The effects of summer grazing by captive lesser snow geese goslings (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) on the vegetation of the La Perouse Bay salt marsh in Manitoba, Canada (58��24�N, 94��24�W) were investigated. Goslings were removed from nests of wild geese within 24 h of hatching and raised in the field camp feeding natural foods (Puccinellia phryganodes and Carex aquatilis). Plots were selected with vegetation dominated by Puccinellia and each gosling was randomly assigned to a plot. Grazing occurred over five times from late-June to mid-August in 1986 and 1997. Net aboveground primary production (NAPP) and forage quality were measured. In 1987 feces samples were collected at 10 minute intervals to ensure soluble nitrogen was not transferred. Removed feces were sent to laboratory and analyzed for water content, dry weight, and soluble and total nitrogen.
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