The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Oyster sample from a Conservancy oyster reef restoration site in Bay St. Louis, MS © Tom Mohrman/TNC

Allen's reef sample shows oysters and mussels growing on old oyster shells placed in Bay St. Louis 4 years ago which means the restored reef is growing.

This spring, the Conservancy's Mississippi Chapter has welcomed Allen Tate as a volunteer intern out of the South Mississippi Field Office.

A native of Jackson, Allen has been partnering with our program since March to conduct his capstone project for a Master of Science in Conservation Biology from Antioch University of New England.

He has been monitoring fish species abundance and oyster spat (baby oysters) development on four of our restored oyster reefs in Bay St. Louis and Back Bay of Biloxi; as well as gathering baseline data on two proposed reef sites, to be restored later this fall.

Aside from his Masters Project, Allen has also been helping with a comprehensive study of wading bird rookeries and raptor nesting sites on Cat Island’s interior wetlands.

Allen is an amateur photographer and loves most every outdoor activity especially: hiking, camping, cycling, paddling, rock climbing, and skiing. You can see more of his photos at www.allentatephotography.wordpress.com.