Patterns of occurrence and abundance of roosting geese: the role of spatial scale for site selection and consequences for conservation

• Published in: Ecological research 2015-09, Vol.30 (5), p.833-842
• Main Authors: Jankowiak, Łukasz, Skórka, Piotr, Ławicki, Łukasz, Wylegała, Przemysław, Polakowski, Michał, Wuczyński, Andrzej, Tryjanowski, Piotr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural land; Agriculture; Aquatic birds; Behavioral Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Bird migration; Conservation; Conservation status; Crop management; Crops; Ecology; Environmental factors; Evolutionary Biology; Food production; Forestry; Geese; Habitat selection; Habitats; Intensive farming; Life Sciences; Natura 2000 management; Original Article; Plant Sciences; Roost site distribution; Site selection; Spatial analysis; Wildfowl; Woodlands; Zoology
• ISSN: 0912-3814; 1440-1703
• DOI: 10.1007/s11284-015-1282-2

Roosting site selection by geese is a key factor for survival during migration and wintering. Birds should select sites that minimize thermoregulation demands and predation risk, and maximize foraging efficiency. We used data on the spatial location of geese roosting sites in Poland to compare landscape features and the conservation status of roosting and non-roosting sites at different scales ranging from 5 to 50 km. Logistic regression revealed that the sites selected by geese had larger waterbody size than non-selected sites, and surrounded by a smaller coverage of woodland at the scale of 50 km. They also were more often Natura 2000 sites. The most important factors positively affecting the abundance of geese were the size of waterbody and low coverage of artificial area (mostly urban) within a 50 km radius. Several further factors also influenced the roosting site selection. Regardless to the scale a large coverage of farmland (mostly rapeseed) positively affected roosting geese whereas forest coverage had a negative effect. Spatial hierarchical clustering analysis showed that the roosting sites were densely located in regions characterized by the most intensive agriculture. Farming intensity therefore seems to increase the abundance of geese, and consequently, to increase a possible conflict between goose conservation and food production. To alleviate the conflicts we delineated areas that may be most affected and where the conservation measures should be implemented first. As geese respond to environmental factors at different spatial scales this scale-dependency should be included in the conservation and management of goose populations.