Survival of radio-marked mallard ducklings in northeastern California

Estimates of duckling survival are necessary to accurately assess recruitment of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), yet few reliable estimates exist. During 1988-90, we estimated survival rates for 127 radio-marked mallard ducklings from 64 broods on Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, California. I...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of wildlife management 1994-01, Vol.58 (1), p.82-87
Main Authors: Mauser, D.M, Jarvis, R.L, Gilmer, D.S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANAS PLATYRHYNCHOS
Animal and plant ecology
Animal nesting
Animal populations
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
ANIMALES JOVENES
Animals
Aves
AVES ACUATICAS
AVES DE CAZA
Biological and medical sciences
Bird nesting
Birds
CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIE
CANARD
CONTROLE CONTINU
Demecology
Ducklings
DUCKS
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
GAME BIRDS
GIBIER A PLUME
Hatching
Hens
JEUNE ANIMAL
MONITORING
Mortality
OISEAU AQUATIQUE
Ornithology
PATO
Predators
Radio transmitters
SUPERVIVENCIA
SURVIE
SURVIVAL
TELEMETRIA
TELEMETRIE
TELEMETRY
Vertebrata
VIGILANCIA
WATERFOWL
Wildlife
Wildlife habitats
Wildlife refuges
YOUNG ANIMALS
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Estimates of duckling survival are necessary to accurately assess recruitment of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), yet few reliable estimates exist. During 1988-90, we estimated survival rates for 127 radio-marked mallard ducklings from 64 broods on Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, California. In 1988, we restricted the survival estimate to the first 10 days post-hatch (Ŝ = 0.18, SE = 0.07). Survival from hatching to 50 days was 0.37 (SE = 0.09) in 1989 and 0.34 (SE = 0.07) in 1990. Total brood loss differed among years (P < 0.05); 81.2% in 1988 (n = 16), 36.8% in 1989 (n = 19), and 37.5% in 1990 (n = 24). Ninety-three percent of mortality occurred during the first 10 days of life. We detected no differences in the proportion of radio-marked ducklings fledged from early-hatched versus late-hatched nests (P = 0.74). During 1989-90, 16 females appeared to lose their entire brood; however, 3 radio-marked ducklings from 2 of these broods were fledged by other brood hens. Of 29 radio-marked ducklings that reached 44 days of life, 6 (20.7%) joined other broods. Habitat enhancement is the key to improving duckling survival because the large number of predator species that consume ducklings makes predator control difficult.
ISSN:0022-541X
1937-2817
DOI:10.2307/3809552