This research will greatly improve our knowledge of time periods during which mortality may have the greatest impact on mottled duck populations, habitats used most frequently or preferred by mottled ducks, habitats potentially most limiting to mottled ducks, how intra- or inter-annual movements of mottled ducks may be influenced by habitat or environmental conditions, and how certain factors may affect breeding propensity of female mottled ducks. This knowledge will be used to improve our targeting of conservation and management activities to address key time periods during which mottled ducks have less than desired survival rates; refine conservation and management priorities to target regions, habitat types, or events most limiting to mottled duck population growth; and identify conservation activities potentially capable of increasing mottled duck breeding propensity.

Mottled Duck population trends in Texas, Louisiana and combined from 1970 to 2009. Populations of Mottled Ducks fluctuate as do all species, but long-term trends of decline like those demonstrated in Texas give rise to concern for the species, particularly since this species relies year-round on coastal marshes - some of the most imperiled habitat in the country.