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Adaptations to benthic freshwater herbivory

  • Conference paper
Periphyton of Freshwater Ecosystems

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 17))

Abstract

Contrary to periphyton, fresh macrophytes are not ingested by many freshwater invertebrates. Different adaptations that serve to maximize net energy gain in grazers utilizing a food resource which is heterogeneously distributed in space and time are discussed. Data presented support the hypothesis, that aquatic macrophytes often protect themselves against herbivores by producing repellent substances that make them unpalatable. However, some elaborate plant-snail associations suggest these plants in one way or another profit from attracting snails in spite of the grazing damage. Long periods of exposure, lack of alternative food for herbivores, and a vegetative mode of reproduction are factors suggested to enhance the adaptive value of the production of secondary substances by aquatic macrophytes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Ecology, University of Lund, Ecology Building Helgonav. 5, S-223 62, Lund, Sweden

    C. Otto

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  1. C. Otto
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Robert G. Wetzel

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© 1983 Dr W. Junk Publishers, The Hague

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Otto, C. (1983). Adaptations to benthic freshwater herbivory. In: Wetzel, R.G. (eds) Periphyton of Freshwater Ecosystems. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 17. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7293-3_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-7293-3_27

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-009-7295-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-7293-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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