Habitat use and energetics of American black ducks wintering at Chincoteague, Virginia

The habitat use and energetics of American black ducks (Anas rubripes) wintering at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia, were investigated. Twenty-two female black ducks were systematically radiotracked on the 25,600 ha study area between 15 December 1985 and 28 February 1986. Diurnal time and energy budgets were constructed by distributing 1,471 scans (collected in 1985-86 and 1986-87) over a time-tide matrix within refuge, saltmarsh, and tidal water habitats. Sixty-four ducks were collected during early, mid, and late winter in 1985-86 to determine changes in carcass composition. The Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model for wintering black ducks was evaluated. Age affected range and core areas but did not affect habitat selection. Tide, ice, and time of day affected habitat use. Refuge pools were used during the day and saltmarsh was used at night. Subtidal water was used during periods of icing. Black ducks fed least and rested most when in refuge pools but fed most and rested least when in tidal waters. Black ducks curtailed feeding and increased time spent in alert and locomotion behaviors in response to disturbance. Whole carcass analysis indicated that black ducks were at least as fat and heavy in the spring as they were in the fall. Comparisons with similar work in Maine suggested that black ducks wintering in Maine and Virginia expend the same energy at a given temperature. However, because of lower temperatures, black ducks collected at Chincoteague were in relatively better condition than ducks wintering in Maine.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

Department dc:contributor.department

Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1987

Author dc:creator

• Morton, John

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/53147

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/53147