Population dynamics and the physical and financial impacts to cereal crops of the Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape, South Africa

摘要: Cereal crop farmers in the Western Cape province of South Africa regard Egyptian Goose as a serious pest. The Agulhas Plain, particular, attracts thousands geese annually primarily because abundance and availability nutritious crops such wheat Triticum spp. barley Hordeum for food permanent water bodies roosting, moulting breeding. Therefore, this paper investigates population dynamics physical financial impacts to cereal on Cape. Geese inflict damage during three main periods, viz. soon after sowing (surface seeds); young, developing plants (growing plants); cut stacked windrows (long, linear piles) dry. largest numbers were recorded June July when they foraged growing less than 25 cm tall. Overall, mean yield loss was 65.6% 1997 63.5% 1998. Fields suffering greatest 1998 generally those within 600 m roosting sites had about 300 grazing them areas around 2 ha size months. By August, moved from croplands pastures. During October November, once again fed seeds harvested windrows. Damage by estimated be >2.5 7% annual revenue received farming, 1998, respectively. There are many variables that need considered attempting quantify explain Geese.