Assessing distribution and conservation potential for the Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) in Argentina

Abstract

The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata, Anatidae) is a waterbird with a wide distribution in America, reaching Argentina at its southernmost limit, where the species was categorized as threatened. In this study, we develop a species distribution model to analyze habitat suitability for the species in Argentina and assess its potential for geographic conservation in the country. Results show that northern Argentina offers environmentally suitable habitats for the species. At present, the Muscovy duck is not adequately protected in Argentina and although a quarter of its suitable habitat has already been lost due to human-induced changes in land-cover, the country still has a conservation potential since we have detected suitable habitats inside protected areas, where the species has not been previously recorded, and the species dependence on water lines offer additional conservation opportunities. We suggest carrying out conservation actions outside the current system of protected areas, in areas with high habitat suitability, and along water lines, involving private owners in conservation actions. There is also a need for further field research to confirm the duck's presence in the potential areas and to reveal more detailed ecological information about its habitat needs.

Qualitative Traits of Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) in Ciayumajakuning, West Java, Indonesia

“…The observed highest frequency of mottled plumage for Muscovy ducks in the present study agrees with the reports on Muscovy ducks of North-central Nigeria and West Bengal, India, respectively (Oguntunji 2017). Conversely, black and multi-coloured were the predominant plumage colours among North West (Schaaf et al 2018) and North Eastern (Raji et al 2009) Nigeria Muscovy ducks, respectively. Corroborated this assertion that social preference, natural selection, and adaptation are the significant causes of the variation inplumage colour .…”

Presencia de dimorfismo sexual entre patos Muscovy (Cairina moschata) en el traspatio de tres municipios de Guatemala

“…El pato salvaje de Muscovy (Cairina moschata Linnaeus 1758) es originario de América (Donkin, 1989), su distribución comprende las costas de México, América Central y la mayoría de las regiones tropicales de América del Sur (Hernández, Muñoz, Valencia, Posso, & Muñoz, 2017) (Schaaf, Gomez, Tallei, Rivera, Politi, & Cuyckens, 2018). La especie salvaje, llamada Greater Wood Duck o Forest Duck, también tiene las patas proyectadas más hacia el frente con respecto a la base del cuerpo que los patos del género Anas, tiene garras fuertes y afiladas, dedos traseros bien desarrollados y alas anchas (Donkin, 1989), y un tamaño del macho promedio de 66 a 86.5 cm, un peso corporal de 2 a 4 kg, siendo el macho considerablemente más grande que la hembra (Donkin, 1989), (Baéza, Williams, Guémené, & Duclos, 2001) (Almeida, 2014).…”