The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i>
Food resources are key limiting factors for migratory waterbirds, and the foraging strategies adopted by herbivorous waterbirds are affected by food availability in wetland habitats. The greater white-fronted goose (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) is mainly dependent on <i>Carex</i>...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Diversity |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/11/943 |
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| author | Yundong Zhong Lei Cheng Yanguang Fan Lizhi Zhou Yunwei Song |
| author_facet | Yundong Zhong Lei Cheng Yanguang Fan Lizhi Zhou Yunwei Song |
| author_sort | Yundong Zhong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Food resources are key limiting factors for migratory waterbirds, and the foraging strategies adopted by herbivorous waterbirds are affected by food availability in wetland habitats. The greater white-fronted goose (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) is mainly dependent on <i>Carex</i> in the lower and middle Yangtze River floodplain. Exploring the relationship between the growth conditions of <i>Carex</i> and the foraging strategies adopted by wintering greater white-fronted geese has important ecological implications for habitat protection and management. In this study, scan sampling and focal animal sampling were used to record the foraging behaviors of greater white-fronted geese wintering at Shengjin Lake, and the plant height and water content of <i>Carex</i> were surveyed simultaneously. The relationship between plant characteristics and foraging behaviors was tested using a linear regression equation. The results showed that <i>Carex</i> had two growth periods at Shengjin Lake, and the pecking rate and foraging time budget of greater white-fronted geese were higher during these two periods. Plant characteristics were positively correlated with goose foraging behaviors. The strategic adjustment of the foraging behaviors adopted by wintering greater white-fronted geese was consistent with the growth stage of <i>Carex</i>, which is the optimal foraging window for greater white-fronted geese. During the foraging windows, geese changed their foraging strategies to obtain more energy in order to guarantee successful wintering and migration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:08:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fec323f9550b49ffa97a1a86ce9a8ffb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-2818 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T19:08:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diversity |
| spelling | doaj.art-fec323f9550b49ffa97a1a86ce9a8ffb2023-11-24T04:21:16ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182022-11-01141194310.3390/d14110943The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i>Yundong Zhong0Lei Cheng1Yanguang Fan2Lizhi Zhou3Yunwei Song4School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei 230601, ChinaAnhui Shengjin Lake Wetland Ecology National Long-term Scientific Research Base, Dongzhi 247230, ChinaFood resources are key limiting factors for migratory waterbirds, and the foraging strategies adopted by herbivorous waterbirds are affected by food availability in wetland habitats. The greater white-fronted goose (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) is mainly dependent on <i>Carex</i> in the lower and middle Yangtze River floodplain. Exploring the relationship between the growth conditions of <i>Carex</i> and the foraging strategies adopted by wintering greater white-fronted geese has important ecological implications for habitat protection and management. In this study, scan sampling and focal animal sampling were used to record the foraging behaviors of greater white-fronted geese wintering at Shengjin Lake, and the plant height and water content of <i>Carex</i> were surveyed simultaneously. The relationship between plant characteristics and foraging behaviors was tested using a linear regression equation. The results showed that <i>Carex</i> had two growth periods at Shengjin Lake, and the pecking rate and foraging time budget of greater white-fronted geese were higher during these two periods. Plant characteristics were positively correlated with goose foraging behaviors. The strategic adjustment of the foraging behaviors adopted by wintering greater white-fronted geese was consistent with the growth stage of <i>Carex</i>, which is the optimal foraging window for greater white-fronted geese. During the foraging windows, geese changed their foraging strategies to obtain more energy in order to guarantee successful wintering and migration.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/11/943foraging strategyforaging windowgreater white-front geese<i>Carex</i>Shengjin Lake |
| spellingShingle | Yundong Zhong Lei Cheng Yanguang Fan Lizhi Zhou Yunwei Song The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i> Diversity foraging strategy foraging window greater white-front geese <i>Carex</i> Shengjin Lake |
| title | The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i> |
| title_full | The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i> |
| title_short | The Foraging Window for Greater White-Fronted Geese (<i>Anser albifrons</i>) Is Consistent with the Growth Stage of <i>Carex</i> |
| title_sort | foraging window for greater white fronted geese i anser albifrons i is consistent with the growth stage of i carex i |
| topic | foraging strategy foraging window greater white-front geese <i>Carex</i> Shengjin Lake |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/14/11/943 |
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