Ecology and management of overabundant bird populations

我的研究项目的目标是研究过度丰富的鸟类种群的生态学，并在适应性管理的总体框架内评估不同的管理措施。监测魁北克南部的加拿大巨鹅等不断增加的鸟类种群将有助于进一步发展种群调节理论。在未来5年，我建议确定生存、生殖产出和移民对人口增长的相对影响。魁北克南部加拿大鹅的繁殖种群提供了一个独特的机会来确定何时以及如何发生密度依赖效应。更具体地说，我建议确定筑巢地点是否正在成为瓦雷纳群岛的限制因素，以及哪些人口参数正在影响人口增长。其次，我想验证来自安大略省南部和美国东北部的温带筑巢鹅的换羽迁徙是否与鸟类进入繁殖种群的迁徙有关。我的第三个目标是探索加拿大鹅幼鹅混合的机制和适应意义。最后，我想评估多次筑巢失败对鸟类扩散的影响。保护濒危物种的需要和提议的措施通常会在科学家、利益相关者和公众中产生广泛的共识。相比之下，对过度丰富的野生动物种群的管理通常不会在目标和实现这些目标的手段上产生这样的共识。关于生存和繁殖参数对人口增长的相对影响的知识将有助于管理人员决定通过管理影响哪些参数。

The objectives of my research program are to study the ecology of overabundant bird populations and to evaluate different management measures within the general framework of adaptive management. Monitoring the establishment of an increasing bird population such as the Giant Canada Geese in southern Quebec will contribute to further develop population regulation theory. In the next 5 years, I propose to determine the relative effects of survival, reproductive output, and immigration on population growth. The breeding population of Canada Geese in southern Quebec offers a unique opportunity to determine when and how density-dependent effects will take place. More specifically, I propose to determine whether nest-site availability is becoming a limiting factor on the Varennes islands and which demographic parameters are influencing population growth. Second, I want to verify whether the moult migration of temperate-nesting geese from southern Ontario and north-eastern United States is linked to immigration of birds into the breeding population. My third objective is to explore the mechanisms and adaptive significance of brood mixing in Canada Geese. Finally, I want to evaluate the impact of repeated nesting failures on bird dispersal. The need and the proposed measures to conserve endangered species usually generate wide consensus among scientists, stakeholders, and the public. In contrast, the management of overabundant wildlife populations does not usually engender such consensus about both the objectives and the means to achieve them. Knowledge about the relative effects of survival and reproductive parameters on population growth will help managers to make decisions about which parameters to influence through management.