Use of Wetlands by Grazing Waterfowl in Northern Alaska during Late Summer

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The aquatic grass, Arctophila fulva, has been identified as an indicator of high quality wetlands in northern Alaska. We investigated grazing rates by waterfowl on Arctophila and the sedge, Carex aquatilis, in the Colville River delta in northern Alaska. Grazing almost never occurred in wetlands with 150 m from a large water body. Arctophila almost never grew in shallow water but did often occur far from a large water body. The presence of Arctophila and proximity to a large water body therefore provided a better indication of grazing rates than presence of Arctophila alone. Grazing rates on Arctophila and Carex were about equal when the 2 species occurred together, suggesting that Arctophila was a correlate, rather than a cause, of high grazing rates