Open AccessDietary and microtopographical selectivity of Greenland white‐fronted geese feeding on Icelandic hayfields
Author(s) -
Kristiansen J. N.,
Fox A. D.,
Stroud D. A.,
Boyd H.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1998.tb00439.x
Subject(s) - icelandic , ecology , white (mutation) , biology , philosophy , biochemistry , linguistics , gene
The feeding ecology of Greenland white‐fronted geese Anser albifrons flavirostris was studied during .spring staging in Iceland 1997. Geese feeding on Poa pratense dominated hayfields (> 80% cover) were highly selective, selecting for Deschampsia caespitosa which comprised only 10% of the sward. Geese fed most on the south‐facing fringes of Deschampsia tussocks. Subsequent analysis showed that the southern fringes of Deschampsia tussocks supported significantly greater biomass (27% greater mass of green material) and that leaves growing on the southern faces had significantly higher protein content than those on the northern faces (33.9% vs 30.5%) ‐ It appears that the geese maximise their nutritional intake in spring by selecting the grass species of highest quality and taking the most nutritious parts of the plants.