The Nordicana D collection  Home Contact us Français
 
D41 10.5885/45570CE-2D00DCA728074FA7 Published
Français

Monitoring of Greater Snow Goose reproduction on Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada

Gilles Gauthier, Marie-Christine Cadieux
Département de biologie & Centre d'études nordiques, Université Laval

Abstract

Nest searches are carried out on foot from our main field station since 1989 and from a secondary field camp inside the main goose colony since 1992. Nests are found during laying or incubation period by searches conducted over various areas in both sectors. At the main goose colony, systematic nest searches are conducted using two methods: (1) over an intensively-studied core area (ca 50 ha) located in the centre of the colony every year, and (2) since 1999, within a variable number of 1 and 2-ha plots randomly located throughout the colony. We also attempt to find the nests of as many neck-collared females as possible through intensive searches throughout the nesting colony. Nests are positioned with a GPS receiver and revisited twice or more to determine laying date, clutch size, hatching date and nesting success.

Data citation

Gauthier, G., Cadieux, M.-C. 2020. Monitoring of Greater Snow Goose reproduction on Bylot Island, Nunavut, Canada, v. 1.1. Nordicana D41, doi: 10.5885/45570CE-2D00DCA728074FA7.

Location map

Key references

  • Marmillot, V., G. Gauthier, M.-C. Cadieux & P. Legagneux. 2016. Plasticity in molt speed and timing in an arctic-nesting goose species. Journal of Avian Biology 47:650-658
    DOI: 10.1111/jav.00982
  • Doiron, M., G. Gauthier & E. Lévesque. 2015. Trophic mismatch and its effects on the growth of young in an Arctic herbivore. Global Change Biology 21:4364-4376
    DOI: DOI 10.1111/gcb.13057
  • van Oudenhove, L., G. Gauthier & J.-D. Lebreton. 2014. Year-round effects of climate on demographic parameters of an arctic nesting goose species. Journal of Animal Ecology 83:1322-1333
    DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12230
  • Gauthier, G., J. Bêty, M.-C. Cadieux, P. Legagneux, M. Doiron, C. Chevallier, S. Lai, A. Tarroux & D. Berteaux. 2013. Long-term monitoring at multiple trophic levels suggests heterogeneity in responses to climate change in the Canadian Arctic tundra. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B – Biological Sciences 368:20120482
    DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2012.0482
  • Lecomte, N., G. Gauthier, & J.-F. Giroux. 2009. A link between water availability and nesting success mediated by predator-prey interactions in the Arctic. Ecology 90:465-475
    DOI: 10.1890/08-0215.1
  • Dickey M.-H., G. Gauthier, & M.-C. Cadieux. 2008. Climatic effects on the breeding phenology and reproductive success of an arctic-nesting goose species. Global Change Biology 14:1973-1985
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01622.x
  • Lecomte, N., V. Careau, G. Gauthier & J.-F. Giroux. 2008. Predator behaviour and predation risk in the heterogeneous arctic environment. Journal of Animal Ecology 77:439-447
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2656.2008.01354.x
  • Lecomte, N., G. Gauthier & J.-F. Giroux. 2008. Breeding dispersal in a heterogeneous landscape: the influence of habitat and nesting success in greater snow geese. Oecologia 155:33-41
    DOI: 10.1007/s00442-007-0860-6
  • Reed, E.T., G. Gauthier & R. Pradel. 2005. Effects of neck bands on reproduction and survival of female greater snow geese. Journal of Wildlife Management 69:91-100
    DOI: 10.2193/0022-541X(2005)069<0091:EONBOR>2.0.CO;2
  • Reed, E.T., G. Gauthier & J.-F. Giroux. 2004. Effects of spring conditions on breeding propensity of greater snow goose females. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 27:35-46
  • Gauthier, G., J. Bêty, J.-F. Giroux & L. Rochefort. 2004. Trophic interactions in a High Arctic Snow Goose colony. Integrative and Comparative Biology 44:119-129
    DOI: 10.1093/icb/44.2.119
  • Bêty, J., G. Gauthier & J.-F. Giroux. 2003. Body condition, migration and timing of reproduction in snow geese: a test of the condition-dependent model of optimal clutch size. American Naturalist 162:110-121
    DOI: 10.1086/375680
  • Bêty, J., G. Gauthier, E. Korpimäki & J.-F. Giroux. 2002. Shared predators and indirect trophic interactions: lemming cycles and arctic-nesting geese. Journal of Animal Ecology 71:88-98
    DOI: 10.1046/j.0021-8790.2001.00581.x
  • Bêty, J. & G. Gauthier. 2001. Effects of nest visits on predators activity and predation rate in a snow goose colony. Journal of Field Ornithology 72:573-586
    DOI: 10.1648/0273-8570-72.4.573
  • Bêty, J., G. Gauthier, J.-F. Giroux & E. Korpimäki. 2001. Are goose nesting success and lemming cycles linked? Interplay between nest density and predators. Oikos 93:388-400
    DOI: DOI 10.1034/j.1600-0706.2001.930304.x
  • Lepage, D., G. Gauthier & S. Menu. 2000. Reproductive consequences of egg-laying decisions in snow geese. Journal of Animal Ecology 69:414-427
    DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.2000.00404.x
  • Lepage, D., A. Desrochers & G. Gauthier. 1999. Seasonal decline of growth and fledging success in snow geese Anser caerulescens: an effect of date or parental quality? Journal of Avian Biology 30:72-78
    DOI: 10.2307/3677245
  • Lepage, D., G. Gauthier & A. Desrochers. 1998. Larger clutch size increases fledging success and offspring quality in a precocial species. Journal of Animal Ecology 67:210-216
    DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2656.1998.00182.x
  • Tremblay, J.-P., G. Gauthier, D. Lepage & A. Desrochers. 1997. Factors affecting nesting success in greater snow geese: effects of habitat and association with snowy owls. Wilson Bulletin 109:449-461
  • Lepage, D., G. Gauthier & A. Reed. 1996. Breeding site infidelity in greater snow goose: a consequence of constraints on laying dates? Canadian Journal of Zoology 74:1866-1875
    DOI: 10.1139/z96-210

Contributors

Reed, Austin Service canadien de la faune, région de Québec Hughes, Robert John Université Laval Tremblay, Jean-Pierre Université Laval Lepage, Denis Université Laval Menu, Stéphane Université Laval Poussart, Catherine Université Laval Bêty, Joël Université Laval Reed, Eric Université Laval Mainguy, Julien Université Laval Otis, Pascale Université Laval Calvert, Anna Université Laval Lecomte, Nicolas Université Laval Dickey, Marie-Hélène Université Laval Juillet, Cédric Université Laval Lefebvre, Josée Service canadien de la faune, région de Québec Morrissette, Manon Université du Québec à Rimouski Graham-Sauvé, Maude Université du Québec à Rimouski Doiron, Madeleine Université Laval Desnoyers, Meggie Université Laval Souchay, Guillaume Université Laval Chalifour, Émilie Université du Québec à Rimouski Marmillot, Vincent Université Laval Resendiz, Cynthia Université Laval LeTourneux, Frédéric Université Laval Juhasz, Claire-Cécile Université de Moncton

Acknowledgements

We thank Polar Knowledge Canada for funding the publication of this archive.

Version history

You can request an older version by contacting nordicana@cen.ulaval.ca

Measurement sites

Site Latitude Longitude Altitude (m)
Vallée Qarlikturvik, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Qarlikturvik Valley, Bylot Island, Nunavut 73.15625 -79.97187 20 More info
Camp 2, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 2, Bylot Island, Nunavut 72.88851 -79.90606 40 More info

Supplementary material

Download

Data available for download are in ZIP format. Please properly cite the data when using it.

Greater snow goose nest visits Get file
File: ds_000590649.zip Size: 3.91 MB
Sites
Vallée Qarlikturvik, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Qarlikturvik Valley, Bylot Island, Nunavut Camp 2, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 2, Bylot Island, Nunavut
Data
Greater snow goose nest visits 06/1989 – 08/2019
Greater snow goose nesting summary Get file
File: ds_000590653.zip Size: 1.31 MB
Sites
Vallée Qarlikturvik, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Qarlikturvik Valley, Bylot Island, Nunavut Camp 2, Île Bylot, Nunavut / Camp 2, Bylot Island, Nunavut
Data
Greater snow goose nesting summary 06/1989 – 08/2019