Variation in age ratio of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during fall migration
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Abstract
Annual productivity is an important parameter for the management of waterfowl populations. Fall age ratio (juveniles:total birds) is an index of productivity of the preceding breeding season. However, differences in the timing of migration between family groups and nonbreeding birds may bias age-ratio estimates. We examined temporal variation in age ratios of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese Anser albifrons frontalis from interior and northwestern Alaska at a northern autumn staging area near Delta Junction, Alaska. Photographic sampling conducted near Delta Junction resulted in an annual age ratio of 0.388 ± 0.004 (mean ± SE) in 2010 and 0.390 ± 0.001 in 2011. Our study demonstrated temporal variation in age ratios over the duration of the migration period during August and September. We recommend that sampling be conducted for 3-d periods at the beginning, middle, and end of the migration period to account for temporal variation in migration of family groups.
Suggested Citation
Schock, W.G., Fischer, J., Ely, C.R., Stehn, R.A., Welker, J.M., Causey, D., 2018, Variation in age ratio of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during fall migration: Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management, v. 9, no. 1, p. 340-347, https://doi.org/10.3996/112015-JFWM-117.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Variation in age ratio of midcontinent greater white-fronted geese during fall migration |
| Series title | Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management |
| DOI | 10.3996/112015-JFWM-117 |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication Date | February 02, 2018 |
| Year Published | 2018 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center Biology WTEB |
| Description | 8 p. |
| First page | 340 |
| Last page | 347 |