DOCSLIB.ORG

Population Status and Conservation Targets for Globally Threatened Migratory Land Birds

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Population status and conservation targets for globally threatened migratory land birds Returns to Nature FOR: 1. Scientific Council of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2. Migratory Landbird Study Group of the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP). BY: Rael Matthew Loon © Returns to Nature, [email protected] CONTENTS: PREAMBLE SPECIES ACCOUNTS: 1 Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita 2 Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis 3 Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica 4 Spotted Ground Thrush Zoothera guttata 5 Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola 6 Basara Reed Warbler Acrocephalus griseldis 7 Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus 8 Great Bustard Otis tarda 9 Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea 10 Pale-backed Pigeon Columba eversmanni 11 Marsh grassbird Megalurus pryeri 12 Bristled Grasssbird Chaetornis striatus 13 Grey Sided Thrush Turdus feae 14 Machurian Reed-warbler Acrocephalus tangorum 15 Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola 16 Kashmir Flycatcher Ficedula subrubra 17 Dark-rumped Swift Apus acuticauda 18 Styan’s Grasshopper Warbler Locustella pleskei 19 White-throated Bush Chat Saxicola insignis 20. Denham’s Bustard Neotis denhami 21. Houbara Bustard Chamydotis undulate 22. Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax 23. Syrian Serin Serinus syriacus 24. Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites aubruficollis 25. Tytler’s Leaf Warbler Phylloscopus tytleri 26. Japanese Waxwing Bombycilla japonica 27. Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica 28. Ochre-rumped Bunting Emberiza yessoensis 29. Cinereous Bunting Emberiza cineracea 30. Firethroat Luscinia pectardens 31. Derbyan Parakeet Psittacula derbiana 32. European Roller Coracias garrulus PROPOSED GENERAL ACTIONS GOING FORWARD REFERENCES Returns to Nature PRE-AMBLE During CMS COP 10 an Action Plan for Migratory Landbirds in the African Landbirds in the African Eurasian Region (UNEP/CMS) was drafted (Resolution 10.27). This Action Plan was updated by the recently formed African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Working Group under the auspices of the CMS Scientific Council earlier this year (2014). One of the products of this process was a document entitled “Improving the Conservation Status of Migratory Landbird Species in the African-Eurasian Region” (UNEP/CMS/ScC18/Doc. 10.7.1.) Various actions were accordingly requested of the Scientific Council, specifically the council was invited to : (1) Review and endorse the Action Plan for Migratory Landbirds in the African-Eurasian Region, including its annexes, and to agree on its submission to COP11 for discussion and adaption, (2) Provide advice on scientific and technical issues pertaining to the conservation of African Eurasian Migratory Landbirds and recommed priority researtch to fill existing gaps. This report is drafted in the above context and aims to contribute to the AEMLAP by focusing on the globally threated and near threatened species (as per Category A of Annex 3). It is also aimed at hopefully complementing this Action Plan by focusing on the research and monitoring guidelines as per Doc. 10.7.1 (pages 18-20). These include and pertain to (1) Understanding migration patterns and connectivity along flyways; (2) Monitoring of population trends; (3) Understanding causes of population change in migratory land bird species; and (4) Building capacity and improve the exchange of information, collaboration and coordination between researchers studying migratory land bird species. This document thus presents a broad summary globally threatened and near threatened bird species. Species are catalogued according to their respective IUCN Red List status (from Critically Endangered to Near Threatened). As a broad overview it is hoped that this approach may complement the work of the CMS Scientific Council and AEMLAP, while recognizing that many issues would need to be explored in greater detail. The focus in the African Eurasian flyway, as defined by the AEMLAP report. However it should be noted that there is a fair amount of overlap with the East Asian-Australasian flyway (for example Pale-backed Pigeon, Bengal and Lesser Florican, Great Bustard, Little Bustard, Marsh Grassbird, Grey-sided Thrush, White-throated Bush Chat, Derbyan Parakeet etc). It is hoped that this framework could complement the objectives of the CMS in general and within the context of COP11 and the Strategic Plan 2015-2023 in particular. As a follow-up to this report it is suggested that a similar exercize be conducted with regards to species listed in Category B (according to UNEP/CMS/ScC18/Doc. 10.7.1.) with decreasing global population trends, and that these reports complement existing efforts and form the basis of a database on these species going forward. An appropriate conduit for this would be via BirdLife International’s Migratory Bird Flyways Programme and it’s associated species information database (see http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species). Returns to Nature 1. Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita (Critically Endangered) MIGRATION PATTERNS AND CONNECTIVITY ALONG PATHWAYS This species only occurs in viable numbers in Morocco, specifically the Souss-Massa National Park & Tamri, a total range of only some 580 square kilometres. It is thought that birds used to winter in Yemen, Saudia Arabia, Eritrea and Sudan. It also used to occur in Turkey, but is critically endangered and possibly even extinct there. MONITORING POPULATION TRENDS In Souss-Massa National Park and Tamri, Morocco, 113 pairs (i.e. 226 mature individuals) nested, out of 319 adults in 2013, and produced 148 fledged young. In 2011, at least 100 pairs produced at least 130 fledged young, matching the breeding success of 2010, when 105 pairs fledged 138 young. After the breeding season the total number of birds in the western population may have exceeded 500 in 2011- 2012, but most recently has been evaluated as 443 individuals. Only a single mature female returned to Syria in 2013, and 2011 was the last successful breeding when a single breeding pair fledged two young. The Turkish population now numbers around 100 individuals, but these managed birds are excluded from the total estimate (BirdLife International 2014; Smith et al 2000). CAUSES OF POPULATION CHANGE Combination of factors, especially disturbance and persecution by man from hunting and also the loss of habitat, poisoning from pesticides and the construction of dams. CONSERVATION TARGETS/ RESEARCH PRIORITIES: (1): Conduct research into their habitat requirements and feeding and breeding biology (Bowden et al 2003); (2) monitor numbers and breeding success; (3) try to prevent disturbance and development near their key breeding and roosting sites; (4) establish their ecological requirements and use this information to try to reintroduce captive-bred birds into previously occupied sites (Brindley et al 1995). Returns to Nature 2. Bengal Florican Houbaropsis bengalensis (Endangered) MIGRATION PATTERNS AND CONNECTIVITY ALONG PATHWAYS There are two disjointed populations. The first is in Indian subcontinent, where it occurs in fragmented subpopulations in the region of Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Arrunachal in India as well as an isolated subpopulation in the terai of Nepal. It formally occurred in Bangladesh but is thought extinct there. The other population is in South-East Asia where it occurs in Cambodia and adjacent southern Vietnam (BirdLife International 2000). MONITORING POPULATION TRENDS The population of this species is decreasing and it is classified as endangered. The population in Cambodia was estimated at 294 displaying males or c.600 individuals in 2009, but recently an extensive survey has reported a total of only 432 individuals (95% CI 312-550). 75-96 individuals remain in Nepal. No recent estimates are known from India but the total global population for this species is likely to fall in the range 250-999 mature individuals. This equates to 375-1,499 individuals in total, rounded here to 350-1,500 individuals (BirdLife International 2014). CAUSES OF POPULATION CHANGE The primary cause of the decrease in numbers is the significant loss and modification of its grassland habitat through the conversion to agriculture, drainage, overgrazing, over cutting, inappropriate burning regimes, flooding, hunting, human disturbance and the trampling of nests by livestock (BirdLife International 2000). CONSERVATION TARGETS/ RESEARCH PRIORITIES: (1): Conduct surveys for populations, especially in Cambodia; (2) monitor current populations; (3) expand and connect existing protected areas and establish new ones; (3) promote and implement rotational burning, grazing and cutting regimes in protected areas; (4) control human disturbance and hunting; (5) facilitate the regeneration of grassland habitats; (5) promote awareness campaigns about grassland conservation; (6) integrate these efforts with existing strategies to conserve bustards in India. Returns to Nature 3. Lesser Florican Sypheotides indica (Endangered) MIGRATION PATTERNS AND CONNECTIVITY ALONG PATHWAYS This species breeds in several isolated sub-populations in India and disperses within India in the non- breeding season. It has also been recorded in Pakistan and is a summer migrant to Nepal. MONITORING POPULATION TRENDS Formally far more common, the Lesser Florican has declined in numbers throughout its range. By 1994 its numbers were estimated at around 2200 birds. It is now classified by the IUCN Red List as Endangered (BirdLife International 2000). CAUSES OF POPULATION CHANGE Pressure from hunting
Recommended publications
  • Rare Birds of California Now Available! Price $54.00 for WFO Members, $59.99 for Nonmembers

    Rare Birds of California Now Available! Price $54.00 for WFO Members, $59.99 for Nonmembers

    Volume 40, Number 3, 2009 The 33rd Report of the California Bird Records Committee: 2007 Records Daniel S. Singer and Scott B. Terrill .........................158 Distribution, Abundance, and Survival of Nesting American Dippers Near Juneau, Alaska Mary F. Willson, Grey W. Pendleton, and Katherine M. Hocker ........................................................191 Changes in the Winter Distribution of the Rough-legged Hawk in North America Edward R. Pandolfino and Kimberly Suedkamp Wells .....................................................210 Nesting Success of California Least Terns at the Guerrero Negro Saltworks, Baja California Sur, Mexico, 2005 Antonio Gutiérrez-Aguilar, Roberto Carmona, and Andrea Cuellar ..................................... 225 NOTES Sandwich Terns on Isla Rasa, Gulf of California, Mexico Enriqueta Velarde and Marisol Tordesillas ...............................230 Curve-billed Thrasher Reproductive Success after a Wet Winter in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona Carroll D. Littlefield ............234 First North American Records of the Rufous-tailed Robin (Luscinia sibilans) Lucas H. DeCicco, Steven C. Heinl, and David W. Sonneborn ........................................................237 Book Reviews Rich Hoyer and Alan Contreras ...........................242 Featured Photo: Juvenal Plumage of the Aztec Thrush Kurt A. Radamaker .................................................................247 Front cover photo by © Bob Lewis of Berkeley, California: Dusky Warbler (Phylloscopus fuscatus), Richmond, Contra Costa County, California, 9 October 2008, discovered by Emilie Strauss. Known in North America including Alaska from over 30 records, the Dusky is the Old World Warbler most frequent in western North America south of Alaska, with 13 records from California and 2 from Baja California. Back cover “Featured Photos” by © Kurt A. Radamaker of Fountain Hills, Arizona: Aztec Thrush (Ridgwayia pinicola), re- cently fledged juvenile, Mesa del Campanero, about 20 km west of Yecora, Sonora, Mexico, 1 September 2007.
  • Birdlife International for the Input of Analyses, Technical Information, Advice, Ideas, Research Papers, Peer Review and Comment

    Birdlife International for the Input of Analyses, Technical Information, Advice, Ideas, Research Papers, Peer Review and Comment

    UNEP/CMS/ScC16/Doc.10 Annex 2b CMS Scientific Council: Flyway Working Group Reviews Review 2: Review of Current Knowledge of Bird Flyways, Principal Knowledge Gaps and Conservation Priorities Compiled by: JEFF KIRBY Just Ecology Brookend House, Old Brookend, Berkeley, Gloucestershire, GL13 9SQ, U.K. June 2010 Acknowledgements I am grateful to colleagues at BirdLife International for the input of analyses, technical information, advice, ideas, research papers, peer review and comment. Thus, I extend my gratitude to my lead contact at the BirdLife Secretariat, Ali Stattersfield, and to Tris Allinson, Jonathan Barnard, Stuart Butchart, John Croxall, Mike Evans, Lincoln Fishpool, Richard Grimmett, Vicky Jones and Ian May. In addition, John Sherwell worked enthusiastically and efficiently to provide many key publications, at short notice, and I’m grateful to him for that. I also thank the authors of, and contributors to, Kirby et al. (2008) which was a major review of the status of migratory bird species and which laid the foundations for this work. Borja Heredia, from CMS, and Taej Mundkur, from Wetlands International, also provided much helpful advice and assistance, and were instrumental in steering the work. I wish to thank Tim Jones as well (the compiler of a parallel review of CMS instruments) for his advice, comment and technical inputs; and also Simon Delany of Wetlands International. Various members of the CMS Flyway Working Group, and other representatives from CMS, BirdLife and Wetlands International networks, responded to requests for advice and comment and for this I wish to thank: Olivier Biber, Joost Brouwer, Nicola Crockford, Carlo C. Custodio, Tim Dodman, Roger Jaensch, Jelena Kralj, Angus Middleton, Narelle Montgomery, Cristina Morales, Paul Kariuki Ndang'ang'a, Paul O’Neill, Herb Raffaele and David Stroud.
  • Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii

    Disaggregation of Bird Families Listed on Cms Appendix Ii

    Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 2nd Meeting of the Sessional Committee of the CMS Scientific Council (ScC-SC2) Bonn, Germany, 10 – 14 July 2017 UNEP/CMS/ScC-SC2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II (Prepared by the Appointed Councillors for Birds) Summary: The first meeting of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council identified the adoption of a new standard reference for avian taxonomy as an opportunity to disaggregate the higher-level taxa listed on Appendix II and to identify those that are considered to be migratory species and that have an unfavourable conservation status. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the higher-level disaggregation using the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World Volumes 1 and 2 taxonomy, and identifies the challenges in completing the analysis to identify all of the migratory species and the corresponding Range States. The document has been prepared by the COP Appointed Scientific Councilors for Birds. This is a supplementary paper to COP document UNEP/CMS/COP12/Doc.25.3 on Taxonomy and Nomenclature UNEP/CMS/ScC-Sc2/Inf.3 DISAGGREGATION OF BIRD FAMILIES LISTED ON CMS APPENDIX II 1. Through Resolution 11.19, the Conference of Parties adopted as the standard reference for bird taxonomy and nomenclature for Non-Passerine species the Handbook of the Birds of the World/BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World, Volume 1: Non-Passerines, by Josep del Hoyo and Nigel J. Collar (2014); 2.
  • Natural History of Japanese Birds

    Natural History of Japanese Birds

    Natural History of Japanese Birds Hiroyoshi Higuchi English text translated by Reiko Kurosawa HEIBONSHA 1 Copyright © 2014 by Hiroyoshi Higuchi, Reiko Kurosawa Typeset and designed by: Washisu Design Office Printed in Japan Heibonsha Limited, Publishers 3-29 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 101-0051 Japan All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher. The English text can be downloaded from the following website for free. http://www.heibonsha.co.jp/ 2 CONTENTS Chapter 1 The natural environment and birds of Japan 6 Chapter 2 Representative birds of Japan 11 Chapter 3 Abundant varieties of forest birds and water birds 13 Chapter 4 Four seasons of the satoyama 17 Chapter 5 Active life of urban birds 20 Chapter 6 Interesting ecological behavior of birds 24 Chapter 7 Bird migration — from where to where 28 Chapter 8 The present state of Japanese birds and their future 34 3 Natural History of Japanese Birds Preface [BOOK p.3] Japan is a beautiful country. The hills and dales are covered “satoyama”. When horsetail shoots come out and violets and with rich forest green, the river waters run clear and the moun- cherry blossoms bloom in spring, birds begin to sing and get tain ranges in the distance look hazy purple, which perfectly ready for reproduction. Summer visitors also start arriving in fits a Japanese expression of “Sanshi-suimei (purple mountains Japan one after another from the tropical regions to brighten and clear waters)”, describing great natural beauty.
  • GRUNDSTEN Japan 0102 2016

    GRUNDSTEN Japan 0102 2016

    Birding Japan (M. Grundsten, Sweden) 2016 Japan, January 30th - February 14th 2016 Karuizawa – E Hokkaido – S Kyushu – Okinawa – Hachijo-jima Front cover Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus, common along eastern Hokkaido coasts. Photo: Måns Grundsten Participants Måns Grundsten ([email protected], compiler, most photos), Mattias Andersson, Mattias Gerdin, Sweden. Highlights • A shy Solitary Snipe in the main stream at Karuizawa. • Huge-billed Japanese Grosbeaks and a neat 'griseiventris' Eurasian Bullfinch at Karuizawa. • A single Rustic Bunting behind 7/Eleven at Karuizawa. • Amazing auks from the Oarai-Tomakomai ferry. Impressive numbers of Rhinoceros Auklet! • Parakeet Auklet fly-bys. • Blakiston's Fish Owl in orderly fashion at Rausu. • Displaying Black Scoters at Notsuke peninsula. • Majestic Steller's Sea Eagles in hundreds. • Winter gulls at Hokkaido. • Finding a vagrant Golden-crowned Sparrow at Kiritappu at the same feeders as Asian Rosy Finches. • No less than 48(!) Rock Sandpipers. • A lone immature Red-faced Cormorants on cliffs at Cape Nosappu. • A pair of Ural Owls on day roost at Kushiro. • Feeding Ryukyu Minivets at Lake Mi-ike. • Fifteen thousand plus cranes at Arasaki. • Unexpectedly productive Kogawa Dam – Long-billed Plover. • Saunders's Gulls at Yatsushiro. • Kin Ricefields on Okinawa, easy birding, lots of birds, odd-placed Tundra Bean Geese. • Okinawa Woodpecker and Rail within an hour close to Fushigawa Dam, Yanbaru. • Whistling Green Pigeon eating fruits in Ada Village. • Vocal Ryukyu Robins. • Good shorebird diversity in Naha. • Male Izu Thrush during a short break on Hachijo-jima. • Triple Albatrosses! • Bulwer's Petrel close to the ship. Planning the trip – Future aspects When planning a birding trip to Japan there is a lot of consideration to be made.
  • Pinecrest Golf Course

    Pinecrest Golf Course

    Pinecrest Golf Course Birds on the Course In North America the Red-tailed Hawk is one of three species colloquially known as the “chicken hawk” or "hen hawk" even though chickens are not a major part of their diet. They were given this name in earlier times, when free-ranging chickens were preyed upon by first-year juveniles. They are also called buzzard hawks or red hawks. Red-tailed Hawks are easily recognized by their brick-red colored tails, from which its common name was derived. In the wild, they are expected to live for 10 -21 years. They reach reproductive maturity when they are about 3 years old. The Red-tailed Hawks is a bird of prey found in North and Central America, and in the West Indies. Throughout their range, they typically live in forests near open country or - depending on their range - in swamps, taigas and deserts. This species is legally protected in Canada, Mexico and the United States by the international Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In the United States, they are also protected by state, provincial and federal bird protection laws, making it illegal to keep hawks (without a permit) in captivity, or to Red-Tailed Hawk hunt them; disturb nests or eggs; even collecting their feathers is against the law. Red-Shouldered Hawk The Red-shouldered Sharp- Hawk is a medium-sized Hawk. A common Shinned forest-dwelling hawk of the East and California, Hawk the Red-shouldered Hawk favors woodlands near water. It is perhaps The sharp-shinned hawk is small with blue-gray upper parts and rufous bars on white the most vocal under parts.
  • First Images in the Wild of Blackthroat Luscinia Obscura, Asia's Most

    First Images in the Wild of Blackthroat Luscinia Obscura, Asia's Most

    BirdingASIA 15 (2011): 17–19 17 LITTLE-KNOWN ASIAN BIRD First images in the wild of Blackthroat Luscinia obscura, Asia’s most enigmatic robin WEI QIAN & HE YI Background probably a female from Baihe Nature Reserve, The Blackthroat Luscinia obscura is known to breed Sichuan, on 3 June 2007 (Anderson 2007). only in the mountains of south-west China, where Additionally, a few captive birds, assumed to have there are a few scattered records from Sichuan, been caught in the vicinity of Chengdu, have Gansu and Shaanxi, together with even fewer appeared in Chengdu bird market (Wang 2004). presumed non-breeding records from Yunnan All other records are from Thailand and presumed (southern China) and northern Thailand. It is an to be either wintering birds or passage migrants extremely poorly known species classified as (BirdLife International 2001). Vulnerable because it is inferred to have a small, declining population as a result of destruction of Observations temperate forest within its breeding area as well On the morning of 2 May 2011, we visited Sichuan as habitat loss in its likely wintering areas (BirdLife University to observe and photograph migrating International 2001, 2011). birds in a small patch of wood and shrubbery in Since its description in 1891, there have only the south-eastern corner of the campus. At about been nine records from China, including some 09h20 a bird abruptly flew into the shrubbery, uncertain ones. These records comprise one each which we quickly located and identified as a male from Ganshu and Shaanxi, two from Yunnan, Blackthroat Luscinia obscura. We continued to presumed to be during migration, and four from observe it until about 17h20 when we left and Sichuan, all detailed in BirdLife International obtained what we believe to be the first images of (2001), and a recent sight record of a male and this species in the wild (Plates 1 & 2).
  • Bird Checklists of the World Country Or Region: Myanmar

    Bird Checklists of the World Country Or Region: Myanmar

    Avibase Page 1of 30 Col Location Date Start time Duration Distance Avibase - Bird Checklists of the World 1 Country or region: Myanmar 2 Number of species: 1088 3 Number of endemics: 5 4 Number of breeding endemics: 0 5 Number of introduced species: 1 6 7 8 9 10 Recommended citation: Lepage, D. 2021. Checklist of the birds of Myanmar. Avibase, the world bird database. Retrieved from .https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/checklist.jsp?lang=EN&region=mm [23/09/2021]. Make your observations count! Submit your data to ebird.
  • The Song Structure of the Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia [Larvivora] Cyane and a Comparison with Related Species

    The Song Structure of the Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia [Larvivora] Cyane and a Comparison with Related Species

    Ornithol Sci 16: 71 – 77 (2017) ORIGINAL ARTICLE The song structure of the Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia [Larvivora] cyane and a comparison with related species Vladimir IVANITSKII1,#, Alexandra IVLIEVA2, Sergey GASHKOV3 and Irina MAROVA1 1 Lomonosov Moscow State University, Biology, 119899 Moscow Leninskie Gory, Moscow, Moscow 119899, Russian Federation 2 M.F. Vladimirskii Moscow Regional Research Clinical Institute, Moscow, Moscow, Russian Federation 3 Tomsk State University-Zoology Museum, Tomsk, Tomsk, Russian Federation ORNITHOLOGICAL Abstract We studied the song syntax of the Siberian Blue Robin Luscinia cyane, a small insectivorous passerine of the taiga forests of Siberia and the Far East. Males SCIENCE have repertoires of 7 to 14 (mean 10.9±2.3) song types. A single song typically con- © The Ornithological Society sists of a short trill comprised of from three to six identical syllables, each of two to of Japan 2017 three notes; sometimes the trill is preceded by a short single note. The most complex songs contain as many as five or six different trills and single notes. The song of the Siberian Blue Robin most closely resembles that of the Indian Blue Robin L. brunnea. The individual repertoires of Siberian Blue Robin, Common Nightingale L. megarhynchos and Thrush Nightingale L. luscinia contain groups of mutually associ- ated song types that are sung usually one after another. The Siberian Blue Robin and the Common Nightingale perform them in a varying sequence, while Thrush Nightin- gale predominantly uses a fixed sequence of song types. The distinctions between the song syntax of Larvivora spp. and Luscinia spp. are discussed.
  • Western Birds, Index, 2000–2009

    Western Birds, Index, 2000–2009

    WESTERN BIRDS, INDEX, 2000–2009 Volumes 31 (2000), 32 (2001), 33 (2002), 34 (2003), 35 (2004), 36 (2005), 37 (2006), 38 (2007), 39 (2008), and 40 (2009) Compiled by Daniel D. Gibson abeillei, Icterus bullockii—38:99 acadicus, Aegolius acadicus—36:30; 40:98 Accentor, Siberian—31:57; 36:38, 40, 50–51 Accipiter cooperii—31:218; 33:34–50; 34:66, 207; 35:83; 36:259; 37:215–227; 38:133; 39:202 gentilis—35:112; 39:194; 40:78, 128 striatus—32:101, 107; 33:18, 34–50; 34:66; 35:108–113; 36:196; 37:12, 215–227; 38:133; 40:78, 128 Acevedo, Marcos—32:see Arnaud, G. aciculatus, Agelaius phoeniceus—35:229 Acridotheres javanicus—34:123 Acrocephalus schoenobaenus—39:196 actia, Eremophila alpestris—36:228 Actitis hypoleucos—36:49 macularia—32:108, 145–166; 33:69–98, 134–174, 222–240; 34:68 macularius—35:62–70, 77–87, 186, 188, 194–195; 36:207; 37:1–7, 12, 34; 40:81 acuflavidus, Thalasseus sandvicensis—40:231 adastus, Empidonax traillii—32:37; 33:184; 34:125; 35:197; 39:8 Aechmophorus clarkii—34:62, 133–148; 36:144–145; 38:104, 126, 132 occidentalis—34:62, 133–148; 36:144, 145, 180; 37:34; 38:126; 40:58, 75, 132–133 occidentalis/clarkii—34:62 (sp.)—35:126–146 Aegolius acadicus—32:110; 34:72, 149–156; 35:176; 36:30, 303–309; 38:107, 115–116; 40:98 funereus—36:30; 40:98 Aeronautes montivagus—34:207 saxatalis—31:220; 34:73, 186–198, 199–203, 204–208, 209–215, 216–224, 245; 36:218; 37:29, 35, 149–155; 38:82, 134, 261–267 aestiva, Dendroica petechia—40:297 Aethia cristatella—36:29; 37:139–148, 197, 199, 210 psittacula—31:14; 33:1, 14; 34:163; 36:28; 37:95, 139,
  • Persistence of Host Defence Behaviour in the Absence of Avian Brood

    Persistence of Host Defence Behaviour in the Absence of Avian Brood

    Downloaded from http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/ on February 12, 2015 Biol. Lett. (2011) 7, 670–673 selection is renewed, and therefore may accelerate an doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0268 evolutionary response to the selection pressure. Published online 14 April 2011 We examined the extent to which a behavioural Animal behaviour defence persists in the absence of selection from avian brood parasitism. The interactions between avian brood parasites and their hosts are ideal for Persistence of host determining the fate of adaptations once selection has been relaxed, owing to shifting distributions of defence behaviour in the hosts and parasites [5,6] or the avoidance of well- defended hosts by parasites [7,8]. Host defences such absence of avian brood as rejection of parasite eggs may be lost in the absence parasitism of selection if birds reject their oddly coloured eggs [9,10], but are more likely to be retained because Brian D. Peer1,2,3,*, Michael J. Kuehn2,4, these behaviours may never be expressed in circum- Stephen I. Rothstein2 and Robert C. Fleischer1 stances other than parasitism [2,3]. Whether host 1Center for Conservation and Evolutionary Genetics, defences persist in the absence of brood parasitism is Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, critical to long-term avian brood parasite–host coevolu- Smithsonian Institution, PO Box 37012, MRC 5503, Washington, tion. If defences decline quickly, brood parasites can DC 20013-7012, USA alternate between well-defended hosts and former 2Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA hosts that have lost most of their defences, owing to the 3Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Macomb, costs of maintaining them once parasitism has ceased, IL 61455, USA 4 or follow what has been termed the ‘coevolutionary Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, 439 Calle San Pablo, cycles’ model of host–brood parasite coevolution [3].
  • Impact of Hybridisation in Two [I]Cossypha[I] Robin-Chat Species In

    Impact of Hybridisation in Two [I]Cossypha[I] Robin-Chat Species In

    Impact of hybridisation in two Cossypha robin-chat species in southern Africa Jean Mollett Corresp., Equal first author, 1 , Naadhirah Munshi Equal first author, 1 , Craig Symes 2 1 Science Faculty, School of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa 2 Science Faculty, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Corresponding Author: Jean Mollett Email address: [email protected] Chorister Robin-Chat Cossypha dichroa, a South African forest endemic, and Red-capped Robin-Chat C. natalensis, a widely distributed species in African forest and woodland, are inferred to hybridise in areas of sympatry. DNA was extracted from blood samples of C. dichroa (n = 18), C. natalensis (n = 47), and two phenotypic hybrids. The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis was performed on the sequence data to investigate taxonomic status and putative interspecific hybridisation. Phenotypic hybrids grouped with C. natalensis, suggesting maternal parentage from that species. Intra- and interspecific genetic and geographic distances were compared between C. dichroa and C. natalensis to assess genetic introgression. Seven of the thirteen microsatellite primer pairs developed for C. natalensis cross amplified in C. dichroa. These seven markers were then used for further analysis. STRUCTURE v2.3.4 was used to assign individuals to a particular genetic cluster and determine any admixture. NEWHYBRIDS v1.1 was used to assign hybrid status to samples beyond the F1 generation. Despite the hybridisation events recorded between C. dichroa and C. natalensis they still form two separate clusters as expected, and two genetic clusters (K=2) were identified using STRUCTURE.