Large‐scale releases of domesticated, game‐farm Mallards Anas platyrhynchos to supplement wild populations have resulted in widespread introgressive hybridization that changed the genetic constitution eastern North America. The resulting gene flow is well documented between and Mallards, but mechanistic consequences from such interactions remain unknown We provide first study characterize investigate potential differences morphology genetically known, used nine morphological measurements...

Acorns of bottomland red oaks (Quercus spp.) are an important food North American wood ducks (Aix sponsa). Barras et al. (1996) demonstrated that female selected willow oak (Q. phellos) acorns over other species. We measured true metabolizable energy (TME) derived by captive, wild-strain, adult from oak, water nigra), cherrybark pagoda), and pin palustris) to determine whether ducks' preference for was related TME. Estimates TME within acorn species were relatively precise, yet we did not...

Decomposition studies were conducted at two sites on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, to compare patterns decomposition and arthropod invasion in intertidal adjacent terrestrial habitats. The animal model used was domestic pig. One site Coconut Kaneohe Bay northeast side second an anchialine pool located Barber's Point Naval Air Station southwest shore Oahu. At both sites, decomposed a manner similar what has been observed previous habitats island Rate biomass depletion slower studies, primarily...

ABSTRACT Western Tennessee is an important region for waterfowl during non‐breeding periods, supporting >40% of the Mississippi Flyway population American black ducks ( Anas rubripes ). Understanding habitat selection and activities period directed management on national wildlife refuges in other wetlands meeting regional conservation objectives. During November–February 2011–2013, we investigated diurnal dabbling (Anatini) among 5 common wetland types relative to emergent cover, water...

ABSTRACT Although North American wood ducks ( Aix sponsa ) are well‐studied throughout their range, researchers know little about demographic and environmental factors influencing survival of ducklings broods, which is necessary information for population management. We studied radiomarked female duckling that used nest boxes palustrine wetlands at Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (NNWR) in Mississippi, USA, 1996–1999, riverine the Tennessee‐Tombigbee Rivers Waterway (TTRW) system Alabama...

Within the cultivated peanut species ( Arachis hypogaea L.), there are two subspecies comprising six botanical varieties, and effect of taxon on oil content fatty acid composition variability is unclear. To gauge variability, 83 accessions were analyzed for (expressed at 0% moisture) composition. We found that within subsp. , var. contained a much higher amount in seeds than did hirsuta Köhler (520 vs. 473 g/kg, P < 0.05); fastigiata Waldron, vars. aequatoriana Krapov. & W.C. Gregory...

Castor ( Ricinus communis L.) is an important non-edible oilseed crop that can potentially be used as feedstock for biodiesel production. There are 1033 accessions in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) castor germplasm collection. The range oil content these has never been surveyed. For exploiting a production, entire USDA collection was procured from National Plant Germplasm System (Germplasm Resources Information Network) and measured with nuclear magnetic resonance....

ABSTRACT Waterfowl hunter numbers and waterfowl populations were closely correlated until the past 2 decades when declined despite near‐record breeding population estimates for ducks in North America. As a result, efforts to recruit, retain, reactivate (R3) hunters have been promoted by American Management Plan community because are key source of funding wetland‐wildlife habitat conservation management. Increasing access opportunity hunting appears be primary R3 strategy We suggest that hunt...

We evaluated plasticine-filled leg bands via recapture and band recovery information from 7,172 day-old wood ducks (Aix sponsa) double-marked (plasticine a web tag) in Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri 1993-98. These performed relatively well, with highest retention rates achieved 1997-98 (98.6%) Mississippi 1996-97 (97.3%). As part of an international project, we also conducted study to test the null hypothesis no difference survival between 2 cohorts ducklings marked (1) bands, (2) tags,...

Abstract The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) duck is a ubiquitous and socio-economically important game bird in North America. Despite their generally abundant midcontinent population, Mallards eastern America are declining, which may be partially explained by extensive hybridization with human-released domestically derived game-farm Mallards. We investigated the genetic composition of middle lower Mississippi flyway, key wintering regions for species. found that nearly 30% wild carried...

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) commenced the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative (MBHI) in summer 2010 after April Deepwater Horizon oil spill Gulf of Mexico. MBHI enrolled program 193,000 ha private wet‐ and cropland inland from potential oil‐impaired wetlands. We evaluated waterfowl other waterbird use seed/tuber food resources NRCS Wetland Reserve Program easement wetlands managed via funding associated reference Mississippi Alluvial Valley Arkansas, Louisiana,...

Aquaculture can provide important surrogate habitats for waterbirds. In response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, National Resource Conservation Service enacted Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative through which incentivized landowners provided wetland migrating Diversity and abundance of waterbirds in six production four idled aquaculture facilities Mississippi Alluvial Valley were estimated during winters 2011–2013. Wintering exhibited similar densities on (i.e., ∼22 birds/ha) ∼20...

Three trials were conducted to study the effects of storage conditions on albumen pH, hard-cooked egg peelability, and cooked shear strength. The 4 C, 24 C (ambient flowing air), 38 C. strength ease peeling eggs was dependent elapsed time, air movement, temperature storage. pH raw a good predictor peeling, with above 8.9 yielding easy-to-peel eggs. warmer temperature, faster increased. One day at 3 days 5 minimum lengths time required produce For treatments, reached stable,...

Abstract The Mississippi Alluvial Valley once had extensive bottomland hardwood forests, but less than 25% of the original area remains. Impounded or greentree reservoirs, and naturally flooded forests are important sources invertebrate other prey for waterfowl, no previous studies abundance biomass have been at scale Valley. Additionally, Lower Joint Venture North American Waterfowl Management Plan requires precise, contemporary estimates in bottomlands to determine potential foraging...

Abstract Prior to the 19 th century, Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) was a vast bottomland hardwood forest ecosystem with associated wetlands and intrinsic resources. Conversion for human uses in 20 century transformed MAV into an agriculturally dominated system. Since late 1980s, federal state incentivized conservation programs landowners have helped restore on private lands MAV. Given need evaluate relation waterfowl use, we used sample of 241 radiomarked female mallards ( Anas...

Many migratory bird species, including the American Black Duck (Anas rubripes; hereafter black duck), face challenges to their survival during winter due potentially limited resources and high energetic demands. These processes can be especially important for population dynamics of species. Despite stabilization overall duck breeding population, historical declines continue ducks wintering in Mississippi Flyway. It remains unclear if declining abundance this region reflects mortality. We...

ABSTRACT Avian diet quality is typically measured using true metabolizable energy (TME N ), which a measure of assimilable food items accounting for innate endogenous losses. Originally developed use in the poultry industry, TME methods have been adapted to determine value natural foods consumed by waterfowl parameterize bioenergetics models conservation planning. Because there little knowledge variation estimates among and species, we investigated 6 common species submersed aquatic...

ABSTRACT Biomass estimates of potential waterfowl foods are fundamental to estimating foraging carrying capacity habitat by conservation planners and managers the North American Waterfowl Management Plan‐Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV). Rice moist‐soil seeds in Gulf rice fields provide principal sources energy for during migration winter. We investigated spatio‐temporal biomass dynamics these modeled their variation production idled southwestern Louisiana, southeastern Texas, Texas...

Abstract The Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) is an internationally important migration and wintering region for Nearctic waterfowl. Most of the MAV a lowland forested floodplain that contains vast stands red oaks ( Quercus spp.). These trees produce acorns and, when forests flood, diverse communities aquatic invertebrates emerge, providing nutritious foods ducks. within Lower Joint Venture (LMV JV) North American Waterfowl Management Plan, but no combined MAV‐wide estimates acorn...

Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Gulf of Mexico April 2010, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) established and funded Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative (MBHI), with goal improving increasing wetland habitats on private lands to benefit wintering migrating waterbirds displaced from oil-impacted coastal wetlands. The NRCS conservation partners provided financial technical assistance landowners managers sites enrolled various easement programs, incorporated...