PRE-NESTING FEEDING SELECTIVITY OF PINK-FOOTED GEESE ANSER-BRACHYRHYNCHUS IN ARTIFICIAL GRASSLANDS

The pre-nesting feeding ecology of Pink-footed Geese Anser brachyrhync hus was studied in southern Iceland in April and May 1989-1992. Extens ive surveys showed that prior to movement to their nesting areas in th e interior, Pink-footed Geese fed mainly on intensively managed grassl ands of the southern lowlands. Faecal analysis showed that geese feedi ng in hayfields foraged almost exclusively on the most commonly reseed ed species, Timothy grass Phleum pratense, which made up the majority (41% by number of green shoots) of new growth in studied hayfields. Dr opping counts, as an indicator of goose use, were highly significantly correlated in all years with density of growing Phleum shoots in indi vidual field units. Geese showed a response in feeding patterns to cha nges in Phleum density as a result of reseeding patterns. Analysis of forage quality in 1991 showed that Phleum shoots had a higher protein content than all other grasses present in hayfields, with the exceptio n of Deschampsia caespitosa. The latter species showed similar levels of protein, but its tussocky nature precluded effective grazing by the geese. Phleum was similar in fibre content to other common grasses. B ased on removal of tagged plants, geese grazed predominantly on the yo ungest leaves of Phleum, which also had higher protein content and low er fibre than older leaves and attached dead leaves, which were rarely taken by geese. Geese grazed shorter length classes of youngest leave s, which showed higher protein content than longer, older terminal lea ves. Recently created grassland habitat has increased the opportunitie s for female geese to supplement their reserves during the crucial pre lude to clutch initiation by selecting the highest quality plant speci es and the most nutritious parts of that forage.