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Seasonal variability in the palatability of freshwater macrophytes: a case study

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Abstract

The pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis (L.) was used for a laboratory assessment of seasonal variation in palatability of three freshwater macrophytes: Potamogeton lucens, Elodea canadensis and E. nuttallii. For each species, 2–5 populations were investigated in spring and in summer. Preliminary results showed that the feeding rate of similarly-aged snails bred under standard conditions was stable over time. In contrast, snail feeding rate on the three macrophyte species decreased from spring to summer, which was therefore interpreted as a decrease in plant palatability. This decrease was probably due to tissue maturation, as suggested by the concomitant increase in the dry matter content of leaves of the three species. The high palatability of the species studied during the spring may prove detrimental in cases of strong herbivore pressure, and could have consequences for macrophyte distribution among aquatic habitats.

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Author notes

  1. A. Elger

    Present address: UMR CNRS 5172, Dynamique de la Biodiversité, Université Paul Sabatier Toulouse 3, BP 24349, 31055 Toulouse Cedex 4, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UMR CNRS 5023, Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Fluviaux, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69622, Villeurbanne cedex, France

    A. Elger & M. H. Barrat-Segretain

  2. School of Aquatic Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, UK

    N. J. Willby

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  1. A. Elger
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  2. M. H. Barrat-Segretain
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  3. N. J. Willby
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Correspondence to A. Elger.

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Elger, A., Barrat-Segretain, M.H. & Willby, N.J. Seasonal variability in the palatability of freshwater macrophytes: a case study. Hydrobiologia 570, 89–93 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-006-0166-4

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