Experiments in dispersal of phytoplankton by ducks

Abstract

Eight species of freshwater plankton algae were fed to three species of duck. No viable cells of any of the algal species were found in faeces from Australian white-eye or tufted duck. Growth of the diatom Asterionella formosa was found in two cultures inoculated from the faeces of mallard and the significance of this result in relation to the dispersal of algae by ducks is discussed.