DOCSLIB.ORG

Didelphis Virginiana) As a Host for Sarcocystis Debonei from Cowbirds (Molothrus Ater) and Grackles (Cassidix Mexicanus, Quiscalus Quiscula)

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Didelphis Virginiana) As a Host for Sarcocystis Debonei from Cowbirds (Molothrus Ater) and Grackles (Cassidix Mexicanus, Quiscalus Quiscula) University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of 4-1978 The Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) as a Host for Sarcocystis debonei from Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and Grackles (Cassidix mexicanus, Quiscalus quiscula) Donald Duszynski University of New Mexico, [email protected] Edith D. Box University of Texas Medical Branch Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs Part of the Parasitology Commons Duszynski, Donald and Box, Edith D., "The Opossum (Didelphis virginiana) as a Host for Sarcocystis debonei from Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and Grackles (Cassidix mexicanus, Quiscalus quiscula)" (1978). Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology. 129. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/parasitologyfacpubs/129 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Parasitology, Harold W. Manter Laboratory of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Publications from the Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. J. Parasitol., 64(2), 1978, pp. 326-329 ? American Society of Parasitologists 1978 THE OPOSSUM (DIDELPHISVIRGINIANA) AS A HOST FOR SARCOCYSTISDEBONEI FROM COWBIRDS (MOLOTHRUS ATER) AND GRACKLES(CASSIDIX MEXICANUS, QUISCALUS QUISCULA) Donald W. Duszynski* and Edith D. Boxt ABSTRACT: Sarcocystis-infected muscles from ducks, cowbirds, and grackles were fed to cats, opossums, rats, and a dog. Only the opossum (Didelphis virginiana) was a suitable definitive host. All opossums that were fed Sarcocystis-infected cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and grackles (Cassidix mexicanus and Quiscalus quiscula) passed sporocysts in their feces. Opossums that ate the cowbirds had prepatent periods of 5 and 10 days and remained patent for at least 105 days. Opossums that ate the grackles became patent on day 10 after the infective meal and remained patent for over 90 (Quiscalus) and 105 (Cassidix) days. A single opossum fed infected muscle from a pintail duck (Anas acuta) passed sporocysts in the feces from days 13 through 18 after infection. No sporocysts were passed by opos- sums fed infected muscle from the green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis) and shoveller (Spatula cly- peata). Sporocysts of duck, cowbird, and grackle origin were structurally similar. Mean dimensions of sporocysts were: duck-origin, 11.2 by 8.2 ,am; cowbird-origin, 11.4 by 7.8 ,um; Cassidix-origin, 11.2 by 7.8 tAm;and Quiscalus-origin, 11.6 by 7.7 tum. We designate the sporocysts of cowbird and grackle origin as Sarcocystis debonei Vogelsang, 1929 (Syn. Isospora boughtoni Volk, 1938). Sarcocystis species are ubiquitous parasites been trapped in the vicinity of Bastrop and were minimum of 3 before with an obligatory two-host cycle. The forms routinely held a weeks being sold for use. that time that muscles of mammals experimental During they parasitize (cattle, were fed only dry commercial dog chow. After sheep, pigs, rats, mice, horses, and deer) have we received them, the opossums were kept in the recently been shown to be acquired by inges- University Animal Care Center, Galveston, Texas tion of isosporan-like sporocysts shed by a host or in animal quarters of the University of Texas which had infected muscle Medical School, Houston, Texas and were fed dry previously ingested commercial chow. see and dog (for reviews, Dubey, 1976; Kalyakin The cats were adult strays obtained from the Zasukhin, 1975; Levine, 1977). Macroscopic University Animal Care Center and were main- cysts of Sarcocystis are commonly seen in tained there as part of a study on Brugia malayi muscles of certain avian species (e.g., grackles infections. One stray dog and five adult Sprague- Dawley rats were also maintained at the Uni- and puddle ducks), but the definitive hosts for versity Animal Care Center. these forms, i.e., the hosts which discharge the infective sporocysts in their feces, are presently Avian hosts unknown. Three species of ducks with muscle cysts were Results reported here show that the opossum obtained during duck-hunting season from various (Didelphis virginiana) is a good host for the donors, Anas acuta (pintail), Anas carolinensis and Sarcocystis of three species of icterid birds; (green-winged teal), Spatula clypeata (shovel- Infected breast and muscles were it is also a host for one of ler). thigh possible species removed and refrigeratedfrom 1 to 15 days before duck Sarcocystis, although apparently not the being fed to animals. All were shot in Galveston major one. Cats, rats, and a dog fed avian County, Texas, except for the pintail and one which were from tissues infected with Sarcocystis failed to dis- green-winged teal, Hudspeth County (near El Paso, Texas). charge sporocysts in their feces. Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) and grackles (Quis- calus quiscula and Cassidix mexicanus) were col- MATERIALSAND METHODS lected within or near the city limits of Houston by mist-net or live trap. All birds were skinned and Experimental definitive hosts examined for tissue cysts with a lighted magnify- lens. Particularattention was to tissues of from ing paid Opossums were purchased the University the and back muscles of Texas Science Texas. had breast, thigh, calf, (for Park, Bastrop, They incidence of infection, see Box and Duszynski, 1977). From one to seven infected, skinned (but Received for publication 27 May 1977. not eviscerated) birds were fed whole to cats and * Department of Biology, The University of New opossums. Rats were fed muscle pieces containing Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131. cysts. All icterid birds had been dead and refrig- t Department of Microbiology, The University of erated from 2 to 5 days when fed to experimental Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550. hosts. 326 DUSZYNSKIAND BOX-THE OPOSSUM AS HOST FOR SARCOCYSTISDEBONEI FROM BIRDS 327 TABLE I. Predator-prey combinations for Sarco- Each of six opossums fed skinned, whole cystis transmissionexperiments (- = 1 animal nega- infected icterid birds became infected. One tive = 1 for sporocysts; + animal positive for was killed -38 hr after three sporocysts; ND = combination not tried). opossum eating infected cowbirds to collect intestinal tissue Predator for histological examination of early endog- Prey Opossum Rat Dog Cat enous development. Fecal examinations of this animal had been for coccidia for Ducks negative 30 to its the infected cow- Shoveller, days prior eating Spatula clypeata birds. Tissue impression smears and sections Pintail, showed developing gamonts throughout the Anas acuta ND ND ND + of the small these Green-winged teal, length intestine; gamonts Anas carolinensis --- ND ND ND were presumed to be stages of Sarcocystis Cowbird development. A second opossum became pat- ent 10 six infected cowbirds Molothrus ater + - ND ---- days after eating and was killed 2 days later to collect tissues for Grackles later study. A third opossum which ate seven Cassidix mexicanus + + ND ND - Quiscalus quiscula + ND ND ND infected cowbirds began passing sporocysts 5 days later and continued to pass large numbers of them daily for at least 105 days. Our Fecal examination fourth and fifth opossums were fed one and two grackles (Cassidix), respectively, and both All hosts tested as experimental definitive hosts to 10 were caged individually. The feces of each animal began discharge sporocysts days later; were examined by sugar flotation at least twice one passed sporocysts for 20 consecutive days prior to feeding them infected tissues to check for until it was killed for endogenous stages, and extraneous coccidian infections. Feces were also the other continued to pass sporocysts for at examined or other 3 to daily every day beginning least 105 The fed one 5 days after an animal was fed infected meat, and days. opossum grackle continuing for 28 days in hosts that remained of the genus Quiscalus became patent 10 days negative and for at least 100 days for hosts which later, and continued to pass sporocysts daily passed sporocysts. for at least 90 days. Sporocyst measurements Sporocysts (Table II) recovered from were stored Sporocysts opossums of cowbird = and in 2% aqueous (w/v) potassium dichromate Sporocysts (N 25) grackle (K2Cr2 07) solution at 4 to 5 C. They were con- (N = 25, each species) origin differed sig- centrated, washed, and measured at 1,000 X as nificantly in size or length/width ratio from described earlier (Duszynski and Marquardt, those of duck origin (N = 25) in six of nine 1969). All measurementsare in micrometersunless possible those of cowbird origin otherwise stated. Mean values were compared comparisons; differed from those of using Student's t-test; differences were considered significantly grackle significant when probability values were <0.01. origin in two of six possible comparisons (Table II). Residua in sporocysts of bird RESULTS origin were highly variable and appeared either Transmission experiments (Tcble I) compact or as scattered granules. We designate the sporocysts of cowbird and The feces from nine cats, five rats, and one grackle origin as Sarcocystis debonei Vogelsang dog remained negative for sporocysts for at 1929 (Syn. Isospora boughtoni Volk 1938) least 28 days after they were fed Sarcocystis- based on these criteria: (1) Vogelsang (1929) containing muscle from ducks, cowbirds, or was the first to name a sarcocystid from cow- grackles. birds; thus, his name has over all later One opossum discharged sporocysts in its priority of icterid bird are feces 13 through 18 days after ingesting in- ones; (2) sporocysts origin similar in four of six size and fected breast muscle from a pintail duck col- shape compari- lected 15 days previously. However, heavily sons (Table II); and (3) the prepatent and infected teal and shoveller muscle was fed to patent periods in the opossum are similar re- five opossums with negative results. gardless of which icterid bird form is ingested. 328 THE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY,VOL. 64, NO. 2, APRIL1978 TABLE II.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Why Is the Common Grackle Becoming Less Common? Avian Conservation and Ecology 16(2):7
    VOLUME 16, ISSUE 2, ARTICLE 7 Horsley, N. P., and M. P. Ward. 2021. Why is the Common Grackle becoming less common? Avian Conservation and Ecology 16(2):7. https://doi. org/10.5751/ACE-01879-160207 Copyright © 2021 by the author(s). Published here under license by the Resilience Alliance. Research Paper Why is the Common Grackle becoming less common? Noah P. Horsley 1 and Michael P. Ward 1,2 1University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2Illinois Natural History Survey ABSTRACT. Despite a generalist life history and a widespread distribution, the Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) has declined by more than 58% since 1970. In Illinois, where this study was conducted, the current rate of decline is 7.03% annually. We hypothesized that low reproductive success in intensely agricultural areas is driving population decline. To test this, we quantified the nesting success and post-fledging survival of Common Grackles in central Illinois. Over a 2-year period, we monitored 188 nests and tracked the survival of 53 fledglings. Our estimate for nesting success of 0.622 (95% CI: 0.549-0.695) was much higher than the literature average of 0.267. Similarly, although post-fledging survival had not been estimated previously for Common Grackles, our estimate of 0.617 (95% CI: 0.471-0.764) was relatively high compared to that of other songbirds (range: 0.23-0.87). The most important factor influencing these estimates was ordinal date, which had a negative relationship with both nesting success and post-fledging survival. These results suggest that reproductive success is not the primary driver of population decline in Illinois.
    [Show full text]
  • Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with Birds Observed Off-Campus During BIOL3400 Field Course
    Birds of the East Texas Baptist University Campus with birds observed off-campus during BIOL3400 Field course Photo Credit: Talton Cooper Species Descriptions and Photos by students of BIOL3400 Edited by Troy A. Ladine Photo Credit: Kenneth Anding Links to Tables, Figures, and Species accounts for birds observed during May-term course or winter bird counts. Figure 1. Location of Environmental Studies Area Table. 1. Number of species and number of days observing birds during the field course from 2005 to 2016 and annual statistics. Table 2. Compilation of species observed during May 2005 - 2016 on campus and off-campus. Table 3. Number of days, by year, species have been observed on the campus of ETBU. Table 4. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during the off-campus trips. Table 5. Number of days, by year, species have been observed during a winter count of birds on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Table 6. Species observed from 1 September to 1 October 2009 on the Environmental Studies Area of ETBU. Alphabetical Listing of Birds with authors of accounts and photographers . A Acadian Flycatcher B Anhinga B Belted Kingfisher Alder Flycatcher Bald Eagle Travis W. Sammons American Bittern Shane Kelehan Bewick's Wren Lynlea Hansen Rusty Collier Black Phoebe American Coot Leslie Fletcher Black-throated Blue Warbler Jordan Bartlett Jovana Nieto Jacob Stone American Crow Baltimore Oriole Black Vulture Zane Gruznina Pete Fitzsimmons Jeremy Alexander Darius Roberts George Plumlee Blair Brown Rachel Hastie Janae Wineland Brent Lewis American Goldfinch Barn Swallow Keely Schlabs Kathleen Santanello Katy Gifford Black-and-white Warbler Matthew Armendarez Jordan Brewer Sheridan A.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Habitat Plan
    WILDLIFE HABITAT PLAN City of Novi, Michigan A QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WILDLIFE HABITAT PLAN City of Novi, Michigan A QUALIlY OF LIFE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY JUNE 1993 Prepared By: Wildlife Management Services Brandon M. Rogers and Associates, P.C. JCK & Associates, Inc. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City Council Matthew C. Ouinn, Mayor Hugh C. Crawford, Mayor ProTem Nancy C. Cassis Carol A. Mason Tim Pope Robert D. Schmid Joseph G. Toth Planning Commission Kathleen S. McLallen, * Chairman John P. Balagna, Vice Chairman lodia Richards, Secretary Richard J. Clark Glen Bonaventura Laura J. lorenzo* Robert Mitzel* Timothy Gilberg Robert Taub City Manager Edward F. Kriewall Director of Planning and Community Development James R. Wahl Planning Consultant Team Wildlife Management Services - 640 Starkweather Plymouth, MI. 48170 Kevin Clark, Urban Wildlife Specialist Adrienne Kral, Wildlife Biologist Ashley long, Field Research Assistant Brandon M. Rogers and Associates, P.C. - 20490 Harper Ave. Harper Woods, MI. 48225 Unda C. lemke, RlA, ASLA JCK & Associates, Inc. - 45650 Grand River Ave. Novi, MI. 48374 Susan Tepatti, Water Resources Specialist * Participated with the Planning Consultant Team in developing the study. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii PREFACE vii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY viii FRAGMENTATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES " ., , 1 Consequences ............................................ .. 1 Effects Of Forest Fragmentation 2 Edges 2 Reduction of habitat 2 SPECIES SAMPLING TECHNIQUES ................................ .. 3 Methodology 3 Survey Targets ............................................ ., 6 Ranking System ., , 7 Core Reserves . .. 7 Wildlife Movement Corridor .............................. .. 9 FIELD SURVEY RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS , 9 Analysis Results ................................ .. 9 Core Reserves . .. 9 Findings and Recommendations , 9 WALLED LAKE CORE RESERVE - DETAILED STUDy.... .. .... .. .... .. 19 Results and Recommendations ............................... .. 21 GUIDELINES TO ECOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.
    [Show full text]
  • A Comprehensive Species-Level Molecular Phylogeny of the New World
    YMPEV 4758 No. of Pages 19, Model 5G 2 December 2013 Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution xxx (2013) xxx–xxx 1 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev 5 6 3 A comprehensive species-level molecular phylogeny of the New World 4 blackbirds (Icteridae) a,⇑ a a b c d 7 Q1 Alexis F.L.A. Powell , F. Keith Barker , Scott M. Lanyon , Kevin J. Burns , John Klicka , Irby J. Lovette 8 a Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, and Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota, 100 Ecology Building, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN 9 55108, USA 10 b Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182, USA 11 c Barrick Museum of Natural History, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USA 12 d Fuller Evolutionary Biology Program, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, NY 14950, USA 1314 15 article info abstract 3117 18 Article history: The New World blackbirds (Icteridae) are among the best known songbirds, serving as a model clade in 32 19 Received 5 June 2013 comparative studies of morphological, ecological, and behavioral trait evolution. Despite wide interest in 33 20 Revised 11 November 2013 the group, as yet no analysis of blackbird relationships has achieved comprehensive species-level sam- 34 21 Accepted 18 November 2013 pling or found robust support for most intergeneric relationships. Using mitochondrial gene sequences 35 22 Available online xxxx from all 108 currently recognized species and six additional distinct lineages, together with strategic 36 sampling of four nuclear loci and whole mitochondrial genomes, we were able to resolve most relation- 37 23 Keywords: ships with high confidence.
    [Show full text]
  • Fraga Ms-706.Fm
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by CONICET Digital SHORT COMMUNICATIONS ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 19: 299–303, 2008 © The Neotropical Ornithological Society NOTES ON THE NESTING OF CHOPI BLACKBIRDS (GNORIMOPSAR CHOPI) IN ARGENTINA AND PARAGUAY, WITH DATA ON COOPERATIVE BREEDING AND BROOD PARASITISM BY SCREAMING COWBIRDS (MOLOTHRUS RUFOAXILLARIS) Rosendo M. Fraga CICYTTP, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Matteri y España, (3105) Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina. E-mail: [email protected] Notas sobre la nidificación del Chopí (Gnorimopsar chopi) en Argentina y Paraguay, con datos de cría cooperativa y de parasitismo de cría por el Tordo Pico Corto (Molothrus rufoaxillaris). Key words: Chopi Blackbirds, Gnorimopsar chopi, nesting, cooperative breeding, Screaming Cowbird, Molothrus rufoaxillaris. The Chopi Blackbird (Gnorimopsar chopi) is an northeastern Argentina (Corrientes and Mis- icterid endemic to South America (Jaramillo iones provinces) and Paraguay, between 1995 & Burke 1999) and a member of the South and 2007. My data show this icterid to be a American quiscaline clade, a monophyletic cooperative breeder (Brown 1987), as individ- group defined by DNA data (Johnson & uals other than a single pair aid in chick care. Lanyon 1999, Cadena et al. 2004). This icterid Also, I add further information on its host- is found from northeastern Brazil and south- parasite interactions with Screaming Cow- eastern Peru to northern Argentina and Uru- birds (Molothrus rufoaxillaris) in Argentina and guay (Jaramillo & Burke 1999). It is usually Paraguay (Sick 1985, Fraga 1996). subdivided into three subspecies with consid- I obtained most of my information on erable variation in body size (Jaramillo & Chopi Blackbirds while carrying field research Burke 1999), but only the nominate subspe- on endangered grassland birds from eastern cies occurs in eastern Argentina and Paraguay.
    [Show full text]
  • Effects of Exurban Development on Biodiversity: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Research Needs Author(S): Andrew J
    Effects of Exurban Development on Biodiversity: Patterns, Mechanisms, and Research Needs Author(s): Andrew J. Hansen, Richard L. Knight, John M. Marzluff, Scott Powell, Kathryn Brown, Patricia H. Gude, Kingsford Jones Source: Ecological Applications, Vol. 15, No. 6 (Dec., 2005), pp. 1893-1905 Published by: Ecological Society of America Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/4543492 Accessed: 18/05/2009 05:19 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use. Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=esa. Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission. JSTOR is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 to build trusted digital archives for scholarship. We work with the scholarly community to preserve their work and the materials they rely upon, and to build a common research platform that promotes the discovery and use of these resources. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected]. Ecological Society of America is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Ecological Applications.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildland Fire in Ecosystems: Effects of Fire on Fauna
    United States Department of Agriculture Wildland Fire in Forest Service Rocky Mountain Ecosystems Research Station General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-42- volume 1 Effects of Fire on Fauna January 2000 Abstract _____________________________________ Smith, Jane Kapler, ed. 2000. Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on fauna. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 1. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 83 p. Fires affect animals mainly through effects on their habitat. Fires often cause short-term increases in wildlife foods that contribute to increases in populations of some animals. These increases are moderated by the animals’ ability to thrive in the altered, often simplified, structure of the postfire environment. The extent of fire effects on animal communities generally depends on the extent of change in habitat structure and species composition caused by fire. Stand-replacement fires usually cause greater changes in the faunal communities of forests than in those of grasslands. Within forests, stand- replacement fires usually alter the animal community more dramatically than understory fires. Animal species are adapted to survive the pattern of fire frequency, season, size, severity, and uniformity that characterized their habitat in presettlement times. When fire frequency increases or decreases substantially or fire severity changes from presettlement patterns, habitat for many animal species declines. Keywords: fire effects, fire management, fire regime, habitat, succession, wildlife The volumes in “The Rainbow Series” will be published during the year 2000. To order, check the box or boxes below, fill in the address form, and send to the mailing address listed below.
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity and Ecological Potential of Plum Island, New York
    Biodiversity and ecological potential of Plum Island, New York New York Natural Heritage Program i New York Natural Heritage Program The New York Natural Heritage Program The NY Natural Heritage Program is a partnership NY Natural Heritage has developed two notable between the NYS Department of Environmental online resources: Conservation Guides include the Conservation (NYS DEC) and The Nature Conservancy. biology, identification, habitat, and management of many Our mission is to facilitate conservation of rare animals, of New York’s rare species and natural community rare plants, and significant ecosystems. We accomplish this types; and NY Nature Explorer lists species and mission by combining thorough field inventories, scientific communities in a specified area of interest. analyses, expert interpretation, and the most comprehensive NY Natural Heritage also houses iMapInvasives, an database on New York's distinctive biodiversity to deliver online tool for invasive species reporting and data the highest quality information for natural resource management. planning, protection, and management. In 1990, NY Natural Heritage published Ecological NY Natural Heritage was established in 1985 and is a Communities of New York State, an all inclusive contract unit housed within NYS DEC’s Division of classification of natural and human-influenced Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources. The program is communities. From 40,000-acre beech-maple mesic staffed by more than 25 scientists and specialists with forests to 40-acre maritime beech forests, sea-level salt expertise in ecology, zoology, botany, information marshes to alpine meadows, our classification quickly management, and geographic information systems. became the primary source for natural community NY Natural Heritage maintains New York’s most classification in New York and a fundamental reference comprehensive database on the status and location of for natural community classifications in the northeastern rare species and natural communities.
    [Show full text]
  • In the Face of Accelerating Habitat Loss and an Increasing Human
    ABSTRACT Borkhataria, Rena Rebecca. Ecological and Political Implications of Conversion from Shade to Sun Coffee in Puerto Rico. (Under the direction of Jaime Collazo.) Recent studies have shown that biodiversity is greater in shaded plantations than in sun coffee plantations, yet many farmers are converting to sun coffee varieties to increase short-term yields or to gain access to economic incentives. Through conversion, ecosystem complexity may be reduced and ecological services rendered by inhabitants may be lost. I attempted to quantify differences in abundances and diversity of predators in sun and shade coffee plantations in Puerto Rico and to gain insight into the ecological services they might provide. I also interviewed coffee farmers to determine the factors influencing conversion to sun coffee in Puerto Rico and to examine their attitudes toward the conservation of wildlife. Avian abundances were significantly higher in shaded coffee than in sun (p = 0.01) as were the number of species (p = 0.09). Avian species that were significantly more abundant in shaded coffee tended to be insectivorous, whereas those in sun coffee were granivorous. Lizard abundances (all species combined) did not differ significantly between plantations types, but Anolis stratulus was more abundant in sun plantations and A. gundlachi and A. evermanni were present only in shaded plantations. Insect abundances (all species combined) were significantly higher in shaded coffee (p = 0.02). I used exclosures in a shaded coffee plantation to examine the effects of vertebrate predators on the arthropods associated with coffee, in particular the coffee leaf miner (Leucoptera coffeela) and the flatid planthopper Petrusa epilepsis, in a shaded coffee plantation in Puerto Rico.
    [Show full text]
  • Rare Feeding Behavior of Great-Tailed Grackles (Quiscalus Mexicanus) in the Extreme Habitat of Death Valley
    The Open Ornithology Journal, 2010, 3, 101-104 101 Open Access Rare Feeding Behavior of Great-Tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) in the Extreme Habitat of Death Valley Stefanie Grabrucker and Andreas M. Grabrucker* University Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany Abstract: During the twentieth century, the Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) underwent a rapid and large- scale range expansion, extending its northern limits from Texas in 1900 to 21 states in the US and 3 Canadian provinces by the end of the century. This explosive growth correlated with human-induced habitat changes. To investigate adaptations that might explain their expansion into even extreme habitats, a small number of Great-tailed Grackles were observed in Death Valley, CA. We noticed that these birds displayed a rare feeding behavior, i.e. picking dead insects from the license plates of parked vehicles. All birds used the same technique in obtaining the food and the behavior was displayed by both males and females. It was estimated that this food resource has a major contribution to the daily food intake. No other bird species sharing the same habitat showed this behavior although American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) had the possibility to watch the Great-tailed Grackles behavior. Keywords: Great-tailed Grackle, Feeding behavior, Death Valley, Adaptation, License plate. INTRODUCTION recorded with a temperature above 37,8° C. The summer of 1996 had 40 days over 48,9° C, and 105 days over 43,4° C Great-tailed Grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) were [16]. Heat exposure significantly decreases live weight gain, investigated with regard to their potential to adapt and feed efficiency, and carcass weight in birds like quails survive in extreme habitats like Death Valley, CA.
    [Show full text]
  • Species List February 20 ‒ 28, 2019 | Written by Bob Meinke
    Southern Belize: Birding & Nature | Species List February 20 ‒ 28, 2019 | Written by Bob Meinke Guide Bob Meinke, with expert local lodge naturalists Marvin and Steven, and 9 participants: Kelly, Isaac, Lenore, Harold, Cindy, Richelle, Beth, Nancy, and Joe SUMMARY We enjoyed a scenic and productive trip, starting with the vast freshwater wetlands at Crooked Tree Lagoon, transitioning on to the montane woodlands of the Mountain Pine Ridge, and ending our tour in the broadleaf forests and mangroves of Toledo District at the southern tip of Belize. Working our way down the length of the country increased our exposure to a wide range of habitats, and with it came a nice assortment of resident and migrant bird species as well as other wildlife. Highlights among the resident species included King Vulture, Bare-crowned Antbird, Black-and-white Owl, Yucatan Jay, White-winged Becard, Ruddy Woodcreeper, Eye-ringed Flatbill, Violet Sabrewing, three species of Trogon, and five species of Kingfisher (with multiple, close-in views of American Pygmy a surprising bonus). And while not unexpected, Keel-billed Toucan, Collared Aracari, Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Montezuma Oropendola, Golden -headed Tanager, Barred Antshrike, and Squirrel Cuckoo were all exquisite reminders of the rich colors and morphological diversity that characterize the avifauna of the Neotropics. North American migrants were also plentiful during our visit, and among the many warblers encountered, Blue-winged, Worm-eating, and Prothonotary stood out among the 21 overwintering species we recorded, most of which were just entering full breeding plumage as they readied for their journey north to the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • NEWS and NOTES by Paul Hess
    NEWS AND NOTES by Paul Hess “Lilian’s” Meadowlark für Ornithologie 135:28), but no details about the findings have been published. Ornithologist Harry C. Oberholser was intrigued by mead - At last, a large-scale genetic report by F. Keith Barker, Ar - owlarks collected in 1929 near Arizona’s Huachuca Moun - ion J. Vandergon, and Scott M. Lanyon arrived in 2008 tains, because their size, structure, and plumage differed (Auk 125:869–879). They examined two mitochondrial from those of the Western Meadowlark and from known DNA (mtDNA) genes and one nuclear locus in 14 Eastern variations of Eastern Meadowlark. In 1930 he described the Meadowlark subspecies throughout the North American, specimens as a new Eastern Meadowlark subspecies and Central American, and South American range. named it lilianae to honor Lilian Baldwin, who had donat - The results indicate a long history of evolutionary diver - ed the collection ( Scientific Publications of the Cleveland Mu - gence between lilianae and all except one other Eastern seum of Natural History 1:83–124). Meadowlark subspecies, auropectoralis of central and We now know it as “Lilian’s” Meadowlark, of desert grasslands in the southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, where it is distinguishable from Western Meadowlark with careful study by eye and ear. In identification guides, lilianae re - ceived little attention and no illustration until the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America in 1983. Kevin J. Zimmer of - fered tips in Birding (August 1984, pp. 155–156) and in his books The Western Bird Watcher (Prentice-Hall 1985) and Birding in the American West (Cornell University Press 2000).
    [Show full text]