Portal to the Lesser White-fronted Goose

- by the Fennoscandian Lesser White-fronted Goose project

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies

Volume: 5 , Pages: 1062-1066

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Mammadov, A. 2017. Survey of lesser white-fronted goose Anser erythropus in Nakhchivan of Azerbaijan during 20-24 January 2015. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 5: 1062-1066

Keywords: Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan, wintering, Aras reservoir

Abstract:

A field survey of the Aras water reservoir within Nakhchivan Autonomic Republic and the adjoining flood-plain area of the Aras River valley within Sadarak district near the border of Iran and Turkey was carried out i 20-24 January 2015. Only four small flocks of Lesser White-fronted Geese were located, of which the biggest being 80 individuals. However, these observations together with tracking and location data on satellite transmitter tagged birds proves that at least for the LWfG the whole area of the Aras River valley from the border of Turkey to the Aras reservoir dam serves as a wintering ground. Considering their high significance, the wetlands of the Aras reservoir and Sadarak district should be assigned the status of highly protected area. The survey also covered the numbers and distribution of other water bird species in the area. Within Azerbaijan part, more than 25000 waterfowl and shorebirds winters, which qualifies this important area to the list of important RAMSAR wetlands.

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Bird Conservation International

Volume: 27 , Pages: 355-370.

DOI: 10.1017/S0959270916000393

Language: English

Full reference: Karmiris, I., Kazantzidis, S., Platis, P. & Papachristou, T.G. 2017. Diet selection by wintering Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus and the role of food availability. Bird Conservation International 27: 355-370. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0959270916000393

Keywords: diet selection, food availability, diet composition, droppings, protein, Kerkini Lake, Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus esculentus, Scirpus lacustris, Ranunculus sceleratus

Abstract:

The Fennoscandian population of the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus (LWfG) is on the verge of extinction and migrates from northern Fennoscandia to Greece on a regular seasonal basis. For the first time, diet selection was investigated during two years at Kerkini Lake, a wintering site in Greece. The relative use of LWfG’s feeding habitats was systematically recorded by visual observations of the LWfG flocks. Food availability was measured by the relative cover of available vegetation types while the diet composition was determined by the microhistological analysis of droppings. In addition, we determined crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin content of the most preferred plant species by LWfG and all vegetation categories that contributed to LWfG diet in the middle of the duration of their stay at Kerkini Lake and after their departure from the lake. LWfG feeding habitat was exclusively marshy grassland in water less than 5 cm deep up to 300–400 m away from the shore. LWfG selected a diverse number of plant species (33), however, grass made up the 58% of their diets. The most preferred plant species were Echinochloa crus-galli, Cyperus esculentus, Scirpus lacustris and Ranunculus sceleratus. LWfG departed from Kerkini Lake in mid-December to the Evros Delta (Thrace, eastern Greece), when either food availability falls in very low levels or flooding occurred in their main feeding habitat. Consequently, as long as food and habitat resources are available for LWfG, it is very likely that the birds will winter mainly at Kerkini Lake and not at the Evros Delta, which will contribute to further minimisation of the theoretical risk of accidental shooting of LWfG at the latter wintering habitat. Thus, future conservation actions should primarily focus on the grassland improvement at Kerkini Lake enhancing the availability of food resources for LWfG (mainly grasses) and the protection of the feeding habitat from flooding.

Literature type: Book Chpt

Language: English

Full reference: Mikander, N. 2015. Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus). An elusive traveller. , UNEP/AEWA Secretariat 2015.Stories from the flyway. Bonn, Germany. 184pp.

Keywords: photos, photo book, conservation evidenece

Literature type: Report

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Lampila, P. & Eskelin, T. 2015. Monitoring of Lesser White-fronted Geese (Anser erythropus) in Northern Iran. , AEWA Lesser White-fronted Goose International Working Group Report Series No. 4. Bonn, Germany.

Keywords: Iran, winter survey

Literature type: Scientific

Journal: Science of the Total Environment

Volume: 527–528 , Pages: 279–286.

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.083

Language: English

Full reference: Aloupi, M., Kazantzidis, S., Akriotis, T., Bantikou, E. & Hatzidaki, V.-O. 2015. Lesser White-fronted (Anser erythropus) and Greater White-fronted (A. albifrons) Geese wintering in Greek wetlands are not threatened by Pb through shot ingestion. Science of the Total Environment 527–528: 279–286. https://www.dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.04.083

Keywords: Non-invasive monitoring, Soil ingestion, Pb–Al relationship, Anser albifrons, Anser erythropus, Lead shot, Greece, hunting,

Abstract:

Fecal lead (Pb) levels were investigated in the threatened European population of the Lesser White-fronted Goose (LWfG, Anser erythropus) and of the non-threatened Greater White-fronted Goose (GWfG, Anser albifrons) wintering in two wetland areas in northern Greece in order to assess the potential risk from Pb exposure. Fecal, soil and food plant samples were analyzed. Levels of Pb were normalized using Al concentrations in order to sep-arate the effect of possible ingestion of Pb shot from that of soil or sediment accidentally ingested with food. All concentrations are expressed on a dry weight basis. Geometric means of Pb content in the feces of LWfG were 6.24 mg/kg at Evros Delta and 7.34 mg/kg at Lake Kerkini (maximum values of 28.61 mg/kg and 36.68 mg/kg, re-spectively); for fecal samples of GWfG geometric means were 2.39 mg/kg at Evros Delta and 6.90 mg/kg at Kerkini (corresponding maximum values of 25.09 mg/kg and 42.26 mg/kg). Soil Pb was in the range of 5.2–60.2 mg/kg (geometric mean = 22.6 mg/kg) for the Evros Delta and between 13.4 and 64.9 mg/kg (geometric mean = 28.1 mg/kg) for Kerkini. A general linear model fitted to the data showed that Pb levels were very closely dependent on Al levels in the feces from both species and at both sites indicating soil or sediment were the only significant source of Pb; species and site, as well as their interaction, were not statistically significant factors. For both species and at both sites exposure to Pb was evidently very mild and the observed levels of Pb were well below the proposed thresholds for lethal or sublethal effects of Pb poisoning. Soil ingestion appeared to gradually increase from October to De-cember for LWfG at Kerkini, corresponding to a gradual depletion of their food source.

Literature type: General

Journal: Indian Birds

Volume: 9 , Pages: 148–149.

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Shreeram M. V., & Deomurari, A. 2014. Record of Lesser- Anser erythropus and Greater- White-fronted Geese A. albifrons from Gujarat, India. Indian Birds: 9, 148–149.

Keywords: observation, India

Literature type: Report

Language: Greek (In Greek with English summary)

Download:

Full reference: Kazantzidis S.,Vasiliadis, I., Ilias, V. & Makriyianni, E. 2014. Direct and indirect impact assessment of hunting activities on the wintering Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus), in Evros Delta, Greece. , Final rep. LIFE10 NAT/GR/000638 Safeguarding the Lesser White-fronted Goose Fennoscandian population in key wintering and staging sites within the European flyway. Hellenic Agr. Org. “DEMETER” – Forest Res. Inst. Thessaloniki, Greece. 102 p. + Annexes

Keywords: Hunting, EU-Life, Greece, Evros Delta

Literature type: Report

Language: English

Download:

Full reference: Karmiris, I., Papachristou, T., Platis, P. & Kazantzidis, S. 2014. The diet of the wintering Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus L., 1758) in two wetlands in Greece. , Final Rep., action A5, LIFE10NAT/GR/000638 project “Safeguarding the Lesser White–fronted goose Fennoscandian population in key wintering and staging sites within the European flyway». Hellenic Agr. Org. “DEMETER”/Forest Res. Inst., Thessaloniki, Greece.

Keywords: Greece, diet, food, selection, availability, Kerkini, Evros delta, droppings, habitat use, vegetation, EU-Life

Literature type: Action Plan

Journal: Calandrella

Volume: 17 , Pages: 1-92.

Language: Hungarian (In Hungarian)

Download:

Full reference: Bogyó, D., Ecsedi, Z., Tar, J., Zalai, T. 2014. A kis lilik (Anser erythropus) magyarországi fajmegörzési terve. [Hungarian National Action Plan for Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus).]

Keywords: Hungary, Action plan

Literature type: Proceedings

Journal: Ornis norvegica

Volume: 36 , Pages: 47-51.

Language: English

External Link:

Download:

Full reference: Yerokhov, S. 2013. The current status of the Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus in Kazakhstan: monitoring, threats and conservation measures , Proceedings of the 14th meeting of the Goose Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and Wetlands International. Ornis norvegica 36: 47-56.

Keywords: Species conservation, hunting, recreational disturbance, water regulation, poisoning

Abstract:

Within the framework of the National Action Plan (hereafter NAP) for the globally threatened Lesser White-fronted Goose Anser erythropus developed in the republic of Kazakhstan between 2011 and 2012, a number of measures are planned for the forthcoming three years (2012–2014). On the basis of scientific data received on this species in the last decades, and making use of available experience from other countries, it is proposed to carry out a variety of practical activities regarding goose protection, in particular in order to reduce the negative influence of a number of anthropogenic factors upon Lesser White-fronted Goose, in particular the influence of hunting on this protected species. Considering that implementation of such plans have not previously been applied to the fauna of Kazakhstan, this NAP will serve as a model as to how to implement effective management of other species and populations in order to reduce and eliminate negative factors affecting biodiversity and habitat.

Number of results: 148