"For Research Applied to National Needs Program National Science Foundation Grant No. GI-34870X and Division of Planning Coordination Office of the Governor of Texas Interagency Cooperation Contract No. IAC (74-75)-0685." "Coordinated through Division of Natural Resources and Environment, The University of Texas at Austin." "One in a series of eight final reports describing progress on this research project for the period June 1, 1972, to May 31, 1974." Includes bibliographical references. Supported by the National Science Foundation, Research Applied to National Needs Program Supported by the Division of Planning Coordination, Office of the Governor of Texas Contract Number: IAC (74-75)-0685

"This study has produced a methodology for assessing the effects of natural and man-made changes on the estuarine environment. Examples have been presented to demonstrate its application to the Corpus Christi area. Several communication forms have been developed to describe the biotic environment. There are illustrations of the ecological assemblages through artist renditions with a written text entitled "Biotopes" and several computer data base systems. Through the identification of these discrete biotic regimes (biotopes), the coastal environment of the Corpus Christi area has been quantified in percentages of the total acreage and percentage of total productivity. The computer Life History Data Bank (LHDB) has been established to provide information on distribution, abundance and tolerances of the living organisms in the biotopes. Information accumulated through a preliminary creel census of sportfishing has also been identified by biotope distribution. Through the use of these systems productivity and fish catch can be compared quantitatively"--Page ii.