Restricted Research - Award List, Note/Discussion Page
Fiscal Year: 2023
1972 The University of Texas at El Paso (143860)
Principal Investigator: Lavretsky,Philip
Total Amount of Contract, Award, or Gift (Annual before 2011): $ 42,000
Exceeds $250,000 (Is it flagged?): No
Start and End Dates: 12/1/22 - 8/31/24
Restricted Research: YES
Academic Discipline: Biological Sciences
Department, Center, School, or Institute: Biological Sciences
Title of Contract, Award, or Gift: Population structure, movement ecology, habitat needs, and basic life-history matrices of Mexican Ducks (Anas diazi) in Southwestern United States
Name of Granting or Contracting Agency/Entity:
US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
CFDA: 15.655
Program Title: Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation
Note:
The Mexican duck (Anas diazi) is not only an endemic resident of the Chihuahuan desert of interior Mexico and southwester USA, but is also one of the least understood species in North America (Figure 1). We propose to use the latest technologies and methods in understanding individual movement patterns, as well as overall population movement ecology and habitat requirements across their southwestern distribution. With the taxonomic status recently reevaluated from sub- to full species, increasing our understanding of the Mexican duck's biological and ecological needs are critical to ensure the proper management of them. Currently, there is a general lack of knowledge regarding Mexican duck population sizes, movement patterns, and overall habitat needs. The project will: (1) use band-recovery and GPS telemetry data to understand basic biology and movement ecology of Mexican ducks, and (2) using said movement data to estimate basic population metrics (i.e., sex-age cohort survival), including demarcating habitat use throughout their annual life-cycle. (3) Next, the project will build upon previous work by Lavretsky to develop a genetically vetted field key built within a machine learning environment, creating a digital application to standardize on the ground management efforts. Obtaining Mexican duck population estimates, movement patterns, determining their relative contribution to the Pacific Flyway's waterfowl population, and developing a tool that can electronically identify Mexican ducks from other mallard-like ducks would be of interest to wetland managers, waterfowl hunters, and bird watchers.
Discussion: No discussion notes