A total of 55 plant species occurred in the study area. Paspalum 

 lividum was the major species, constituting 27.8 percent of the 

 vegetative composition. Major species of the vegetation zones were 

 Paspalum lividum in zones 1,2, and 5; Alternanthera philoxeroides 

 in zone 3; and Phyla lanceolata in zone~?^ Coefficients of similarity, 

 calculated for comparison of vegetation zones, ranged from 0.0 to 

 0.366. Soil salinity and pH values indicated an increase in salinity 

 and acidity as sampling approached Trinity Bay. Waterfowl were 

 observed every month, with February and October contributing the 

 largest numbers, and June and July the smallest. No waterfowl nests 

 were found, but 1 wood duck and 6 mottled duck broods were observed. 

 Analysis of mean waterfowl numbers showed some significant and 

 highly significant differences between months, vegetation zones, and 

 waterfowl groups. Food habits for 371 waterfowl collected were de- 

 termined. Plant materials comprised 100 percent of the total food 

 volume of geese. Native grasses composed 80.9 percent of the total 

 volume and were the most important food item consumed. Other marsh 

 plants represented 18.6 percent, and cultivated rice ( Oryza sativa ) 

 contributed only 0.5 percent. Fourteen duck species were analyzed 

 to determine dietary patterns. Plant materials comprised 87.5 per- 

 cent of all foods, while animal matter made up 12.5 percent. 

 Cultivated rice was the most important plant food, representing 

 31 percent of the total food volume. Indices of similarities computed 

 for duck food habits ranged from 0.154 to 0.749 and were used to 

 differentiate the ducks into 3 divisions. (A. A.) 



Keywords: waterfowl, coastal marsh, marsh plants, Texas 



V-B-9 



Lynch, J.J. 1968. Values of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast marshes 



and estuaries to waterfowl. Pages 51-63 in^ J.D. Newsom, ed.. Proceedings 

 of the marsh and estuary management symposium. Louisiana State 

 University, Baton Rouge. 



The author describes the environmental opportunities afforded to 

 waterfowl by the wetlands of the South Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 

 He distinguished between the utility of environments and the value 

 to waterfowl, describing value as worth, relative to need or some other 

 intangible. Waterfowl discussed include: swans, geese, brant, 

 dabbling ducks, and diving ducks. Lynch states that, by using information 

 now available regarding environmental requirements and tolerances of 

 waterfowl, it is possible to discern some values of coastal wetlands 

 to certain species of waterfowl. The true worth of the tidal marsh 

 lies not so much in direct appeal to waterfowl, but rather in subtle 

 contributions to waterfowl food-chains of adjacent coastal environ- 

 ments. (B.W.) 



Keywords: salt marshes, estuaries, waterfowl, U.S. South Atlantic 

 and Gulf coasts 



216 



