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: General
Journal: Goose Bulletin
Volume: 17 , Pages: 23-25.
Language:
English
Full reference: Mineev, O.Y. & Mineev, Y.N. 2013. New breeding area for the Lesser White-fronted GooseAnser erythropus in the Bolshezemelskaya tundra. Goose Bulletin: 17, 23-25.
Keywords: Bolshezemelskaya tundra, Nenets, broods, breeding, peregrine falcon, Russia
Literature type: General
Journal: Goose Bulletin
Volume: 17 , Pages: 10-18.
Language:
English
Full reference: Kruckenberg, H. & Krüger, T. 2013. Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus in Lower Saxony (NW Germany) – status, distribution and numbers 1900–2007. Goose Bulletin: 17, 10-18.
Keywords: status, distribution, numbers, Germany, Lower Saxony
Abstract:
In the period from 1907/08 to 2006/07, i.e. 100 winters, 156 records of 261 Lesser White-fronted Geese Anser erythropus were reported in Lower Saxony. The first records were from 9 December 1907. For the period before 1970, only accidental occurrences were reported. A large increase in the number of records occurred in the 1990s and continued in the 2000s. Since the mid-1990s, the Lesser White-fronted Goosehas become a regular, annually occurring migratory bird in Lower Saxony. There is evidence of a concentration of records in the north-west of Lower Saxony in the region of East Frisia, especially in the Dollart-Lower Ems-Region (Rheiderland, Emsmarschen) and the Krummhörn including Leybucht, which are key sites of the occurrence. Other important sites are the Middle Elbe and the Lower Elbe. During autumn migration, the first Lesser White-fronted Geese reach Lower Saxony in mid-October. From early December the numbers rise steadily until early March and peak in the first decade of March (median = 2 March). After that the numbers decrease but birds remain until the first third of April at a relatively high level, and birds are gone by the end of April. In 139 cases (92.1%), Lesser White-fronted Geese were recorded only on a single day, longer stays were reported only twelve times (7.9%, n = 151 records), the longest 27 days, indicating overwintering. About 93% of all observations of Lesser White-fronted Geese refer to birds which were associated in only small flocks of three individuals, and often only single birds (68.6%) occurred (n = 156 flocks and 261 ind.). “Large” flocks have been recorded rarely. 141 Lesser White-fronted Geese were reported as adult birds (86.5%), with only 21 individuals identified as juveniles (13.5%, n = 163). In 75% of records since the mid-1990s (73%, n = 70 records) Lesser White-fronted Geese were roosting with White-fronted Geese A. albifrons. In 19% of the records they were with Barnacle Geese Branta bernicla, and in 9 % with Greylag Geese A. anser. There is a high likelihood of confusion between Lesser White-fronted Geese and Whitefronted Geese during goose hunting, which is usually practiced at dusk at the night roosts of both species. Therefore, to collect data for better protection of Lesser Whitefronted Geese in Lower Saxony we started a new research programme in autumn 2012 involving field research, satellite tracking and colour-marking as well as an awareness campaign for birders, hunters and the general public.
Literature type: General
Journal: Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca)
Volume: 16 , Pages: 59-51.
Language:
Russian
Full reference: Garms, O. Ya. 2013. Data on migration of the Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus at the Gilyovsloye reservior Northwestern Altai. Bulletin of the goose, swan and duck study group of northern Eurasia (Casarca): 16, 59-51.
Keywords: Altai, Russia, migration, hunting bag,
Abstract:
Waterfowl migration was observed at the Gilyovskoye water reservoir in Lifliandskiy nature refuge (zakaznik) on 4–29 April and from 25 September till 25 October 2012. The first lesser white-fronted geese (five individuals in the bean goose fl ock and three more in pintail fl ock) arrived on 5 April. Five more lesser white-fronted geese were observed on 13 April. In autumn, the first record of the species was made on 1 October (a fl ock of 25 birds). Small groups of white-fronted geese were noted in the flocks of bean geese from time to time up to 31 October. According to our estimate and opinion of the local hunters and game managers, 450 to 500 lesser white-fronted geese passed over the Gilyovskoye reservoir in the period between 1 October and 8 November 2012.
Literature type: Action Plan
Language:
Hungarian
(In Hungarian with English summary)
External Link:
Full reference: Bogyó, D., Ecsedi, Z., Tar, J. & Zalai, T. 2013. A kis lilik (Anser erythropus) magyarorszagi fajmegörzesi terve. [Hungarian National Action Plan for Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus).] , Ministry of Rural Development, State Secretariat for Environmental Affairs. 93pp.
Keywords: action plan, Hungary, management, conservation, roosting, feeding, actions
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: Action Plan
Language:
Estonian
(In Estonian & English)
Full reference: Toming, M. 2012. Väike-laukhani ja tema kaitse Eestis. [Lesser White-fronted Goose and its conservation in Estonia.] , Hirundo Supplementum 11. 62 pp.
Keywords: Action Plan, Estonia, Anser erythropus, monitoring, threats, measures
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
Number of results: 148