山西平陆越冬大天鹅日间行为模式

2011年12月至2012年2月和2012年11月至2013年1月,采用瞬时扫描法,对山西平陆黄河湿地越冬的大天鹅进行了日间行为时间分配和活动节律的研究。结果表明,大天鹅在越冬期的主要行为是静息、运动和取食,分别占全部行为比例的(40.5±1.4)%、(22.8±0.9)%和(18.2±0.8)%。在日间节律方面,大天鹅的取食行为呈现早晚双高峰,静息行为的高峰则出现在早上和中午。对不同地点的大天鹅的行为时间分配研究表明,大天鹅在两地的行为时间分配存在明显差异。其中,在干扰强度较大的三湾村,运动和争斗行为更多;在干扰较小的关家窝村,静息和警戒行为更多。在行为时间分配与温度变化关系的研究中,通过Pearson相关性分析发现,大天鹅的取食、运动和理羽行为与温度成显著正相关,静息和警戒行为与温度呈现显著负相关。     

年龄、集群、生境及天气对鄱阳湖白鹤越冬期日间行为模式的影响

于2012年1—3月和2012年12—2013年3月,采用瞬时扫描法研究了鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区越冬白鹤(Grusleucogeranus)的昼间时间分配模式和日活动节律,分析了年龄、集群大小、生境类型和天气对白鹤越冬行为的影响。结果表明,白鹤越冬期的主要行为有觅食、警戒、理羽、游走、休息和争斗。其中,觅食是鄱阳湖越冬白鹤主要行为,占其昼间活动时间的82.94%;警戒占11.94%,理羽占3.52%,游走占1.88%,休息占0.15%,争斗占0.02%。白鹤在越冬期间的觅食、游走、休息和争斗行为存在明显的昼间节律性,其中游走、觅食和争斗行为在每天的上午和下午各存在1个高峰,休息行为在中午出现一个高峰;警戒和理羽行为则没有显著的昼间节律变化。年龄、集群大小、天气和生境对白鹤的越冬行为具有显著的影响:幼鹤取食的时间显著多于成鹤,而警戒时间则显著的小于成鹤;与家庭群中的个体相比,集体群中的个体取食和争斗时间显著增加,警戒时间显著减少;在天气晴朗时,白鹤的警戒时间显著大于阴天的警戒时间,取食时间则显著少于阴天时白鹤的取食时间;白鹤在大风天气显著增加理羽行为;在有雾的天气会显著增加取食时间,减少警戒时间。在草洲和浅水两种生境中,白鹤的游走和理羽行为存在显著差异,而觅食和警戒行为没有显著的差异,这可能源于草洲和浅水生境相互毗邻,并且具有相同程度的人为干扰。GLM分析结果表明,年龄和集群大小、年龄和生境、集群大小和天气、集群大小和生境、天气和生境对白鹤昼间时间分配模式的影响存在显著交互效应。     

鄱阳湖稻田生境中越冬灰鹤行为模式及其影响因素

2018年10月—2019年3月,采用焦点动物法研究了鄱阳湖区稻田生境中灰鹤(Grus grus)越冬期的行为模式及其影响因素。结果表明:越冬期灰鹤的主要行为是觅食(77.45%)、警戒(11.17%)和修整(7.82%);行为模式以取食-警戒-取食或取食-修整-取食为主;幼鹤取食行为的时间分配和持续时间均极显著高于成鹤(P0.01),推测幼鹤取食效率低,单次取食持续时间和总时间较长;成鹤警戒行为(P0.01)极显著高于幼鹤,成、幼鹤警戒行为的持续时间无显著差异,取食间隔的警戒频次和时间分配均显著高于幼鹤(P0.05),说明成鹤是通过增加警戒次数来确保幼鹤的安全;取食行为的持续时间和时间分配在整个越冬期均显著升高,取食间隔期间的行走行为也逐渐上升,这与食物资源的可获得性有关;建议适当降低家鸭放牧等人类活动,减少灰鹤越冬期的取食难度;灰鹤不同家庭群的行走行为和取食间隔的行走行为均有显著性差异,推测与各家庭群占有的食物资源质量相关;行为节律上,灰鹤各时段取食行为占总行为的比例均较高,在10:00—10:59、12:00—12:59和16:00—16:59出现取食小高峰;警戒行为保持在一个稳定水平,修整行为高峰出现在取食行为高峰之后,这是因为灰鹤保持取食行为积累疲劳后进行修整;成鹤的取食行为节律性较幼鹤明显,幼鹤的取食行为曲线随机性强,这与幼鹤取食经验不足有关;幼鹤警戒行为的高峰出现在成鹤警戒的低谷,推测与保持整个家庭群较高的总体警戒水平有关。     

不同天气条件下青头潜鸭越冬期行为的响应模式

2018年11—12月在河南民权国家湿地公园,采用定点观察法、扫描取样法对越冬青头潜鸭在不同天气条件下的行为响应模式进行研究。结果表明: 在晴天,静息、飞行、运动是青头潜鸭越冬期的优势行为(65.5%),觅食、修整是次要行为(31.9%);行为节律表现为上午觅食、中午静息、下午觅食修整;飞行通常发生在觅食高峰前,运动行为多与其他行为相伴,其时间分配与觅食呈正响应,与静息呈负响应。相较于晴天,阴雨天青头潜鸭增加了对静息和觅食的时间分配,静息、觅食和运动为阴雨天的主要行为(76.5%),修整、飞行为次要行为(20.3%);觅食和静息的高峰时段后移,傍晚时达到高峰,飞行和修整时间显著减少。与晴天相比,雾霭天青头潜鸭静息、觅食、运动和修整的时间分配增加,飞行行为减少;觅食高峰后移至中午和下午,静息高峰后移至下午;静息、运动和觅食为雾霭天的优势行为(70.6%),修整和飞行为次要行为(27.5%)。研究表明,不同天气条件下,民权湿地公园青头潜鸭的越冬期行为在时间分配、行为节律、优势行为方面存在一定的响应;阴雨天和雾霭天青头潜鸭会分配更多的静息和觅食时间,并通过增加能量摄入和减少耗能行为应对恶劣天气。     

云南大山包黑颈鹤日间越冬时间分配和活动节律

2006年10月—2007年4月采用瞬时扫描取样法对云南省昭通市大山包黑颈鹤国家级自然保护区内越冬的黑颈鹤(Grus nigricollis)种群进行了越冬时间分配和日间活动节律的研究。取食是黑颈鹤越冬期间最主要的行为,占(53.05±4.93)%,其次为警戒(18.75±2.65)%、搜寻(10.38±1.34)%和休整(10.32±4.93)%,其余行为依次为:行走(4.90±1.59)%、飞行(1.70±0.38)%、其他(0.55±0.41)%、争斗(0.36±0.25)%。黑颈鹤的出飞时间与日出时间、飞回时间与日落时间分别具有显著的正相关和负相关关系。越冬期间黑颈鹤日间各时间段(1h)(09:00—18:00)和各月份间(2006.11—2007.03)行为差异极显著(P<0.05),并呈现出上午和下午取食双峰、中午休息高峰的规律性变化。气温高时黑颈鹤增加休整时间减少取食时间;气温低时则减少休整时间增加取食时间。偏相关分析说明:环境温度独立地对越冬时间分配产生影响,湿度通过温度对黑颈鹤越冬时间分配产生相反的影响。     

环境温度对大天鹅越冬行为和活动区的影响

环境温度变化通过影响鸟类的行为进而使其活动区也发生变化,探讨三者之间的关联性有助于理解鸟类是如何通过行为调整以适应周围环境的变化,来满足自身的生理需求。本研究通过卫星跟踪的方法获得了在河南三门峡湿地越冬的31只大天鹅(Cygnus cygnus)详细位点数据,在ArcGIS和R语言中采用核密度估计法计算大天鹅的活动区面积,在SPSS中采用Spearman分析平均温度与活动区面积的相关性;并利用瞬时扫描法获得大天鹅越冬行为观察数据,采用非参数Kruskal Wallis检验对大天鹅行为的差异性进行分析,探讨了环境温度与大天鹅越冬行为和活动区三者之间相互作用的模式。研究表明,从越冬初期至后期,随着环境温度的先下降后升高,大天鹅的取食、运动、静息等主要行为发生了较大的变化,静息和取食行为先增加后减少,运动行为则先减少后增加。越冬不同时期的核心区和活动区面积与温度呈显著性正相关。大天鹅在不同时段的活动区面积大小整体上均呈现出先减少后增加的趋势。随着环境温度的变化,大天鹅的越冬行为也随之发生了调整,进而使活动区面积发生改变,主要体现在越冬初期大天鹅通过增加活动区面积及时补充能量增加体能,越冬中期减少活动保持能量需求,越冬后期增加盘旋飞行使得活动区面积增大等。大天鹅这一系列行为和活动区的调整都是为了更好地满足越冬不同时期的生理需求。     

白鹤幼鹤行为发育

2012年10月至2013年5月,采用焦点取样法对在吉林莫莫格国家级自然保护区内秋季和春季迁徙停歇的以及在江西鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区内越冬的白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)幼鹤行为进行了研究。结果表明,幼鹤取食行为比例从秋季迁徙时的23.0%增加到越冬晚期时的82.7%,但春季迁徙期减少为61.9%;幼鹤乞食行为比例从秋季迁徙时的58.2%减少至春季迁徙时的1.2%;幼鹤警戒行为比例从秋季迁徙时的1.0%增加至春季迁徙时的7.1%。幼鹤在春季迁徙期的理羽及静栖行为显著高于越冬期,这种行为的差异可能与食物的丰富度相关。环境因子中,风速对幼鹤静栖行为有显著影响,幼鹤取食及警戒行为与气温呈显著正相关。秋季迁徙及越冬晚期,幼鹤行为日节律在13:00—14:00时出现明显的取食低谷期,而春季迁徙期时则推后1小时。整个观察期间,幼鹤从雄鹤和雌鹤获得食物频次无显著差异,但不同时间段幼鹤从雄、雌成鹤处获得食物频次差异是显著的。研究从行为学的角度展示白鹤幼鹤的生长过程及不同性别成鹤对幼鹤生长的贡献。     

鄱阳湖藕田越冬期小天鹅和鸿雁能量支出与取食行为比较

2016年12月—2017年2月和2017年12月—2018年3月,采用瞬时扫描法和焦点动物法,对鄱阳湖畔藕田生境中小天鹅(Cygnus columbianus)和鸿雁(Anser cygnoides)越冬期昼间行为的能量支出和取食行为进行观察。结果表明:小天鹅和鸿雁主要行为是休息(小天鹅:36.01%;鸿雁:28.02%)、取食(32.71%; 17.44%)和运动(17.26%; 30.61%);小天鹅和鸿雁昼间能量支出较多的行为也是取食(小天鹅:354. 1 kJ·d-1;鸿雁:144. 88kJ·d-1)、休息(275.22 kJ·d-1; 164.35 k J·d-1)和运动(219.79 kJ·d-1; 299.22 kJ·d-1);小天鹅在藕田中取食行为的能量支出和总能量支出均显著高于鸿雁;小天鹅和鸿雁一天中的能量支出无显著差异;藕田生境中小天鹅主要采取表面取食和头颈浸入水体的取食方式,鸿雁则主要采取表面取食和挖掘食物,这与藕田生境中水深、食物组成以及自身形态有关;小天鹅和鸿雁通过不同的取食方式和取食水深,减少种间竞争。     

稻水象甲成虫活动行为的日节律

为了摸清稻水象甲Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuschel成虫在稻田中的日活动行为节律, 采用室外单头隔离饲养的方法, 将成虫 行为分为移动、 取食、 离水静息、 触水静息和其他5个行为类型, 每30 min观察记录1次, 从2012年4月30日至5月4日连续观察5 d, 共获得7 200个行为数据。结果显示： 稻水象甲越冬成虫行为的日时间分配以离水静息行为最多（47.83%）, 移动行为最少（5.64%）, 各行为的时间分配存在极显著差异（P<0.001）。离水静息行为最高峰值在23:30 （72.67%）, 最低值在7:30 （14.67%）; 触水静息行 为最大峰值在7:30 （75.33%）, 19:00还有一个小高峰（37.33%）; 取食行为在15:00达到最高峰（26.67%）, 在21:00达到第2个高峰 值（18.00%）; 移动行为在22:00-9:00较少（0~4.00%）, 从9:30开始持续增加, 在17:00达到最高峰（20.00%）; 其他行为在 1.33~18.67%之间波动。离水静息、 移动、 取食和其他行为白天和黑夜存在极显著差异（P<0.001）, 但触水静息行为白天和黑夜无显著 不同（P=0.834）; 上午、 中午、 下午和晚上4个时间段之间各行为也有显著差异（P<0.001）。在空间上, 离水静息行为在叶片上最高 , 移动行为以水中最高, 取食行为仅发生在叶片上, 离水静息、 移动和取食在水稻不同部位存在极显著差异（P<0.001）。水中发生触 水静息、 移动和其他共3种行为, 以触水静息行为的日波动最大, 3种行为在各时刻之间有极显著差异（触水静息和移动： P<0.001; 其他： P=0.002）; 叶片上发生离水静息、 移动和取食3种行为, 以离水静息和取食行为的日波动较大且在各时刻间具有极显著的差异 （P<0.001）; 茎秆和瓶壁或封口纱布处主要发生离水静息和移动行为, 所占比例均不高, 但在瓶壁或封口纱布处的移动行为各时刻之 间有极显著差异（P=0.008）。水中和叶片上是行为发生的主要空间, 在水中行为的最高峰值（81.33%）与叶片上的最低值（12.00%）出 现时间相同, 为7:30, 一天中各时刻水中和叶片上的行为呈交错性变化。结果提示, 稻水象甲成虫活动行为受到时空变化的影响, 且 时间变化对其行为的影响较空间变化更为明显。     

海南黑脸琵鹭的越冬行为分析

黑脸琵鹭(Plataleaminor)是全球濒危鸟类之一。海南北黎湾是继我国香港和台湾之后发现的黑脸琵鹭第三个重要的越冬地。为了深入了解黑脸琵鹭在该地的保护状况,以及影响其种群越冬的致危因素,作者于2004年1–3月,采用瞬时扫描和焦点动物观察法对北黎湾黑脸琵鹭的越冬行为进行了观察。结果表明:(1)在黑脸琵鹭的各种行为中,休息行为所占的比例最大,为69.72%;其次是站立行为,为10.42%;护理行为位居第3,占10.36%;位移、取食和社会行为在白天所占的比例相对较低。(2)白天黑脸琵鹭休息行为有明显的高峰和低谷,8:00–17:00主要以休息为主,而在17:00以后,休息行为明显减少,护理、取食和站立行为有所增加。位移和社会行为发生率较低,呈间歇性变化。黑脸琵鹭各种行为之间在持续时间上有显著差异,其中以休息行为持续时间最长,其次是取食行为,而行走行为持续时间最短。(3)黑脸琵鹭的取食频次在各时间段也有显著的差异,在16:00以后取食的频次较高。(4)黑脸琵鹭的取食行为受潮汐的影响,过高和过低的水位都将影响其取食活动。最后针对性地提出了黑脸琵鹭及其越冬地的保护和管理计划。     

西藏夯错水鸟多样性及斑头雁繁殖活动区的变化

于2009年4 11月,对西藏夯错的水鸟资源状况进行了调查,旨在了解该地区水鸟资源状况的了解,并为禽流感的防控提供了科学依据。在夯错全年共记录到水鸟26种,隶属于6目10科。夯错也是斑头雁和棕头鸥重要的繁殖地。水鸟春秋季迁徙高峰期在4月份和10月份,这也是水鸟多样性较高的2个月,其主要原因是由于迁徙鸭类数量和种类的增加。卫星跟踪研究表明,在繁殖前期,斑头雁活动区面积较大,主要在夯错及其周围的湿地取食;进入繁殖中期,斑头雁的活动范围减少了许多;繁殖后期,随着幼鸟陆续出壳,父母随即带领幼鸟离开夯错,到其它湿地取食和育雏,因此此期的活动区面积较大。由于夯错面积较小,不能满足斑头雁对食物的需求,因此部分斑头雁选择其它湿地作为主要的取食地,但部分扩散到其它湿地的斑头雁在迁徙前期重新返回夯错,使得该时期斑头雁的数量有呈上升趋势。通过与青海湖水鸟资源状况的比较发现,夯错水鸟种类较少,这可能主要是由于两个湖泊所处地理区划的不同,并由此带来的气候环境的差异,以及植被条件的不同所造成的。这种差异主要是由于夯错海拔较高,紫外线很强,气候干燥,植被单一,栖息地类型多样性较低,因此水鸟的种数也相对较少一些。     

云南纳帕海湿地越冬斑头雁活动区

活动区范围反映了动物在个体水平上的空间需求,开展相关研究对物种保护以及理解动物与环境之间的关系具有重要意义。于2017、2018和2019年共3个越冬季,在云南纳帕海湿地对7只斑头雁（Anser indicus）进行了卫星遥测,运用动态布朗桥模型构建了斑头雁越冬期活动区,并结合遥感技术分析了水域面积变化对斑头雁活动区的影响。结果表明：所跟踪斑头雁的总活动区域中有54.7%位于保护区范围内,其余活动区域则分布于保护区外围的草地或沼泽中;斑头雁越冬期的平均活动区面积和核心活动区面积分别为（5.98 ± 0.63）km2和（0.55 ± 0.12）km2（n = 8,2017年越冬季1只个体数据、2018年越冬季6只个体数据和2019年越冬季1只个体数据）,核心活动区面积仅占活动区面积的9.2%;最大活动区面积为8.22 km2,最小仅为3.38 km2,最大核心活动区面积为1.21 km2,最小为0.12 km2;斑头雁活动区面积受纳帕海湿地水域面积变化影响较大,随着水域由南向北退缩,沼泽及草甸增多,斑头雁的活动范围变大,且会向着水域退减的方向移动;2639号斑头雁在2018年和2019年两年越冬季相同时间段的活动区面积和分布均存在显著差异,2018年越冬季活动区的面积（5.98 km2）小于2019年（8.22 km2）,核心活动区的面积（0.61 km2）同样也小于2019年（1.21 km2）,并且其两年越冬季活动区面积的重叠度指数IO仅为0.31。鉴于斑头雁是H5N1高致病性禽流感的重要携带者和传播者,建议保护区增加保护区管理范围,对与斑头雁活动区重合较大的村庄,包括云南省迪庆州香格里拉市建塘镇的开松、纳公和打日觉等重点管理,避免家猪与斑头雁混群觅食,倡导在冬季时对家猪进行圈养,防止可能引起的禽流感交叉传播。     

Serological and virological survey and resighting of marked wild geese in Germany

In order to investigate the potential role of arctic geese in the epidemiology, the spatial and temporal spread of selected avian diseases, in autumn 2002, a virological and serological survey designed as capture-mark-resighting study was conducted in one of the most important coastal resting sites for migratory waterfowl in Germany. Oropharyngeal, cloacal swabs and blood samples were collected from a total of 147 birds comprising of three different arctic geese species including White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons), Tundra Bean Goose (Anser fabalis rossicus), Pink-footed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus) as well as from 29 non-migratory Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). Altogether, six adeno-like viruses (ALV; 95% CI, 1.74?C9.92%) and two avian paramyxoviruses (APMV-4; 95% CI, 0.19?C5.53%) were isolated mainly from juvenile White-fronted Geese. In addition, four Canada Geese were infected with lentogenic APMV-1 (95% CI, 3.89?C31.66%) at the date of sampling. No avian influenza viruses, reo-like viruses could be isolated despite serological evidence. Likewise, no evidence of current or previous infection by West Nile virus was found. Of the 147 birds tagged in the following years, 137 birds were re-sighted between 2002 and 2008 accumulating to 1925 sightings. About 90% of all sightings were reported from the main wintering and resting sites in Germany and The Netherlands. Eight of the resighted geese were virus positive (ALV and APMV-4) at the time point of sampling in 2002.     

若尔盖湿地水鸟资源季节变化

若尔盖湿地位于青藏高原东缘,是我国最大的高寒泥炭湿地之一。2010年从3月至12月,对若尔盖湿地水鸟种类、数量和分布进行了较为系统的调查。共记录到48种26 050只水鸟,隶属于6目12科,其中雁鸭类水鸟最多,共统计到21 408只,占水鸟总数的82.2%。3月和10月是若尔盖湿地水鸟数量的高峰期;11月是低谷期,主要是由于水鸟的迁离和越冬水鸟尚未到达的缘故。尕海是若尔盖湿地的重要组成部分,全年物种数和水鸟数量占了整个若尔盖湿地较大的比例。卫星跟踪的结果表明,青海湖斑头雁(Anser indicus)在若尔盖湿地与云南和贵州的越冬水鸟汇合,因此加强若尔盖湿地禽流感的防控是非常重要的。     

Central European Greylag Geese Anser anser show a shortening of migration distance and earlier spring arrival over 60 years

Global climate change can cause pronounced changes in species? migratory behaviour. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated climate‐driven changes in migration distance and spring arrival date in waterbirds, but detailed studies based on long‐term records of individual recapture or re‐sighting events are scarce. Using re‐sighting data from 430 marked individuals spanning a 60‐year period (winters 1956/1957 to 2015/2016), we assessed patterns in migration distance and spring arrival date, wintering‐site fidelity and survival in the increasing central European breeding population of Greylag Geese Anser anser. We demonstrate a long‐term decrease in migration distance, changes in the wintering range caused by winter partial short‐stopping, and the earlier arrival of geese on their breeding grounds. Greylag Geese marked on central Europe moulting grounds have not been recorded wintering in Spain since 1986 or in Tunisia and Algeria since 2004. The migration distance and spring arrival of geese indicated an effect of temperature at the breeding site and values of the NAO index. Greylag Geese migrate shorter distances and arrive earlier in milder winters. We suggest that shifts in the migratory behaviour of Central European Greylag Geese are individual temperature‐dependent decisions to take advantage of wintering grounds becoming more favourable closer to their breeding grounds, allowing birds to acquire breeding territories earlier.     

Foraging time and dietary intake by breeding Ross's and Lesser Snow Geese

We compared foraging times of female Ross's (Chen rossii) and Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) breeding at Karrak Lake, NT, Canada and examined variation due to time of day and reproductive stage. We subsequently collected female geese that had foraged for known duration and we estimated mass of foods consumed during foraging bouts. Female Ross's Geese spent more time foraging (mean % - SE =28.4ǃ.3%; P=0.0002), on average, than did female Lesser Snow Geese (21.5 - 1.4%). Foraging time by female geese differed among reproductive stages, but differences were not consistent among time periods (stage-by-time block interaction, P=0.0003). Females spent considerably more time foraging during prelaying and laying than during incubation. Ross's Geese also spent a greater percent of time feeding (83.0DŽ.8%) during incubation recesses than did Lesser Snow Geese (60.9Dž.6%). Consumption of organic matter during foraging bouts was minimal; estimated consumption averaged 9.6dž.0 and 12.4dž.6 g (mean - SE) dry mass/day before incubation and 5.9DŽ.0 and 5.7DŽ.1 g dry mass/day during incubation for Lesser Snow and Ross's Geese, respectively. Diets consisted primarily of mosses (bryophytes), Chickweed (Stellaria spp.) and Sedges (Carex spp.). Before incubation, eggshell consumption was estimated as 4.3Dž.2 and 0.4ǂ.3 g dry mass/day for Lesser Snow and Ross's Geese, respectively; neither species consumed eggshell during incubation. We conclude that eggshell from nests of previous years is likely an important source of dietary calcium used to meet mineral demands of eggshell formation at Karrak Lake. Our findings of wide disparities between foraging time and food intake indicate that results from studies that do not directly measure intake rates remain equivocal. Finally, we propose four hypotheses accounting for foraging effort that evidently yields little nutritional or energetic benefit to geese nesting at Karrak Lake.     

Time budgets of Snow Geese Chen caerulescens and Ross's Geese Chen rossii in mixed flocks: implications of body size, ambient temperature and family associations

Body size affects foraging and forage intake rates directly via energetic processes and indirectly through interactions with social status and social behaviour. Ambient temperature has a relatively greater effect on the energetics of smaller species, which also generally are more vulnerable to predator attacks than are larger species. We examined variability in an index of intake rates and an index of alertness in Lesser Snow Geese Chen caerulescens caerulescens and Ross's Geese Chen rossii wintering in southwest Louisiana. Specifically we examined variation in these response variables that could be attributed to species, age, family size and ambient temperature. We hypothesized that the smaller Ross's Geese would spend relatively more time feeding, exhibit relatively higher peck rates, spend more time alert or raise their heads up from feeding more frequently, and would respond to declining temperatures by increasing their proportion of time spent feeding. As predicted, we found that Ross's Geese spent more time feeding than did Snow Geese and had slightly higher peck rates than Snow Geese in one of two winters. Ross's Geese spent more time alert than did Snow Geese in one winter, but alert rates differed by family size, independent of species, in contrast to our prediction. In one winter, time spent foraging and walking was inversely related to average daily temperature, but both varied independently of species. Effects of age and family size on time budgets were generally independent of species and in accordance with previous studies. We conclude that body size is a key variable influencing time spent feeding in Ross's Geese, which may require a high time spent feeding at the expense of other activities.     

Scale-dependent habitat selection by wintering geese: implications for landscape management

The management of Arctic migrant geese is complex, because they frequently use landscapes under intensive human use, and are conflict species in multiple respects. Some populations are of high conservation concern, but they also cause agricultural damage, are quarry for hunters, and may be particularly sensitive to infrastructure developments. In Bulgarian Dobrudzha, large wintering populations of greater white-fronted geese Anser albifrons and red-breasted geese Branta ruficollis feed in agricultural land, and cause management dilemmas. We developed linear models to investigate fine- and meso-scale foraging habitat selection of geese foraging on winter wheat in the area, and used these models to make suggestions for zoning landscape use in order to reduce conflict and conserve geese. Habitat selection was scale-dependent. Geese selected fields that were near to major roosts and had low proximity to roads and tree-lines, which may be a proxy for hunting disturbance. We found some evidence for selection of wheat fields with high nutritional quality. Within fields, geese strongly avoided features which cause landscape ‘clutter’: power-lines, tree-lines and wind-turbines, but primarily over distances of less than a few hundred metres. Optimal management might involve encouraging goose populations to feed in areas close to roosts, by means of agri-environmental measures and creation of hunting-free refuges. This would allow efficient use of agri-environment funds, might reduce conflict with farmers, and would mean that infrastructure development—notably wind farms—could be sited at greater distance from roosts with relatively minor impact on foraging habitat availability.     

鄱阳湖越冬雁类食源植被适宜取食时间窗口

雁类是长江中下游越冬水鸟的优势种群,以苔草(Carex spp)等湿生植被为主要食物来源。作为长江中下游仅存的通江湖泊之一,鄱阳湖显著受到水文波动的影响,湿地植被的生长发育与洲滩淹没和出露时间密切相关。雁类对食物资源具有高度的选择性,建立雁类取食植被的特征和苔草生长过程之间的关系,是刻画适宜栖息地时空分布范围,开展雁类及其食物资源保育的关键。选择鄱阳湖典型子湖泊常湖池作为研究区,对苔草春季生长期开展了原位观测试验,对4个高程梯度的苔草株高和生物量等关键生长因子进行了12次野外监测和采样。同时,结合遥感影像、气温数据及实地观测记录,确定了4个高程梯度洲滩的出露时间和苔草有效生长时间。在此基础上,建立了基于Logistic方程的苔草株高和生物量的生长过程曲线。并根据实地观测的雁类觅食苔草的特征,反推得到雁类适宜取食苔草的时间窗口。结果表明:苔草株高与地上生物量显著正相关,水文条件和气温是影响苔草生长的关键因素,而退水时间的推迟,会导致生长期缩短和低温限制下的有效生长时间减少,影响雁类食物资源的分布。苔草在秋季生长期出露达到12—28 d,而在春季生长期出露达到83—182 d时适宜雁类取食。研究提出了确定越冬雁类苔草适宜取食时间窗口的方法,证实洲滩退水时间推迟超过20 d,苔草生长节律将难以匹配雁类数量峰值期觅食的需要。本研究对鄱阳湖湿地水文调控和湿地资源管理具有重要意义。     

Warming winter effects,fat store accumulation and timing of spring departure of Greenland White-fronted Geese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anser albifrons flavirostris</Emphasis> from their winter quarters

Migratory geese accumulate energy and nutrient stores in winter to fly to refuelling spring staging areas before onward migration to breeding areas. Mean ground temperatures at two important Greenland White-fronted Geese wintering sites rose in winter and spring by 1.0–1.3°C during 1973–2007. Greenland White-fronted Geese departed the Wexford winter quarters on 3rd April 2007 for Icelandic spring staging areas, the earliest on record, representing a mean advancement of 15 days since 1973, mirrored amongst mean dates of departure amongst Scottish wintering birds that have advanced by 12 days during 1973–2007. Icelandic temperatures at critical midway staging areas en route to Greenland showed no significant change since 1973, suggesting that it is warming on the winter quarters that enable geese to depart earlier, rather than elevated temperatures at ultimate spring staging areas. However, Wexford departure date did not correlate with spring temperature. Data presented here show that Greenland White-fronted Geese have accumulated threshold body stores progressively earlier in spring migration, especially during 1995–2007. Although this did not correlate with ambient temperature, the mean degree of accumulated fat stored by 1st April in each year was a statistically significant predictor of departure date for the wintering population at Wexford. These data support the hypothesis that it is intrinsic factors (i.e. improvements in internal body state resulting from better feeding conditions) that has permitted progressively earlier departure of these geese from Wexford on spring migration, rather than amelioration of spring conditions in Iceland or solely the result of warming of the winter quarters.