Summary
Clutch volume, egg volume and clutch size were studied in four populations of introduced Canada Geese in Sweden along an 850 km latitudinal gradient. These recently established populations were not assumed to be adapted to their breeding habitats. Clutch volume as well as egg volume differed significantly between some of the populations. Clutch volume was significantly higher in a population which had its breeding area within spring feeding areas, compared to a population which migrated 350 km between the last major foraging area and the breeding area. Thus, we found some support for the energy reserve hypothesis, which predicts that the body reserves of the female determine her energy investment in the clutch. Egg size differed on a geographic basis, and one population had significantly smaller eggs than two of the others. Clutch size did not vary significantly between the populations. A significant year effect on clutch volume and clutch size was found.
Zusammenfassung
An vier Populationen in Schweden eingeführter Kanadagänse wurden einem Gradienten geographischer Breite folgend Volumina von Gelege und Eiern sowie Gelegegröße untersucht. Es ist nicht anzunehmen, daß diese erst seit kurzer Zeit ansässig gewordenen Populationen an ihre Bruthabitate angepaßt sind. Sowohl im Gelege- wie im Eivolumen zeigten sich signifikante Unterschiede zwischen einigen Populationen. In einer Population, deren Brutgebiet innerhalb der Weideflächen liegt, die die Vögel im Frühjahr aufsuchen, war das Gelegevolumen signifikant höher als in einer Population, die vom letzten bedeutenden Weidegebiet bis zu ihrem Brutgebiet ca. 350 km gezogen war. Die „Energiereserve-Hypothese”, die besagt, daß die Körperreserven des Weibchens seine Investition an Energie in das Gelege bestimmen, findet somit in unseren Ergebnissen etwas Unterstützung. Die Eigröße variierte von Brutgebiet zu Brutgebiet mit der geographischen Lage; eine Population wies signifikant kleinere Eier auf als zwei der übrigen. Nicht signifikant variierte die Gelegegröße zwischen den Populationen. Gefunden wurde ein signifikanter Effekt der jeweiligen lokalen Bedingungen auf Gelegevolumen und -größe.
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Sjöberg, G., Sjöberg, K. Geographical variation in reproductive investment in Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in Sweden. J Ornithol 133, 403–412 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640468
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640468