Biennial Financial and Activity Report, Fiscal Years 2000-2001

The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is an interdisciplinary marine research institute of the College of Science and Technology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). The CCS is a state-supported institute, providing quality research, education, and service programs dedicated to making significant contributions to expanding our knowledge and understanding of marine ecosystems. As an interdisciplinary marine research institute, CCS conducts basic and applied research, ecological monitoring, public education outreach, and graduate level education/reseach programs, focusing on the Texas Coastal Bend to the farthest reaches of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mexican Caribbean. Our dedicated professionals primarily conduct applied research on the coastal and offshore marine ecosystems of teh northwestern Gulf of Mexico, including barrier islands, hypersaline lagoons and estuaries, coastal wetlands and offshore artificial and natural reefs. Research scientists and graduate students also work in benthic ecology, coral reef ecology, wetlands ecology, marine ecotoxicology, water quality, and mitigation evaluations. In addition, the Center's coral reef ecology program focuses on the coralline ecosystems of the Yucatan Peninsula and Veracruz, Mexico, and the Flower Garden Banks off Galveston, Texas.