Sieve size effects on root length and biomass measurements of maize (Zea mays) and Grevillea robusta

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different mesh sizes on the recovery of root length and biomass and to determine whether the degree of recovery was influenced by plant species and sample location. Sieves of 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 and 0.25 mm (4.0, 1.0, 0.25 and 0.06 mm2) mesh sizes were used to recover and measure the root length and biomass of Zea mays L. (maize) at 0–15 cm and 30–45 cm depths and of Grevillea robusta A. Cunn. ex R. Br. (grevillea) at the same depths 1.0 m and 4.5 m from a line of grevillea trees. At 0–15 cm, the coarser sieves (sum collected with 2.0 and 1.0 mm sieves) recovered approximately 80% of the total root biomass measured, but only 60% of the root length. The proportion of total maize root length and biomass recovered by the coarser sieves decreased with soil depth. The proportion of total grevillea root length recovered by the coarser sieves was similar at the two soil depths, but increased slightly with distance from the tree line. The ≥ 0.5 mm sieves recovered between 93 and 96% of grevillea and maize root biomass and between 73 and 98% of their root length, depending on the sample location. Roots passing through the 0.5 mm sieve, but recovered by the 0.25 mm sieve were about 20% of total maize root length and grevillea root length at 1.0 m from the tree line but < 5% of the total grevillea root length at 4.5 m from the tree. Roots passing through the 0.5 mm sieve but recovered by the 0.25 mm sieve contributed only slightly to root biomass. Although the ≥ 0.5 mm sieves provided adequate measurements of root biomass, the ≥ 0.25 mm sieves were required for accurate measurement of fine root length. There was no universal correction for root length and biomass underestimation when large sieve sizes were used because the proportions of length and biomass recovered depended on the plant species and on soil depth and distance from the plant. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The influence of mesh size in environmental quality assessment of estuarine macrobenthic communities

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) strengthened the need for environmental quality assessment with rapid and accurate results. Studies of estuarine benthic macrofauna communities often use 0.5-mm mesh sieves in samples processing. However, this represents a considerable increase in sampling and identification effort compared to the use of 1-mm mesh sieves. Therefore, it is relevant to determine if mesh size matters in environmental quality assessments.The objectives of this study were as follows: (i) to test whether sieves with different mesh sizes provided different environmental status assessments in transitional systems, (ii) to compare the performance of different ecological indicators based on data from 0.5- and 1-mm mesh sieves and (iii) to compare the costs involved in using these two mesh sizes.Data were collected in the fall of 2007 and winter of 2008 at four sampling stations located in the Mondego Estuary, Portugal. The relative performance of Margalef and Shannon–Wiener indices, AMBI—AZTI Marine Biotic Index, Pielou, Eco-Exergy and Specific Eco-Exergy indices was analysed. Additionally, the multimetric Benthic Assessment Tool (BAT) was applied. The samples from the 1-mm mesh sieve were processed 2.9 times faster than the samples from the 0.5-mm mesh sieves. As expected, the density, biomass and number of species retained in the 0.5-mm mesh sieve were significantly higher in both seasons than the density, biomass and number of species retained in the 1-mm mesh sieve. All indicators were significantly different for the two mesh sizes in at least one season. The Pielou index was significantly different for the two mesh sizes in both seasons. Most indices showed that the 0.5-mm mesh sieve captured more information from the study system. The first BAT analysis provided different Ecological Quality Status (EQS) assessments for the two mesh sizes. To use the EQS obtained from the 1-mm mesh sieve as a proxy for the EQS for the 0.5-mm mesh sieve, further modifications were done in terms of reference conditions and class boundary thresholds. Regarding the Mondego Estuary, the use of a 1-mm mesh sieve appeared to be advantageous on routine environmental quality assessment, giving unbiased results with relatively less effort. Nevertheless, the methodology needs further validation and additional tests.     

Spatial heterogeneity recognition in estuarine intertidal benthic macrofaunal communities: influence of sieve mesh-size and sampling depth

Estuarine intertidal soft-bottom macrobenthic infauna of the Tagus estuary was characterised using different mesh size sieves and sediment sampling depth. The study sampled 105 sites using a hand held 0.01 m² corer. The top layer (0–5 cm) was sieved through nested 1.0 and 0.5 mm meshes whereas the bottom layer (5–20 cm) was through a 1 mm mesh. The total survey took 26 taxa of more than 5800 individuals and a total wet weight biomass of over 650 g. The top layer, using both sieves, gathered 23 taxa (92% of the total), more than 5600 specimens (96%) but less than 8 g of biomass (1%) whereas the 1.0 mm sieve retained 21 taxa (91%), more than 1700 specimens (31%) and almost 7 g of biomass (1%). Abundance was dominated by small annelids, of which Streblospio shrubsolii was 68%, whereas biomass was dominated by molluscs, with the bivalve Scrobicularia plana representing 98%. Multivariate analyses showed an abundance pattern where the top layer data was very similar to that obtained with both layers. The bottom layer data were needed to accurately represent the total biomass pattern. The macrofaunal spatial pattern identified with the 0.5 mm sieve data differed from that identified by the 1.0 mm and was essential to discriminate a faunal assemblage located along the upper part of the shore. It was concluded that in order to characterize the macrofauna community structure, based on the presence/absence of taxa, the top layer and a 1.0 mm sieve would be sufficient. An abundance-based characterization requires the top layer and a 0.5 mm sieve whereas a biomass-based characterization requires data for both layers but it is sufficient to use the 1.0 mm sieve. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

SURVIVAL ESTIMATES FOR FLORIDA MANATEES FROM THE PHOTO-IDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUALS

We estimated adult survival probabilities for the endangered Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris ) in four regional populations using photoidentification data and open-population capture-recapture statistical models. The mean annual adult survival probability over the most recent 10-yr period of available estimates was as follows: Northwest - 0.956 (SE 0.007), Upper St. Johns River - 0.960 (0.011), Atlantic Coast - 0.937 (0.008), and Southwest - 0.908 (0.019). Estimates of temporal variance independent of sampling error, calculated from the survival estimates, indicated constant survival in the Upper St. Johns River, true temporal variability in the Northwest and Atlantic Coast, and large sampling variability obscuring estimates for the Southwest. Calf and subadult survival probabilities were estimated for the Upper St. Johns River from the only available data for known-aged individuals: 0.810 (95% CI 0.727–0.873) for 1st year calves, 0.915 (0.827–0.960) for 2nd year calves, and 0.969 (0.946–0.982) for manatee 3 yr or older. These estimates of survival probabilities and temporal variance, in conjunction with estimates of reproduction probabilities from photoidentification data can be used to model manatee population dynamics, estimate population growth rates, and provide an integrated measure of regional status.     

Root length and biomass losses during sample preparation with different screen mesh sizes

Data are presented on the differences in root length density (RLD), dry matter (DM), and root diameter values determined on wheat and faba bean using sieves of different mesh size to separate roots from soil during sample preparation. Screens with 0.2, 1, and 2 mm (0.04, 1, and 4 mm²) aperture were used. Roots collected on the 2-mm sieve represented on average 55% of the weight and only 10% of the total length collected using a 0.2-mm sieve. With a 1-mm sieve 75% of weight was retained, but only 34% of the length. In the 0–20 cm soil layer average RLD and DM values ranged between 1.3 and 2.5 cm cm^-3 and 215 and 136 g m^-2 for faba bean and wheat respectively with 2 mm screens and 14.6 and 18.1 cm cm^-3 and 313 and 202 g m^-2 with 0.2 mm sieves. RLD was more affected than weight since losses from coarse screens were largely due to fine root fractions, although the 1-and 2-mm screens retained a small amount of fine roots that were long or attached to main structures. Variability was higher for measurements on coarser screens. The use of screens much coarser than the diameter of fine roots is not recommended for the study of surface-related phenomena in which root length quantification is necessary, while it may be acceptable for gross comparisons of root weight and spatial extent.     

Impact of hypoxia on consumption of Baltic cod in a multispecies stock assessment context

The Baltic Sea is characterised by a heterogeneous oceanographic environment. The deep water layers forming the habitat of Baltic cod (Gadus morhua callarias L.) are subjected to frequently occurring pronounced anoxic conditions. Adverse oxygen conditions result in physiological stress for organisms living under these conditions. For cod e.g. a direct relationship between oxygen availability and food intake with a decreasing ingestion rate at hypoxia could be revealed. In the present study, the effects of oxygen deficiency on consumption rates were investigated and how these translate to stock size estimates in multi‐species models. Based on results from laboratory experiments, a model was fitted to evacuation rates at different oxygen levels and integrated into the existing consumption model for Baltic cod. Individual mean oxygen corrected consumption rates were 0.1–10.9% lower than the uncorrected ones. At the currently low predator stock size, however, the effect of oxygen‐reduced consumption on the total amount of eaten prey biomass and thus predation mortalities was only marginal. But should successful management lead to higher cod stock sizes in the future, then total predation mortalities will greatly increase and thus improved precision of these estimates would be valuable for the assessment of prey stocks.     

Estimation of the biomass of plankton

Summary A mathematical function is demonstrated in the numbers of individuals of the various species in a planktonic biocoenosis. The logarithms of the numbers form a Gauss or normal probability curve. A similar probability relation is found in the volumes of the individuals of the various species as well as in the biomass of the various populations.This relationship in the numbers is caused by the effect of the numerous ecological factors influencing the rate of proliferation of the various plankton species. The cause of this relationship concerning the volumes of the various species is not understood. The relationship between the various biomasses is the mathematical product of number and mean volume.An approximate hyperbolic function can be derived from the population volumes and with the aid of a simple equation the plankton biomass is calculated. A modus operandi is given to abbreviate the work necessary to determine the plankton biomass with Lohmann's method. Only ten or twenty of the most dominant populations out of all species present in a plankton sample, have to be counted and measured.The biomasses of the populations in various plankton samples may easily be compared using the hyperbolic or the probability relationship.The biomasses of plankton in various habitats may easily be compared in a graphic way. The logarithms of the biomasses found during the year follow a probability curve and may be plotted and compared on a cumulative logarithmic probability graph.The number of organisms of each species to be counted depends on the degree of accuracy and has to be about a hundred. A chance determined spread is always found in plankton counts.The spatial distribution of most plankters shows a very broad spread. Therefore, sampling at ten places and working with the mean of the ten samples is compulsory.Some gregariously living zooplankters form bunches in the water. A reliable mean may be calculated using the hyperbolic function which seems to describe their densities at the various places.From the existing methods of collection of plankton the rotary, electric pump is chosen. A translucent hose with a special and moving mouth is let down into the water. First the water passes through the plankton-net and after that through the pump and the water-meter. A series of 7 samples of increasing decimal volumes is drawn in this way. From these samples the plankton is concentrated and fractionated by means of two sedimentation chambers, four small plankton sieves and three plankton nets. The sieves and nets have various standardized meshes.Square counting chambers of 10 cm² area are used. These chambers have a thin glass bottom and a broad rim. The sedimentation chambers and the small plankton sieves fit on and into the chambers thus minimizing the loss of organisms.The plankton organisms are enumerated by means of an inverted microscope projecting the image on a ground glass which makes counting easier. Only those organisms seen within a measured square on the ground glass are counted.By standardization of the sample volumes, the magnifications of the microscope and the dimensions of the squares the conversion factors are so simple that only zeros or a decimal point have to be placed in the number counted to obtain the result.International standardization of the method of estimation of the biomass of plankton and the expression of the results is proposed.     

Mark-recapture of the endangered franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei) killed in gillnet fisheries to estimate past bycatch from time series of stranded carcasses in southern Brazil

Incidental fishery mortality estimates of franciscana based on stranding data are biased downwards, as only a fraction of the total bycatch ends up ashore. We estimated the probability of a franciscana incidentally killed by the coastal gillnet fisheries in southern Brazil to wash ashore and used this as a correction factor to back-calculate fishing related mortality from a dataset of carcasses collected between 1979 and 1998. From November 2005 to January 2009, 145 franciscanas incidentally killed in nets were tagged and returned to the sea. Only 11 of the tagged animals were found during beach surveys. Generalized Linear Models were used to model the probability of a tagged franciscana reaching the shore as a function of the covariates wave period, wind direction and intensity, distance from coast and the target species of the fishery. The target species had a significant effect on the stranding probability. The stranding probability of a tagged franciscana was higher in the fishery targeting white croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) (median = 0.105; 95% CI = 0.05–0.18) rather than weakfish (Cynoscion guatucupa) (0.013; 0.0003–0.069). As the stranding probability estimate for weakfish was imprecise (wide credible interval) we decided to hind cast the number of franciscanas incidentally killed for white croaker season only. The corrected estimate of franciscana mortality was approximately 10 times higher than previous estimates based solely on stranding data. Finally, this novel mark-recapture approach provides a useful correction factor to reduce the bias in incidental mortality estimates derived from stranding data.     

Simple technique for simultaneous on-line estimation of biomass and acetate from base consumption and conductivity measurements in high-cell density cultures of Escherichia coli

In high-cell density cultures of Escherichia coli, the amount of ammonia required to maintain a constant pH was an effective on-line measure of biomass. When acetic acid formation occurred, biomass estimates were corrected by additional measurements of the culture conductivity. In the absence of acetic acid excretion, the culture conductivity decreased approximately linearly during the fed-batch phase of the high-cell density cultivation. Upward deviation of the culture conductivity from this trend was proportional to the acetate concentration in the medium. Thus, simultaneous determination of the acetic acid concentration and correction of biomass estimates from ammonia consumption were possible by conductivity measurements.     

Bipolar effects of settling time on active biomass retention in anaerobic sequencing batch reactors digesting flushed dairy manure

Active biomass retention is a technical challenge in anaerobic digester treating dilute animal manure that contains solids particles. A strategy was tested using fibers in the dairy manure as biomass carriers by controlling settling time. Settling time ranging from 0.5 to 60 min were applied to eight anaerobic sequencing batch reactors to investigate their effects on active biomass retention in anaerobic digestion of flushed dairy manure. Results revealed that there existed a critical settling time at 2 min at which only minimum amount of active biomass was retained, and as settling time increased or decreased from this threshold, more active biomass could be retained. Gravity settling and selection pressure theories were suggested to account for the results. A model integrating these two effects was developed and verified with the experimental data. Knowledge derived from this study may lead to innovative bacterial retention technology for cost-effective anaerobic digestion of dairy wastes.     

Temporal patterns in growth and survival of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus

Monthly, overwinter and annual instantaneous growth rates for round goby Neogobius melanostomus were calculated with maximal growth occurring in July and August and almost no growth observed between ice appearance (October) and melt (March). Annual absolute growth rates averaged 27·3 ± 1·9 mm for males and 19·8 ± 2·4 mm for females. The most parsimonious Cormack–Jolly–Seber model indicated that both the survival and recapture probabilities were dependent on sampling date, but not sex. Survival estimates remained high throughout the 13 month study with a median weekly survival probability of 0·920 (25 and 75% quartiles: 0·767 and 0·991), an overwinter survival probability of 99% and an annual survival rate of 67%. Survival probabilities were lowest for both sexes near the completion of the N. melanostomus reproductive season in July and August which supports existing evidence of higher mortality after reproduction, while challenging the paradigm that male N. melanostomus suffer comparatively higher mortality as a result of reproduction than females. Evidence indicating that growth and mortality rates are highest at the end of the reproductive season not only highlights seasonal variability in N. melanostomus natural history, but may also guide the control of this invasive species to periods when they are most vulnerable.     

The effects of serotiny and rainfall-cued dispersal on fitness: bet-hedging in the threatened cactus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mammillaria pectinifera</Emphasis>

Serotiny—the retention of seeds in the mother plant for over a year—in unpredictable environments may increase the probability that at least some seeds are dispersed during favorable periods. Propagules may be expelled when environmental cues announcing favorable conditions occur, or be gradually released into the environment. This could be a bet-hedging strategy increasing the long-term fitness by reducing interannual variability in reproduction. However, the impact of seed retention on the population dynamics of serotinous species and its contribution to fitness has been barely explored under field conditions. We assessed these issues in the threatened Mammillaria pectinifera, a small globose cactus that gets established only in exceptionally rainy years. This species expels some seeds actively during unusually rainy periods, while dispersing others passively over several years. Dynamics of the seeds in the mother plant over two very contrasting years in terms of precipitation was incorporated into a stochastic matrix model. Seed retention was found to increase significantly the probability that some of the seeds retained in any given year are dispersed within a subsequent rainy period. Active seed-expulsion raises this probability even further. As expected in bet hedgers, seed retention increased fitness in the presence of temporal variability. Active fruit expulsion did not affect fitness, but reduced demographic stochasticity. The incomplete serotiny and fruit expulsion observed is the evolutionary outcome expected for the environment and life-history attributes of the species.     

多目标遗传算法的含假结RNA二级结构预测

假结是RNA中一种重要的结构,由于建模的困难导致它更难被预测。通过碱基之间的配对概率来预测含假结RNA二级结构的Prob Knot算法具有很高的精度,但该算法仅用了配对概率作为预测依据,导致阴性配对大量出现,因此精度中的特异性较低。实验结合Prob Knot算法中碱基配对概率模型,通过使用多目标遗传算法,从而提高预测含假结RNA二级结构的特异性,以此促进总体精度的提高。实验过程中,首先计算出每个碱基成为单链的概率,作为新增的预测依据,然后使用遗传算法对RNA二级结构进行交叉、变异和迭代,最后得到Pareto最优解,进一步得出最高的最大期望精度。实验结果表明,在使用的RNA案例中,采用该方法比现有方法精度平均提高约4%。     

GPCR genes are preferentially retained after whole genome duplication

One of the most interesting questions in biology is whether certain pathways have been favored during evolution, and if so, what properties could cause such a preference. Due to the lack of experimental evidence, whether select gene families have been preferentially retained over time after duplication in metazoan organisms remains unclear. Here, by syntenic mapping of nonchemosensory G protein-coupled receptor genes (nGPCRs which represent half the receptome for transmembrane signaling) in the vertebrate genomes, we found that, as opposed to the 8-15% retention rate for whole genome duplication (WGD)-derived gene duplicates in the entire genome of pufferfish, greater than 27.8% of WGD-derived nGPCRs which interact with a nonpeptide ligand were retained after WGD in pufferfish Tetraodon nigroviridis. In addition, we show that concurrent duplication of cognate ligand genes by WGD could impose selection of nGPCRs that interact with a polypeptide ligand. Against less than 2.25% probability for parallel retention of a pair of WGD-derived ligands and a pair of cognate receptor duplicates, we found a more than 8.9% retention of WGD-derived ligand-nGPCR pairs--threefold greater than one would surmise. These results demonstrate that gene retention is not uniform after WGD in vertebrates, and suggest a Darwinian selection of GPCR-mediated intercellular communication in metazoan organisms.     

Estimating recombination rates using three-site likelihoods

We introduce a new method for jointly estimating crossing-over and gene conversion rates using sequence polymorphism data. The method calculates probabilities for subsets of the data consisting of three segregating sites and then forms a composite likelihood by multiplying together the probabilities of many subsets. Simulations show that this new method performs better than previously proposed methods for estimating gene conversion rates, but that all methods require large amounts of data to provide reliable estimates. While existing methods can easily estimate an "average" gene conversion rate over many loci, they cannot reliably estimate gene conversion rates for a single region of the genome.     

BOOTSTRAP CORRECTION FOR DIURNAL ACTIVITY CYCLE IN CENSUS DATA FOR ANTARCTIC SEALS1

Antarctic phocid seals and particularly the crabeater (Lobodon carcinophagus) have been observed to display a diurnal cycle in their propensity to haul out on pack ice where they are visible for census. The fact that they are not visible for much of the 24-h period means that density estimates made over broad geographic areas at various times of the day statistically confound this cycle with geographic variability. Limitation of census observations to times of peak haulout results in extreme logistical difficulties and/or considerable reduction in sample size upon which to base population estimates. Reduced sample size results in high variability in population estimates and broad confidence bands. To develop a model with which to correct density estimates for variability due to diurnal cycle, a series of stationary censuses at fixed locations in the Antarctic continental ice pack was made over significant fractions of several days. A unimodal polynomial model for the observed density variation in any one location was statistically significant; a similar model combining multiple locations with densities standardized to peak daily values was also significant. The latter model was used to make corrections for time of day to density estimates in three test data sets taken over broad geographic areas of the Antarctic. Statistical simulation (bootstrap) methods were used to determine if variances of corrected density estimates were lower than those based on uncorrected observations taken only during the peak haulout times of the day. Results were that 95% interval estimates for corrected densities were narrowed to between 40% and 61% of the uncorrected estimates. While there are additional possible sources of variation in haulout tendency, pending further data collection and analyses, the model developed represents a considerably more precise methodology than either averaging over haulout variability or limiting observations to peak daily periods.     

PARTS: probabilistic alignment for RNA joinT secondary structure prediction

A novel method is presented for joint prediction of alignment and common secondary structures of two RNA sequences. The joint consideration of common secondary structures and alignment is accomplished by structural alignment over a search space defined by the newly introduced motif called matched helical regions. The matched helical region formulation generalizes previously employed constraints for structural alignment and thereby better accommodates the structural variability within RNA families. A probabilistic model based on pseudo free energies obtained from precomputed base pairing and alignment probabilities is utilized for scoring structural alignments. Maximum a posteriori (MAP) common secondary structures, sequence alignment and joint posterior probabilities of base pairing are obtained from the model via a dynamic programming algorithm called PARTS. The advantage of the more general structural alignment of PARTS is seen in secondary structure predictions for the RNase P family. For this family, the PARTS MAP predictions of secondary structures and alignment perform significantly better than prior methods that utilize a more restrictive structural alignment model. For the tRNA and 5S rRNA families, the richer structural alignment model of PARTS does not offer a benefit and the method therefore performs comparably with existing alternatives. For all RNA families studied, the posterior probability estimates obtained from PARTS offer an improvement over posterior probability estimates from a single sequence prediction. When considering the base pairings predicted over a threshold value of confidence, the combination of sensitivity and positive predictive value is superior for PARTS than for the single sequence prediction. PARTS source code is available for download under the GNU public license at http://rna.urmc.rochester.edu.     

CAPTURE-RECAPTURE ANALYSIS FOR ESTIMATING MANATEE REPRODUCTIVE RATES

Modeling the life history of the endangered Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris ) is an important step toward understanding its population dynamics and predicting its response to management actions. We developed a multi-state markresighting model for data collected under Pollock's robust design. This model estimates breeding probability conditional on a female's breeding state in the previous year; assumes sighting probability depends on breeding state; and corrects for misclassification of a cow with first-year calf, by estimating conditional sighting probability for the calf. The model is also appropriate for estimating survival and unconditional breeding probabilities when the study area is closed to temporary emigration across years. We applied this model to photo-identification data for the Northwest and Atlantic Coast populations of manatees, for years 1982–2000. With rare exceptions, manatees do not reproduce in two consecutive years. For those without a first-year calf in the previous year, the best-fitting model included constant probabilities of producing a calf for the Northwest (0.43, SE = 0.057) and Atlantic (0.38, SE = 0.045) populations. The approach we present to adjust for misclassification of breeding state could be applicable to a large number of marine mammal populations.     

单木生物量模型估计区域尺度生物量的不确定性

采用系统抽样体系江西省固定样地杉木连续观测数据和生物量数据,通过Monte Carlo法反复模拟由单木生物量模型推算区域尺度地上生物量的过程,估计了江西省杉木地上总生物量。基于不同水平建模样本量n及不同决定系数R~2的设计,分别研究了单木生物量模型参数变异性及模型残差变异性对区域尺度生物量估计不确定性的影响。研究结果表明:2009年江西省杉木地上生物量估计值为(19.84±1.27)t/hm~2,不确定性占生物量估计值约6.41%。生物量估计值和不确定性值达到平稳状态所需的运算时间随建模样本量及决定系数R~2的增大而减小;相对于模型参数变异性,残差变异性对不确定性的影响更小。     

Factors Influencing Reporting and Harvest Probabilities in North American Geese

ABSTRACT We assessed variation in reporting probabilities of standard bands among species, populations, harvest locations, and size classes of North American geese to enable estimation of unbiased harvest probabilities. We included reward (US$10, $20, $30, $50, or $100) and control ($0) banded geese from 16 recognized goose populations of 4 species: Canada (Branta canadensis), cackling (B. hutchinsii), Ross's (Chen rossii), and snow geese (C. caerulescens). We incorporated spatially explicit direct recoveries and live recaptures into a multinomial model to estimate reporting, harvest, and band-retention probabilities. We compared various models for estimating harvest probabilities at country (United States vs. Canada), flyway (5 administrative regions), and harvest area (i.e., flyways divided into northern and southern sections) scales. Mean reporting probability of standard bands was 0.73 (95% CI = 0.69–0.77). Point estimates of reporting probabilities for goose populations or spatial units varied from 0.52 to 0.93, but confidence intervals for individual estimates overlapped and model selection indicated that models with species, population, or spatial effects were less parsimonious than those without these effects. Our estimates were similar to recently reported estimates for mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). We provide current harvest probability estimates for these populations using our direct measures of reporting probability, improving the accuracy of previous estimates obtained from recovery probabilities alone. Goose managers and researchers throughout North America can use our reporting probabilities to correct recovery probabilities estimated from standard banding operations for deriving spatially explicit harvest probabilities.