This item is non-discoverable
Foraging by white-fronted geese after disturbance (data from Nolet et al. 2016)-acc
Foraging by white-fronted geese after disturbance (data from Nolet et al. 2016)-acc
Citation
Kölzsch A, Müskens GJDM, Nolet BA, Wikelski M. 2016. Foraging by white-fronted geese after disturbance (data from Nolet et al. 2016)-acc. Movebank Data Repository. https://doi.org/10.5441/001/1.7tp81b7b/2Abstract
(1) With increasing numbers of many herbivorous waterfowl species, often foraging on farmland, the conflict with agriculture has intensified. One popular management tool is to scare birds off the land, often in association with shooting. However, the energy costs of flying are considerably higher than those of resting. Therefore, when birds fly off after a disturbance, they use extra energy that subsequently needs to be compensated.
(2) We used the white-fronted goose Anser albifrons, the most common (grass-eating) species wintering in western Europe, as a model species. We measured flight durations by high-frequency accelerometer recordings over 2 × 24 h in 9 focal geese that were only incidentally disturbed. We also made direct observations on these days to determine whether the flight durations were reliably recorded. Using both a simple and a more realistic model of the energy balance, we calculated the extra grass consumption resulting from additional intentional disturbances.
(3) On average, the geese flew daily 2 × 323 s (from and to their roosting sites at 3200 m), and furthermore took to the air 5.3 times during a day (and 1.9 times a night). Multiplied with the average flight durations of 195 s, this gives a total flying time of almost 0.6 h day-1 and a total foraging time of 7.4 h day-1. The extra foraging time needed to compensate for additional intentional disturbances strongly depends on the frequency of such disturbances and the following flight duration. If, for example, flights when intentionally disturbed are twice as long (2 × 195 s), the extra foraging time will be 3.7% day-1 (2.3–3.2% day-1 in the more realistic model) for each intentional disturbance, and the geese will no longer be able to cover their energy requirements when intentionally disturbed six times per day.
(4) Synthesis and applications. Recent experiments suggest that geese have to be scared frequently in order to reduce goose visitation to particular fields. With an intentional disturbance rate e.g. of five times a day, the birds’ compensation for the increased energy expenditure will lead to a higher overall consumption of grass of 11.5–16 % day-1. Accommodation schemes have to take such increases in total grass consumption into account when deciding on the refuge areas to be set aside.
Keywords
accelerometer data, animal foraging, animal movement, animal tracking, Anser albifrons, disturbance, energy budget, flight costs, flight duration, grass damage, GSM telemetry, Movebank, white-fronted geese
DOIs of related Publications
BibTex
@misc{001/1_7tp81b7b/2, title = {Foraging by white-fronted geese after disturbance (data from Nolet et al. 2016)-acc}, author = {Kölzsch, A and Müskens, GJDM and Nolet, BA and Wikelski, M}, year = {2016}, URL = {http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.7tp81b7b/2}, doi = {doi:10.5441/001/1.7tp81b7b/2}, publisher = {Movebank data repository} }
RIS
TY - DATA ID - doi:10.5441/001/1.7tp81b7b/2 T1 - Foraging by white-fronted geese after disturbance (data from Nolet et al. 2016)-acc AU - Kölzsch, Andrea AU - Müskens, Gerhard J.D.M. AU - Nolet, Bart A. AU - Wikelski, Martin Y1 - 2016/05/20 KW - accelerometer data KW - animal foraging KW - animal movement KW - animal tracking KW - Anser albifrons KW - disturbance KW - energy budget KW - flight costs KW - flight duration KW - grass damage KW - GSM telemetry KW - Movebank KW - white-fronted geese KW - Anser albifrons PB - Movebank data repository UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.5441/001/1.7tp81b7b/2 DO - doi:10.5441/001/1.7tp81b7b/2 ER -