The Effects of Grazing by Lesser Snow Geese on the Vegetation of a Sub- Arctic Salt Marsh

1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 669 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Cargill ◽  
R. L. Jefferies
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese

The role of lesser snow geese as nitrogen processors in a sub-arctic salt marsh

Oecologia ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Ruess ◽  
D. S. Hik ◽  
R. L. Jefferies
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese

Response of a subarctic salt marsh plant community to foraging by captive lesser snow geese

Ecoscience ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 320-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy B. Zacheis ◽  
Jerry W. Hupp ◽  
Roger W. Ruess
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Marsh Plant ◽  
Salt Marsh Plant ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese

Lesser Snow Geese and the Nitrogen Economy of a Grazed Salt Marsh

1989 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Bazely ◽  
R. L. Jefferies
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Nitrogen Economy ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese

Temporal Changes in Habitat Selection and Nest Spacing in a Colony of Ross' and Lesser Snow Geese

The Auk ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Robert McLandress
Keyword(s):  
Nearest Neighbor ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Nearest Neighbors ◽  
Nest Density ◽  
Snow Goose ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese ◽  
Average Size ◽  
Island Habitats

Abstract I studied the nesting colony of Ross' Geese (Chen rossii) and Lesser Snow Geese (C. caerulescens caerulescens) at Karrak Lake in the central Arctic of Canada in the summer of 1976. Related studies indicated that this colony had grown from 18,000 birds in 1966-1968 to 54,500 birds in 1976. In 1976, geese nested on islands that were used in the late 1960's and on an island and mainland sites that were previously unoccupied. Average nest density in 1976 was three-fold greater than in the late 1960's. Consequently, the average distance to nearest neighbors of Ross' Geese in 1976 was half the average distance determined 10 yr earlier. The mean clutch size of Ross' Geese was greater in island habitats where nest densities were high than in less populated island or mainland habitats. The average size of Snow Goose clutches did not differ significantly among island habitats but was larger at island than at mainland sites. Large clutches were most likely attributable to older and/or earlier nesting females. Habitat preferences apparently differed between species. Small clutches presumably indicated that young geese nested in areas where nest densities were low. The establishment of mainland nesting at Karrak Lake probably began with young Snow Geese using peripheral areas of the colony. Young Ross' Geese nested in sparsely populated habitats on islands to a greater extent than did Snow Geese. Ross' Geese also nested on the mainland but in lower densities than Ross' Geese nesting in similar island habitats. Successful nests with the larger clutches had closer conspecific neighbors than did successful nests with smaller clutches. The species composition of nearest neighbors changed significantly with distance from Snow Goose nests but not Ross' Goose nests. Nesting success was not affected by the species of nearest neighbor, however. Because they have complementary antipredator adaptations, Ross' and Snow geese may benefit by nesting together.

Weights of Lesser Snow Geese Taken on Their Winter Range

1979 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward L. Flickinger ◽  
Eric G. Bolen
Keyword(s):  
Winter Range ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese

Prediction of reproductive success and failure in lesser snow geese based on early season climatic variables

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Skinner ◽  
R. L. Jefferies ◽  
T. J. Carleton ◽  
R. F. Rockwell&dagger K. F. Abraham
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Climatic Variables ◽  
Early Season ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese

Use of Supplemental Food by Breeding Ross's Geese and Lesser Snow Geese: Evidence for Variable Anorexia

The Auk ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 116 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark L. Gloutney ◽  
Ray T. Alisauskas ◽  
Keith A. Hobson ◽  
Alan D. Afton
Keyword(s):  
Supplemental Food ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese ◽  
Ross's Geese

Long-term vegetation changes in a Snow Goose nesting habitat

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 965-969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Ganter ◽  
Fred Cooke ◽  
Pierre Mineau
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Nesting Habitat ◽  
Snow Goose ◽  
Brood Rearing ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Bare Sediment ◽  
Snow Geese

Vegetation in a small section of nesting habitat in a Lesser Snow Goose colony was mapped in 1976 and again in 1993. During the 17-year period, ground cover changed dramatically from being dominated by salt-marsh graminoids and short grasses to being dominated by willows and areas of bare sediment. Lyme grass, Elymus arenarius, a plant strongly favoured by Snow Geese when selecting their nest sites, which covered 15% of the ground in 1976, had completely disappeared by 1993. Although the area had contained 79 Snow Goose nests in 1976, no nests remained in 1993. Degradation of the nesting habitat is caused by foraging activities of the geese themselves during the prenesting and nesting phase: salt-marsh graminoids and short grasses are removed by grubbing and the sediment is exposed; E. arenarius plants are removed by shoot pulling. Both clutch size and hatching success can be negatively affected by the decline in available food plants, and, presumably as a consequence, the area was abandoned by breeding geese. This habitat destruction and subsequent abandonment of nesting areas by breeding geese is a process similar to that documented for brood-rearing areas of Lesser Snow Geese.

scholarly journals A comparison of drone imagery and ground-based methods for estimating the extent of habitat destruction by lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) in La Pérouse Bay

PLoS ONE ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. e0217049 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew F. Barnas ◽  
Brian J. Darby ◽  
Gregory S. Vandeberg ◽  
Robert F. Rockwell ◽  
Susan N. Ellis-Felege
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese ◽  
Anser Caerulescens Caerulescens ◽  
Anser Caerulescens

Nutrient reserve dynamics of lesser snow geese staging at James Bay, Ontario

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald C. P. Wypkema ◽  
C. Davison Ankney
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Follicular Development ◽  
James Bay ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Snow Geese ◽  
Lesser Snow Geese ◽  
Nutrient Reserve ◽  
Breeding Grounds ◽  
Juvenile Males

We compared mean body weights, nutrient reserves (fat and protein), and an index of feeding of lesser snow geese arriving at and leaving southern James Bay in spring and fall 1976. Feeding increased in spring and decreased in fall. Body weight and protein of adults increased in spring, and fat reserves were maintained. The protein increase of adult females was equivalent to the protein in one egg. Ovarian follicular development in adult females appeared to proceed as reserves became available. Juvenile males had completed body growth by the end of the fall staging period but juvenile females had not. Fat and protein reserves of adults arriving on James Bay in the fall were significantly larger than those of adults after wing molt on the breeding grounds. Fat reserves of adults and juveniles increased significantly during the fall; body weight of juvenile females increased also. The fat gain greatly increases the theoretical maximum flight range of the geese and we suggest it is an important determinant of normal fall migration.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document