CONTENTS (Continued) 



Page 



3.5 RENEWABLE RESOURCE PRODUCTIVITY 81 



3.5.1 Introduction 81 



3.5.2 The Potential for Renewable Resource Production in the Chenier Plain 81 



3.5.3 Surface Water 90 



3.6 ECOLOGY OF INDIVIDUAL BASINS 95 



3.6.1 Introduction 95 



3.6.2 Vennilion Basin 95 



3.6.3 Mennentau Basin 105 



3.6.4 Chenier Basin 118 



3.6.5 Calcasieu Basin 120 



3.6.6 Sabine Basin 129 



3.6.7 East Bay Basin 140 



4.0 CHENIER PLAIN HABITATS 153 



4.1 INTRODUCTION 153 



4.1.1 Relation of Habitats to Populations 153 



4.1.2 Relation of Habitats to Basins 156 



4.1.3 Organization of Habitat Section 156 



4.2 WETLAND HABITATS 156 



4.2.1 A Functional Overview of Wetlands 157 



4.2.2 Role of Hydrology in Wetland Habitats 157 



4.2.3 Dynamics of Energy Flow in Wetlands 159 



4.2.4 The Detritus-Microbial Complex 165 



4.2.5 The Importance of the Marsh Edge 168 



4.2.6 Extended Nursery Function of Wetlands 168 



4.2.7 Consumers 170 



4.2.8 Natural Wetland Values 171 



4.3 SALT MARSH HABITAT 172 



4.3.1 Producers 172 



4.3.2 Consumers 1 75 



4.4 BRACKISH AND INTERMEDIATE MARSH HABITATS 175 



4.4.1 Producers 176 



4.4.2 Consumers 176 



4.5 FRESH MARSH HABITAT 180 



4.5.1 Producers 180 



4.5.2 Consumers 183 



4.6 SWAMP FOREST HABITAT 183 



4.6.1 Producers 184 



4.6.2 Consumers 187 



4.7 MANAGEMENT OF CHENIER PLAIN COASTAL WETLANDS 187 



4.7.1 Preservation of the Environment 187 



4.7.2 Preser^-ation of Wildhfe 188 



4.7.3 Management of Wildlife Habitat 188 



4.7.4 Management for Economic Return 189 



4.7.5 Use of Weirs in Wetland Management 189 



4.7.6 Use of Controlled Burning in Wetland Management 190 



4.7.7 Planting and Seeding 190 



4.7.8 Cattle Grazing 191 



4.7.9 Impoundments 192 



4.8 AQUATIC HABITATS 195 



4.8.1 A Functional Overview of Aquatic Habitats 195 



4.8.2 Role of Hydrology in Aquatic Habitats 195 



4.8.3 The Importance of Salinity 197 



4.8.4 Organic Detritus Derived From Adjacent Wetlands 197 



4.8.5 Energy Budget of Aquatic Habitats 199 



4.8.6 The Detritus System and the Benthic Community 199 



4.8.7 Primary Productivity 202 



4.8.8 Control of Production 203 



4.9 INLAND OPEN WATER HABITAT 203 



4.9.1 Producers 203 



4.9.2 Consumers 205 



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