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Waterfowl, macrophytes, and the clear water state of shallow lakes

Hansson, Lars-Anders LU orcid ; Nicolle, Alice LU ; Brönmark, Christer LU ; Hargeby, Anders LU ; Lindström, Åke LU orcid and Andersson, Gunnar (2010) 6th Shallow Lakes Congress 2008 646(1). p.101-109
Abstract
The importance of lake ecosystems for waterfowl remains a topic of debate. In order to assess how temporal variations in lake features, specifically shifts between alternative stable states, may interact with the waterfowl fauna, we performed a long-term (22 years) study of the shallow Lake Krankesjon, southern Sweden. Lower total numbers of waterfowl occurred during periods with low macrophyte cover and turbid water, than when submersed macrophytes flourished and the water was clear. Some specific functional groups of waterfowl, such as herbivores, invertebrate, and fish feeders, showed a positive relation to clear water and high macrophyte cover. Hence, our data suggest that some migratory waterfowl may select lakes based on water... (More)
The importance of lake ecosystems for waterfowl remains a topic of debate. In order to assess how temporal variations in lake features, specifically shifts between alternative stable states, may interact with the waterfowl fauna, we performed a long-term (22 years) study of the shallow Lake Krankesjon, southern Sweden. Lower total numbers of waterfowl occurred during periods with low macrophyte cover and turbid water, than when submersed macrophytes flourished and the water was clear. Some specific functional groups of waterfowl, such as herbivores, invertebrate, and fish feeders, showed a positive relation to clear water and high macrophyte cover. Hence, our data suggest that some migratory waterfowl may select lakes based on water quality, thereby adjusting their large-scale migratory routes. On the other hand, omnivorous waterfowl exhibited their highest abundances during turbid conditions. Furthermore, waterfowl not primarily relying on food from the lake showed no response to fluctuations in turbidity or macrophyte cover, but followed regional trends in population dynamics. In our study lake, L. Krankesjon, we estimated that waterfowl remove less than 3% of the macrophyte biomass during a stable clear-water state with lush macrophyte beds. However, during transition periods between alternative stable states, when macrophyte biomass is lower and the plants already stressed, the consumption rate of waterfowl may have a stronger effect on lake ecosystem functioning. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Herbivory, Grazing, Macrophyte, Lake, Alternative stable state, Waterfowl, Bird
host publication
Hydrobiologia
volume
646
issue
1
pages
101 - 109
publisher
Springer
conference name
6th Shallow Lakes Congress 2008
conference location
Punta del Este, Uruguay
conference dates
2008-11-23 - 2008-11-28
external identifiers
  • wos:000276660100009
  • scopus:77952011839
ISSN
0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI
10.1007/s10750-010-0169-z
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e65c8e45-7f82-4c2a-88e0-5b6badf5b06c (old id 1603070)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:17:58
date last changed
2024-04-21 10:00:40
@inproceedings{e65c8e45-7f82-4c2a-88e0-5b6badf5b06c,
  abstract     = {{The importance of lake ecosystems for waterfowl remains a topic of debate. In order to assess how temporal variations in lake features, specifically shifts between alternative stable states, may interact with the waterfowl fauna, we performed a long-term (22 years) study of the shallow Lake Krankesjon, southern Sweden. Lower total numbers of waterfowl occurred during periods with low macrophyte cover and turbid water, than when submersed macrophytes flourished and the water was clear. Some specific functional groups of waterfowl, such as herbivores, invertebrate, and fish feeders, showed a positive relation to clear water and high macrophyte cover. Hence, our data suggest that some migratory waterfowl may select lakes based on water quality, thereby adjusting their large-scale migratory routes. On the other hand, omnivorous waterfowl exhibited their highest abundances during turbid conditions. Furthermore, waterfowl not primarily relying on food from the lake showed no response to fluctuations in turbidity or macrophyte cover, but followed regional trends in population dynamics. In our study lake, L. Krankesjon, we estimated that waterfowl remove less than 3% of the macrophyte biomass during a stable clear-water state with lush macrophyte beds. However, during transition periods between alternative stable states, when macrophyte biomass is lower and the plants already stressed, the consumption rate of waterfowl may have a stronger effect on lake ecosystem functioning.}},
  author       = {{Hansson, Lars-Anders and Nicolle, Alice and Brönmark, Christer and Hargeby, Anders and Lindström, Åke and Andersson, Gunnar}},
  booktitle    = {{Hydrobiologia}},
  issn         = {{0018-8158}},
  keywords     = {{Herbivory; Grazing; Macrophyte; Lake; Alternative stable state; Waterfowl; Bird}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{101--109}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  title        = {{Waterfowl, macrophytes, and the clear water state of shallow lakes}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0169-z}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10750-010-0169-z}},
  volume       = {{646}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}