Study on the Wintering Home Range and Habitat use of Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) using GPS Tracking Devices

This study analyzes the home range and habitat use of wintering mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) in the Mangyeong and Dongjin rivers, western Korea, using a GPS tracking device (WT-300).It provides insights into habitat conservation and management.The study area consists of rivers, wetlands, and farmland.Nine mallards were tracked using GPS devices in riparian zones.Home range was analyzed using the Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE).The mean MCP home range was 766.4 km (SD=836.9,n=9).KDE analysis showed a 90% utilization area of 137.0 km (SD=220.5 km, n=9) and a 50% area of 30.3 km (SD=51.4km, n=9).Mallards primarily used hydrospheres, rice fields, and inland wetlands, gradually shifting to rice fields over time.They used hydrospheres most at noon and rice fields at night.Habitat selection was influenced by factors such as water depth, food availability, and disturbances.Mallards' winter behavior reflects survival strategies, underscoring the need for stable habitats.These findings provide fundamental data for conservation efforts and the sustainable management of wintering habitats.