Date of Award:

5-1964

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Wildlife Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Jessop B. Low

Committee

Jessop B. Low

Abstract

Since the development of Ogden Bay Waterfowl Management Area in 1937, the Canada goose (Branta canadesis moffitti) population increased to a peak in 1949 and then declined slightly. Nelson (1954) noted that the decrease in population was probably due to either a change in habitat or increased hunting pressure. In recent years, direct band returns have indicated a high mortality rate in the population. This project was initiated to determine the relative stability of the Canada goose population and to measure, as closely as possible, the effect of a high mortality rate upon the nesting population.

To estimate the stability of a goose population, three factors must be known: (1) the production rate, (2) the mortality rate, and (3) the faithfulness of homing and degree of dispersal of the population. Through knowledge of these three factors, it is possible to estimate the stability of the population, but if any management changes must be undertaken to stop the declining population, the factors that are causing the downward trend must also be understood.

The specific objectives of this study were:

  1. To determine the annual production during the two nesting seasons, 1959 and 1960.
  2. To determine the stability of the goose population.

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