Ouse Washes

Bird species included in model

Bewick’s swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii), Mute swan (Cygnus olor), Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)

Environmental issues simulated

Effect on swans of the availability of food resources and levels of competition in agricultural landscapes

Recommendations from modelling

Swans have capacity to buffer against losses of food resources and increased competition by increasing their foraging effort, but this may result in additional grazing damage to agricultural crops.

More information

Wood, K. A., Stillman, R. A., Newth, J. L., Nuijten, R. J. M., Hilton, G. M., Nolet, B. A. and Rees, E. C. (2021) Predicting avian herbivore responses to changing food availability and competition. Ecological Modelling, 441, 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2020.109421.

Funding

Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust