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A comparison between aquatic birds of lakes and coastal rivers in Florida

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Limnology and Aquatic Birds

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 189))

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Abstract

Aquatic birds were counted on five Gulf coast Florida rivers to determine if these river systems supported densities, biomass and species richness similar to those found on Florida lakes. Forty-two species were identified and for the species that were found on both Florida streams and lakes similar densities and biomass were encountered. As with Florida lakes, stream bird abundance and species richness were higher in winter months than in summer months, a consequence of migratory bird populations. Total bird abundance, biomass per unit of phosphorus, and species richness per unit of area were similar to data collected on Florida lakes. Thus, Florida rivers are capable of supplying sufficient resources to maintain bird densities, biomass and species richness values similar to lakes of equal size and nutrient concentrations and are therefore important habitats for aquatic bird populations. An examination of individual habitat characteristics indicates that water depth was inversely correlated and submersed aquatic vegetation was positively correlated with bird density, biomass and species richness within the river systems. While both habitat characteristics are important they are also inversely related making it difficult to separate the individual significance of each characteristic.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Mark V. Hoyer, Sky K. Notestein, Thomas K. Frazer & Daniel E. Canfield Jr.

Authors
  1. Mark V. Hoyer
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  2. Sky K. Notestein
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  3. Thomas K. Frazer
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  4. Daniel E. Canfield Jr.
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, P.O. Box 6227, Sackville, New Brunswick, E4L 1G6, Canada

    Alan R. Hanson

  2. Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, 45 Alderney Drive, 7th Floor-Queen Square, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, B2Y 4N6, Canada

    Joseph J. Kerekes

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Hoyer, M.V., Notestein, S.K., Frazer, T.K., Canfield, D.E. (2006). A comparison between aquatic birds of lakes and coastal rivers in Florida. In: Hanson, A.R., Kerekes, J.J. (eds) Limnology and Aquatic Birds. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 189. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5556-0_2

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