Ducks and Mallards of Macquarie Island

(Abstract from 'The ducks of Macquarie Island')Early reference to waterfowl on Macquarie Island and observations made by ANARE expeditioners between 1949 and 1985 are reviewed and discussed. Apart from a unique (perhaps erroneous) record of a mute swan Cygnus olor, information is restricted to the Pacific black duck Anas superciliosa, the grey teal A. gibberifrons and the alien mallard A. platyrhynchos and its hybrids.Black duck and grey teal were seen by early visitors to the Island, but despite the infrequent potential for escapes of domestic ducks, mallards were not recorded until 1949. Occasional teal and mallards were seen in the years following the establishment of the permanent scientific station (1948) but mallards (and hybrids) have become more numerous in recent years. Though grey teal may disperse to Macquarie Island in times of drought on the Australian mainland, the source of mallards may be New Zealand or the less distant Campbell and Auckland Islands.The few available records of breeding (eggs, ducklings and nests) for black duck suggest that laying begins in September and extends at least into January. Zooplankton is most abundant in spring and summer, but ducks may obtain high protein foods from the littoral and sublittoral areas and may also take seeds of terrestrial plants.Available information does not allow separation of habitats used by black duck or mallards. However, most observations are around coastal areas. There is some indication that records have increased along the south-western and eastern sides of the Island, but generally there are few observations of either species on the higher, central plateau.The intrusion of mallards onto the Island and the resultant hybridisation with black duck poses a threat for the future integrity of the latter native species.This dataset contains a review of the data available for Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa), mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and grey teal (Anas gibberifrons) and hybrids on Macquarie Island, collected from mid-1949 to January 1985. There is a period of relatively continuous and extensive data between February 1963 and January 1985. Discussion and references about habitat, breeding, feeding and hybrids is provided in the dataset (see the reference), as well as distribution maps.The fields in this dataset are:YearMonthPresence/Absence

《麦夸里岛鸭类（The ducks of Macquarie Island）》摘要：本文梳理并讨论了麦夸里岛水禽的早期记载，以及1949年至1985年间澳大利亚国家南极研究探险队（ANARE）科考队员的观测记录。除1条独特（或存误差）的疣鼻天鹅（Cygnus olor）记录外，现有记载仅涉及太平洋黑鸭（Anas superciliosa）、灰鸭（Anas gibberifrons）以及外来物种绿头鸭（Anas platyrhynchos）及其杂交后代。
早期登岛访客便已观测到太平洋黑鸭与灰鸭，但尽管家鸭逃逸的可能性偶有存在，绿头鸭的观测记录直至1949年才首次出现。
1948年永久科学考察站建立后的数年间，科考人员偶有观测到灰鸭与绿头鸭，但近年来绿头鸭（及其杂交个体）的种群数量已显著增多。
尽管澳大利亚大陆遭遇干旱时，灰鸭可能会迁徙至麦夸里岛，但绿头鸭的来源可能为新西兰，或是距离更近的坎贝尔岛与奥克兰群岛。
目前仅存的少量太平洋黑鸭繁殖记录（涉及卵、雏鸟与巢穴）显示，其产卵期始于9月，至少可持续至次年1月。
春夏季浮游动物种群最为繁盛，但鸭类可从潮间带与亚潮带区域获取高蛋白食物，同时也会取食陆生植物的种子。
现有资料无法区分太平洋黑鸭与绿头鸭的栖息生境，不过绝大多数观测记录均集中于沿海区域。
有迹象表明，麦夸里岛西南侧与东侧的观测记录数量有所增长，但整体而言，海拔较高的中央高原区域极少有这两种鸭类的观测记录。
绿头鸭入侵麦夸里岛并与本地的太平洋黑鸭发生杂交，对后者的种群遗传完整性构成了潜在威胁。
本数据集汇总了1949年中期至1985年1月期间，麦夸里岛太平洋黑鸭（Anas superciliosa）、绿头鸭（Anas platyrhynchos）、灰鸭（Anas gibberifrons）及其杂交个体的相关观测资料并进行系统梳理。
1963年2月至1985年1月期间，存在一段数据相对连续且覆盖范围较广的观测时段。
数据集内包含了关于鸭类栖息生境、繁殖习性、食性以及杂交现象的讨论与参考文献，同时附带了种群分布地图（详见参考文献部分）。
本数据集包含以下字段：Year（年份）、Month（月份）、Presence/Absence（存在/缺失标记）。