The ecology and management of overabundant bird populations

我的研究计划的长期目标是在适应性管理的总体框架内研究过度丰富的鸟类种群的生态学。我建议完成我对两个种群的研究，这两个种群具有不同的动态和对比的管理系统。第一个系列的目标是关于我从1992年开始研究的加拿大鹅的温带筑巢种群。通过HQP，我估计了几个人口统计参数包括繁殖产量和存活率。我们最近发现，鹅在保卫鸟巢的行为上表现出一致性，这表明了个性差异。筑巢时间更早、产蛋更多的配对更具防御性。我建议使用我们正在进行的标记程序来研究人格特征、分散和生存之间的关系。我的假设是，生活节奏快、表现出更大胆、更有攻击性行为的成对应该更容易分散，存活率也更低。我还建议将过去15年获得的所有人口统计参数纳入人口模型，以模拟不同的控制情景。关于生存和繁殖参数对种群动态的相对影响的知识将有助于管理人员决定应该采取哪些行动来控制温带筑巢的加拿大鹅。有人建议，降低成人存活率在减少人口增长方面更有效，但这并不总是适用于城市环境，也不为社会所接受。减少繁殖产量是另一种选择，我们最近展示了蛋油和鸟巢移除如何影响鹅的分散行为。

The long-term objective of my research program is to study the ecology of overabundant bird populations within the general framework of adaptive management. I propose to complete my studies on two populations of birds that have different dynamics and contrasting management systems. A first series of objectives deal with a temperate-nesting population of Canada geese that I have studied since 1992. With HQP, I have estimated several demographic parameters including breeding output and survival rates. We recently found that geese showed consistency in nest defence behaviour indicating personality differences. Pairs that nested earlier and laid more eggs were more defensive. I propose to look at the association between personality traits, dispersal, and survival using our ongoing marking program. My hypothesis is that pairs that have a fast pace of life and express bolder and more aggressive behavior should tend to disperse more and to have a lower survival rate. I also propose to incorporate all demographic parameters obtained during the last 15 years into a population model to simulate different control scenarios. Knowledge about the relative effects of survival and reproductive parameters on population dynamics will help managers deciding which actions should be taken to control temperate-nesting Canada geese. It has been suggested that reducing adult survival is more efficient in reducing population growth but this is not always applicable in urban settings nor socially acceptable. Reducing breeding output is an alternative and we recently showed how egg oiling and nest removal can affect dispersal behavior of geese. The second part of my program involves a population of ring-billed gulls breeding near Montreal. We also obtained several demographic parameters for this population based on nest monitoring and an ongoing marking program that relies upon resightings by HQP and an extensive network of volunteers. A key question about gull populations and their management is their fidelity to breeding colonies. The increasing use of roof tops for nesting and the concomitant but not successful control programs require a better understanding of breeding dispersal behavior. Nest-site and mate fidelity have been considered a characteristic of many seabird species but recent technology development suggests that this may not be a general pattern. I propose to compare migration pattern, mate fidelity, and nest-site fidelity of pairs that will be successful in fledging young and those that will have their nests experimentally removed. I will first use information obtained from our banding program that includes 18,500 sightings of 5,700 individuals. This will be complemented by long-term tracking of pair members using GPS-GSM technology. Results from this program that will examine both fundamental and applied questions will be useful to wildlife managers who deal with overabundant bird populations.