SPECIES IDENTIFICATION GUIDE

The overall objective of the project NAT2CARE - Mobilisation of citizenship for the recover and the conservation of the Natura 2000 transboundary areas \u2013 is to improve the status and the presence of the biodiversity within the project partners\u2019 Natura 2000 areas (the Julian Prealps Nature Park, the Triglav National implementing Natura 2000 habitat and species measures, by improving their integrated and cross-border anagement, by raising environmental awareness and training, and by increasing the promotion of ecosystem services

SOCIAL CONTEXT MODULATES DIGESTIBILITY IN GREYLAG GEESE (ANSER ANSER)

SOCIAL CONTEXT MODULATES DIGESTIBILITY IN GREYLAG GEESE (ANSER ANSER) Lara Iaiza1, Carla Fabro1, Federico Mason1, Chiara Sarnataro1, Stefano Filacorda1, Didone Frigerio2 1Dipartimento di Scienze Agroalimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Universit\ue0 degli Studi di Udine 2Core facility KLF for Behaviour and Cognition, University of Vienna In group living animals, social context is known to modulate physiology, behaviour, fertility and immune system of individuals. Furthermore, individuals\u2019 nutritional strategies may profoundly affect their performance, also impacting their social interactions. In the present study we discuss the results of a pilot study conducted on N = 38 individuals of the semi-tame, long-term monitored and individually marked flock of Greylag geese (Anser anser) at the Konrad Lorenz Research Station in Upper Austria. Focal animals belonged to different social categories within the flock, i.e. paired with and without offspring, single and juveniles (5 males and 3 to 5 females per category). The animals are well habituated to the close presence of humans and are used to get fed twice a day on the meadow in front of the Research Station. During 9 consecutive days in winter 2017, when the snow pack was closed, we standardized the food given to the birds and collected a total number of 184 individual droppings from the focal individuals (mean=4,8; SD=0,4) after the morning and afternoon feedings. Samples were analysed at the lab facilities of the Department for Agro-Food, Environmental and Animal Science, University of Udine (Italy) by determining the apparent digestibility of total organic matter. Preliminary results show similarities between males and females but hint at differences depending on the social category with parental individuals showing higher digestive capability than unpaired individuals or paired without offspring. We discuss our findings with respect to the complex relationships between social status, physiology and the capacity of digesting food, extracting nutrients and improving fitness

Social context modulates digestive efficiency in greylag geese (Anser anser)

Abstract In group-living animals, social context is known to modulate physiology, behaviour and reproductive output as well as foraging and nutritional strategies. Here we investigate the digestive efficiency of 38 individuals belonging to different social categories of a semi-feral and individually marked flock of greylag geese (Anser anser). During 9 consecutive days in winter 2017, when the ground was fully covered with snow (i.e. no grass or other natural forage available) and the accessible food was standardized, 184 individual droppings were collected and analysed to estimate the apparent digestibility of organic matter (ADOM). Lignin was used as an indigestible internal marker in the food and droppings. The digestive efficiency was higher in pairs with offspring as compared to pairs without offspring or unpaired birds. Furthermore, individuals with high ADOM were more likely to breed successfully in the following season than those with low ADOM. Our findings demonstrate that social status modulates digestive efficiency, probably via a chain of physiological mechanisms including a dampened stress response in individuals enjoying stable social relationships with and social support by their family members (i.e. their own pair-partner and offspring). Our findings underline the importance of the social network in modulating physiology, such as digestive efficiency, and ultimately reproductive success

Social context modulates digestive efficiency in greylag geese (Anser anser)

In group-living animals, social context is known to modulate physiology, behaviour and reproductive output as well as foraging and nutritional strategies. Here we investigate the digestive efficiency of 38 individuals belonging to different social categories of a semi-feral and individually marked flock of greylag geese (Anser anser). During 9 consecutive days in winter 2017, when the ground was fully covered with snow (i.e. no grass or other natural forage available) and the accessible food was standardized, 184 individual droppings were collected and analysed to estimate the apparent digestibility of organic matter (ADOM). Lignin was used as an indigestible internal marker in the food and droppings. The digestive efficiency was higher in pairs with offspring as compared to pairs without offspring or unpaired birds. Furthermore, individuals with high ADOM were more likely to breed successfully in the following season than those with low ADOM. Our findings demonstrate that social status modulates digestive efficiency, probably via a chain of physiological mechanisms including a dampened stress response in individuals enjoying stable social relationships with and social support by their family members (i.e. their own pair-partner and offspring). Our findings underline the importance of the social network in modulating physiology, such as digestive efficiency, and ultimately reproductive success.© The Author(s) 201