Caught out in the cold: Mallard survival decreased during an extreme climatic event

Extreme climatic events (ECEs) can have profound impacts on individual fitness, affecting survival directly or indirectly. Late winter ECEs may be especially detrimental to fitness due to limited food resources and increased energetic requirements during this time. A polar vortex disruption ECE descended upon the mid-continental United States during 7–20 February 2021 with temperatures as low as −29ºC in areas concurrent with ongoing research on mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) movement ecology and survival in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, USA spanning winters 2019–2022. Therefore, we opportunistically evaluated the effects of individual characteristics and latitude on daily survival during the ECE. We extended the survival analysis into March to test for lasting effects of the ECE on survival. We tracked 181 GPS-marked mallards during February 2020, 256 in February 2021, and 324 in February 2022. We documented 22 mortalities during the February 2021 ECE (i.e., 9%), but only 6 mortali..., , , # Caught out in the cold: Mallard survival decreased during an extreme climatic event

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Title of Dataset: Caught out in the cold: Mallard survival decreased during an extreme climatic event.
2. Author Information:

Abigail G. Blake-Bradshaw, School of Environmental Studies, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA

Nicholas M. Masto, School of Environmental Studies, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA

Cory J. Highway, Department of Biology, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA

Allison C. Keever, Department of Biology, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, TN 38505, USA

Paul T. Link, Louisiana Waterfowl Working Group, Lafayette, LA 70508, USA

Jamie C. Feddersen, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN 37211, USA

Heath M. Hagy, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA

Douglas C. Osborne, College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural REsources, University of...,