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Hydro-ecological relations in the Delta Waters

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The herbivores form a ra<strong>the</strong>r beterogenous group of swans, geese apd<br />

ducks. Some species like <strong>the</strong> Brent Geese feed nra<strong>in</strong>ly on Eelgrass and<br />

salt marshes, although <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>o<strong>in</strong>rer semizkatural grasslands and cereal<br />

crops form an important part of phe diet (Ebb<strong>in</strong>ge, er 81, 1987). Mute<br />

Bwens are strongly attached to water for feed<strong>in</strong>g, whereas o<strong>the</strong>r species<br />

like <strong>the</strong> Mallard feed ma<strong>in</strong>ly on adjacent wetlands and agricultural land<br />

and use <strong>the</strong> bas<strong>in</strong>s ma<strong>in</strong>ly for rest<strong>in</strong>g, d~<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g and preen<strong>in</strong>s. Ad <strong>the</strong><br />

food source used by <strong>the</strong>se birds is so variable (@.g. agrimitural<br />

wastes and crops) it is impossible to estimate <strong>the</strong> wailable food<br />

supply. Therefore <strong>in</strong> Table 4 only <strong>the</strong> biomass of macroalgae (ma<strong>in</strong>ly<br />

Ulva sp. and Zosrera 8p.)<br />

and <strong>the</strong> denaity of herbivores are given. With<br />

<strong>the</strong> exception of <strong>the</strong> Voordelta <strong>the</strong> average density of herbivoree is<br />

quite similar <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> different has<strong>in</strong>s, although somewhat hisher <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Tahle 4<br />

Occurrence of macrqphyta (tong ash free dry weight at martmum<br />

stwd<strong>in</strong>g stock) and herbivores CbirdsIlOO ha) <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> different<br />

aquatic system of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Delta</strong> atea. (Souree of macrophyta<br />

datat (1) Craeymeersch (pers. cm.) L2) De Jong (pers.<br />

corn.) (3) Nienhnis (pers. corm.) (L) Hannewijk, 1B88.) For<br />

abbreviations see Tahle 3.<br />

System 'Lotal Gran algae Source Density of<br />

biomass<br />

macrohyta<br />

herbivores<br />

W smell 0 mall 1 87<br />

KV 360 80 280 2 199<br />

OS 1833 S67 1457 3 334<br />

ws smdl 0 sncg21 2 399<br />

QV ? 1110-3300 ? 3 302<br />

W 630 9.6 680 4 562<br />

W small 0 0 415<br />

BD small 0 0 418<br />

BB<br />

small

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