Distribution of Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis in Relation to Food Resources, Distance to Roosts, and the Location of Refuges

[摘要] WeusedGPSsatellitetrackingdataandfieldmeasurementsofvegetationtoinvestigatetheeffectoffoodresources,distancetoroosts,andthelocationofrefugesonthedistributionofBarnacleGeeseBrantaleucopsisinthenorthernpartofTheNetherlands.Todealwithspatialdependenceamongthedata,aspatiallagmodelwasused.Asignificantquadraticeffectwasfoundbetweenswardheightandgoosedistribution,indicatingthatgeesepreferpatcheswithintermediateswardheights.Themanipulationofswardheightcanthereforebeusedtoattractgeesetorefugesandthusreducegoosegrazinginagriculturalland.Norelationshipwasfoundbetweengrassnitrogencontentandgrazingintensity,indicatingthatgeesedonotdistinguishbetweenareasbasedonnitrogencontent.Ahighergrazingintensitywasobservedinareaslocatedwithin2kmfromroosts.Theeighttrackedgeesespent80%oftheirforagingtimeinrefuges,demonstratingtheimportanceoftherefugesystem.

[学科分类] 动物科学

[关键词] Spatial Lag Model