Environmental Impact - Wildlife/Vegetation Effects

Belanger, L., & Bedard J. (1990). Energetic cost of man-induced disturbance to staging snow geese. Journal of Wildlife Management 54(1): 36-41.

Abstract

The energetic cost of man-induced disturbance to fall-staging greater snow geese was
estimated in Quebec. Two responses of birds to disturbance were considered (1) birds fly away but promptly resume feeding following a disturbance (Response A) and wildlife (2) birds interrupt feeding altogether (Response B). Daylight foraging time decreased by 4 to 51% depending on disturbance levels. Average rate of disturbance in Response A resulted in 5.3% increase in hourly energy expenditure (HEE), combined with a 1.6% reduction of hourly metabolizable energy intake (HMEI). In Response B, HEE increased by 3.4%; HMEI decreased by 209 to 19.4%. Increased in night feeding could compensate for energy losses caused solely by disturbance flights (Response A), but a 32% increase in nighttime feeding was required to restore energy losses incurred in Response B. No increased in daily feeding rate was observed between days with different disturbance levels. We conclude that man-induced disturbance can have significant energetic consequences for fall-staging greater snow geese.

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