Timing of Nesting by Canada Geese in Relation to the Phenology and Availability of Their Food Plants

Sedinger, James S.; Raveling, Dennis G.

doi:10.2307/4435

Cited by 130 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Sedinger and Raveling (1986) suggested that timing of nesting by Arctic geese evolved to synchronize grazing by goslings and postbreeding adults with peak availability of high-quality forage plants. Forage plant quality peaks early in the growing season, when nitrogen concentrations are highest and cell wall contents are lowest, i.e., more digestible, and then declines as the season progresses Raveling 1986, Manseau andGauthier 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Average hatch timing for geese generally coincides with the spring flush of growth of forage species so that newly hatched goslings can take advantage of the high nutritional content and digestibility of new plant growth (Cargill andJefferies 1984, Sedinger andRaveling 1986). The seasonal decline in forage quality and negative consequences of hatching relatively late within a year compared with conspecifics suggest that differences in hatch dates of as little as a week can result in detectable declines in gosling growth (Cooch et al 1991a, Sedinger and Flint 1991, Lindholm et al 1994, Lepage et al 1998.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Projections of climate change in Arctic and Subarctic regions suggest increased annual variability and a general advancement in spring phenology (Schwartz et al 2006). For herbivores, the timing of reproduction and how well it matches the timing of optimum forage availability and quality can be an important determinant of offspring survival and future reproduction (Sedinger and Raveling 1986).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Density dependence and phenological mismatch: consequences for growth and survival of sub-arctic nesting Canada Geese

Brook¹,

Leafloor²,

Abraham³

et al. 2015

ACE

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ABSTRACT. The extent to which species are plastic in the timing of their reproductive events relative to phenology suggests how climate change might affect their demography. An ecological mismatch between the timing of hatch for avian species and the peak availability in quality and quantity of forage for rapidly growing offspring might ultimately affect recruitment to the breeding population unless individuals can adjust the timing of breeding to adapt to changing phenology. We evaluated effects of goose density, hatch timing relative to forage plant phenology, and weather indices on annual growth of pre-fledging Canada geese (Branta canadensis) from 1993-2010 at Akimiski Island, Nunavut. We found effects of both density and hatch timing relative to forage plant phenology; the earlier that eggs hatched relative to forage plant phenology, the larger the mean gosling size near fledging. Goslings were smallest in years when hatch was latest relative to forage plant phenology, and when local abundance of breeding adults was highest. We found no evidence for a trend in relative hatch timing, but it was apparent that in early springs, Canada geese tended to hatch later relative to vegetation phenology, suggesting that geese were not always able to adjust the timing of nesting as rapidly as vegetation phenology was advanced. Analyses using forage biomass information revealed a positive relationship between gosling size and per capita biomass availability, suggesting a causal mechanism for the density effect. The effects of weather parameters explained additional variation in mean annual gosling size, although total June and July rainfall had a small additive effect on gosling size. Modelling of annual firstyear survival probability using mean annual gosling size as an annual covariate revealed a positive relationship, suggesting that reduced gosling growth negatively impacts recruitment.Dépendance à la densité et désynchronisation phénologique : conséquences sur la croissance et la survie des Bernaches du Canada nichant en milieu subarctique RÉSUMÉ. Le degré de plasticité que montrent les espèces dans la chronologie de leurs activités de reproduction en fonction de la phénologie nous en apprend sur la façon avec laquelle les changements climatiques pourraient affecter leur démographie. Un décalage entre la période d'éclosion des oiseaux et le pic de disponibilité des ressources alimentaires, tant en quantité qu'en qualité, pour les jeunes en croissance, peut ultimement perturber le recrutement dans la population nicheuse, à moins que les individus ne soient capables de synchroniser leur reproduction avec la phénologie changeante. Nous avons évalué les effets de la densité des bernaches, de la période d'éclosion relativement à la phénologie des plantes recherchées pour l'alimentation, et de paramètres météorologiques sur la croissance annuelle de Bernaches du Canada (Branta canadensis) avant leur premier envol, de 1993 à 2010, sur l'île Akimiski au Nunavut. Nous avons observé des effets de la densité et la période d'éc...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Density dependence and phenological mismatch: consequences for growth and survival of sub-arctic nesting Canada Geese

Brook¹,

Leafloor²,

Abraham³

et al. 2015

ACE

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show abstract

“…Migratory birds face the challenge of producing a clutch as soon as possible after arrival on the breeding grounds, since the prospects for progeny decline rapidly with advancing date (Sedinger and Raveling 1986;Sedinger and Flint 1991;Lepage et al 1998;Prop et al 2003;Bêty et al 2003Bêty et al , 2004. Especially in demanding environments still in the grip of winter, the nesting female will face a shortage of foraging opportunities locally and may depend instead on nutrients garnered elsewhere along the flyway and sequestered in the body (notably stores of fat and protein) in order to meet her time schedule.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Migratory connectivity in Arctic geese: spring stopovers are the weak links in meeting targets for breeding

Drent

Eichhorn

Flagstad³

et al. 2007

J Ornithol

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Linking spring migratory itineraries of individual Arctic-breeding geese to their eventual breeding success has provided evidence that accumulation of body stores (protein, fat) at stop-over sites is crucial. We show that this is because geese nesting in the Arctic depend at least in part on these stores for synthesis of eggs and supporting incubation (for the female, a phase of starvation). Estimates of the body stores needed for successful reproduction (eggs + incubation) in relation to measured rates of accumulation of these stores make clear that meeting the demands solely by feeding at the breeding grounds is not an option for geese. The time constraint does not allow this, because early laying is a necessity in the Arctic to ensure survival of the progeny. Although the parents can exploit the early spring growth along the flyway, they get ahead of the wave of growth when they arrive on the breeding site and hence the parental timetable can only be met by drawing on body stores. Results from tracking studies in six goose species underline the conclusion that egg formation commences along the flyway before arrival at the nesting colony. In some cases, signatures of stable isotopes in egg components and parental body tissues in relation to the signature in forage plants support the notion of a mixed endogenous/exogenous origin. The close match between migratory timing and the spring flush of plant foods makes geese particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change. There is an increasing mismatch along the NE Atlantic Flyway, where a warming trend in NW Europe conflicts with stable or even cooling trends in the Arctic target areas.

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“…As warming begins, other terrestrial organisms migrate in from more temperature latitudes and, in addition to maintaining an active metabolism, growth and reproduction are enabled. Consequently, the passing of spring coincides with the initiation of biological processes connected with growth and reproduction including flowering (Rathcke & Lacey 1985, Andersen 1991, bud swell in trees (Scott et al 1987, Hanninen 1990), goose migrations (Blokpoel & Gauthier 1975, Davies & Cooke 1983) and nesting (Sedinger & Raveling 1986, MacInnes et al 1990, and the nesting of birds in general (Jehl & Smith 1970).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Annual development of climatic summer in northern North America: accurate prediction of summer heat availability

Scott¹

1992

Clim. Res.

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Timing of Nesting by Canada Geese in Relation to the Phenology and Availability of Their Food Plants

Cited by 130 publications

References 34 publications

Density dependence and phenological mismatch: consequences for growth and survival of sub-arctic nesting Canada Geese

Density dependence and phenological mismatch: consequences for growth and survival of sub-arctic nesting Canada Geese

Migratory connectivity in Arctic geese: spring stopovers are the weak links in meeting targets for breeding

Annual development of climatic summer in northern North America: accurate prediction of summer heat availability

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