Data Supporting Studies of Brant and Other Waterfowl Disturbance Behavior, Distribution, and Diet at Izembek Lagoon, Alaska, 1985-1988

This data package presents legacy data collected during 1985-1988 at Izembek Lagoon on the western end of the Alaska Peninsula. The data were collected in support of a multi-year study focused on aircraft disturbance of waterfowl, particularly Black Brant, Emperor Geese, and Cackling Geese. The study was conducted at Izembek Lagoon and included several study sites within the lagoon: Halfway Point, Grant Point, Outer Marker, Quarter Point, Applegate Cove, Norma Bay, Round Island, and Banding Island. The primary objectives were to 1) determine the effects of aircraft overflights and other human activities on the behavior, distribution, and habitat use of Brant, Cackling, and Emperor Geese, 2) examine noise levels associated with aircraft overflights and determine whether the behavioral response of geese is influenced by noise, 3) evaluate the potential impact of disturbance on the energetic requirements of fall-staging Brant, 4) determine the proportion of time brant spend foraging, resting, and in flight during natural environmental conditions, 5) assess the diet of brant staging at Izembek Lagoon, 6) analyze the nutritional quality of brant foods to determine selection patterns for both plants and plant parts, 7) determine the distribution and abundance of eelgrass, 8) define the time periods that are most important for geese foraging, 9) determine if certain portions of Izembek Lagoon are more important than other areas, 10) evaluate factors that influence distribution of geese within Izembek Lagoon, and 11) compare use by geese of Izembek Lagoon with use of other adjacent lagoons to determine relative importance.

本数据集收录了1985年至1988年间在阿拉斯加半岛西端的伊泽姆贝克泻湖（Izembek Lagoon）采集的遗留观测数据。本次数据采集服务于一项为期多年的研究，核心聚焦于飞行器对水禽的惊扰效应，研究对象涵盖黑雁（Black Brant）、帝雁（Emperor Geese）与小加拿大黑雁（Cackling Geese）三类重点物种。研究场地设于伊泽姆贝克泻湖，共在泻湖范围内设置8处研究样点，分别为中途点（Halfway Point）、格兰特角（Grant Point）、外标记点（Outer Marker）、四分点（Quarter Point）、阿普列奇湾（Applegate Cove）、诺玛湾（Norma Bay）、圆岛（Round Island）与环志岛（Banding Island）。本研究的核心目标包括：1. 明确飞行器低空飞越及其他人类活动对黑雁、小加拿大黑雁与帝雁的行为、分布及栖息地利用的影响；2. 测定飞行器低空飞越产生的噪声水平，并探究雁类的行为响应是否受噪声强度调控；3. 评估惊扰行为对秋季迁徙中途停歇的黑雁能量需求的潜在影响；4. 确定自然环境条件下，黑雁用于觅食、休憩及飞行的时间占比；5. 分析停歇于伊泽姆贝克泻湖的黑雁的食性组成；6. 解析雁类食物的营养品质，以明确其对植物及植物不同部位的选择偏好模式；7. 探明大叶藻（eelgrass）的分布与丰度；8. 界定雁类觅食活动的关键时段；9. 甄别伊泽姆贝克泻湖内是否存在相较于其他区域更为重要的栖息区域；10. 解析影响雁类在伊泽姆贝克泻湖内分布格局的各类因素；11. 对比雁类对伊泽姆贝克泻湖与邻近其他泻湖的利用情况，以明确各泻湖的相对重要性。