REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITIES OF CONTROL MALLARD DUCKS (ANAS-PLATYRHYNCHOS) DURING A ONE-GENERATION REPRODUCTION STUDY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 4  (5-6) , 133-139
Abstract
The Mallard duck (A. platyrhynchos) is the waterfowl model of choice for testing the reproductive impairment of pesticides and environmental contaminants. The literature contains numerous reports on the effects of pesticides on egg shell development for mallards, quail and other avian species. Limited control data for reproductive evaluation of pesticides was found. One generation reproduction results from 75 control female mallard ducks were studied. One male and 5 female adult ducks were housed in clean pens with tap water and game bird breeder ration available ad lib. The pre-egg laying cycle was 10 wk. For the first 8 wk, the photoperiod was 7 h light/day, then it increased to 17 h to induce egg laying. Eggs were collected daily for 8 wk and incubated. Shell thickness was measured on 1 egg from each pen bi-weekly. Mean reproductive indices were: eggs cracked/egg laid = 2.18%; viable 11 day embryos/eggs set = 85.2%; live 21 day embryos/viable 11 day survivors = 97.6%; hatchlings/live 21 day embryos = 80.6%; and 14 day survivors/hatchlings = 89.3%. Mean egg shell thickness for 60 eggs was 0.378 mm.

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