High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation
In a simple, rodent-free Arctic ecosystem in Svalbard, we assessed the nest-site characteristics of the main (and highly abundant) migratory herbivore—pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus)—to determine which nesting geese were preferentially attacked and killed by the only local predator of adult...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Norwegian Polar Institute
2019-06-01
|
| Series: | Polar Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/3352/9284 |
| _version_ | 1819044671675957248 |
|---|---|
| author | Helen B. Anderson Eva Fuglei Jesper Madsen René van der Wal |
| author_facet | Helen B. Anderson Eva Fuglei Jesper Madsen René van der Wal |
| author_sort | Helen B. Anderson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In a simple, rodent-free Arctic ecosystem in Svalbard, we assessed the nest-site characteristics of the main (and highly abundant) migratory herbivore—pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus)—to determine which nesting geese were preferentially attacked and killed by the only local predator of adult geese, the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus). We collected data on goose carcasses and nest-site characteristics at one of the main pink-footed goose breeding areas in Svalbard. Arctic foxes depredated adult pink-footed geese from just over a quarter of the unsuccessful nests in the colony and carcasses were generally found just under 10 m away from a nest. Geese that occupied nests of poorer quality (limited visibility, further distance to forage patches and situated on flatter slopes) and were less well established (indicated by the low degree of fertilization from accumulations of goose droppings) were more likely to be depredated by Arctic foxes. As geese show a high degree of nest-site fidelity and preferentially occupy nests with better protection against depredation and closer to feeding areas, we propose that Arctic foxes targeted, and were more successful in killing younger, more inexperienced or low-quality geese that occupied less favourable nest sites. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:16:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b722d069652e4173a483b3edba24a396 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-8369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T10:16:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polar Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-b722d069652e4173a483b3edba24a3962022-12-21T19:07:35ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research1751-83692019-06-013801710.33265/polar.v38.33523352High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predationHelen B. Anderson0Eva Fuglei1Jesper Madsen2René van der Wal3School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UKNorwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Rønde, DenmarkSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UKIn a simple, rodent-free Arctic ecosystem in Svalbard, we assessed the nest-site characteristics of the main (and highly abundant) migratory herbivore—pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus)—to determine which nesting geese were preferentially attacked and killed by the only local predator of adult geese, the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus). We collected data on goose carcasses and nest-site characteristics at one of the main pink-footed goose breeding areas in Svalbard. Arctic foxes depredated adult pink-footed geese from just over a quarter of the unsuccessful nests in the colony and carcasses were generally found just under 10 m away from a nest. Geese that occupied nests of poorer quality (limited visibility, further distance to forage patches and situated on flatter slopes) and were less well established (indicated by the low degree of fertilization from accumulations of goose droppings) were more likely to be depredated by Arctic foxes. As geese show a high degree of nest-site fidelity and preferentially occupy nests with better protection against depredation and closer to feeding areas, we propose that Arctic foxes targeted, and were more successful in killing younger, more inexperienced or low-quality geese that occupied less favourable nest sites.https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/3352/9284Predator–prey interactionsArctic foxespink-footed geeselate snowmelt |
| spellingShingle | Helen B. Anderson Eva Fuglei Jesper Madsen René van der Wal High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation Polar Research Predator–prey interactions Arctic foxes pink-footed geese late snowmelt |
| title | High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation |
| title_full | High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation |
| title_fullStr | High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation |
| title_short | High-Arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation |
| title_sort | high arctic nesting geese occupying less favourable nest sites are more vulnerable to predation |
| topic | Predator–prey interactions Arctic foxes pink-footed geese late snowmelt |
| url | https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/3352/9284 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT helenbanderson higharcticnestinggeeseoccupyinglessfavourablenestsitesaremorevulnerabletopredation AT evafuglei higharcticnestinggeeseoccupyinglessfavourablenestsitesaremorevulnerabletopredation AT jespermadsen higharcticnestinggeeseoccupyinglessfavourablenestsitesaremorevulnerabletopredation AT renevanderwal higharcticnestinggeeseoccupyinglessfavourablenestsitesaremorevulnerabletopredation |