Application Note: Using Real-Time Telemetry For Ecological Monitoring Of Coastal Wetlands

The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)in Mississippi is one of 27 protected estuarine reserves across the United States. The reserves serve as platforms for long-term research and monitoring, as well as reference sites for comparative studies. At the Grand Bay NERR, an in situ water quality monitoring system coupled with a near real-time telemetry system (YSI EcoNet) allows managers and technicians to monitor changes in water quality at various temporal scales, providing a greater understanding of the ecosystem dynamics and better management of the monitoring program.

The near real-time access to the data enables improved management decisions of the environment and monitoring equipment.