Literature type: Scientific
Journal: Journal of Ornithology
, Pages: online June 2013.
DOI: 10.1007/s10336-013-0979-7
Language:
English
Full reference: Wang, X., Zhang, Y., Zhao, M. Cao, L. & Fox, A.D. 2013. The benefits of being big: effects of body size on energy budgets of three wintering goose species grazing Carex beds in the Yangtze River floodplain, China. Journal of Ornithology : online June 2013. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-013-0979-7
Keywords: energy budget, Yangtze River floodplain, erythropus, fabalis, serrirostris, Albifrons, wintering
Abstract:
Herbivores of different body size vary in food selection because of their different metabolic requirements and abilities to harvest and digest food. Compared with smaller grazers, larger ones require higher food quantity but can tolerate poorer quality. This divergence may also explain habitat partitioning in the distribution of closely related species. By estimating daily energy expenditure (based on observed activity budgets) and energy intake (using the indigestible marker method in food and faeces), we compared the field energy budgets of three wintering herbivorous goose species differing in body size feeding on the same Carex meadows. Throughout the winter, the larger Bean Geese Anser fabalis serrirostris and Greater White-fronted Geese Anser albifrons maintained positive energy budgets grazing lower quality Carex, in contrast to the smaller Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus which failed to do so and could only maintain positive energy budgets by grazing high-quality Alopecurus, Cynodon and Eleocharis. However, all three species failed to maintain positive energy balance and lost mass in midwinter. These results have important implications for explaining the divergent distribution patterns of these species on their wintering grounds in China.
Literature type: General
Journal: Goose Bulletin
Volume: 17 , Pages: 2-5.
Language:
English
Full reference: Wang, X., Fox, A.D., Cong, P. & Cao, L. 2013. Recent research on the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus in China. Goose Bulletin: 17, 2-5.
Keywords: winter counts, China, habitat preferences, diett, hydrology, research
Literature type: Scientific
Journal: Ibis
Volume: 155 , Pages: 576–592.
DOI: 10.1111/ibi.12039
Language:
English
External Link:
Full reference: Wang, W., Fox, A.D., Cong, P. & Cao, L. 2013. Food constraints explain the restricted distribution of wintering Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus in China. Ibis 155: 576–592. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12039
Keywords: food, China, management, East Dongting Lake, energy budget, goose foraging,
Abstract:
More than 90% of the Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus in the Eastern Palearctic flyway population winter at East Dongting Lake, China. To explain this restricted distribution and to understand better the winter feeding ecology and habitat requirements of this poorly known species, we assessed their food availability, diet and energy budgets at this site through two winters. Lesser White-fronted Geese maintained a positive energy budget when feeding on above-ground green production of Eleocharis and Alopecurus in recessional grasslands in autumn and spring to accumulate fat stores. Such food was severely depleted by late November and showed no growth in mid-winter. Geese fed on more extensive old-growth Carex sedge meadows in mid-winter where they were in energy deficit and depleted endogenous fat stores. Geese failed to accumulate autumn fat stores in one year when high water levels prevented the Geese from using recessional grassland feeding areas. Fat stores remained lower throughout that winter and Geese left for breeding areas later in spring than in the previous year, perhaps reflecting the need to gain threshold fat stores for migration. Sedge meadows are widespread at other Yangtze River floodplain wetlands, but recessional grasslands are rare and perhaps restricted to parts of East Dongting Lake, which would explain the highly localized distribution of Lesser White-fronted Geese in China and their heavy use of these habitats at this site. Sympathetic management of water tables is essential to maintain the recessional grasslands in the best condition for Geese. Regular depletion of fat stores whilst grazing sedge meadows in mid-winter also underlines the need to protect the species from unnecessary anthropogenic disturbances that enhance energy expenditure. The specialized diet of the Lesser White-fronted Goose may explain its highly restricted winter distribution and global rarity.
Literature type: Scientific
Journal: Bird Conservation International
Volume: 22 , Pages: 128-134.
DOI: 10.1017/S095927091100030X
Language:
English
Full reference: Wang, W., Fox, A.D., Cong, P., Barter, M. & Cao, L. 2012. Changes in the distribution and abundance of wintering Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus in eastern China. Bird Conservation International 22: 128-134. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1017/S095927091100030X
Abstract:
The Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus is globally threatened with an estimated world population of 25,000 28,000, of which c 20,000 winter at East Dongting Lake, China. We present here the first collation of published and unpublished data on the distribution and abundance of the species in eastern China in recent decades. Lesser White-fronted Goose numbers have declined greatly in Anhui, Jiangxi and Jiangsu Provinces between the late-1980s/early-1990s and recent years: the species’ range has now mainly contracted to East Dongting Lake in Hunan. The relatively stable numbers at East Dongting Lake suggest that the population is not currently threatened, but the extreme concentration at one lake makes the species vulnerable. Lesser White-fronted Geese rely on very specific meadow vegetation exposed after water recession, so changes in water levels or recession timing, due to hydrological changes following the commissioning of the Three Gorges Dam, may affect biomass, palatability and plant species composition of the meadows. Thus, it is critically important to understand the wintering ecology and habitat needs of this threatened species at East Dongting Lake. It is also essential to conduct further synchronous Yangtze River floodplain surveys to assess the current status, distribution and habitat use of Lesser White-fronted Geese throughout the region.
Literature type: Scientific
Journal: Ardea
Volume: 100 , Pages: 5-11.
DOI: 10.5253/078.100.0103
Language:
English
Full reference: Cong, P., Wang, W., Cao, L. & Fox, A.D 2012. Within-winter shifts in Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus distribution at East Dongting Lake, China Ardea 100: 5-11. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.5253/078.100.0103
Literature type: Scientific
Journal: Chinese Birds
Volume: 2 , Pages: 1-17.
Language:
English
Full reference: Cao, L., Barter, M., Zhao, M., Meng, H. & Zhang, Y. 2011. A systematic scheme for monitoring waterbird populations at Shengjin Lake, China: methodology and preliminary results. Chinese Birds 2: 1-17. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.5122/cbirds.2011.0001
Keywords: monitoring, methodology, China
Literature type: Scientific
Journal: Wildfowl
Volume: 58 , Pages: 3-19.
Language:
English
External Link:
Full reference: Fox, A.D., Lei, C., BArter, M., Rees, E.C., Hearn, R.D., Hao, C.P., Xin, W., Yong, Z., Tao, D.S. & Fang, S.X. 2008. The functional use of East Dongting Lake, China, by wintering geese. Wildfowl 58: 3-19.
Literature type: General
Journal: Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca)
Volume: 11 , Pages: 161-180.
Language:
Russian
(In English with Russian summary)
Full reference: Cao, L., Wang, W. & Barter, M. 2008. Wintering anatidae in China: a preliminary analysis. Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca): 11, 161-180.
Keywords: China, winter survey
Literature type: General
Journal: Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca)
Volume: 11 , Pages: 146-160.
Language:
Russian
(In English with Russian summary)
Full reference: Cao, L., Barter, M., Lei, G., & Yang, Q. 2008. Anatidae in the Yangtze floodplain in the winter 2004 and 2005. Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca): 11, 146-160.
Keywords: China, winter survey
Literature type: Scientific
Journal: Biological conservation
Volume: 141 , Pages: 2301-2309.
DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2008.06.022
Language:
English
Full reference: Cao, L., Barter, M. & Lei, G. 2008. New Anatidae population estimates for eastern China: Implications for current flyway estimates. Biological conservation 141: 2301-2309. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2008.06.022
Keywords: Anatidae, China, East Asia, Population estimate, Yangtze
Abstract:
Soundly-based conservation plans for Anatidae require abundance and distributional data to provide accurate estimation of population sizes and trends and to identify key sites for protection. Here, we report the first ever extensive surveys throughout eastern China’s wetlands for Anatidae, 80% of which occurred in the Yangtze floodplain. Population estimates for 24 species with sufficient data are provided, allowing assessment of the accuracy of current flyway population estimates; fourteen species are far less numerous than previously believed and three far more numerous. Further improvement of the population estimates for eastern China will need coordinated counts across the region requiring a large, skilled counter network.
Number of results: 41