P.S. Reynolds Kevin P. Kenow C. E. Korschgen A.F. Boysen G.S. Bakken 1996 <p>Many telemetry transmitter attachments disrupt downy insulation, and may bias survival studies during cold weather by making ducklings more susceptible to chilling. We compared thermal responses of untreated 1-day-old mallards (<i>Anas platyrhynchos</i>) to ducklings carrying external sutured backpack or subcutaneously implanted transmitters. Ducklings carrying external transmitters showed areas of increased surface temperature in thermographic images. However, open-circuit respirometry studies at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 C and wind speeds of 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1 m/s indicated no biologically significant differences in total heat production, net heat production, or short-term body mass loss. These results do not exclude the possibility of other negative effects of transmitters on duckling behavior and survival.</p> application/pdf 10.2307/3802086 en Wiley Thermoregulatory effects of radiotelemetry transmitters on mallard ducklings article