Barrier Islands - Padre Island

Coastal Habitats

Bay Habitats

Barrier islands: Padre Island

Long sandy islands from the seaward boundary of coastal bays. Called barrier islands, they separate the bays from the Gulf and protect them from the most severe effects of waves and currents.

To survive on barrier islands, plants and animals must be able to cope with this habitat's constant changes.

Bay Habitats

• Mud flats: Corpus Christi
• Sea grass beds: Aransas Bay
• Open bay waters: Galveston Bay
• Hypersaline lagoon: Laguna Madre
• Barrier Island: Padre Island

Bay Animals

Select a coastal habitat:

• Salt Marshes
• Bays and Estuaries
• Jetties
• Nearshore Waters
• Gulf Waters