Dispersion of the horned grebe Podiceps auritus (L.) (Aves) on Lake Myvatn, Iceland, in late summer

Abstract

Studies on habitat selection by waterbirds usually describe large-scale distribution of populations or species but the dispersion within lakes is an understudied aspect. Detailed mapping of horned grebes (Podiceps auritus (L.)) on the North Basin of Lake Myvatn, Iceland, was carried out in late summer 2000 in order to compare their dispersion with water depth and submerged vegetation. Depth and vegetation were measured on sampling sites that were evenly distributed over the North Basin, and the information obtained compared to the distribution of the grebes. Four species of submerged macrophytes dominated in the North Basin; Myriophyllum spicatum, M. alterniflorum, Potamogeton filiformis and P. perfoliatus, mainly at depths < 2.5 m. The grebes seemed to prefer to dive in shallow areas vegetated with stands of Myriophyllum spp. Densities of three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus were compared in stands of M. spicatum and P. filiformis in order to estimate food availability. No difference was found, so the sticklebacks could not explain the preference of the grebes for areas vegetated with Myriophyllum spp. Nevertheless, this study indicates that shallow areas, vegetated with Myriophyllum spp., are important feeding areas for the horned grebe.