Movements and habitat use of White-fronted geese during the remigial molt in Arctic Alaska, USA
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Full Publication: https://doi.org/10.1675/063.040.0308Product Type: Journal Article
Year: 2017
Authors: Flint, P. L. and B. W. Meixell
Suggested Citation:
Flint, P. L. and B. W. Meixell. 2017. Movements and habitat use of White-fronted geese during the remigial molt in Arctic Alaska, USA. Waterbirds 40(3):272-281. doi:10.1675/063.040.0308
Abstract
Proposed oil and gas leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska has raised questions about possible impacts of development on molting Greater White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons frontalis) and their habitats. We used GPS transmitters to record fine-scale location data of molting and post-molt White-fronted Geese to assess patterns of movement and resource selection relative to vegetation class, year (2012, 2013), and body mass at capture. Molting White-fronted Geese were located an average of 63.3 ± 4.9 m (SE) from lakeshores. Estimated terrestrial home range size for flightless birds differed between years (2012 = 13.2 ± 2.6 km2; 2013 = 6.5 ± 1.8 km2), but did not vary among habitat strata or with body mass. Molting White-fronted Geese used sedge (Carex aquatilus) dominated low centered polygons and water more frequently than expected given proportional habitat availability, but avoided tussock tundra and wet sedge vegetation classes. Upon regaining flight, individuals tended to remain in the same general area, and the center of their home range only moved an average of 6.9 km. Greater White-fronted Geese that could fly tended to forage further from lakeshores ( = 245 m), and used a larger home range ( = 44.3 ± 9.5 km2) than when flightless.
Keywords: Anser albifrons frontalis, flightless molt, Greater White-fronted Goose, habitat use, home range, movement rate, National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska
Keywords: NPR-A, Alaska, White-fronted Goose, industry, habitat use, molt
Annotation
Numerous Greater White-fronted geese undergo their annual wing molt within the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska (NPR-A). During the molt, geese are unable to fly and proposed energy development in the NPR-A raises questions about possible impacts to flightless geese and their habitats. This study used GPS transmitters to record fine-scale location data of molting geese both during the flightless molt period and just after the molt when birds could fly. Home range size for flightless birds differed between years, but did not vary among habitat types. Upon regaining flight, individuals tended to remain in the same general area, and the center of their home range only moved an average a few miles. In contrast, earlier USGS work found that molting Black Brant in the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area showed a clear shift from freshwater to coastal estuaries upon regaining flight. Given the apparent widespread availability of suitable habitat in the NPR-A together with the total potential area available to molting Greater White-fronted geese, the effect of disturbance from localized infrastructure would not likely be measureable at the population level.