Wetland use by wintering geese in the Gulf Coast Plains and Rice Prairie region of Texas, USA

Abstract

We studied wetland habitat use by wintering geese in the Coastal Plains and Rice Prairie Regions of Texas during 1991-92 and 1992-93. White-fronted Geese were most abundant on lacustrine littoral aquatic-bed floating vascular (x=2.10/ha) and unconsolidated shore organic (x=1.55/ha) wetlands. White geese (Snow and Ross') were most abundant on estuarine intertidal aquatic-bed algal (x=8.71/ha) wetlands. Canada Geese were most abundant on lacustrine littoral unconsolidated shore vegetated (x=1.81/ha) wetlands. Geese used 16 of the 82 wetland types in the study area. Management of both open-water and vegetated wetlands is necessary to effectively influence the distribution and abundance of wintering geese.