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We used allozyme electrophoresis to estimate the degree of genetic differentiation among allopatric and sympatric populations of American Black Ducks (Anas rubripes) and Mallards (A. platyrhynchos). Mallards were collected in California, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario, and Black Ducks were collected in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Ontario. The mean genetic distances, D̄, between Black Duck populations (0.0007), between Mallard populations (0.0010), and between Mallard and Black Duck populations (0.0006) were virtually identical; there was as much genetic differentiation within the two species as there was between them. Such small genetic distances are characteristic of local populations of avian species in other orders, and are consistent with what is known about the lack of reproductive isolation between Black Ducks and Mallards. Although the two taxa are still somewhat split on an east-west basis, our genetic data do not support even subspecific status for the Black Duck.

We investigated whether the blood parasite Leucocytozoon simondi could slow mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) population growth in the east that has been associated with American black duck (A. rubripes; hereafter black duck) population decline. Susceptibility to parasites was compared among F1 ducklings produced from crosses between mallard and black ducks from areas of Leucocytozoon endemicity (Ontario), and between mallards from an area free of Leucocytozoon (Saskatchewan). We produced 6 "types" of ducklings: Ontario black duck x Ontario black duck (OB x OB), Ontario black duck x Ontario mallard (OB x OM), Ontario black duck x Saskatchewan mallard (OB x SM), OM x OM, OM x SM, and SM x SM. We predicted that because of probable coevolution of black ducks and Leucocytozoon, black duck ducklings would have resistance to the parasite. We also predicted that Ontario genes would confer some resistance to ducklings because these ducklings' parents had survived exposure to Leucocytozoon. In contrast, we predicted that mallard and Saskatchewan genes would not confer resistance, i.e., OB x OB ducklings would have greatest resistance to Leucocytozoon, SM x SM ducklings would have least, and remaining duckling types would have intermediate resistance. Of 169 ducklings exposed in 2 years in 3 geographically separate locales, none died, showed noticeable symptoms, or otherwise behaved abnormally. Nonetheless, weekly blood smears indicated that 91% of ducklings became infected, and many developed intense parasitemias. However, infection intensities were not different among the 6 duckling types. In addition, hematocrits were not lowered by intense infections. These results suggest that the effects of Leucocytozoon on wild waterfowl populations have been overestimated, and that Leucocytozoon will not prevent further range expansion of mallards.