30272-101 



REPORT DOCUMENTATION 

 PAGE 



l._REPORT NO. 



FWS/OBS-78/09 



4. Title and Subtitle 



An Ecological Characterization Study of the Chenier Plain Coastal 

 Ecosystems of Louisiana and Texas. Volume I - Narrative Report 



7. Authorcs) James G. Gosselink, Carroll L. Cordes (USFtlS) and 

 John W. Parsons (USFWS) 



3. Recipient's Accession No. 



5. Report Date 



August 1979 



8. Performing Organization Rept. No. 



9. Performing Organization Name and Address 



Center for Wetland Resources 

 Louisiana State University 

 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 



10. Proi«ct/Task/Work Unit No. 



11. Contract(C) or Grant(G) No. 



(C) 



(G) 



12. Sponsoring Organization Name and Address 



National Coastal Ecosystems Team 

 Fish and Wildlife Service 

 U.S. Department of the Interior 

 SI i dell, Louisiana 70458 



and 



Office of Research & Developme 

 U.S. Environmental Protection 

 Agency 



13. Type of Report & Period Covered 



ht 



14. 



IS. Supplementary Notes 



16. Abstract (Limit: 200 words) 



Socioeconomic and environmental information on the subject area was collected, reviewed 

 and synthesized to produce this volume. The present physical setting of the Chenier 

 Plain is described, as well as the geological history of the region. The effects of 

 agricultural and oil and gas industries on the natural (biological) resources in each 

 of six drainage basins are discussed. Habitat types in the Chenier Plain are described, 

 and the impact of human activities on them are evaluated. The conversion of habitats from 

 one type to another over a twenty-year period is documented. Life history information is 

 provided for many of the important fish and wildlife species in the ecosystem. 



17. Document Analysis a. Descriptors 



Ecology, Hydrology, Production, Aquatic Biology 



b. Identifiers/Open-Ended Terms 



c. COSATI Field/Group 0603, 0606 



18. Availability Statement 



Unlimited 



19. Security Class (This Report) 



20. Security Class (This Page) 



21. No. of Pages 



302 pp 



22. Price 



(SeeANSI-Z39.18) 



«U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFF ICE; 1979-675 038 



See Instructions on Reverse 



OPTIONAL FORM 272 (4-77) 

 (Formerly NTIS-35) 

 Department of Commerce 



