Portal to the Lesser White-fronted Goose

- by the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose project

Literature type: Thesis

Language: English

External Link:

Full reference: Markkola, J. 2022. Ecology and conservation of the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus. , PhD thesis, Acta Universitatis Ouluensis. A Scientiae Rerum Naturalium 770. Faculty of Science, University of Oulu, Finland.

Keywords: spring arrival, Anser erythropus, Anser fabalis, breeding schedule, habitat, diet selection, meadow management, population genetic structure, Finland

Abstract:

I studied the rare and threatened lesser white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), abbreviated LWfG in 1989–1996 in sub-arctic Finnish Lapland (I). The studied subpopulation consisted of 2–15 breeding pairs annually. A total of 30 broods were observed with an average of 2.9 goslings per brood. The 1st year survival of tagged 10 geese was low. Satellite locations, recoveries and resightings were received from NW Russia, Kazakhstan and the Azov Sea area. Cold spells had a negative, and the sum of effective temperatures by 5 July a positive influence on reproduction. Habitat selection (II) was studied in the same area. LWfG preferred the vicinity of water, flat close-range landscape, low forest height and intermediate relative altitudes. LWfG aggregated in the vicinity of conspecifics within the preferred habitats. The averaged RSF model assigned observation and random points correctly with 83.4% success. Locations of historical observations of LWfG matched the predicted distribution of breeding sites. (III) Spring migration patterns on the Bothnian Bay coast of LWfG were examined in 1907–1916 and 1949–2014 and the taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) in 1975–2014. Arrival of the short-distance migrant A. fabalis advanced more and earlier than the long-distance migrant A. erythropus, 10.9 days since late 1980’s vs. 5.3 days since the beginning of the 2000’s. In the LWfG, the best model for explaining variation in timing included global and local temperatures, in A. fabalis global and local temperatures and winter NAO. Increasing global temperatures seem to explain trends in both. In the spring staging places of the Bothnian Bay almost all dietary items of the LWfG were Monocotyledons, mostly grasses growing in extensive sea-shore meadows (IV). Only Phragmites, Festuca and possibly Triglochin palustris were preferred. Lesser White-fronts preferred extensive natural meadows. Mowing and grazing benefit the restoration of habitats. Genetic structuring of the LWfG was examined in its whole distribution area from Fennoscandia to East Asia (V). A fragment of the control region of mtDNA was sequenced from 110 individuals. 15 mtDNA haplotypes were assigned to two mtDNA lineages. Molecular variance showed significant structuring among populations: the main western in north-western Russia – Central Siberia, the main eastern in East Asia and the Nordic one, which earns a status as an independent management unit.

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Ornis Hungarica

Volume: 28 , Pages: 28–48.

DOI: 10.2478/orhu-2020-0003

Language: English (In English with Hungarian summary)

Download:

Full reference: Zuban, I., Vilkov, V., Kalashnikov, M., Zhadan, K. & Bisseneva, A. 2020. The results of spring monitoring on the status of geese populations in the North Kazakhstan Region during 2011-2018. Ornis Hungarica 28: 28–48. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2020-0003

Keywords: monitoring, Kazakhstan, Northern Kazakhstan, spring staging

Abstract:

The article presents the results of monitoring studies on the population dynamics of goose species at one of the largest stopover sites in Northern Kazakhstan during the springs of 2011–2018. Comparative analysis of the phenological phases at the beginning and end of migration over a 50 year period is conducted and changes in timing of migration for the studied groups are established. Data on the number of flocks at various stages of the migration process are presented. Authors revealed characteristics of the distribution of birds in the directions of migration through the region associated with the presence of various migration strategies. Based on the distribution and number of geese in the region for rest and feeding, key zones with characteristics of their natural and anthropogenic state were identified. It has been established that water bodies and large areas have optimal conditions for rest and replenishment of energy reserves for the birds.

Literature type: Report

Language: English (In Chinese & English)

Full reference: Liying, S. & Lifang, T. (eds). 2015. Synchronized counts for migratory cranes and waterbirds in spring 2015. , Cranes and waterbirds migration briefs 2015 No.5. 19pp.

Keywords: counts, China, distribution

Literature type: Report

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Rozenfeld, S. 2011. Regulation of Spring and Autumn Hunting on Waterbirds in the Kumo-Manych Depression, Russian Federation, March 2010-February 2011. , AEWA Lesser White fronted Goose International Working Group Report Series No. 2. Bonn, Germany.

Keywords: hunting, protection, conservation

Literature type: Rep.article

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Sulkava, P., Karvonen, R. & Tolvanen, P. 2009. Monitoring of the late spring staging sites and breeding areas of Lesser White-fronted Goose in Finnish and Norwegian Lapland in 2004–2008. , In: Tolvanen, P., Øien, I.J. & Ruokolainen, K. (eds.). Conservation of Lesser White-fronted Goose on the European migration route. Final report of the EU LIFE-Nature project 2005–2009. WWF Finland Report 27 & NOF Rapportserie Report No 1-2009: pp. 36-39.

Keywords: monitoring, EU-Life, annual report, Fennoscandian, Norway, Finland

Literature type: General

Journal: Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca)

Volume: 12 , Pages: 161-169.

Language: Russian (In Russian with English summary)

Download:

Full reference: Naumkin, D.V. & Golub, E.V. 2009. [Spring migration of waterfowl in the vicinity of Anadyr.], Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca): 12, 161-169.

Keywords: spring survey, Russia

Literature type: Rep.article

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Luukkonen, A. 2009. The spring migration of the Lesser White-fronted Goose on Bothnian Bay coast, Finland, in 2004–2008. , In: Tolvanen, P., Øien, I.J. & Ruokolainen, K. (eds.). Conservation of Lesser White-fronted Goose on the European migration route. Final report of the EU LIFE-Nature project 2005–2009. WWF Finland Report 27 & NOF Rapportserie Report No 1-2009: pp. 25-27.

Keywords: monitoring, EU-Life, annual report, Fennoscandian

Literature type: Rep.article

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Kaartinen, R., Castrén, K. & Tolvanen, P. 2009. Spring staging site of Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Geese revealed in the Nemunas delta, Lithuania. , In: Tolvanen, P., Øien, I.J. & Ruokolainen, K. (eds.). Conservation of Lesser White-fronted Goose on the European migration route. Final report of the EU LIFE-Nature project 2005–2009. WWF Finland Report 27 & NOF Rapportserie Report No 1-2009: p.16.

Keywords: monitoring, EU-Life, annual report, Fennoscandian

Literature type: Rep.article

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Markkola, J., Luukkonen, A. & Leinonen, A. 2004. The spring migration of the Lesser White-fronted Goose on Bothnian Bay coast, Finland, in 2001-2003. , In: Aarvak, T. & Timonen, S. (eds.). Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation project. Report 2001-2003. WWF Finland Report No 20 & Norwegian Ornithological Society, NOF Rapportserie Report No 1-2004: pp. 14-18.

Keywords: Annual report, monitoring, Finland

Literature type: Rep.article

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Kaartinen, R. 2004. Monitoring spring migration of Lesser White-fronted Goose in Finnish and Norwegian Lapland, and surveys\nin former core breeding area in Finland in 2001-2003. , In: Aarvak, T. & Timonen, S. (eds.). Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose conservation project. Report 2001-2003. WWF Finland Report No 20 & Norwegian Ornithological Society, NOF Rapportserie Report No 1-2004: pp. 25-26.

Keywords: Annual report, monitoring

Number of results: 28