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Balancing ecosystem function, services and disservices resulting from expanding goose populations
Ralph Buij1, Theodorus C P Melman2, Maarten J J E Loonen3
1Team Animal Ecology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands. ralph.buij@wur.nl.
Ambio
|February 20, 2017
Summary
As goose populations grow, their ecological impacts increase. Currently, ecosystem disservices from geese outweigh services, necessitating better management strategies for balanced flyway assessment.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Wildlife Management
Background:
- Wild goose populations are increasing in abundance globally.
- Goose ecological functions significantly influence terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for ecosystem service and disservice assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review evidence on key ecological functions of wild geese.
- To estimate the human implications of increasing goose populations via ecosystem services and disservices.
- To assess the balance of societal value and inform management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of goose ecological functions.
- Analysis of impacts on nutrient cycling, vegetation, carbon storage, and disease transmission.
- Assessment of ecosystem services and disservices provided by geese.
Main Results:
- Geese influence nutrient deposition, vegetation biomass, and propagule transport.
- Ecosystem disservices from geese currently appear to outweigh services.
- Impacts and their societal value vary significantly across regions and user groups.
Conclusions:
- Many goose ecological functions provide neither services nor disservices.
- A balanced assessment requires quantifying spatial and temporal variations in services and disservices.
- Improved management strategies are needed to mitigate goose-related disservices and enhance services.
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