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The objectives of this study are founded on the working
hypothesis that brant are grazing specialists that manipulate favored
food stocks in such a way that optimizes foraging opportunities upon return
to previously grazed sites. We predict therefore that Zostera communities
and the black brant population interact on a temporal and spatial scale.
There are four primary objectives in this study:
- develop a temporal and spatial description
of Zostera quality and abundance
- describe seasonal and annual Zostera
phenology
- identify potential anthropogenic and natural
factors responsible for variation in Zostera quality and abundance
- develop a temporal and spatial description
of goose foraging distribution in relation to Zostera quality
and abundance
Colleagues from Alaska have
fitted black brant with tarsal bands that are readable with a telescope.
Students will be encouraged to find and record individually marked black
brant. In particular, participation will be expected from students in
Waterfowl 420.
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