Aspects of reproductive and remige molt biology in wood ducks / Mark P. Vrtiska

Effect of seasonal food restriction on reproduction and remige molt in wood ducks (Aix sponsa) had not been previously investigated. Therefore,I conducted experiments during winters 1992-94 and summers 1992-93 to test the effect of food restriction (i.e., 15% or 20% less food [g] than consumed daily by a control group fed ad libitum) on body mass,mortality, pair formation, reproduction, and remige molt of captive,wild-strain wood ducks. Twenty percent food restriction during winter 1992-93 caused greater and male- specific mortality compared with ad libitum feeding. Females surviving restriction and producing >-1 clutches were heavier than control birds but had decreased egg fertility. No other differences in reproductive performance were detected. Fifteen percent food restriction in winter 1993-94 caused decreased pairing, nesting, and egg production, and delayed renesting.Mortality during summers 1992-93 was negligible and was similar between 20%-restricted and control groups. C