Ring-necked ducks - are they Daffy?

A pair of ring-necked ducks (main image above) with another ring-necked duck (inset) - are they related?

Evolutionary biology is based on two main parameters.  These are selection of the fittest and diversity within a population leading to members with more desirable traits.  Mutation plays an important role within this framework as it allows for unique genes to be created within a population to be weeded out through the selection process.

Geneticists would tell you that most mutations are either harmful or fatal (99.9%), with many being a recessive trait that is not expressed unless in the homozygous condition.  Some mutations are neutral, meaning that their expression has no impact on an individual's chances of survival.

What would happen if numerous genetic traits all came together to produce a bird with the characteristics of Daffy Duck?  In order to analyze this question, we need to break it down into three different categories.

#1:  Physical likelyhood of survival - We know Daffy Duck to be an exhuberant bird with endless energy and stamina.  It's not every duck that can load a mining cart to beyond capacity with treasure or dodge bullets with such speed, so clearly whatever genes have allowed him to exhibit such prowess are superiour.  However, they also lead to overconfidence, which relates to the second category.

#2:  Behavioural survival factors - Daffy has gotten his moniker duely as he is the embodiment of silliness.  He seems adverse to risk, is obsesced with acquiring wealth in whatever form, and makes a great deal of noise with his Whoo-hoo-like calls.  Predators would no doubt be able to easily locate him, he would taunt them without end and underrate the chance of death.  He would also be drawn into dangerous places habitated by humans, lured by whatever aspects of wealth happened to be about.  Although his physical characteristics may augment survival, he would eventually push things too far and end up as a meal on either a table or den somewhere.

#3:  Successfully passing on his genes - Having amazing genes does little good if you can't pass them onto the next generation.  My simple question would be, what lady duck would risk having a brood of such silly prodgeny?  Not only would they be impossible to rear successfully without them becoming fodder (not to mention putting her at risk), but Daffy has rarely shown interest in courting.  He would rather court danger, greed, or fame rather than the attention of a lady.  Thus, even if he did survive to a ripe old age (isn't he like 90 years old now?), he would not pass his genes onto offspring and therefore genetically be a failure.

I think it can be said that ring-necked ducks are successful within their habitat and their outlook for the future looks promising, well, for most of them, anyway.

 Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericspix.com