Ardea
Official journal of the Netherlands Ornithologists' Union

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Amat J.A. (1984) Ecological segregation between Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina and Pochard Aythya ferina in a fluctuating environment. ARDEA 72 (2): 229-233
In the Marismas of the Guadalquivir (SW Spain) during winter the Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina and the Pochard Aythya ferina use different habitat types but the same method to obtain food. However, in spring, owing to the drying up of the habitat types previously used by the Red-crested Pochard, both species are present in the same habitat, using different feeding methods. The feeding behaviour of the Red-crested Pochard was affected more than that of the Pochard. It is suggested that the change in the feeding behaviour of the Red-crested Pochard allows it to segregate along a niche dimension in which the Pochard is more specialized. The disappearance of the herbivorous dabbling ducks from the area in spring might be an important factor enabling the Red-crested Pochard to adopt such a change.


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