Nutrient cycling at the landscape scale: the role of diel foraging migrations by geese at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico
Article Abstract:
Nutrient cycling has been studied on the landscape scale at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, with focus on the role of diel foraging migrations by geese. To test the hypothesis that daily feeding migrations by geese are a significant source of nutrients to wetland systems at the refuge in the Rio Grande River valley, investigation was carried out using biosassays of phytoplankton growth, a combination of mass balance and time budget models for birds, and stable isotope methods to trace the source of nitrogen to food webs. Nitraogen was found to be limiting to primary production by algae in ponds. Fish and crayfish from ponds much used by birds had very low stable nitrogen signatures vs those from the river. Wetland ponds were efficient in keeping the birdborne, allochthonous nutrient load. Only limited amounts of the total phosphorus or nitrogen went downstream.
Publication Name: Limnology and Oceanography
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0024-3590
Year: 1999
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The problem of temporal scale in optimization: three contrasting views of hummingbird visits to flowers
Article Abstract:
Hummingbird visits to flowers were examined according to three temporal scales to determine the optimal nectar concentration that maximizes the rate of nectar loading. These temporal scales were tongue loading, the licking cycle and entire visits to flowers. The results showed that the optimal nectar concentration increases with the temporal scale of integration. Thus, optimal nectar concentration for nectar volumes requiring many licks is higher than that predicted by models based on single licks, and optimal nectar concentration was highest at the scale of flower visits.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1992
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Do female three-spined sticklebacks copy the mate choice of others?
Article Abstract:
A study was conducted on the mate selection behavior of female three-spined sticklebacks to determine if selection is conducted by copying the mate choice of other females. Results indicate that most females are not influenced by the mate-choice of others. Results also suggest that mate selection is based on courtship behavior, coloration, body size, parental status and territory size of males.
Publication Name: The American Naturalist
Subject: Earth sciences
ISSN: 0003-0147
Year: 1998
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