Relationship between waterfowl nutrition and condition on agricultural drainwater ponds in the Tulare Basin, California: Waterfowl body composition

Wetlands
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Abstract

We examined carcass composition and proximate food composition of ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis), northern shovelers (Anas clypeata), and northern pintails (Anas acuta) wintering on agricultural drainwater ponds in California during 1983–84. Lipids varied seasonally in northern shovelers and northern pintails. Protein did not fluctuate except in ruddy ducks whose protein mass increased over winter, suggesting that some protein was catabolized prior to arrival on wintering areas or that a buildup of protein occurred prior to spring migration. Waterfowl diets varied among species and time, but the nutritional composition of the diets was relatively stable. Ruddy ducks and shovelers consumed mostly animal foods rich in protein (53–60%) and low in Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) (1–7%). Pintail diets contained more NFE (23–38%) and less protein (14–38%) because of greater consumption of plant foods. Nutritional composition of pintail diets varied with lower protein consumption occurring from November through January.

Suggested Citation

Euliss, N., Jarvis, R.L., and Gilmer, D., 1997, Relationship between waterfowl nutrition and condition on agricultural drainwater ponds in the Tulare Basin, California: Waterfowl body composition: Wetlands, v. 17, no. 1, p. 106-115, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03160722.

ISSN: 1943-6246 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Relationship between waterfowl nutrition and condition on agricultural drainwater ponds in the Tulare Basin, California: Waterfowl body composition
Series title Wetlands
DOI 10.1007/BF03160722
Volume 17
Issue 1
Year Published 1997
Language English
Publisher Springer Nature
Contributing office(s) Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Description 10 p.
First page 106
Last page 115
Country United States
State California
Other Geospatial Central Valley, Tulare Basin
Additional publication details