by

Harold A. Kantrud

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
P.O. Box 2096
Jamestown, North Dakota 58402

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.

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. 

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
     Home Page.  http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/literatr/pondweed/pondweed.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

pondweed.zip (213078 bytes) -- Sago Pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus L.): A Literature Review