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A multi-species model for goose management: Competition and facilitation drive space use of foraging geese

  • 1Quantitative Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 17, 3584 CD, Utrecht, The Netherlands. m.dejager@uu.nl.
  • 2Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands. m.dejager@uu.nl.
  • 3Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Droevendaalsesteeg 10, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
  • 4Fauna Management Unit Noord-Holland, Spaarne 13, 2011 CD, Haarlem, The Netherlands.
  • 5Environmental Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research, Postbus 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
  • 6Dutch Centre For Field Ornithology (Sovon), Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  • 7Institute for Waterbird and Wetlands Research (IWWR) Germany e.V., Am Steigbügel 3, 27283, Verden (Aller), Lower Saxony, Germany.
  • 8Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany.
  • 9Ecology Department, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences (RIBES), Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
  • 10Wageningen Environmental Reserach (WEnR), Droevendaalsesteeg 3a, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
  • 11Institute for Avian Research, An Der Vogelwarte 21, 26386, Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
  • 12Department of Theoretical and Computational Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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June 12, 2025

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflicts are generally tackled using single-species studies and ensuing management solutions, ignoring species interactions that may moderate or augment these issues. We investigate the effects of interactions between four goose species foraging in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands, on species distributions, energetics, and consequent economic costs of agricultural damages and management, using an individual-based model. In Friesland, geese are allowed to graze on (semi-)natural grasslands and selected agricultural grasslands (accommodation areas), while they are scared off other agricultural grasslands (scaring areas). We show that interspecific competition and facilitation drive spatial redistribution of goose species. With increasing population sizes, most species are forced to increase foraging in the scaring areas, leading to more scaring events and more additional foraging to compensate for energy spent on fleeing behaviour. Our modelling results underline that careful consideration should be given to how management may affect the spatial distribution of foraging geese.

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