Movements and habitat use of mallard broods in northeastern California

David M. Mauser; Susan I. Jarvi; David S. Gilmer

doi:10.2307/3809553

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Movements and habitat use of mallard broods in northeastern California

David M. Mauser·Susan I. Jarvi·David S. Gilmer

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Abstract

To increase recruitment of mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ), wildlife managers must understand the habitat and space needs of mallard broods. During 1989-90, we examined the movements, home range, and habitat use of 27 radio-marked mallard broods on Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge, California. Twelve of the 27 broods made 22 relocation movements (>1,000 m in 24 hr) in the first week ( n = 6) and after the fourth ( n = 16) week of life. Mean home range size was 0.93 km2 (SE = 0.25) and did not differ between years ( P = 0.26). Brood-rearing females selected seasonally flooded wetlands with a cover component and avoided open or permanently flooded habitats. In 1989, broods hatched in permanent wetlands were less successful in fledging ( P = 0.006) radio-marked ducklings than broods from seasonal wetlands, suggesting habitat availability or movement to preferred habitats may affect duckling survival.

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Journal of Wildlife Management Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 41.884706408098054° to 41.99218906871869° latitude; -121.72131430626757° to -121.49902452851791° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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David M. Mauser, Susan I. Jarvi, David S. Gilmer. 1994. Movements and habitat use of mallard broods in northeastern California. https://doi.org/10.2307/3809553

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