Habitat alteration and fecal deposition by geese alter tundra invertebrate communities: Implications for diets of sympatric birds.

ABSTRACT: Over the last 60 years, Arctic goose populations have increased while many sympatric tundra nesting bird populations have declined. Hyperabundant geese have well-documented effects on tundra habitats, which can alter habitat use by sympatric bird species. These habitat changes may also alter invertebrate communities and abundances, with potentially important, but as of yet, undocumented effects on insectivorous birds such as shorebirds. Here, we determined the effects of goose-induced habitat alteration on invertebrate communities and relate the observed changes to shorebird diet. At sites and habitat types representing a gradient of goose influence, we identified goose-related changes in ground cover and linked these factors to variation in invertebrate communities. We then used DNA metab

SUBMITTER: Flemming SA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9249211 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature