International cooperative research program (field work in 1992-1996) on Bewick's Swans, on ecological limitations in the annual cycle, mainly during periods of high energy expenditure, i.e. breeding and migration. Relates to feeding ecology (both terrestrial and aquatic (pondweed tubers) vegetation, annual variation in climatic conditions. Aims at: 1. understanding limiting factors for population size (production of young and survival) 2. understanding migratory behaviour in this large species 3. protecting crucial areas for breeding, moulting and migrating for this vulnerable swan population Research activities: - Field expeditions (2-5 months) to the Arctic, covering the entire breeding season, including moult and pre-migratory fattening - Running a ringing project with over 1,000 individually marked birds - Data analysis and publications
Bewick's Swans Type of data collected: - swan densities related to vegetation and landscape types, based on LANDSAT images and vegetation maps - behaviour - reproductive success - diet choice from droppings collected - body-condition and moultscores for captured birds - survival and migration routes of individually colour-ringed birds - satellite-tracking migration routes Sampling frequency: annually
For archive location contact Jan H. Beekman Description and storage method: HERBARIUM - dried specimens of ± 30 monocotylodons and ± 100 dicotylodons EPIDERMAL SAMPLES - sealed on glass, ± 50 food plants Specimens/samples will be available to other projects and/or international programmes
- Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries, Directorate Nature, Dept.International Affairs (Min. LNV) - Institute of Biology, Komi Science Centre, Russian Academy of Sciences-Ural Department - Netherlands Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (RWS-RIZA) - Netherlands Institute of Ecology, Centre for Limnology (NIOO-CL) - Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (UK) - Russian Institute for Nature Conservation
Project on Bewick's Swan breeding success by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (UK) in collaboration with Russian Institute for Nature Conservation