Food Items of Grass Carp, American Coots, and Ring-necked Ducks from a Central Florida Lake

Examination of food items of 84 grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), 73 American coots (Fulica americana), and 31 ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) from Lake Conway, Florida, revealed that all 3 species fed heavily on hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), Illinois pondweed (Potamogeton illinoensis), and nitella (Nitella furcata). Introduction of grass carp to control aquatic vegetation may affect waterfowl distribution and abundance if these macrophyte species are present.