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collected in sediment traps and automated water samplers: Hydrobiologia, v.
323, no. 1, p. 61-66.

Abstract

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 (Anas platyrhynchos) 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.

Keywords

Anas platyrhynchos, evaporative cooling, mallards, metabolic rate,
radiotelemetry, recruitment, radio transmitters, metabolism chamber,
oxygen-consumption, wild mallards, wind, behavior, temperature,
canvasbacks, animals, ducks