Effects of snow cover on the timing and success of reproduction in high-Arctic pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus

TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of snow cover on the timing and success of reproduction in high-Arctic pink-footed geese Anser brachyrhynchus

AU - Madsen, J.

AU - Tamstorf, M.

AU - Klaassen, M.R.J.

AU - Eide, N.

AU - Glahder, C.

AU - Rigét, F.

AU - Nygaard, H.

AU - Cottaar, F.

N1 - Reporting year: 2007 Metis note: 4055;CL; PDI; file:///C:/pdfs/Pdfs2007/Madsen_ea_4055.pdf

PY - 2007

Y1 - 2007

N2 - During four breeding seasons, 2003–2006, we studied the relationship between snow cover and nesting performance in pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) in a key breeding site on Svalbard. Snow cover in late May, i.e., at the time of egg laying of geese, was derived from MODIS satellite images. Snow cover had a profound cascading effect on reproductive output via the number of nesting pairs and timing of nesting, which affected nest success, while there was only a tendency for a negative effect on clutch size. Hence, we estimated a five-fold difference in the number of young produced (to post-hatching) between years with little snow and years with high snow cover. The results from the study area correlated with whole-population productivity estimates recorded in autumn. Thus, snow cover derived from MODIS satellite images appears to provide a useful indicator of the breeding conditions in the Arctic.

AB - During four breeding seasons, 2003–2006, we studied the relationship between snow cover and nesting performance in pink-footed geese (Anser brachyrhynchus) in a key breeding site on Svalbard. Snow cover in late May, i.e., at the time of egg laying of geese, was derived from MODIS satellite images. Snow cover had a profound cascading effect on reproductive output via the number of nesting pairs and timing of nesting, which affected nest success, while there was only a tendency for a negative effect on clutch size. Hence, we estimated a five-fold difference in the number of young produced (to post-hatching) between years with little snow and years with high snow cover. The results from the study area correlated with whole-population productivity estimates recorded in autumn. Thus, snow cover derived from MODIS satellite images appears to provide a useful indicator of the breeding conditions in the Arctic.

U2 - 10.1007/s00300-007-0296-9

DO - 10.1007/s00300-007-0296-9

M3 - Article

SN - 0722-4060

VL - 30

SP - 1363

EP - 1372

JO - Polar Biology

JF - Polar Biology

IS - 11

ER -