Billy M. Teels

A modified Gerking sampler was used to sample standing crops of invertebrates associated with aquatic plants common to Alabama and Mississippi. Appearance and disappearance of the aquatic plant communities sampled were also ascertained. The aquatic plants which persisted during the winter months were Wolffiella floridana and Hydrocotyle ranunculoides. Two other aquatic plant species which produced large standing crops of invertebrates were Cabomba caroliniana and Ceratophyllum demersum; however, these plants did not persist in winter and early spring when a source of invertebrates is...

A study was made of the aquatic ecosystem of two national waterfowl refuges in Mississippi todeterrnine if there are significant environmental differences between the two refuges which might be correlated with evident differences in wood duck (Aix sponsa) productivity. Standing crops of seeds and plants used by waterfowl were measured. soil and water quality analyses were made, and phytoplankton concentrations were determined. Various aquatic plant communities were sampled to determine the abundance and species of macroinvertebrates. The gullet contents of 50 young wood ducks collected...