Research Consortium

James (Jim) R. Garrison, Jr., Ph.D.

Quantitative Stratigraphy, Sedimentology, and Ichnology of Microtidal Shoreline Systems

Consortium Scientific Objectives

• Determine and quantify the depositional and neoichnological processes operating in modern micro-tidal clastic shoreline systems, compare to ancient micro-tidal shoreline systems, and evaluate the preservation potential of depostional facies and ichnofacies
  

• Determine the effects on reservoir quality produced by burrowing and trace-making organisms and plant rooting
  

• Prepare a photographic reference atlas of modern micro-tidal depositional environments along the Texas Gulf Coast, including satellite, aerial, oblique aerial, and ground-level photographs, maps, quantitative 3-D geometries, representative cores, outcrops, and well-logs, and type subsurface oil and gas field examples    
  

• Evaluate the impact of global and local changes in sea level on the evolution and morphology of beach/barrier island and other shoreline systems
  

Consortium Academic Goals

• Provide a stimulating academic environment for geoscience students at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
  

• Provide geoscience project experiences for geoscience students at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

• Provide employment and financial aid for for geoscience students at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

• Prepare geoscience students at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi for future employment

• Provide job placement opportunities for geoscience students at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Consortium Community Outreach Goals

• Community outreach to the local geoscience community by providing seminars and training workshops

• Community outreach to the local high schools by providing mentoring and research opportunities for students and teachers
  

Consortium Projects

• An Analysis of the Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Ecology, and Evolution of North Padre Island, Padre Island National   Seashore (Research Permit PAIS-2008-SCI-0002)

• The Neoichnology of the Micro-tidal Gulf Coast of Texas from Galveston Island to Port Isabel, Texas

• The Effects of Longshore Drift Induced Beach and Foredune Progradation on the Ecology of Invertebrate Burrowing and Trace-making Fauna, Packery Channel, North Padre Island, Texas

• The Role of Aeolian and Storm Depositional Processes on the Landward Progradation of North Padre Island into Laguna Madre, Texas

• The Preservation and Evolution of the Nueces Incised-valley Estuarine System, Nueces and Corpus Christi Bays, Texas

• A Comparison of the Ichnology of Incised-valley Deposits, Upper Ferron Sandstone Last Chance Delta, East-central Utah to the Neoichnology of the Nueces Incised Valley
  

• Atlas of Modern Micro-tidal Shoreline Depositional Systems of the Texas Gulf Coast

• An Analysis of the Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of Goliad and Oakville Formations, South Texas

• Laboratory Analysis of the Insitu Behavior of Burrowing and Trace-making Benthic Invertebrates

Student Projects

• Sara Smelley - The Effects of Longshore Drift Induced Beach and Foredune Progradation on the Ecology of Invertebrate Burrowing and Trace-making Fauna, Packery Channel, North Padre Island, Texas (Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Marinez Scholar Program ) (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Adam Barnard - The Role of Aeolian and Storm Depositional Processes on the Landward Progradation of North Padre Island into Laguna Madre, Texas (Directed Independent Study at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi) (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Bobby McCoy - The Preservation and Evolution of the Nueces Incised-valley Estuarine System, Nueces and Corpus Christi Bays, Texas (Directed Independent Study at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi) (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Amanda Baker -  The Sedimentology, Sequence Stratigraphy, and Structure of the Goliad, Willis, and Oakville Formations, South Texas: Implications for Subsurface Geologic Studies of Tertiary Coastal Plain and Shoreline Systems (M.S. Thesis at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi) (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Danielle Davis -  The Effects of  Salinity and Dissolved Oxygen on the Distribution and Abundance of Burrowing Invertebrates in Laguna Madre from Corpus Christi Bay to Baffin Bay (Directed  Independent Study at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi) (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Sara Potter Miller -  Vibracore Study of North Padre Island, Padre Island National Seashore (Directed  Independent Study at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi) (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison) (Research Permit PAIS-2008-SCI-0002)

• Rachael Creel -  An Analysis of the Sedimentology, Neoichnology, and Ecology of Padre Island National Seashore from Malaquite Beach to Bird Island Basin (Senior Thesis at the University of Texas at Dallas) (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison) (Research Permit PAIS-2006-SCI-0010)

• Russell Crouch - Sedimentology and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Goliad Formation, Goliad, Bee, Live Oak, Jim Wells, Duval, Nueces, San Patricio, Refugio, and Aransas Counties, Texas (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Samantha Smith - Laboratory Analysis of Trace-making Benthic Invertebrates  (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Josh Williams - Regional Sedimentological and Sequence Stratigraphic Study of the Frio Formation, Willacy County, Texas  (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

• Lesley Byatt - Sedimentological Core Study of the Frio Formation, Willacy County, Texas  (Supervisor: Dr.  Garrison)

Recent Relevant Publications

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