Adult female Dusky Canada Geese were studied on the Copper River Delta, Alaska and in the Willamette Valley, Oregon during April through July, 1977 to 1979. Objectives of the research were to: 1) determine the chronology of use of protein and energy reserves in relation to four periods of reproduction defined as the migration, prelaying, egg laying and incubation periods, and 2) to assess the role of food in meeting energy requirements during these four periods. During the study, 162 geese were collected for composition analysis. Endogenous lipids were heavily utilized during migration, egg laying and incubation. Endogenous protein was important during egg laying and incubation. Food supplied about half of the energy requirements calculated for the migration period, all needs during prelaying, over 75% during egg laying and about one third of energy requirements during incubation. Food was most important for supplementing high' protein needs of laying geese and both protein and energy needs of geese during the last third of the incubation period when endogenous reserves were depleted. Although northern nesting geese have been assumed to be largely independent of food during prelaying through incubation, it was suggested that food is in fact proximately important, influencing both clutch size and patterns of energy use during incubation. Ultimately, the timing of nesting and clutch size of northern nesting geese may have evolved in response to the need for an optimal food supply about two-thirds of the way through incubation. / Graduation date: 1985

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-34).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1984. / Typescript. Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2008. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-96). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Adult dusky Canada geese (Branta canadensis occidentalis Baird) were banded with plastic neck bands and observed on the winter range during 1985-92. Annual survival rates of adult geese estimated from observation data ranged from 76% to 85%. A model of Canada goose population dynamics was developed to illustrate relationships between survival rates, harvest regulations, and recruitment parameters and to predict trends in population size. Model simulations using recent estimates of survival and recruitment indicated that without significant increases in recruitment, survival rates must remain at or above present levels for the dusky Canada goose population to maintain itself. Observations of geese banded with tarsal and neck bands were used to estimate within-year survival rates and rates of neck band loss during 1990-92. Average monthly survival was 97% and was not significantly different among harvest and nonharvest periods (X��, P = 0.3882). Neck band retention rates were 100% and 98% the first and second year after banding, respectively, for male and female geese. Resighting probabilities for neck and tarsal bands were significantly lower for female than for male geese (X��, P < 0.020). Midwinter population size was estimated using neck band observations and a capture-resighting model. Dusky Canada goose population estimates ranged from 12,400 to 19,800 during 1990-92. Population estimates generally agreed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service midwinter inventory during this period. Subflocks of wintering dusky Canada geese were identified using a clustering algorithm and the number of weeks neck banded geese were observed in regions of the winter range. Over 65% of geese in subflocks affiliated with the northern and southern regions of the winter range were never observed outside their region of affiliation. Geese affiliated with the middle regions of the winter range exhibited greater movement, as most were seen at least once outside their region of affiliation. Although large groups could be identified based on regional use patterns, associations between group members could only be demonstrated for small groups of [less than or equal to] 10 geese and adult pairs. / Graduation date: 1993

Thesis--Wisconsin. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 242-247).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1970. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Using a variety of preparations, (intact birds during treadmill and overground walking/running and free-flight; decerebrate birds during electrically induced walking/running, passive wing flapping, and electrically induced wing flapping and "Active" flight), this thesis examines some of the mechanisms involved in the production and control of locomotor-respiratory coordination (entrainment) during alternating hindlimb locomotion (walking/running) and synchronous forelimb locomotion ("flight") in the Canada goose. Significant coordination of locomotor and respiratory rhythms was observed during both modes of locomotion in intact as well as decerebrate birds. While coordination of forelimb motion and respiration was virtually complete, coordination of hindlimb motion and respiration was sporadic. The level of entrainment during hindlimb locomotion, however, increased with increased stride frequency, rather than increased work rate, suggesting that proprioceptive feedback from the limbs is involved in the production of locomotor-respiratory entrainment. Further evidence for a role of proprioceptive feedback in the production of entrainment was provided by the entrainment of respiration by passive wing motion in decerebrate geese. Although feedback from the periphery was sufficient for the entrainment of wing motion and respiration, motor nerve outputs to the wing and respiratory musculature were also synchronized in paralyzed, decerebrate birds during electrically induced activity, in the complete absence of phasic afferent feedback. Thus, both feedback and feedforward mechanisms appear sufficient for the coordination of wing beat and respiration. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate