Effects of snow cover on the timing and success of reproduction in high-Arctic pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus

• Published in: Polar Biology
• Main Authors: Madsen, J., Tamstorf, M., Klaassen, M.R.J., Eide, N., Glahder, C., Rigét, F., Nygaard, H., Cottaar, F.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2007
• Subjects: Arctic; Svalbard; Anser brachyrhynchus; Polar Biology
• Online Access: https://pure.knaw.nl/portal/en/publications/56ce35eb-a55e-480e-82ab-c3b903ff456c; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-007-0296-9; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11755/56ce35eb-a55e-480e-82ab-c3b903ff456c

During four breeding seasons, 2003–2006, we studied the relationship between snow cover and nesting performance in pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) in a key breeding site on Svalbard. Snow cover in late May, i.e., at the time of egg laying of geese, was derived from MODIS satellite images. Snow cover had a profound cascading effect on reproductive output via the number of nesting pairs and timing of nesting, which affected nest success, while there was only a tendency for a negative effect on clutch size. Hence, we estimated a five-fold difference in the number of young produced (to post-hatching) between years with little snow and years with high snow cover. The results from the study area correlated with whole-population productivity estimates recorded in autumn. Thus, snow cover derived from MODIS satellite images appears to provide a useful indicator of the breeding conditions in the Arctic. During four breeding seasons, 2003–2006, we studied the relationship between snow cover and nesting performance in pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) in a key breeding site on Svalbard. Snow cover in late May, i.e., at the time of egg laying of geese, was derived from MODIS satellite images. Snow cover had a profound cascading effect on reproductive output via the number of nesting pairs and timing of nesting, which affected nest success, while there was only a tendency for a negative effect on clutch size. Hence, we estimated a five-fold difference in the number of young produced (to post-hatching) between years with little snow and years with high snow cover. The results from the study area correlated with whole-population productivity estimates recorded in autumn. Thus, snow cover derived from MODIS satellite images appears to provide a useful indicator of the breeding conditions in the Arctic.