Variability in the chemical content of waterfowl plumage

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Abstract
Three species of waterfowl were held for 3 years on common rations in a common enclosure. Their primary flight feathers were clipped each October and each set was analyzed for a spectrum of nine chemical elements. Multivariate discriminant functions were calculated and canonical analysis was used to examine differences by species, sex, and year-class. Least discrimination was found between sexes, although even there most mean values were significantly different one from another. Mean values between species and year-classes were all significantly different. The greatest variability was found in year-class where 88.9% of known birds could be classified accurately and where 78.5% of unknowns could be assigned correctly on the basis of discriminant functions. Some of the reasons for variability are discussed.

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