The effects of disturbances caused by greater snow goose (Chen caerulescens atlantica) grubbing, ice scouring, and the combination of the two were examined on a tidal marsh (47° 00’N ; 70° 35’ W) 70 km west of Quebec City along the southern shore of the St. Lawrence River. The marsh is coved in ice from December to March and scouring occurs during spring break up. Greater snow goose grazing occurs during the 5-7 week spring and fall migratory stopovers. Permanent plots were located in four major vegetation types with half of the plots fenced to exclude greater snow geese use. Fencing was erected each spring before arrival of the geese and removed each fall. Disturbance from ice scouring was measured after spring breakup each year and vegetation measurements were taken in late August.
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