Agonistic Behavior and Dominance Relationships among Lesser Snow Geese during Winter and Spring Migration

-We studied dominance and aggression among family and nonfamily groups of Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) in salt marshes and rice fields in Louisiana, from January to March 1984, and in corn fields during the subsequent spring migration. Some proximate costs and benefits of family unity were examined by comparing the behavior of adults and juveniles among different family and nonfamily groups. We also determined if habitat differences influenced agonistic behavior among social groups of foraging Snow