Demanding divers : ecological energetics of food exploitation by diving ducks

Diving ducks of the genus Aythya are specialized consumers of benthic food resources in freshwater and marine ecosystems. Lake IJsselmeer is a relevant study area for both conservational and scientific reasons, as a large proportion of the European wintering population of diving ducks is exploiting a relatively simple singleprey system. The main goal of this study is to analyse which factors determine the carrying capacity of a large lake ecosystem and to predict effects of possible habitat changes on diving duck numbers and the sustainability of resource use.