Individually tracked geese follow the green wave during spring migration

• Published in: Oikos Vol. 121; no. 5
• Main Authors: Wijk, R.E., van, Kölzsch, A, Kruckenberg, H, Ebbinge, B.S, Müskens, G.J.D.M, Nolet, B.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: birds; climate; ecology; goose branta-leucopsis; green-wave; greylag geese; onset; patch; phenology; vegetation index

Many migratory herbivores seem to follow the flush of plant growth during migration in order to acquire the most nutrient-rich plants. This has also been hypothesized for arctic-breeding geese, but so far no test of this so-called green wave hypothesis has been performed at the individual level. Dur...