At head of title: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chesapeake Bay Program. At head of title: Project summary. "EPA/600-S3-82-082." "Jan. 1983."

Waterfowl populations in Maryland and Virginia portions of Chesapeake Bay were examined during long-term (1890-1970) and current (1972-1980) periods to identify trends in their distribution and abundance. Comparisons were also made between State and Atlantic Flyway populations and waterfowl species distributions among survey areas. Distribution and abundance of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) among waterfowl survey areas in Maryland were summarized for seven plant species during nine years (1971-1979). These data (SAV species combined) were used to test the hypothesis that annual variation in area populations of waterfowl was related to variation in the abundance of SAV, following an adjustment for annual variation in the general abundance of waterfowl. The distribution and abundance of SAV species declined in Maryland waters during the 1970s. There were few statistically significant relationships between distribution and abundance of waterfowl and SAV. But there was an implied biological relationship, since the most important waterfowl wintering areas were also among the most abundantly vegetated areas. This report was submitted in partial fulfillment of Interagency Agreement No. EPA-78-D-X0391 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Bird and Habitat Research Laboratory under the sponsorship of the Chesapeake Bay Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.