This general correlation needs further discussion because of our 
failure to measure nutria abundance adequately for quantitative 
correlation. 
Its feeding habits contribute to the concept that nutria have 
a pronounced effect on vegetation. The present studies and general 
observation attest to the catholic taste of the nutria in vegetation. 
The size of the animal and the fact that only a small portion of the 
plant is eaten result in much waste of vegetation. This selective 
feeding often results in destruction because the rhizome, a favor- 
ite portion of many food plants, must be dug from the ground. The 
digging results in little piles of debris which cover germinating 
plants. Feeding is sometimes concentrated over small areas. Sign 
of nutria was always more apparent during winter; partly, perhaps, 
because the retarded growth of plants in this season could not keep 
pace with the food requirements of the animal. With the higher 
populations of nutria (estimated from trapping records) approaching 
3 animals per acre in our area, these feeding habits would be ex- 
pected to affect the vegetation. 
Winter feeding during 1954-55 on the saltmeadow cordgrass, 
Olney's three-square segment of Transect A, resulted in numerous 
areas up to 50 feet in diameter where the vegetation was reduced 
by an estimated 50 to 80 percent. On the other hand, the vege- 
tative reproduction of the marsh plants is vigorous, and the above 
“eat-out" areas were not discernible by the following summer. 
el 
