Ecology and management of overabundant bird populations

我的研究计划的目标是研究过多鸟类种群的生态，并在适应性管理的总体框架内评估不同的管理措施。监测魁北克南部不断增加的鸟类种群的建立，如魁北克南部的加拿大巨雁，将有助于进一步发展种群调控理论。在接下来的5年里，我建议确定生存、生殖产出和移民对人口增长的相对影响。魁北克南部的加拿大鹅繁殖群体提供了一个独特的机会来确定密度依赖效应何时发生以及如何发生。更具体地说，我建议确定鸟巢地点的可用性是否正在成为瓦伦岛的限制因素，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迁入繁殖种群有关。我的第三个目标是探索加拿大鹅杂交后代的机制和适应意义。最后，我想评估多次筑巢失败对鸟类扩散的影响。保护濒危物种的必要性和拟议的措施通常会在科学家、利益攸关方和公众中产生广泛的共识。相比之下，对数量过多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达成这样的共识。了解生存和生殖参数对人口增长的相对影响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.