Apportionment of genetic variance in migrating and wintering mallards

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos, n = 289) wintering in the Southern High Plains of Texas were collected from 15 October 1988 to 7 February 1989 and electrophoretically surveyed for genetic variation at 30 biochemical loci. Genetic data were used to detect mixtures of breeding populations in the wintering aggregation of mallards that migrate into the Southern High Plains and to estimate the proportion of total genetic variation partitioned among breeding populations represented on the study area there. Wintering mallards represented mixtures of genetically heterogeneous breeding populations with a minimum of 10.4 – 11.7% of the genetic variation partitioned among populations represented. Genetic information may be useful in detecting mixtures of breeding populations in specific wintering areas within and among flyways.