Abstract
Arctic breeding barnacle geese use brackish marshes along the coastline of the Baltic Sea intensively in spring, during short stopovers on their migration to breeding sites in northern Russia. We mapped the vegetation of one important spring staging and brood rearing site on the Swedish island of Gotland and investigated the habitat use of barnacle geese. The geese mainly use plant communities with a high cover of edible species and a low canopy height. These vegetation characteristics are best maintained through livestock grazing and the maintenance of current grazing practices will be responsible for future site use by small herbivores.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 33-41 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Annales botanici Fennici |
Volume | 44 |
Issue number | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 16-Mar-2007 |
Keywords
- barnacle geese
- Branta leucopsis
- brood rearing
- foraging choices
- habitat description
- spring staging
- salt marsh
- BARNACLE GEESE
- BRANTA-LEUCOPSIS
- BREEDING WADERS
- BRENT GEESE
- SALT-MARSH
- GRASSLANDS
- SEA
- SUCCESSION
- HERBIVORY
- GRADIENT