analysis. Any equipment needing to be replaced, repaired, or updated will occur during this time as well. 3) YEAR 5 (2031). Year 5 will consist of generating manuscripts and presenting data at local and regional conferences (ex. Bays and Bayous Symposium, the Diamondback Terrapin Working Group Meeting, ext.).
13. Project Timing: Deferred/Long-term
14. Current status of architectural/engineering plans & specifications for this project (if applicable):: Other N/A Funds Not Budgeted

15. In what way does this project meet the goals and objectives of the Department of Marine Resources, which includes enhancing, protecting and conserving the marine interest of Mississippi for present and future generations?: Saltmarshes are a vital part of an ecosystem for their support in marine fisheries and the habitat they can provide. These wetlands are faced with natural (flooding, hurricanes, erosion, ext.) and man made (oil spills, pollution run off, habitat degradation) disturbances, and, in this regard, a healthy marsh is very important to not only protecting our coastline but to also protect the natural inhabitants within the salt marsh systems. As such, a need to monitor these marshes health by using a sentinel species (i.e., the Mississippi Diamondback Terrapin) will allow for impactful conservation decision making and timely awareness for any marsh health issues. Additionally, by utilizing the Diamondback Terrapin, this project will also be able to monitor a unique Mississippi species to better conserve and protect the different populations on the Mississippi Coast. Overall, monitoring the Diamondback Terrapin's life history and population dynamics within the different salt marshes will be an essential tool in making impactful management decisions in protecting the Mississippi wetlands. Not only would this benefit natural marshes, but it would also create a means to measure the benefits and value of the millions of dollars given to create marshes and wetlands in the aftermath of the BP oil spill.

16. Estimated Years To Completion: 5
17. Estimated Completion Date: 9/30/2031

Budget:

Salaries,Wages, Fringe: $1,331,512
Travel: $15,000
Architecture & Engineering
Legal
Consulting: $100,000
Construction
Site Work
Equipment: $200,000
Indirects: $513,462
Other: $340,026
Total: $2,500,000


Application Submission Date: 09/10/2025
Fiscal Year: 2027
Project Status
Application Status: Submitted
Meets Criteria
Internal Notes:
Attachments:
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