We describe the main results of a monitoring study at Lake Myvatn, nor
thern Iceland, begun in 1975. The aims were to find factors that limit
production of young and cause changes in density of breeding ducks of
several species. We estimated numbers of ducks in spring, before nest
ing, numbers of ducklings produced, and numbers moulting. Chironomid a
nd simuliid dipterans were monitored with window traps. In all duck sp
ecies studied, production of young was correlated with food abundance.
Reproductive performance determined subsequent changes in spring popu
lation density of Eurasian Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Greater Scaup, Common
Scoter and Harlequin Duck. The spring population of Barrow's Goldeneye
apparently did not respond to variation in reproductive success. Moul
ting numbers of male Tufted Duck were related to chironomid abundance,
but not those of Scaup and Barrow's Goldeneye. Moulting numbers were
not associated with previous reproductive output.