Research On The Numbers, Distribution, Feeding Behavior And Diet Of Great White Fronted Geese At Shengjin Lake, The National Natural Reserves In Anhui Province

The primary work of this thesis is about the long-term research on the numbers and distribution ,feeding behavior ,dietary changes of White Fronted Geese(Anser albifrons) in Anhui Shengjin Lake ,the national natural conservation. With the collapse of submerged plants ,the group of wildfowls feeding on the tubers dramatically decreased, such Swans Geese(Anser cygnoides).While the number of Been Geese(Anser fabalis serrirostris) is increasing obviously because of its flexible range of food items. Base on this condition, we want to explore the change in numbers and behavior of White Fronted Geese, whose food item is more narrow.In 2010-2011 ,greatest recorded number of Great Fronted Geese is 13958 ,most centered on the carex meadow of the upper lake. Compared to the numbers counted in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, there is an increase trend in the numbers. However ,through the test of Chi-Square, no obvious discrepancy in yearly numbers .According to Pearson test, the number of Great Fronted Geese in 2010-2011 has no relation with water level of Shengjin Lake this year.The peak feeding period of Great Whited Fronted is 8:00 and 18:00. Average feeding percentage is 80%,except on 2010/10/31 and 2011/03/22 the feeding percentage is 65% and 30% respectively.The feeding time has some trend of up-down-up-down, on the whole all the feeding time is about 8h except for the last scanning 2011/03/21-03/22,when the time is only 4.6h.According to the Spearman test, feed percentage increases with maximum number scanned that day distinctly.On the other hand ,feed percentage and feeding time have no visible correlation with maximum number scanned that day.Average peck rate of Great White Fronted Geese is 119.77±5.62bouts/min(N=9), average step rate is 29.4±1.96(N=8), average dropping interval is 256.4±0.42 min(N=9).Average peck rate of Great White Fronted Geese is 119.77±5.62bouts/min(N=9), average step rate is 29.4±1.96(N=8), average dropping interval is 256.4±0.42 min(N=9).According to Pearson test, drop interval has obvious negative correlation with grass height.However, both peck rate and step rate have no obvious correlation with grass height.Great White Fronted Geese's main food is Carex. From December to January ,the coldest period in Shengjin Lake, the Carex percent in the diet is near or up to 80%. At the beginning of arriving, the percentage of Cynodon in the diet is about 20%,and total percent of Alopecrus&Poa and Phalaris takes up 15%.Before departure ,the Alopecrus&Poa in the diet up to 10-30%. During the low temperature of December and January , Dicots is about 10%.The average API is 1.74 ,reach the maximum in December and the lowest value in the middle of February.All the conclusion above show Great White Fronted Geese are adaptable to the changing condition in Shenjin Lake relevantly up to now. Although the summer flood in 2010 may have some effect on the species and structure of plants on the meadow ,the influence on the White Fronted Geese need more researches . Under the condition of backward research on the White Fronted Geese in domestic ,our work lay some fundamental for further work and protection on White Fronted Geese.