Do hyperabundant Arctic-nesting geese pose a problem for sympatric species?

Flemming, Scott A.; Calvert, Anna M.; Nol, Erica; Smith, Paul A.

doi:10.1139/er-2016-0007

Cited by 27 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 82 publications

(78 reference statements)

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“…At the regional scale, we found that bird density was typically higher in regions with high goose abundance further supporting the spatial overlap between shorebirds and geese (Flemming et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

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Broad‐scale changes in tundra‐nesting bird abundance in response to hyperabundant geese

et al. 2019

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Environmental changes can propagate through food webs in complex ways via trophic cascades. In the North American Arctic, hyperabundant populations of geese are causing significant habitat change and the resulting trophic cascades are known to impact plant and invertebrate communities. However, the potential impacts on other tundra‐nesting birds are not fully understood. Here, we evaluate the impacts of light geese (Snow Geese, Chen caerulescens, and Ross’ Goose, Chen rossii) populations on other tundra‐nesting birds, using count data collected during bird surveys conducted at varying distances from light goose colonies across the Canadian Arctic. From a dataset of 920 12–16 ha plots distributed across the Canadian Arctic, we identified 527 that were within 200 km of the mapped extent of known light goose colonies. After accounting for regional variation, we demonstrate that densities of most Cover‐Nesting Shorebirds and passerines are depressed in the vicinity of light goose colonies. We suggest that these trends are the results of the combined effects of goose‐induced changes in habitat and predator–prey interactions. These direct and indirect effects of light geese could be contributing to the declines experienced by some tundra‐nesting bird populations in parts of their range. Ongoing climate‐related changes to habitat, predators, and arthropods could interact with this effect of geese to further alter the suitability of tundra habitats for Arctic‐breeding birds, in additive or even unanticipated ways.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…, Milakovic and Jefferies ) are known, but the potential indirect effects on other sympatric taxa, less so (Flemming et al. ). The highly vegetated tundra habitats used by geese also provide breeding habitat for many other bird species, especially migratory shorebirds (Brown et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Broad‐scale changes in tundra‐nesting bird abundance in response to hyperabundant geese

et al. 2019

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“…Habitat loss elsewhere in the range and climate change are considered the biggest threats to Arctic shorebirds (Thomas, Lanctot, & Szekely, ); however, goose‐induced habitat alteration could be a contributing factor that has not yet been assessed adequately to understand its impacts range‐wide. Known lesser snow goose colonies occupy a relatively small proportion of the North American Arctic (Flemming et al., ); however, our results indicate that breeding geese can alter habitat well beyond the confines of the colony. Furthermore, non‐breeding light geese may influence habitat anywhere within their range, which covers approximately 26% of the Arctic in North America and includes large fractions of the Arctic's wetlands, where a majority of shorebirds breed (Flemming et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 52%

Hyperabundant herbivores limit habitat availability and influence nest site selection of Arctic‐breeding birds

Flemming

Nol

Kennedy

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Understanding an organism's habitat selection and behavioural flexibility in the face of environmental change can help managers plan for future conservation of that species. Hyperabundant tundra‐nesting geese are influencing Arctic environments through their foraging activities. Goose‐induced habitat change in Arctic wetlands may influence the availability of habitat for numerous shorebird species that breed sympatrically with geese. We explore whether goose‐induced habitat alteration affects shorebird breeding density and nest site selection. Using habitat data collected at sites with High, Moderate and Low goose influence, and samples collected during two periods separated by 11 years, we document the habitat characteristics influenced by geese. We describe the habitat characteristics preferred by shorebirds and relate their availability to goose influence and shorebird density. Finally, we examine whether shorebird nest site selection has changed over time and whether shorebirds select nest sites differently in habitat influenced by geese. We document spatial and temporal changes in sedge meadow habitat and lateral concealment relating to goose influence. The availability of sedge meadow habitat and the degree of lateral concealment declined with increasing goose influence, and also declined at two sites over the 11 years of the study. Densities of both cover‐ and open‐nesting shorebirds were highest where goose influence was lowest. At sites with Low goose influence, cover‐nesting shorebirds selected nest sites with more sedge meadow and concealment than at sites with Moderate and High goose influence, presumably because these high‐quality sites were more available. Synthesis and applications. Intensive foraging by a colony of hyperabundant geese is limiting the availability of preferred nesting habitat and densities of sympatric‐nesting shorebirds. Where goose‐induced habitat alteration is pronounced shorebird species that select concealed nest sites are nesting in areas with lower concealment and less sedge meadow. Studies examining the degree to which these effects scale up to impact the population sizes of declining shorebirds should be considered a future research priority. Moreover, management strategies for geese should incorporate the habitat needs of sympatric species and reinvigorate efforts for goose population reduction in order to achieve the population targets articulated by management agencies.

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“…The increasing impact by waterfowl on high latitude lakes and ponds provides a prime example of how climate change has consequences at the interface of terrestrial and freshwater environments, and also between geographically separated ecosystems such as overwintering grounds and breeding grounds. Migrating birds, particularly geese, have been observed in increasing numbers in many Arctic regions (Flemming, Calvert, Nol, & Smith, ; Jefferies, Drent, & Bakker, ; Pedersen, Speed, & Tombre, ). Likewise, the Svalbard archipelago has experienced a dramatic increase in goose populations during the second half of the last century (Madsen et al., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in trophic state and aquatic communities in high Arctic ponds in response to increasing goose populations

et al. 2019

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The high Arctic, including the Svalbard archipelago in the North Atlantic, has been exposed to direct and indirect drivers of climatic change such as rising temperatures and associated changes in hydrology and nutrient fluxes. In addition, the number of migrating birds, particularly geese, increased remarkably in the Svalbard archipelago during the second half of the last century. The higher number of breeding birds potentially affects water quality and the biota in ponds and lakes. We aimed to investigate the potential influence of increasing goose abundance on trophic state, taxon richness, and species composition of freshwater communities in the high Arctic. We hypothesised that higher goose abundance affects the trophic state of shallow lakes and ponds and their taxon richness and species composition. We conducted a survey of selected ponds at Svalbard along a goose abundance gradient. We used the number of area‐specific goose droppings (range of 0–94 droppings m2) as a proxy of goose presence and measured proxies for productivity as well as taxon richness and composition of phytoplankton and invertebrate communities. Presence and abundance of geese were associated with higher productivity of ponds. Invertebrate and phytoplankton taxon richness correlated (positively) with goose abundance. Both phytoplankton and invertebrate taxon richness increased with increasing nitrogen (N) concentrations. Goose abundance significantly affected phytoplankton species composition, while concentrations of total‐N and total phosphorus (P) did not. Species composition of aquatic invertebrates was most strongly affected by goose abundance, but the effect of total‐N concentration was also significant. Increased goose abundance was associated with bird driven nutrient enrichment, increased phytoplankton and invertebrate taxon richness and changes of these biological communities. Thus, in addition to climate change, the higher abundances of large migratory water fowl in many polar areas may pose a major additional stress to arctic lakes and ponds. In fact, climate change and bird impact may interact, accelerating ongoing environmental change of arctic freshwater ecosystems.

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Do hyperabundant Arctic-nesting geese pose a problem for sympatric species?

Cited by 27 publications

References 82 publications

Broad‐scale changes in tundra‐nesting bird abundance in response to hyperabundant geese

Broad‐scale changes in tundra‐nesting bird abundance in response to hyperabundant geese

Hyperabundant herbivores limit habitat availability and influence nest site selection of Arctic‐breeding birds

Changes in trophic state and aquatic communities in high Arctic ponds in response to increasing goose populations

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