Comparative Genetics and Movement Patterns of Wild and Game-Farm Mallards in the Southeastern United States 

Project Overview 

Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) are one of the most widely distributed ducks in the world, long valued by people for food, hunting, and conservation. In North America, their numbers rose sharply in the 20th century, and they now rank among the most harvested ducks in the Atlantic Flyway. Part of this increase stemmed from large-scale releases of captive-raised mallards, with hundreds of thousands released annually along the eastern seaboard during the last century. While these introductions bolstered hunting opportunities, they also came with trade-offs: interbreeding between farm-raised and wild mallards has blurred genetic distinctions, potentially reducing the adaptability of wild populations and threatening their long-term resilience. 

 

In response, the James C. Kennedy Waterfowl and Wetlands Conservation Center at Clemson University, working with the South Carolina Waterfowl Association, Palmetto Waterfowl, and the University of Texas at El Paso, launched a multi-year research effort to investigate how released mallards interact with their wild counterparts. This work combines genetic testing, movement ecology, and predator-prey observations to answer a fundamental conservation question: what are the ecological and genetic consequences of mixing farm-raised and wild mallards in South Carolina? 

 

Progress to Date 

Fieldwork began in summer 2025 with banding of farm-raised mallards. Every bird received a USGS leg band, establishing long-term tracking through national recovery networks. 

 

This fall, the project is expanding into several new phases: 

• Nanotags: Lightweight tags will allow researchers to detect the presence or absence of marked birds at release sites through automated receiver networks. 

• GPS-GSM Transmitters: Twenty-five mallards will carry satellite transmitters that record and relay fine-scale movements, allowing the team to examine flight distances, dispersal, and habitat use across the flyway. 

• Genetic Analysis: All birds handled in fall will be bled to compare genetic signatures of wild, farm-raised, and hybrid individuals, providing baseline measures of genetic integrity. 

 

Next Steps 

In spring 2026, trapping will focus on wild mallards to expand the dataset. Captured birds will be banded, sampled for DNA, and fitted with GPS transmitters to track seasonal and long-distance movements. Blood samples collected across refuges and hunt club properties will be sequenced in partnership with the Lavretsky Lab at UTEP, offering high-resolution insight into the proportion of pure versus hybrid lineages. 

 

Anticipated Outcomes 

This study is expected to highlight key contrasts among mallard groups: 

• Movement Ecology: Captive-origin birds may show shorter, less consistent movement patterns compared to wild birds. 

• Genetics: Farm-raised mallards are predicted to carry lower genetic diversity, a warning sign for adaptability. 

 

Data will be analyzed using a combination of statistical approaches (e.g., ANOVA, regression) to compare group differences in behavior and movement, and nesting success.  

 

Broader Impact 

The implications extend far beyond South Carolina. If released mallards consistently dilute the genetic integrity of wild populations or perform poorly in the wild, conservation strategies may need to adapt, potentially incorporating breeding programs that restore pure North American mallard lineages. By linking genetic studies with ecological data, this research will provide managers with the knowledge needed to safeguard healthy and resilient waterfowl populations in the Atlantic Flyway.