Greylag goose (Anser anser)
Greylag goose (Anser anser) Photo Kruckenberg
Project leader: Prof. Prof. h. c. Dr. Ursula Siebert
Scientific work: Dr. Oliver Keuling
Project term: January 2020 until December 2021
Sponsorship: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of Lower Saxony

Project description

The present investigation concept aims to analyse the existing and still arising transmitter data of motion patterns and migration behaviour of the three goose species greylag goose (Anser anser) (GG), greater white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons) (BG) and barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) (NG) and to contribute to the improvement of the biological comprehension of these species. Especially the migration and wintering ecology shall be focused on.
The following issues shall be assessed with the present investigation concept:

a. Illustration of moulting and migration routes (GG, NG, BG) (compare Kruckenberg 2019)
b. Calculation of return rates
- to the wintering area (BG, NG)
- to the breeding and moulting areas (GG) (faithful to breeding area)
c. Calculation of all three species´ yearly survival rates
d. Duration of stay in stopover sites in Lower Saxony and adjacent regions (BG, NG)
e. Illustration of spatial use: home range sizes, motion patterns, activity rates, daily flight distances
- in wintering area (GG, BG, NG)
- during breeding season (GG, possibly BG, NG)
f. Validation of management units (Bacon et al. 2019) in GG

Contact person

University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation
Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research
Bischofsholer Damm 15
30173 Hannover 

 

Dr. Oliver Keuling
Tel.: +49 511 856-7396
E-Mail