Sago Pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.):
A Literature Review
by
Harold A. Kantrud
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
P.O. Box 2096
Jamestown, North Dakota 58402
Throughout the world, communities of submersed angiosperms are important feeding
and rearing habitats for waterfowl, fish, and many other organisms. Some of
the most important of these communities to waterfowl are dominated by sago pondweed
(Potamogeton pectinatus L.), which is unique among Potamogeton
taxa in its nearly worldwide distribution and often great abundance in monotypic
stands. The importance of sago to staging and migrant waterfowl is so great
that, at least in North America, continental migration pathways of some species
can be determined by the location of large water bodies dominated by the plant.
Unfortunately, the abundance of sago (and other important waterfowl food plants)
has declined drastically in many wetlands that have a history of substantial
use by staging and migrant waterfowl. Therefore, efforts are currently under
way in several areas of the United States to restore sago and other submersed
macrophytes to their former abundance. The success of these endeavors will require
a thorough knowledge of the life histories and environmental requirements of
the plants involved.
There are several brief life histories of sago (Moore 1915; Yeo 1965; Stevenson
and Confer 1978; Wallentinus 1979) and many reports on the effects of several
environmental variables on the distribution and abundance of the plant in
many parts of the world (e.g., Craner 1964; Aleem and Samaan 1969a,b; Kollman
and Wali 1976; Anderson 1978; Howard-Williams and Liptrot 1980; Verhoeven
1980a,b; Van Vierssen and Verhoeven 1983; Van Wijk 1988). Sago is easily cultured
in pure liquid media in the laboratory but is also a nuisance plant that clogs
irrigation facilities and interferes with fishing and recreational boating.
These attributes have resulted in much information on sago physiology and
control methodology that can be useful to waterfowl managers. In addition,
there are numerous references to use of sago by waterfowl and to methods whereby
sago production can be increased to attract greater numbers of waterfowl.
There have been no recent attempts to assemble and synthesize the available
information on sago, despite its nearly worldwide ecological importance. I
have tried to assemble such information in this report so that sago can be
properly protected and managed. Some material is included that is possibly
of interest only to specialists. This report is largely based on material
in English or with English summaries, but much foreign material, often not
seen by me but cited by other authors, is included. Not included are many
references to the simple occurrence of sago in various wetlands worldwide,
early taxonomic studies, mostly foreign, of sago, and reports of tests of
potential chemical control agents.
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
0753):
Kantrud, Harold A. 1990. Sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.): A
literature review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish and Wildlife
Resource Publication 176. 89pp.
This resource should be cited as:
Kantrud, Harold A. 1990. Sago pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.): A
literature review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish and Wildlife
Resource Publication 176. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Online. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/plants/pondweed/index.htm
(Version 16JUL97).
Contents
- Abstract
- Classification and Distribution
- Autoecological Classification
- Distribution
- Development and Reproduction
- Roots
- Rhizomes
- Vegetation
- Flowers
- Sexual Reproduction
- Asexual Reproduction
- Physiology
- Growth and Production
- Rate
- Yield
- Chemical and Caloric Content
- Decomposition
- Habitat
- Wetland Type
- Wetland Area and Fetch
- Water Column
- Bottom Substrate
- Communities and Associated Biotic Limiting Factors
- Macrophyte
- Algal
- Organic Pollutants
- Coatings
- Diseases and Parasites
- Invertebrates
- Amphibian and Reptile
- Fish
- Bird
- Mammal
- Economics
- Beneficial
- Detrimental
- Propagation and Management
- Control Methods
- Chemical
- Physical and Biological
- Research Needs
- Acknowledgments
- References A-L
- References M-Z
- Appendix A-- Sago Pondweed Biomasses and Probable
Limiting Biomass
- Appendix B-- Origins of Nutrient Enrichment
in Wetlands Where Sago Pondweed Occurred
- Appendix C-- Bottom Substrate Types Supporting
Sago Pondweed Growth
- Appendix D-- Use of Sago Pondweed as Food by
Groups of Waterfowl
- Table 1-- References and subject material about
the development and reproduction of sago pondweed
- Table 2-- Density and yield of sago pondweed
propagules under various conditions
- Table 3-- Elemental composition of aboveground
green tissues of sago pondweed
- Table 4-- General habitat features for sago pondweed
occurrences arranged according to increasing observed tolerance of water
depth
- Table 5-- Salinities of sago-inhabited waters,
arranged according to increasing maximum observed salt tolerance
- Table 6-- Chemical content of natural waters
inhabited by sago pondweed
- Table 7-- Extractable compounds and elements
in bottom sediments used by sago pondweed
- Table 8-- Co-occurences of sago pondweed in same
water body with other vascular submerged macrophytes and Chara in areas
throughout the world
- Figure-- Stages of growth for sago pondweed
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