Fuelling and moult in Red Knots before northward departure:A visual evaluation of differences between ages, sexes and subspecies

The departure of migratory birds from their non-breeding grounds is thought to be driven by the phenology of their breeding destination. In north-west Australia, two plumage morphs of Red Knot (Calidris canutus) prepare for a 5500-km journey to Yellow Sea staging areas. These morphs are recognised as the subspecies C. c. piersmai and C. c. rogersi, which breed at different latitudes and have different seasonalities. From February to May 2011, we observed the migratory preparation of individually marked birds of known age, sex and type. This enabled a comparison of fuelling rates and pre-alternate moult among these classes. First-year birds did not prepare for migration. Second-year birds accumulated smaller fuel stores and reached lower plumage scores than adults. Adults of both types reached their highest abdominal profile scores by the end of April when they were last observed in Roebuck Bay. This lack of difference between types in the timing of fuelling and departure is surprising. Based on the differences in staging and breeding phenology, C. c. rogersi is expected to leave north-west Australia 2–4 weeks before C. c. piersmai. Assuming that types and subspecies are equivalent, our findings in combination with other research on Red Knots in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway suggest that it takes more than breeding origin alone to explain annual cycles in migratory birds. Concurrent migratory schedules imply that, during northward staging in the Yellow Sea, there is strong variation in fuelling rates between and within subspecies depending on non-breeding origin. The ongoing loss of staging habitat may therefore have differential effects on Red Knots in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway

Research Report 2 : Ectoparasite load in growing young and adult barnacle geese in the Dutch delta

By extending their arctic breeding locations to more temperate latitudes such as the Dutch delta, barnacle geese expose themselves to “dirtier” environments in which a higher pressure of ectoparasites could occur. Ectoparasites make up a very diverse group in the animal kingdom, and every vertebrate organism carries one or more species. However, they are highly unappreciated by biologists. As far as we know this is the first detailed study investigating ectoparasite load in barnacle geese. In this study we sampled ectoparasites on barnacle geese caught in the Dutch delta in order to make an indication of the ectoparasite load carried by the barnacle goose and the ectoparasite species which inhabit it. Five species of ectoparasites where found (2 Amblycera and 3 Ischnocera. The blood-feeding Amblycera accounted for merely 6% of the total. The Ischnoceran Anaticola anseris was most numerous and accounted for 45% of the total. For the 5 ectoparasite species we show densities, presence / absence, co-occurrence. We also show that as goslings mature, the ectoparasite composition in their plumage changes. We conclude that although Amblycera, are blood-feeding and scarce, they are still more harmful to the goose by acting as an intermediate host and vector, spreading more harmful endoparasites. Ischnocera are indicative to the goose’s health and are not presumed to transfer any diseases.

The ‘Mycenaeans’ in the south-eastern Aegean revisited

The main subject of this dissertation is the Mycenaean archaeological evidence from the south-eastern Aegean. The term "Mycenaean" is typically used to refer to the dominant archaeological culture of the central and southern Greek mainland during the Late Bronze Age, which is dated between about 1700 and 1050 BC. In this research the focus has been on the period from the 14th to 13th centuries BC, during which strong Mycenaean influences are visible in the archaeological record of the south-eastern Aegean. These are especially clear from the large number of Mycenaean finds which have come to light in settlements and tombs. A wide variety of Mycenaean goods is represented, comprising different types of pottery vessels, bronze weapons and tools, glass and stone jewelry beads, and stone seals and implements. The main aim of this dissertation is to establish whether Mycenaean (material) culture was used to express different group identities in tombs in the south-eastern Aegean. The method that is used in this dissertation to study group identities is called "neo-culture history". It is based on the analysis of the archaeological assemblages found inside tombs, which are regarded as the material manifestation of the activities through which these identities were expressed. In this way, a new light is shed on the social dynamics characterizing the societies of the south-west coast of Anatolia and adjacent islands in the Late Bronze Age

Why the seagrass Zostera marina L. disappeared from the Dutch Waddensea

From the 1930’s onwards the once abundant eelgrass Zostera marina decreased to near extinction in the Dutch Waddensea. It was a combination of natural and anthropogenic causes which caused a bare alternative state. Work of three different sets of authors is reviewed. To gain insight in; the situation before the 1930’s and the anthropogenic causes which where on the base of the decline in eelgrass, such as the construction of a large dam, the article of de Jonge et al. (1996) was selected. Information on the natural treats, such as the wasting disease, is highlighted out Ralph & Short (2002). The present state of the Z. marina population was obtained out of the articles of van der Heide (mainly 2007). We wondered what the main culprit in the decline of Z. marina was. And what we could do to get it back. An overview of previous restoration schemes is provided and possibilities are given to improve new restoration efforts together with some suitable locations. In the end the author concludes that restoration within the Waddensea must be possible within a certain framework of parameters, such as turbidity and flow velocity.

Essay : Effectivity of Dutch Goose management during the breeding season

The change in agricultural regimes and thereby the increased grass growth, combined with the demise in goose and fox hunting have caused the Netherlands to become a prime goose paradise. By extending their arctic breeding locations to more temperate latitudes such as the Dutch Delta the geese have increased their summer staging and breeding areas. Nowadays the Dutch goose population is the largest growing breeding bird population in Western Europe. As all growing wildlife populations the geese population causes conflicts with farmers who see their crop being consumed by all these geese. Crop damage is compensated by the government through the taxpayers. In this article we focus on the methods which can be used in goose management and their efficiency in population control. We provide different methods which can be used to control goose populations. Scaring techniques and biotope management are described. We show that goose reduction at the egg and juvenile stages has no impact on the population growth. Hunting is observed as a partly effective method but only when certain individuals are targeted. We perceive gassing to be efficient but only when the right portion to the population is culled. Finally we conclude that culling incubating females in the breeding colonies has an impact to retard the growth of the Dutch goose population.