Responses of Festuca Rubra to natural and simulated foraging by geese on Akimiski Island, Nunavut Territory / Pamela C. O

The effects of goose foraging have been studied extensively in sub-arctic intertidal and freshwater marshes, but impacts are less understood in supratidal marshes, where Festuca rubra is a dominant forage grass. In this study, I examined the responses of Festuca to natural and simulated goose grazing and grubbing in an area used by Snow, Canada and Brant Geese at Akimiski Island, Nunavut Territory. Both artificial defoliation and protection from natural grazing altered patterns of growth. Protection rapidly converted short, grazed swards to a tall growth form, while tall grass resisted conversion in the opposite direction. Shoots transplanted into simulated grubbing performed well,but those transplanted into areas previously grubbed by geese usually died. This research provides evidence that both grazed and recently grubbed areas have the potential to recover if protected from further damage, but recovery following devegetation becomes increasingly difficult over time.