Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence
Abstract Broods of geese spend time feeding according to availability and quality of food plants, subject to inherent foraging and digestive constraints. We studied behavioral patterns of broods of Emperor Geese (Chen canagica) on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, and examined how feeding and alert...
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/auk/119.4.996 2024-04-07T07:51:34+00:00 Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence Schmutz, Joel A. Laing, Karen K. Moore, F. 2002 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.4.996 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/119/4/996/29685935/auk0996.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) The Auk volume 119, issue 4, page 996-1009 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 2002 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.4.996 2024-03-08T03:04:37Z Abstract Broods of geese spend time feeding according to availability and quality of food plants, subject to inherent foraging and digestive constraints. We studied behavioral patterns of broods of Emperor Geese (Chen canagica) on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, and examined how feeding and alert behavior varied in relation to habitat and goose density. During 1994–1996, time spent feeding by Emperor Goose goslings and adult females was positively related to multispecies goose densities near observation blinds, and not to just Emperor Goose density. Similarly, body mass of Emperor Goose goslings was more strongly related (negatively) to multispecies goose densities than intraspecific densities. A grazing experiment in 1995 indicated that most above ground primary production by Carex subspathacea, a preferred food plant, was consumed by grazing geese. Those results demonstrate that interspecific competition for food occurred, with greatest support for goslings whose behavioral repertoire is limited primarily to feeding, digesting, and resting. Although the more abundant Cackling Canada Geese (Branta canadensis minima) differed from Emperor Geese in their preferred use of habitats during brooding rearing (Schmutz 2001), the two species occurred in equal abundance in habitats preferred by Emperor Goose broods. Thus, Cackling Canada Geese were a numerically significant competitor with Emperor Geese. Comparing these results to an earlier study, time spent feeding by goslings, adult females, and adult males were greater during 1993–1996 than during 1985–1986. During the interval between those studies, densities of Cackling Canada Geese increased two to three times whereas Emperor Goose numbers remained approximately stable, which implies that interspecific competition affected foraging behavior over a long time period. These density-dependent changes in foraging behavior and body mass indicate that interspecific competition affects nutrient acquisition and gosling growth, which has a demonstrated effect (Schmutz ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Branta canadensis Kuskokwim Alaska Yukon Oxford University Press Yukon Canada The Auk 119 4 996 1009 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Oxford University Press |
op_collection_id |
croxfordunivpr |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Schmutz, Joel A. Laing, Karen K. Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Abstract Broods of geese spend time feeding according to availability and quality of food plants, subject to inherent foraging and digestive constraints. We studied behavioral patterns of broods of Emperor Geese (Chen canagica) on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta, Alaska, and examined how feeding and alert behavior varied in relation to habitat and goose density. During 1994–1996, time spent feeding by Emperor Goose goslings and adult females was positively related to multispecies goose densities near observation blinds, and not to just Emperor Goose density. Similarly, body mass of Emperor Goose goslings was more strongly related (negatively) to multispecies goose densities than intraspecific densities. A grazing experiment in 1995 indicated that most above ground primary production by Carex subspathacea, a preferred food plant, was consumed by grazing geese. Those results demonstrate that interspecific competition for food occurred, with greatest support for goslings whose behavioral repertoire is limited primarily to feeding, digesting, and resting. Although the more abundant Cackling Canada Geese (Branta canadensis minima) differed from Emperor Geese in their preferred use of habitats during brooding rearing (Schmutz 2001), the two species occurred in equal abundance in habitats preferred by Emperor Goose broods. Thus, Cackling Canada Geese were a numerically significant competitor with Emperor Geese. Comparing these results to an earlier study, time spent feeding by goslings, adult females, and adult males were greater during 1993–1996 than during 1985–1986. During the interval between those studies, densities of Cackling Canada Geese increased two to three times whereas Emperor Goose numbers remained approximately stable, which implies that interspecific competition affected foraging behavior over a long time period. These density-dependent changes in foraging behavior and body mass indicate that interspecific competition affects nutrient acquisition and gosling growth, which has a demonstrated effect (Schmutz ... |
author2 |
Moore, F. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Schmutz, Joel A. Laing, Karen K. |
author_facet |
Schmutz, Joel A. Laing, Karen K. |
author_sort |
Schmutz, Joel A. |
title |
Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence |
title_short |
Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence |
title_full |
Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence |
title_fullStr |
Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence |
title_full_unstemmed |
Variation in Foraging Behavior and Body Mass in Broods of Emperor Geese (Chen Canagica): Evidence for Interspecific Density Dependence |
title_sort |
variation in foraging behavior and body mass in broods of emperor geese (chen canagica): evidence for interspecific density dependence |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.4.996 http://academic.oup.com/auk/article-pdf/119/4/996/29685935/auk0996.pdf |
geographic |
Yukon Canada |
geographic_facet |
Yukon Canada |
genre |
Branta canadensis Kuskokwim Alaska Yukon |
genre_facet |
Branta canadensis Kuskokwim Alaska Yukon |
op_source |
The Auk volume 119, issue 4, page 996-1009 ISSN 1938-4254 0004-8038 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/auk/119.4.996 |
container_title |
The Auk |
container_volume |
119 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
996 |
op_container_end_page |
1009 |
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1795666560429326336 |