A North American Stem Turaco, and the Complex Biogeographic History of Modern Birds Daniel J
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Molecular Phylogeny of Cuckoos Supports a Polyphyletic Origin of Brood Parasitism
Molecular phylogeny of cuckoos supports a polyphyletic origin of brood parasitism S. ARAGO N,*A.P.MéLLER,*J.J.SOLER & M. SOLER *Laboratoire d'Ecologie, CNRS-URA 258, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, BaÃt. A, 7e eÂtage, 7, quai St. Bernard, Case 237, F-75252 Paris Cedex 05, France Departamento de BiologõÂa Animal y EcologõÂa, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain Keywords: Abstract brood parasitism; We constructed a molecular phylogeny of 15 species of cuckoos using cuculiformes; mitochondrial DNA sequences spanning 553 nucleotide bases of the cyto- cytochrome b; chrome b gene and 298 nucleotide bases of the ND2 gene. A parallel analysis DNA sequencing; for the cytochrome b gene including published sequences in the Genbank ND2. database was performed. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequences were done using parsimony, a sequence distance method (Fitch-Margoliash), and a character-state method which uses probabilities (maximum likelihood). Phenograms support the monophyly of three major clades: Cuculinae, Phaenicophaeinae and Neomorphinae-Crotophaginae. Clamator, a strictly parasitic genus traditionally included within the Cuculinae, groups together with Coccyzus (a nonobligate parasite) and some nesting cuckoos. Tapera and Dromococcyx, the parasitic cuckoos from the New World, appear as sister genera, close to New World cuckoos: Neomorphinae and Crotophaginae. Based on the results, and being conscious that a more strict resolution of the relationships among the three major clades is required, we postulate that brood parasitism has a polyphyletic origin in the Cuculiformes, with parasite species being found within the three de®ned clades. Evidence suggests that species within each clade share a common parasitic ancestor, but some show partial or total loss of brood parasitic behaviour. -
Quantifying Crop Damage by Grey Crowned Crane Balearica
QUANTIFYING CROP DAMAGE BY GREY CROWNED CRANE BALEARICA REGULORUM REGULORUM AND EVALUATING CHANGES IN CRANE DISTRIBUTION IN THE NORTH EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA. By MARK HARRY VAN NIEKERK Department of the Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE December 2010 Supervisor: Prof. Adrian Craig i TABLE OF CONTENTS List of tables…………………………………………………………………………iv List of figures ………………………………………………………………………...v Abstract………………………………………………………………………………vii I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1 Species account......................................................................................... 3 Habits and diet ........................................................................................... 5 Use of agricultural lands by cranes ............................................................ 6 Crop damage by cranes ............................................................................. 7 Evaluating changes in distribution and abundance of Grey Crowned Crane………………………………………………………..9 Objectives of the study………………………………………………………...12 II. STUDY AREA…………………………………………………………………...13 Locality .................................................................................................... 13 Climate ..................................................................................................... 15 Geology and soils ................................................................................... -
Current Perspectives on the Evolution of Birds
Contributions to Zoology, 77 (2) 109-116 (2008) Current perspectives on the evolution of birds Per G.P. Ericson Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, SE-10405 Stockholm, Sweden, [email protected] Key words: Aves, phylogeny, systematics, fossils, DNA, genetics, biogeography Contents (cf. Göhlich and Chiappe, 2006), making feathers a plesiomorphy in birds. Indeed, only three synapo- Systematic relationships ........................................................ 109 morphies have been proposed for Aves (Chiappe, Genome characteristics ......................................................... 111 2002), although monophyly is never seriously ques- A comparison with previous classifications ...................... 112 Character evolution ............................................................... 113 tioned: 1) the caudal margin of naris nearly reaching Evolutionary trends ............................................................... 113 or overlapping the rostral border of the antorbital Biogeography and biodiversity ............................................ 113 fossa (in the primitive condition the caudal margin Differentiation and speciation ............................................. 114 of naris is farther rostral than the rostral border of Acknowledgements ................................................................ 115 the antorbital fossa), 2) scapula with a prominent References ................................................................................ 115 acromion, -
Beyond Endocasts: Using Predicted Brain-Structure Volumes of Extinct Birds to Assess Neuroanatomical and Behavioral Inferences
diversity Article Beyond Endocasts: Using Predicted Brain-Structure Volumes of Extinct Birds to Assess Neuroanatomical and Behavioral Inferences 1, , 2 2 Catherine M. Early * y , Ryan C. Ridgely and Lawrence M. Witmer 1 Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA; [email protected] (R.C.R.); [email protected] (L.M.W.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Current Address: Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA. y Received: 1 November 2019; Accepted: 30 December 2019; Published: 17 January 2020 Abstract: The shape of the brain influences skull morphology in birds, and both traits are driven by phylogenetic and functional constraints. Studies on avian cranial and neuroanatomical evolution are strengthened by data on extinct birds, but complete, 3D-preserved vertebrate brains are not known from the fossil record, so brain endocasts often serve as proxies. Recent work on extant birds shows that the Wulst and optic lobe faithfully represent the size of their underlying brain structures, both of which are involved in avian visual pathways. The endocasts of seven extinct birds were generated from microCT scans of their skulls to add to an existing sample of endocasts of extant birds, and the surface areas of their Wulsts and optic lobes were measured. A phylogenetic prediction method based on Bayesian inference was used to calculate the volumes of the brain structures of these extinct birds based on the surface areas of their overlying endocast structures. This analysis resulted in hyperpallium volumes of five of these extinct birds and optic tectum volumes of all seven extinct birds. -
Comparative Anatomy of Mu50phagidae (Turacos)
Comparative Anatomy of MU50phagidae (Turacos) by Georgann B. Johnston Sacramento, CA Introduction proVides the red colored feathers in he 20 species which comprise species of the first two genera. Both the avian order Musophagidae' pigments contain copper and spectral (commonly called turacos) data demonstrates that the former is have a number of physical and likely an oxidized version of the latter. anatomical characteristics that set them swered and many generalizations sus (Dyck, 1992) In fact, the two pigments apaI1 from many other birds. While pect in light of new information about are intermingled within individual uniformity among the 20 species is not these species' ecology including feathers in the breast patches and crests complete, ceI1ain generalizations can behavior and diet. of some species and turacoverdin be made. One ofthese is that the sexes occurs only in the presence of turacin. are visually indistinguishable in all of Feathers Other species outside the the species save C. Jeucogaster, in Probably the most distinguishing fea Musophagidae order have turacoverdin which the males have a black beak ture of these birds are two unique pig pigment, including Ithaginis (pheasant) and the females a green beak. ments deposited in their feather keratin. and Rollolus (paI1ridge), both members Unfortunately, most of the literature One, turacoverdin, is a green pigment of the Galliformes. An additional inter regarding the anatomy of these birds found in the rami in all species of esting note is that both pigments are was developed more than 40 years Tauraco and Musophaga, and in soluble in a weak base - which may ago, leaving many questions unan- Corythaeola cristata. -
Tour Report 1 – 8 January 2016
The Gambia - In Style! Naturetrek Tour Report 1 – 8 January 2016 White-throated Bee-eaters Violet Turaco by Kim Taylor African Wattled Lapwing Blue-bellied Roller Report compiled by Marcus John Images courtesy of Kim Taylor & Marcus John Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk The Gambia - In Style! Tour Report Tour Participants: Marcus John (leaders) with six Naturetrek clients Summary The Gambia is an ideal destination for a relaxed holiday and offers a great introduction to the diverse and colourful birdlife of Africa. We spent the week at the stunning Mandina Lodges, a unique place that lies on a secluded mangrove-lined tributary of the mighty River Gambia. The lodges are situated next to the creek and within the Makasuto Forest, which comprises over a thousand acres of pristine, protected forest. Daily walks took us out through the woodland and into the rice fields and farmland beyond, where a great range of birds and butterflies can be found. It was sometimes hard to know where to look as parrots, turacos, rollers and bee-eaters all vied for our attention! Guinea Baboons are resident in the forest and were very approachable; Green Vervet Monkeys were seen nearly every day and we also found a group of long-limbed Patas Monkeys, the fastest primates in the world! Boat trips along the creek revealed a diverse selection of waders, kingfishers and other waterbirds; fourteen species of raptor were also seen during the week. -
From the Middle Eocene of Belgium
[Palaeontology, Vol. 53, Part 2, 2010, pp. 365–376] BONY-TOOTHED BIRDS (AVES: PELAGORNITHIDAE) FROM THE MIDDLE EOCENE OF BELGIUM by GERALD MAYR* and THIERRY SMITH *Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Sektion Ornithologie, Senckenberganlage 25, D-60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; e-mail [email protected] Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Department of Paleontology, Rue Vautier 29, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; e-mail [email protected] Typescript received 7 April 2009; accepted in revised form 19 July 2009 Abstract: We describe well-preserved remains of the Pelag- deidae (albatrosses) in overall morphology, but because ornithidae (bony-toothed birds) from the middle Eocene of bony-toothed birds lack apomorphies of the Procellariifor- Belgium, including a sternum, pectoral girdle bones and mes, the similarities are almost certainly owing to conver- humeri of a single individual. The specimens are tentatively gence. Bony-toothed birds were often compared with the assigned to Macrodontopteryx oweni Harrison and Walker, ‘Pelecaniformes’ by previous authors, who especially made 1976, which has so far only been known from the holotype comparisons with the Sulidae (gannets and boobies). How- skull and a referred proximal ulna. Another species, about ever, the coracoid distinctly differs from that of extant ‘pelec- two times larger, is represented by an incomplete humerus aniform’ birds, and the plesiomorphic presence of a foramen and tentatively identified as Dasornis emuinus (Bowerbank, nervi supracoracoidei as well as the absence of a well- 1854). The fossils provide critical new data on the osteology delimited articulation facet for the furcula supports a of the pectoral girdle of bony-toothed birds. For the first position outside the Suloidea, the clade to which the Sulidae time, the sternum of one of the smaller species is preserved, belong. -
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Chronology and Faunal Evolution of the Middle Eocene Bridgerian North American Land Mammal “Age”: Achieving High Precision Geochronology Kaori Tsukui Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2016 © 2015 Kaori Tsukui All rights reserved ABSTRACT Chronology and Faunal Evolution of the Middle Eocene Bridgerian North American Land Mammal “Age”: Achieving High Precision Geochronology Kaori Tsukui The age of the Bridgerian/Uintan boundary has been regarded as one of the most important outstanding problems in North American Land Mammal “Age” (NALMA) biochronology. The Bridger Basin in southwestern Wyoming preserves one of the best stratigraphic records of the faunal boundary as well as the preceding Bridgerian NALMA. In this dissertation, I first developed a chronological framework for the Eocene Bridger Formation including the age of the boundary, based on a combination of magnetostratigraphy and U-Pb ID-TIMS geochronology. Within the temporal framework, I attempted at making a regional correlation of the boundary-bearing strata within the western U.S., and also assessed the body size evolution of three representative taxa from the Bridger Basin within the context of Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. Integrating radioisotopic, magnetostratigraphic and astronomical data from the early to middle Eocene, I reviewed various calibration models for the Geological Time Scale and intercalibration of 40Ar/39Ar data among laboratories and against U-Pb data, toward the community goal of achieving a high precision and well integrated Geological Time Scale. In Chapter 2, I present a magnetostratigraphy and U-Pb zircon geochronology of the Bridger Formation from the Bridger Basin in southwestern Wyoming. -
Frugivorous Bird Species Diversity in Relation to the Diversity of Fruit
ISBN: 2141 – 1778 jfewr ©2016 - jfewr Publications E-mail:[email protected] 80 FRUGIVOROUS BIRD SPECIES DIVERSITY IN RELATION TO THE DIVERSITY OF FRUIT TREE SPECIES IN RESERVED AND DESIGNATED GREEN AREAS IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, NIGERIA 1Ihuma, J.O; Tella, I. O2; Madakan, S. P.3 and Akpan, M2 1Department of Biological Sciences, Bingham University, P.M.B. 005, Karu, Nasarawa State, Nigeria Email:[email protected] 2Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management. 3University of Maiduguri, Borno, Nigeria, Department of Biological Sciences ABSTRACT The diversity of frugivorous bird species in relation to tree species diversity was investigated in Designated and Reserved Green Areas of Abuja, Nigeria. The study estimated, investigated and examined trees species and avian frugivore in terms of their diversity. Point-Centered Quarter Method (PCQM) was used for vegetation analysis while random walk and focal observation was used for bird frugivore identification and enumeration. data was collected from six locations coinciding with the local administrative areas within the Federal Capital Territory. These were, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. AMAC is designated as urban while the remaining five sites are designated as sub-urban. The highest number of fruit tree species was encountered in AMAC (30), followed by Abaji (29) while 27, 25, 19 and 11 fruit tree species were encountered in Kwali, Bwari Gwagwalada and Kuje respectively. The similarity or otherwise dissimilarity in fruit tree species composition between each pair of the enumerated sites showed Gwagwalada and Kuje as the most similar, and the similarity or otherwise dissimilarity in frugivorous bird species composition between each pair of the enumerated showed higher species similarity between the AMAC and each of the other sites, and between each pair of the sites than that of the fruit trees in the respective sites. -
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. -
US Fish & Wildlife Service Seabird Conservation Plan—Pacific Region
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Seabird Conservation Plan Conservation Seabird Pacific Region U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Seabird Conservation Plan—Pacific Region 120 0’0"E 140 0’0"E 160 0’0"E 180 0’0" 160 0’0"W 140 0’0"W 120 0’0"W 100 0’0"W RUSSIA CANADA 0’0"N 0’0"N 50 50 WA CHINA US Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Region OR ID AN NV JAP CA H A 0’0"N I W 0’0"N 30 S A 30 N L I ort I Main Hawaiian Islands Commonwealth of the hwe A stern A (see inset below) Northern Mariana Islands Haw N aiian Isla D N nds S P a c i f i c Wake Atoll S ND ANA O c e a n LA RI IS Johnston Atoll MA Guam L I 0’0"N 0’0"N N 10 10 Kingman Reef E Palmyra Atoll I S 160 0’0"W 158 0’0"W 156 0’0"W L Howland Island Equator A M a i n H a w a i i a n I s l a n d s Baker Island Jarvis N P H O E N I X D IN D Island Kauai S 0’0"N ONE 0’0"N I S L A N D S 22 SI 22 A PAPUA NEW Niihau Oahu GUINEA Molokai Maui 0’0"S Lanai 0’0"S 10 AMERICAN P a c i f i c 10 Kahoolawe SAMOA O c e a n Hawaii 0’0"N 0’0"N 20 FIJI 20 AUSTRALIA 0 200 Miles 0 2,000 ES - OTS/FR Miles September 2003 160 0’0"W 158 0’0"W 156 0’0"W (800) 244-WILD http://www.fws.gov Information U.S. -
Aves: Cuculidae)
Bol. Mus. Nac. Hist. Nat. Parag. Vol. 19, nº 2 (Dic. 2015): 58-61100-100 OBSERVATIONS OF NOVEL FEEDING TACTICS IN GUIRA CUCKOO GUIRA GUIRA (AVES: CUCULIDAE) P. Smith1,2 1Fauna Paraguay, Encarnación, Itapúa, Paraguay. www.faunaparaguay.com. E-mail: [email protected] 2Para La Tierra, Reserva Natural Laguna Blanca, San Pedro, Paraguay. Abstract.- Two unusual feeding observations by Guira Cuckoo Guira guira (Cuculidae) are reported. The birds were seen to raid the closed nests of the butterfly Brassolis sophorae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), and also to take cicadas (Auchenorrhyncha) that had become trapped in a mist-net. Key words: Auchenorrhyncha, Brassolis sophorae, foraging, Nymphalidae, Paraguay. Resumen.- Se reportan dos observaciones de comportamiento de forrajeo poco usual para la Piririta Guira guira (Cu- culidae). Las aves fueron observados saqueando los nidos cerrados de la mariposa Brassolis sophorae (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), y tambien a depredar chicharras (Auchenorrhyncha) que habían quedado atrapados en redes de niebla. Palabras clave: Auchenorrhyncha, Brassolis sophorae, forrageo, Nymphalidae, Paraguay. The Guira Cuckoo Guira guira (Gmelin, 1798) valho et al., 1998). The social larvae (Fig. 1) is a widespread socially-breeding cuculid feed nocturnally on palms (Arecaceae) and are (Macedo, 1992, 1994; Macedo & Bianchi, 1997) considered agricultural pests because of their found throughout eastern South America from tendency to completely defoliate the plants upon northeastern Brazil to south-central Argentina which they feed (Cleare, 1915; Rai, 1971). The (Payne, 2005). In Paraguay it is a common and larvae take refuge by day in large communal familiar species, occurring in open areas in silk nests, interwoven within the palm leaves small, noisy flocks of 6 to 8, or exceptionally (Marassá, 1985), and mark their trail with a silk up to 20 birds (Payne, 2005).