Data from: Flyway connectivity and exchange primarily driven by moult migration in geese [Pannonic population]

Citation
Müskens GJDM, Szinai P, Sapi T, Kölzsch A, Wikelski M, Nolet BA. 2019. Data from: Flyway connectivity and exchange primarily driven by moult migration in geese [Pannonic population]. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.46b0mq21
Abstract
Background: For the conservation and management of migratory species that strongly decrease or increase due to anthropological impacts, a clear delineation of populations and quantification of possible mixing (migratory connectivity) is crucial. Usually, population exchange in migratory species is only studied in breeding or wintering sites, but we considered the whole annual cycle in order to determine important stages and sites for population mixing in an Arctic migrant. Methods: We used 91 high resolution GPS tracks of Western Palearctic greater white-fronted geese (Anser A. albifrons) from the North Sea and Pannonic populations to extract details of where and when populations overlapped and exchange was possible. Overlap areas were calculated as dynamic Brownian bridges of stopover, nest and moulting sites. Results: Utilisation areas of the two populations overlapped only somewhat during spring and autumn migration stopovers, but much during moult. During this stage, non-breeders and failed breeders of the North Sea population intermixed with geese from the Pannonic population in the Pyasina delta on Taimyr peninsula. The timing of use of overlap areas was highly consistent between populations, making exchange possible. Two of our tracked geese switched from the North Sea population flyway to the Pannonic flyway during moult on Taimyr peninsula or early during the subsequent autumn migration. Because we could follow one of them during the next year, where it stayed in the Pannonic flyway, we suggest that the exchange was long-term or permanent. Conclusions: We have identified long-distance moult migration of failed or non-breeders as a key phenomenon creating overlap between two flyway populations of geese. This supports the notion of previously suggested population exchange and migratory connectivity, but outside of classically suggested wintering or breeding sites. Our results call for consideration of moult migration and population exchange in conservation and management of our greater white-fronted geese as well as other waterfowl populations.
Keywords
Anser albifrons,animal tracking,Anser albifrons,avian migration,Europe,geese,greater white-fronted geese
Taxa
Taxon
Anser albifrons
Greater White-fronted Goose
Sensors
Sensor
GPS
Related Workflows
DOIs of related Publications
BibTex
@misc{001/1_46b0mq21,
  title = {Data from: Flyway connectivity and exchange primarily driven by moult migration in geese [Pannonic population]},
  author = {Müskens, GJDM and Szinai, P and Sapi, T and Kölzsch, A and Wikelski, M and Nolet, BA},
  year = {2019},
  URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.46b0mq21},
  doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.46b0mq21},
  publisher = {Movebank data repository}
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
ID  - doi:10.5441/001/1.46b0mq21
T1  - Data from: Flyway connectivity and exchange primarily driven by moult migration in geese [Pannonic population]
AU  - Müskens, Gerhard J.D.M.
AU  - Szinai, Péter
AU  - Sapi, Tamas
AU  - Kölzsch, Andrea
AU  - Wikelski, Martin
AU  - Nolet, Bart A.
Y1  - 2019/02/06
KW  - Anser albifrons
KW  - animal movement
KW  - animal tracking
KW  - Anser albifrons
KW  - avian migration
KW  - Europe
KW  - geese
KW  - greater white-fronted geese
KW  - Anser albifrons
PB  - Movebank data repository
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.46b0mq21
DO  - doi:10.5441/001/1.46b0mq21
ER  -
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