Breeding biology of anatids (Family Anatidae) in the Lake of Zumpango, State of Mexico

Abstract

The lagoon of Zumpango has become an urban wetland with a high degree of alteration that threatens its biodiversity. This lagoon is one of the last ecological relicts of the Basin of Mexico, home to a great variety of wetland birds, including some that breed in the lagoon. In this study we describe some aspects of the breeding biology of birds from the family Anatidae that reproduce in the lagoon of Zumpango. We registered five species that breed there: the Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos diazi), the Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera), the Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) and also one species that was considered before as a winter visitor: the Gadwall (Anas strepera). The breeding season in 2015 started in February and endend in September. We describe the nesting substrate, clutch size for three of the species and hatching success for one. The main causes of reproductive failure were nest abandonment, the loss of clutch and egg infertility. We also report for the first time cooperative breeding in the Ruddy Duck. The lagoon of Zumpango is a fundamental habitat for the reproduction of wetland birds like ducks, whose nesting success is affected as a result of the continiuous habitat transformation and perturbation. It is necessary to implement actions that reduce bird and nest disturbance during the breeding season, as well as to maintain nesting sites.

Keywords

• humedal urbanizado
• aves acuáticas
• anidación
• cuidado parental cooperativo
• conservación.