An individual-based model of swan-macrophyte conflicts on a chalk river

Wood, Kevin A.; Stillman, Richard A.; Daunt, Francis ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4638-3388; O'Hare, Matthew T.. 2012 An individual-based model of swan-macrophyte conflicts on a chalk river. In: Boon, Philip J.; Raven, Paul J., (eds.) River conservation and management. Chichester, Wiley-Blackwell, 339-343.

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Abstract/Summary

Foraging mute swans Cygnus olor can cause a substantial reduction of aquatic macrophyte biomass in chalk rivers in southern England. To reduce the adverse effects of this on ecology, hydrology and fisheries interests a river management strategy needs to be able to predict where and when grazing pressure will be greatest. To assess the suitability of mathematical modelling for this purpose, an individual-based model (IBM) was constructed and tested for swans grazing a 1.1km length of the River Frome and adjacent pasture land in Dorset, England. Comparison of predicted and observed data indicates that the model was good at estimating the number of swan days, macrophyte biomass depletion, swan feeding time and feeding patch use. The results indicate that IBMs used at the appropriate scale could help to reconcile river management conflicts involving swans.

Item Type:	Publication - Book Section
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1002/9781119961819.ch27
Programmes:	CEH Topics & Objectives 2009 - 2012 > Water
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Watt
ISBN:	9780470682081
Additional Keywords:	Ranunculus, macrophytes, fisheries, mathematical models, river management strategy
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment Hydrology Zoology Botany
Date made live:	15 Jan 2013 12:48 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/21133

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