Barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in interaction networks in comparison to the interaction network of the Brent goose (Branta bernicla)

Marrewijk, M.S. van (2013) Barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in interaction networks in comparison to the interaction network of the Brent goose (Branta bernicla). Bachelor's Thesis, Biology.

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Abstract

There has been a lot of research on migrating bird species. Two model species for migrating birds are the Barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) and the Brent geese (Branta bernicla). A lot is known about their foraging, migrating and breeding behavior. Most studies focused only on a specific interaction during a specific time of the year. By putting all this information of different interactions and different areas together it is possible to make an interaction network for the whole flyway route of the geese. Brent geese are declining in numbers, while Barnacle geese numbers are growing. Because habitats are overlapping, it could be that, due to competition, the Barnacle geese have a share in the decline of the Brent geese. By comparing the interaction network of Barnacle and Brent geese it is possible to gain an insight into interactions between the two species. The analysis of the flyway route of the Barnacle geese shows that they only share the Wadden Sea wintering area with the Brent geese. It could be possible that the Barnacle geese, which are bigger and in increasing numbers, are “pushing” the Brent geese from their foraging areas. However, the Brent geese were already declining before the Barnacle arrived in the Wadden Sea area. At the moment it seems that the increasing Barnacle geese numbers do not have a direct effect on the numbers of Brent geese.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Thesis
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	15 Feb 2018 07:53
Last Modified:	15 Feb 2018 07:53
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/11184

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