The effects of goose grubbing on willow habitat, leaf characteristics, and phenology were examined in the salt marshes of La Pérouse Bay in northern Manitoba (58° 56’ N, 93° 30’ W) as grubbing in the early spring removes the protective layer of vegetation and humus, degrading willow habitat. Soil temperature was compared at naturally grubbed sites with those from ungrubbed and barren peat sites. Soil water content and salinity were measured along three transects: not grubbed, naturally grubbed and half artificially grubbed. Willow leaf senescence and fall were also measured at both ungrubbed and grubbed (natural and artificial) sites. Finally tissue analyses were conducted to measure chloride, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the leaves.
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