Aspects of the ecology and hunting economics of migratory waterfowl on the Texas High Plains

Date

1980-05

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Texas Tech University

Abstract

The High Plains of Texas is dotted with numerous playa lakes which are used in agriculture as a source for irrigation water and as tailwater catchment basins. Waterfowl use these playa lakes during migration and many overwinter on them. While waterfowl are the most obvious wildlife encountered on playas, this wetland habitat is used by a number of other avian and mammalian species (Appendix A). Bolen et al. (197 9) pointed out that playas offer the only waterfowl habitat in this highly agriculturalized area of Texas.

Considerable amounts of time and money have been spent on playa modification research for water conservation but little or no consideration has been given to wildlife until the last few years. Dwindling wetland resources throughout the nation have focused a new emphasis on ecological research on playa lakes (Simpson et al. 1980, Stormer et al. 1980).

Description

Citation