Eastward moult migration of non-breeding pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) in Svalbard

Polar research

Martin Jespersen¹  Jesper Madsen¹  Christian M. Glahder²  Anthony D. Fox³  Mark O’Connell⁴ 

[1] National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Department of Arctic Environment, Roskilde, Denmark;National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Department of Arctic Environment, Roskilde, DenmarkCorrespondence;National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity, Rønde, Denmark;University of West of England, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, UK

关键词: Anser brachyrhynchus;    pink-footed geese;    post-breeding;    satellite tracking;    Svalbard;    temperature gradients;   

DOI  :  10.1111/j.1751-8369.2007.00006.x

学科分类：自然科学（综合）

来源: Co-Action Publishing

【 摘 要 】

Six adult male pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus), tagged with satellite transmitters, were tracked in Svalbard during the period of June–September in 2003 and 2004. The purpose of the study was to describe the movements and staging periods of individual geese during the post-breeding period to investigate a possible moult migration among pink-footed geese in Svalbard. All geese moved about 200 km east from their potential breeding (summering) areas in western Spitsbergen. The preferred moulting area was the island of Edgeøya, where four geese staged prior to a southward autumn migration. Five geese left potential breeding areas between 11 and 30 June, and remained for more than 25 days in eastern areas during most of July, which we interpret as the moult migration of either failed or non-breeders. Geese left moulting areas in mid-August, using an average of 1.4 staging areas before the autumn migration, suggesting that moult sites support pre-migration hyperphagia. Only one goose remained at the su...

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC