Influence of supplementary food on the

Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the histometrical and histological structures of goose (Anser anser) spleen. Six healthy female geese were used as material. Tissue samples taken from the spleen were processed routinely, and were then stained with H&E, Crossman’s Triple stain

phenology, statuS and origins A.D.FOX,J. KAHLERT,H. ETTRUP,L. NILSSONand J.P. HOUNISEN. In recent years, the Danish island of Saltholm has become the second-most important moulting site for Greylag Geese in northwest Europe. Numbers present on the island increased rapidly towards the end of May and peaked in mid-June, with a maximum of 9,100 Greylags counted in 1994. Goose numbers declined rapidly after early July, although there was a lag between their departure from Saltholm and the build-up of numbers at monitored resorts in adjacent parts of Sweden. During the settlement phase, Greylags fed for a substantial part of daylight hours, but during the peak of moult, they fed exclusively at night when they came ashore from daytime offshore roosting areas. Based on the presence of individually marked birds, the moulting population was mainly composed of young non-breeding birds from adjacent areas in Denmark and Sweden. It is suggested that Saltholm has become an important moulting site because of the availability of plentiful food resources, the absence of terrestrial predators and restricted human activity. In addition, the population from which the Saltholm birds are recruited has increased, and it is suggested that competition in the breeding areas may have displaced younger, non-breeding individuals to this new moult site.

Gross anatomy of the respiratory system in goose

During 2003–2007, the Icelandic Greylag Goose Anser anser population increased from c. 73,000 to c. 100,000 individuals (reversing a decline in numbers recorded during the 1990s), the wintering distribution shifted northwards (c. 60 % to Orkney) and breeding success (the proportion of adults which

Physical activity is generally considered as most relevant for modulating heart rate (HR). The authors show here that HR is not only modulated by physical activity but even more by social contexts. HR modulation in three free-ranging, socially embedded, male greylag geese fitted with implanted radio-transmitters was investigated. Measured HR ranged from 40 beats per minute (bpm) during rest to a maximum over 400 bpm during takeoff. Almost the same maximum HRs (400 bpm) were reached during social interactions, which however, generally require less bodily action. Mean HR during social interactions (agonistic interactions, vocalizations) was significantly higher than during behaviors with a less obvious social context (e.g., resting, comfort or feeding behavior), but with comparable physical activity involved. The authors also found significant and consistent differences in HR between the three focal individuals, probably because of individual behavioral phenotype. Our results show that social context has a strong modulatory effect on the sympathico-adrenergic activity in a social bird and conclude that particularly the latter may pose considerable energetic costs.

ABSTRACT Objective: The present study was performed to record the mean monthly prevalence, intensity of infestation, sample mean abundance and frequency distribution pattern of one phthirapteran species infesting of A. anseris. Methods: Ten birds were examined every month. Infested birds were deloused. The bird was placed in a polythene bag containing a wool of cotton soaked in chloroform (head protruded out to allow breathing). After 10 minutes, the bird's feathers were ruffled on a white plastic sheet placed below. The head was examined separately. The louse load was transferred to 70% alcohol and separated stage wise and sex wise. Results: A total of 339 specimens of A. anseris were recovered from 66 infested hosts. Male-female ratio was 1: 1.8. Prevalence of Anaticola anseris was 55% (n=120). The sample mean abundance was 2.38 lice/bird. Variance to mean ratio exceeded unity (10.70). The index of discrepancy (D) was 0.75 and the value of exponent of negative binomial (k) remained 0.334.The observed and expected frequencies did not differ significantly (χ2= 13.33, df= 15, p=0.05). Conclusion: The prevalence of A. anseris on Indian greylag goose was high but its intensity remained quite low. The distribution pattern of A. anseris conformed the negative binomial model.The temperature, photoperiod and heat index exhibited significant positive correlations with the prevalence of A. anseris. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2013; 37: 273-6) (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2013; 37: 273-6) Anahtar Sözcükler: Phthiraptera, ısırıcı bitler, prevalans, gri yaban kazı, anaticola Geliş Tarihi: 23

Social species that maintain individualised relationships with certain others despite continuous changes in age, reproductive status and dominance rank between group members ought to be capable of individual recognition. Tests of ‘‘true’ ’ individual recognition, where an individual recognises unique features of another, are rare, however. Often kinship and/or familiarity suffice to explain dyadic interactions. The complex relationships within a greylag goose flock suggest that they should be able to recognise individuals irrespective of familiarity or kinship. We tested whether six-week-old hand-raised greylags can discriminate between two of their siblings. We developed a new experimental protocol, in which geese were trained to associate social siblings with geometrical symbols. Subsequently, focals were presented with two geometrical symbols in the presence of a sibling associated with one of the symbols. Significant choice of the geometrical symbol associated with the target present indicated that focals were able to distinguish between individual targets. Greylag goslings successfully learned this association-discrimination task, regardless of genetic relatedness or sex of the sibling targets. Social relationships within a

On 14th May 2005, I was shown the nest of a

Adult and young Greylag Geese have been neck-banded in a breeding area in southernmost Sweden since 1984 and have been followed intensively through the annual cycle. Fledging rate was correlated positively with the experience of parents and with early hatching; it was influenced also by choice of breeding area, wintering quarters and spring migration strategy of the parents. First year survival of fledglings was related to the same factors, but the heaviest goslings at the time of marking had a higher survival rate. Effects of wintering area and time of hatching were also apparent in the proportion of fledglings surviving to the age of three years. Greylag Geese started to recruit to the breeding population from the age of two, and recruitment age was lowest for those reared in the best breeding area. Weight at the time of marking had a marked influence on recruitment, almost all recruits being above median size at marking. Moreover, the recruitment rate was influenced by the choice of winter quarters of their parents, recruitment rate was also correlated positively with family size.