The role of digestibility in the selection of spring feeding sites by Brent Geese

摘要: In spring, staging Dark-bellied Brent Geese Branta bernicla show a marked shift in feeding site preference from improved grassland before mid-April to salt-marsh May. Using two groups of three captive each, the changes digestibility were studied March until end May both vegetation types. There was no difference selectivity and digestive capacity between birds their wild counterparts. The earlier growth as opposed resulted higher former mid-April, but later dropped grass started flower. Spring lagged behind, resulting this way highest quality food is available on lower salt-marshes exactly when are building up body reserves migrate to, breed on, high-arctic tundras Siberia.