Ecosystem service trade-offs at small lakes: Preferences of the public and anglers

Abstract Small lakes provide substantial ecosystem services to society, particularly recreational services. These are rarely quantified. It is also unclear whether expectations about desired lake attributes by various user groups and the public at large align. In many landscapes most small artificially originate from sand gravel mining along highways close cities. Using a choice experiment, in samples north-western Germany we quantified ecological provided these so-called pit investigated potential conflicts among preferences of anglers as specific group. The same visual sets were employed assess for different well biodiversity attributes. We tested presence affected how people valued lakes. Both endangered fish species other taxa positively, suggesting that improved conservation would benefit all users. varied relation uses opportunity swim was positively negatively surveyed anglers. Yet, did not significantly reduce value assigned public, co-existence swimmers be possible. Co-existence could fostered through establishing separate angling swimming zones. Our work suggests local trade-offs management lakes, specifically between However, constitutes common goal suits all.