Die Überwinterungsknospen des Krausen Laichkrauts (Potamogeton crispus) als Nahrung für den Höckerschwan (Cygnus olor) auf dem Federsee

Summary

In the highly eutrophicated, shallow Lake Federsee no submersed macrophytes grew, until 1982 a waste water pipeline around the lake was put in operation. In 1983Potamogeton crispus began to colonize the lake and its abundance increased from year to year. The growth cycle, however, remained very short and the macrophyte always died off between the end of June and the middle of July, after having developed large numbers of resting buds. Simultaneous with the increasing canopies ofPotamogeton a rise of Mute Swans in summer and autumn was observed, and because of the absence ofPotamogeton and other new food plants it was suggested that at this time the bird mainly feeds on the resting buds ofPotamogeton. This was confirmed by investigation of excrements, which sometimes consisted mainly of remnants of resting buds. Therefore it is supposed that Mute Swans essentially affect the recolonization of the lake byPotamogeton crispus and by this way also slow down the reestablishment of a diverse flora and fauna.