Age and breeding stage-related variation in the survival and harvest of temperate-breeding Canada Geese in Ontario

摘要: The abundance of Canada geese (Branta canadensis) nesting in temperate regions North America has increased dramatically during the past half century. Numbers have reached nuisance levels many areas and supplementary hunting seasons, which are timed to occur before after traditional waterfowl periods, widely employed limit population growth. We evaluated how changes regulations affected growth, seasonal age distribution harvest, survival rates temperate-breeding banded Ontario. found that although number harvested province increased, growth not abated. Annual ð�Þof locally adults (i.e., after-hatch-year captured brood flocks) declined association with harvest liberalization (pre-liberalization: � S ¼0.78 0.06 SE; post-liberalization: ¼0.74 0.04 SE) we estimated negative process correlation between hunter recovery within this group (r ¼� 0.24), is indicative an additive effect mortality on total mortality. However, peak advanced into early September, a time when large numbers molt migrant individuals present northern portions population's range. Molt flocks comprised primarily subadults adult failed hatch eggs non-reproductive individuals), unaffiliated local breeding population. were greater less than those adults; however, was weakly positive ¼0.09), indicates at least partially compensatory cohorts. conclude current insufficient halt influence hunting, relative its potential, diminished by disproportionate take low reproductive value season. 2013 Wildlife Society.