title: Movements, home-range size and habitat selection of mallards during autumn migration.
abstract: The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is a focal species in game management, epidemiology and ornithology, but comparably little research has focused on the ecology of the migration seasons. We studied habitat use, time-budgets, home-range sizes, habitat selection, and movements based on spatial data collected with GPS devices attached to wild mallards trapped at an autumn stopover site in the Northwest European flyway. Sixteen individuals (13 males, 3 females) were followed for 15-38 days in October to December 2010. Forty-nine percent (SD = 8.4%) of the ducks' total time, and 85% of the day-time (SD = 28.3%), was spent at sheltered reefs and bays on the coast. Two ducks used ponds, rather than coast, as day-roosts instead. Mallards spent most of the night (76% of total time, SD = 15.8%) on wetlands, mainly on alvar steppe, or in various flooded areas (e.g. coastal meadows). Crop fields with maize were also selectively utilized. Movements between roosting and foraging areas mainly took place at dawn and dusk, and the home-ranges observed in our study are among the largest ever documented for mallards (mean  = 6,859 ha; SD = 5,872 ha). This study provides insights into relatively unknown aspects of mallard ecology. The fact that autumn-staging migratory mallards have a well-developed diel activity pattern tightly linked to the use of specific habitats has implications for wetland management, hunting and conservation, as well as for the epidemiology of diseases shared between wildlife and domestic animals.
authors: Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Bengtsson
authors: Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors: Alexis
authors: A
authors: Avril
authors: Division of Natural Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors: Gunnar
authors: G
authors: Gunnarsson
authors: Division of Natural Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors: Johan
authors: J
authors: Elmberg
authors: Division of Natural Sciences, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, Sweden.
authors: Pär
authors: P
authors: Söderquist
authors: Ottenby Bird Observatory, Ottenby 401, Degerhamn, Sweden.
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Norevik
authors: Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors: Conny
authors: C
authors: Tolf
authors: Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Dept. of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell, Germany and University of Konstanz, Dept. of Biology, Konstanz, Germany.
authors: Kamran
authors: K
authors: Safi
authors: Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Dept. of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell, Germany and University of Konstanz, Dept. of Biology, Konstanz, Germany.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Fiedler
authors: Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Dept. of Migration and Immuno-Ecology, Am Obstberg 1, Radolfzell, Germany and University of Konstanz, Dept. of Biology, Konstanz, Germany.
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Wikelski
authors: Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Björn
authors: B
authors: Olsen
authors: Centre for Ecology and Evolution in Microbial Model Systems, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
authors: Jonas
authors: J
authors: Waldenström
mesh_terms: D025041:Animal Migration / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006702:Homing Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons