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一般框架内研究过多鸟类种群的生态。我建议完成我对两个鸟类种群的研究，这两个种群具有不同的动态和不同的管理系统。第一系列目标涉及我自1992年以来一直研究的温带筑巢的加拿大鹅种群。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，鹅在筑巢防御行为上表现出一致性，这表明它们的个性存在差异。筑巢较早、产卵较多的雌雄更具防御性。我建议使用我们正在进行的评分计划来研究人格特征、分散和生存之间的联系。我的假设是，生活节奏快，表现出更大胆和更具攻击性的行为的伴侣应该倾向于分散得更多，存活率更低。我还建议将过去15年获得的所有人口参数纳入人口模型，以模拟不同的控制情景。了解生存和繁殖参数对种群动态的相对影响将有助于管理者决定应该采取哪些行动来控制温带筑巢的加拿大鹅。有人提出，减少成年人的存活率在减少人口增长方面更为有效，但这并不总是适用于城市环境，也不一定为社会所接受。减少繁殖产量是另一种选择，我们最近展示了蛋油和去巢如何影响鹅的扩散行为。 我的计划的第二部分涉及蒙特利尔附近繁殖的环嘴鸥种群。我们还根据巢穴监测和持续的标记计划获得了这一群体的几个人口统计学参数，该计划依赖于HQP和广泛的志愿者网络的重新审视。关于海鸥种群及其管理的一个关键问题是它们对繁殖群体的忠诚度。越来越多的屋顶用于筑巢，以及随之而来但不成功的控制计划，需要更好地了解繁殖扩散行为。筑巢地点和配偶的忠诚度一直被认为是许多海鸟物种的特征，但最近的技术发展表明，这可能不是一个普遍的模式。我建议将羽化成功的幼鸟的迁徙模式、配偶忠诚度和巢地忠诚度与那些将通过实验移除巢的对进行比较。我将首先使用从我们的带状计划中获得的信息，其中包括5700人的18500次目击事件。此外，还将使用GPS-GSM技术对配对成员进行长期跟踪。 这个项目将研究基本问题和应用问题，其结果将对处理过多鸟类种群的野生动物管理人员有用。

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.