ISSN:
1573-5117
Keywords:
Aythya fuligula
;
Rutilus rutilus
;
waterfowl
;
Cyprinidae
;
competition
;
Lough Neagh
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The overwintering population of tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) on Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, has varied over the last three decades, with numbers declining in the early 1980s but then increasing to former levels in the late 1980s. Population fluctuations of recently introduced roach (Rutilus rutilus) mirrored these trends. The present study explores the possibility that competition for benthic food resources is responsible for these changes by examining the diets of tufted duck, roach and other major fish species of the lake. Diet overlaps were generally high due to the common consumption of chironomid larvae. The diet of tufted duck overlapped most with that of roach because these two species were the only significant consumers of molluscs. This evidence provides further support for a tufted duck — roach competition hypothesis.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00027869
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