Abstract Integrated population models ( IPM s) have become increasingly popular for the modelling of populations, as investigators seek to combine survey and demographic data understand processes governing dynamics. These are particularly useful identifying exploring knowledge gaps within life histories, because they allow estimate biologically meaningful parameters, such immigration or reproduction, that were previously unidentifiable without additional data. As s been developed relatively...

Abstract Background Since the 1980s, Pacific Black Brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans , hereafter brant) have shifted their winter distribution northward from Mexico to Alaska (approximately 4500 km) with changes in climate. Alongside this shift, primary breeding population of brant has declined. To understand population-level implications changing migration strategy brant, it is important connect movement and demographic data. Our objectives were calculate migratory connectivity, a measure...

Dynamics of avian populations may be governed by a complex interaction between immediate effects predation and longer-term trophic feedbacks individuals their foods. We used long-term study uniquely marked Black Brant geese (Branta bernicla nigricans) to estimate recruitment into the breeding population. related nest success, which directly affects 2 3 years later. also assessed similarly time-lagged relationships number nests in colony, measure local density, pre-fledging first-year...

ABSTRACT Since the mid 1990s, number of black brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans ; brant) nests on Yukon‐Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska, USA, historically predominant breeding area brant, has declined steadily. This caused researchers and managers to question if arctic populations can compensate for reduction in YKD. An important component assessment population dynamics is having current estimates first‐year adult survival. We banded at 4 locations Arctic Alaska western Canada, 1 location...

Evolutionary and behavioural ecologists have long been interested in factors shaping the variation mating behaviour observed nature. Although much of research on this topic has focused consequences mate choice change annual reproductive success, studies a potential positive link between fidelity adult demographic rates comparatively rare. This is particularly true for long-lived birds with multi-year, socially monogamous pair bonds. We used 26-year capture-mark-recapture dataset 3,330 black...

Estimating correlations among demographic parameters is critical to understanding population dynamics and life-history evolution, where can inform our of trade-offs, result in effective applied conservation actions, shed light on evolutionary ecology. The most common approaches rely the multivariate normal distribution, its conjugate inverse Wishart prior distribution. However, for covariance matrix distributions has a strong influence posterior distributions. As an alternative we...

Abstract Since the initial development of robust design, this capture‐recapture model structure has been modified to estimate temporary emigration and expanded include auxiliary information such as band recovery live resight data using maximum likelihood approaches. These developments have allowed investigators separately assess individual group effects on true survival, site fidelity, emigration. Additionally, recent advances in BUGS language researchers develop increasingly complex,...

ABSTRACT Annual survival and recruitment in black brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans ) have declined since the 1990s, yet aerial surveys of global population been stable or even increasing over past decade. We used a combination Lincoln estimator based on harvest information band recoveries, marked‐unmarked ratios bag checks 1 area Mexico to estimate number adults during 1992–2015. produced weighted means from 2 kinds estimates for years which we had data both, with weights equal inverse...

Estimation of trade-offs between current reproduction and future survival fecundity long-lived vertebrates is essential to understanding factors that shape optimal reproductive investment. Black brant geese (Branta bernicla nigricans) fledge more goslings, on average, when their broods are experimentally enlarged be greater than the most common clutch size four eggs. Thus, we hypothesized lesser frequency clutches exceeding eggs results, at least partially, from a reduction in survival,...

Individuals in species with long-term social monogamy often incur fitness costs after mate change. We evaluated the relative contributions of familiarity and male breeding experience to change female black brant geese (Branta bernicla nigricans). assessed effects on nest initiation date, clutch size, brood size at hatch, growth rates goslings, prefledging survival offspring. modeled variation dates, initial gosling using generalized linear mixed models Program R. estimated...

Abstract The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) is an internationally important migration and wintering region for Nearctic waterfowl. Most of the MAV a lowland forested floodplain that contains vast stands red oaks ( Quercus spp.). These trees produce acorns and, when forests flood, diverse communities aquatic invertebrates emerge, providing nutritious foods ducks. within Lower Joint Venture (LMV JV) North American Waterfowl Management Plan, but no combined MAV‐wide estimates acorn...

We studied five species of endemic red oaks (Section Erythrobalanus) in hardwood bottomlands the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV), including cherrybark, Nuttall, pin, water, and willow oaks. Ecologists managers need reliable estimates acorn yield masting traits to assess potential forest regeneration estimate foraging carrying capacity these habitats for waterfowl other wildlife. designed a study reliably oak states over 4 consecutive years (2009–2013) evaluate components (i.e., synchrony...

Abstract Decomposition of red oak acorns ( Quercus spp.; Section Erythrobalanus ) could decrease forage biomass and gross energy (GE) available to wintering ducks from acorns. We estimated changes in mass GE for 3 species flooded non‐flooded bottomland hardwood forests Mississippi during winter 2009–2010. Mass loss was ≤8.1% reduction ≤0.03 kcal/g after exposure 90 days. These small would have minimal effect on carrying capacity ducks. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.

ABSTRACT On average, band recovery rates of adult black brant ( Branta bernicla nigricans ) more than doubled between the 2000s and 2010s. However, spatial distribution recoveries has not been reported. Our objective was to describe since 1990. We found that Alaska, California, Mexico accounted for ≥89% released from Arctic Tutakoke River Colony in southwestern each decade studied. Although increased major harvest region 1990s 2010s, increases were even. For Arctic, rate Alaska gone up...

Lack ( ) proposed that clutch size in species with precocial young was determined by nutrients available to females at the time of egg formation; since then others have suggested regulation these may be more complex. We tested whether incubation limitation contributes ultimate constraints on maximal Black Brent Geese (Black Brant) Branta bernicla nigricans . Specifically, we investigated relationship between and duration nesting period (i.e. days nest initiation first pipped egg) number...

ABSTRACT Although bottomland hardwood forests in southeastern United States are among the most productive ecosystems North America, indigenous flora, wildlife, and system dynamics have been altered affected by natural anthropogenic effects. Historic spatio‐temporal dynamic flooding bottomlands caused managers to create green‐tree reservoirs (GTR; i.e., impounded forested tracts) enhance predictability of seasonal inundation chiefly for waterfowl habitat hunting. Bottomland red oaks ( Quercus...

Abstract Maintenance of phenotypic heterogeneity in the face strong selection is an important component evolutionary ecology, as are consequences such heterogeneity. Organisms may experience diminishing returns increased reproductive allocation clutch or litter size increases, affecting current and residual success. Given existing uncertainty regarding trade‐offs between quantity quality offspring, we sought to examine potential for on a long‐lived species goose, with particular emphasis...

Abstract Estimating demographic parameters of interest is a critical component applied conservation biology and evolutionary ecology, where models data have become increasingly complex over the last several decades. These advances been spurred by development use information theoretic approaches, programs such as MARK SURGE, Bayesian inference. The analyses has also popular, WinBUGS, JAGS, Stan, NIMBLE provide increased user flexibility. Despite recent in modeling, some capture–recapture that...

ABSTRACT Auxiliary markers play an essential role in understanding migration, movement, demography, and behavior of migratory birds. Use such relies on the assumption that do not affect traits interest. Neck collars, among most conspicuous markers, substantially risk harvest, survival even absence harvest. Effects less‐conspicuous as colored plastic tarsal bands, are well understood. We used 30 years (1986–2015) banding, recovery, recapture data from Yukon‐Kuskokwim Delta Alaska, USA, to...

Abstract Red oak Quercus spp., Subgenus Erythrobalanus acorns are forage for mallards Anas platyrhyncos, wood ducks Aix sponsa, and other wildlife that use bottomland hardwood forests in the southeastern United States. However, annual variation true metabolizable energy from would affect carrying-capacity estimates of wintering ducks. Because gross strongly positively correlated is easier to measure than energy, we used as a surrogate energy. We measured six species red autumns 2008 2009....