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Toxic Birds Not of a Feather
Commentary Avian chemical defense: Toxic birds not of a feather Paul J. Weldon Conservation and Research Center, Smithsonian Institution, 1500 Remount Road, Front Royal, VA 22630 n 1992, Dumbacher et al. (1) substan- Itially altered prevailing views of avian physiology, biochemistry, and chemical ecology with their report of the potent neurotoxin homobatrachotoxinin in feathers and other tissues of several spe- cies of New Guinean passerine birds of the genus Pitohui. Their discovery was signif- icant not only for suggesting a protective mechanism rarely considered for birds (i.e., chemical defense) but for the nature of the compound they discovered, a struc- turally complex alkaloid that binds Naϩ channels and depolarizes electrogenic membranes. Alkaloids in tetrapods gen- erally had been thought to be confined to amphibians, whose skins have long been acknowledged as arsenals of these biolog- Fig. 1. Hornets (Vespa orientalis) attacking a freshly skinned carcass of a laughing dove (Steptopelia ically active compounds (2). Indeed, be- senegalensis)(Left) while ignoring that of a pied kingfisher (Ceryle rudis). This observation prompted H. B. fore its discovery in Pitohui, homobatra- Cott (4) to undertake an extensive investigation of avian chemical defense. [Reproduced with permission chotoxinin, a member of a family of from ref. 4 (Copyright 1947, The Zoological Society of London).] steroidal alkaloids called batrachotoxinins (BTXs), had been found only in skin se- cretions of Central and South American dichrous), the most toxic of the birds they An additional enigma described by poison-dart frogs (Dendrobatidae) of the examined, is aposematic and may be Dumbacher et al. (3) is the profound genus Phyllobates. -
Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago [OGATT]
UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour Cairina moschata (Wild Muscovy Duck) Family: Anatidae (Ducks and Geese) Order: Anseriformes (Waterfowl) Class: Aves (Birds) Fig. 1. Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata. [www.birdsoftt.com/birds.../wild%20muscovy%20duck.htm, downloaded 19 September, 2011] TRAITS. Wild muscovies are overall black in colouration, but domesticated muscovies may be blue, brown or white. Indescent green and purple reflections on the wings and upper parts of their bodies (Wildfowl Trust, 2008). Wing; patches of white, which develops after one year of the duck’s life (Dye and Stai, 2004). Plumage (arrangement of feathers) brownish, almost black. Feathers are water proof because of an oil produced by a special gland on its’ tail. The wild muscovies are much sleeker, glossier and more attractive that their heavier, often “piebald” hybrid (Burton and Burton, 2002). Feather; facilitate flight, provide insulation, aids in thermoregulation, used for displaying, camouflage and signaling (Dye and Stai, 2004). Wing length; 400-500 mm (Wildfowl Trust, 2008). Males larger than female, average weight, male 6 lb (3 kg), female 3 lb (1.3 kg) (Burton and Burton, 2002). The naked skin and bill, (mouth) are bright red in domesticated ducks, but blackish in the wild muscovy ducks. Face; red warts on male not present in females, two blue-white bands. Bill; flat and broad which contain rows of fine v-shape indentation along the edge referred to as “lamellae”. The lamellae function is to UWI The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago Behaviour provide a grip on food without it sliding off (Dye and Stai, 2004). -
A 2010 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World
University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard Papers in the Biological Sciences 2010 The World’s Waterfowl in the 21st Century: A 2010 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World Paul A. Johnsgard University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciducksgeeseswans Part of the Ornithology Commons Johnsgard, Paul A., "The World’s Waterfowl in the 21st Century: A 2010 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World" (2010). Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard. 20. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosciducksgeeseswans/20 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Papers in the Biological Sciences at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World by Paul A. Johnsgard by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. The World’s Waterfowl in the 21st Century: A 200 Supplement to Ducks, Geese, and Swans of the World Paul A. Johnsgard Pages xvii–xxiii: recent taxonomic changes, I have revised sev- Introduction to the Family Anatidae eral of the range maps to conform with more current information. For these updates I have Since the 978 publication of my Ducks, Geese relied largely on Kear (2005). and Swans of the World hundreds if not thou- Other important waterfowl books published sands of publications on the Anatidae have since 978 and covering the entire waterfowl appeared, making a comprehensive literature family include an identification guide to the supplement and text updating impossible. -
Phylogeny and Comparative Ecology of Stiff-Tailed Ducks (Anatidae: Oxyurini)
Wilson Bull., 107(2), 1995, pp. 214-234 PHYLOGENY AND COMPARATIVE ECOLOGY OF STIFF-TAILED DUCKS (ANATIDAE: OXYURINI) BRADLEY C. LIVEZEY’ ABSTRACT.-A cladistic analysis of the stiff-tailed ducks (Anatidae: Oxyurini) was con- ducted using 92 morphological characters. The analysis produced one minimum-length, completely dichotomous phylogenetic tree of high consistency (consistency index for infor- mative characters, 0.74). Monophyly of the tribe was supported by 17 unambiguous syna- pomorphies. Within the tribe, Heteronetta (1 species) is the sister-group of other members; within the latter clade (supported by 2 1 unambiguous synapomorphies), Nomonyx (1 species) is the sister-group of Oxyura (6 species) + Biziura (I species). The latter clade is supported by 10 unambiguous synapomorphies. Monophyly of Oxyuru proper is supported by three unambiguous synapomorphies. All branches in the shortest tree except that uniting Oxyuva, exclusive of jumaicensis, were conserved in a majority-rule consensus tree of 1000 boot- strapped replicates. Biziuru and (to a lesser extent) Heteronetta were highly autapomorphic. Modest evolutionary patterns in body mass, reproductive parameters, and sexual dimorphism are evident, with the most marked, correlated changes occurring in Heteronetta and (es- pecially) Biziura. The implications of these evolutionary trends for reproductive ecology and biogeographic patterns are discussed, and a phylogenetic classification of the tribe is presented. Received 27 April 1994, accepted 10 Nov. 1994. The stiff-tailed ducks (Anatidae: Oxyurini) include some of the most distinctive species of waterfowl; among its members are the only obligate nest-parasite (Black-headed Duck; Heteronetta atricapilla) and the spe- cies showing the greatest sexual size dimorphism (Musk Duck; Biziuru lob&z) in the order Anseriformes (Delacour 1959; Johnsgard 1962, 1978; Weller 1968; Livezey 1986). -
NOTES on SUBFOSSIL ANAHDAE from NEW ZEALAND, INCLUDING a NEW SPECBES of PINK-EARED DUCK MALACORHYNCHUS STOR&S L. OLSON Recei
fM NOTES ON SUBFOSSIL ANAHDAE FROM NEW ZEALAND, INCLUDING A NEW SPECBES OF PINK-EARED DUCK MALACORHYNCHUS STOR&S L. OLSON Received 3 October 1976. SUMMARY OLSON, S. L. 1977. Notes on subfossil Anatidae from New Zealand, including a new species of pink-eared duck Malacorhynchus. Emu 77: 132-135. A new species of pink-eared duck, Malacorhynchus scarletti, is described from subfossil deposits at Pyra- mid Valley, South Island, NZ, and is characterized by larger size. Preliminary observations indicate that subfossil specimens of Biziura from New Zealand are larger and differ qualitatively from B. lobata; for the present, the name Biziura delautouri Forbes, 1892, ought to be retained for the New Zealand form. An erroneous record of Mergus australis is corrected. INTRODUCTION Locality. Pyramid Valley Swamp, near Waikari, During two visits to museums in New Zealand, I North Canterbury, South Island, NZ. examined remains of numerous fossil and subfossil Age. Holocene; the bone-bearing sediments at birds, including those of several extinct species of Pyramid Valley Swamp have been determined by ducks. Of these, the form known as Euryanas finschi radio-carbon dating to be about 3,500 years old was represented by thousands of specimens and I (Gregg 1972). plan to treat its osteology and relationships in a Etymology. I take pleasure in naming this new subsequent study. Three other species are the subject species for R. J. Scarlett, osteologist at the Canter- of the present paper. bury Museum, in recognition of his significant con- tributions to New Zealand palaeornithology. MALACORHYNCHUS Diagnosis. Much larger than M, membranaceus In a report on avian remains from Pyramid Valley (see Table I). -
Blue-Billed Duck (Oxyura Australis)
Action Statement Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 No. 174 Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis Description and Distribution The Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis, also called Stiff-tail or Diving Duck, is a small, compact duck with a large round head and a short neck (Marchant & Higgins 1990). It is about 40 cm in length and has a weight of about 850 g. Blue-billed Ducks are in the tribe of stiff-tailed ducks whose tail feathers are spiny in appearance and capable of erection (Frith 1977) which includes the Musk Duck Biziura lobata. It is the only member of the genus Oxyura in Australia. This genus is cosmopolitan and contains six species, four of which (including the Blue-billed Duck) are under some threat. There are two populations of the Blue-billed Duck, one in south-east and the other in south-west Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis Australia. These appear to be isolated from each (Photo: DSE/McCann) other; however, no subspecies are recognised (Blakers et al. 1984, Marchant & Higgins 1990). Male and female Blue-billed Ducks have different plumages. The adult breeding male has a black head with a chestnut to brown body and wings and a distinctive blue bill. Its non-breeding, or eclipse, plumage is similar to that of the adult female. The adult female is medium grey in colour with lighter barring to the head and body feathers, with the breast being lighter in colour. It has a dark bill. Immature birds are generally indistinguishable from the adult female. Species similar in appearance are the Musk Duck, Hardhead Aythya australis and Eurasian Coot Fulica atra. -
Note to Users
Odors And Ornaments In Crested Auklets (Aethia Cristatella): Signals Of Mate Quality? Item Type Thesis Authors Douglas, Hector D., Iii Download date 24/09/2021 03:31:59 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8905 NOTE TO USERS Page(s) missing in number only; text follows. Page(s) were scanned as received. 61 , 62 , 201 This reproduction is the best copy available. ® UMI Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ODORS AND ORNAMENTS IN CRESTED AUKLETS (AETHIA CRISTATELLA): SIGNALS OF MATE QUALITY ? A DISSERTATION Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY By Hector D. Douglas III, B.A., B.S., M.S., M.F.A. Fairbanks, Alaska August 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 3240323 Copyright 2007 by Douglas, Hector D., Ill All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. ® UMI UMI Microform 3240323 Copyright 2007 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. -
The Poison Dart Frog's Batrachotoxin Modulates Nav1.8
FEBS 28940 FEBS Letters 577 (2004) 245–248 The poison Dart frog’s batrachotoxin modulates Nav1.8 Frank Bosmansa,1, Chantal Maertensa,1, Fons Verdonckb, Jan Tytgata,* aLaboratory of Toxicology, University of Leuven, E. Van Evenstraat 4, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium bInterdisciplinary Research Centre, University of Leuven Campus Kortrijk, B-8500 Kortrijk, Belgium Received 27 August 2004; revised 28 September 2004; accepted 5 October 2004 Available online 18 October 2004 Edited by Maurice Montal fast and slow inactivation processes of the channel are inhib- Abstract Batrachotoxin is a potent modulator of voltage-gated sodium channels, leading to irreversible depolarisation of nerves ited. Aside from these effects, the ion selectivity is reduced. and muscles, fibrillation, arrhythmias and eventually cardiac BTX-modified VGSCs display increased permeability for þ þ þ failure. Since its discovery, field researchers also reported NH4 ,K and Cs ions [10–17]. numbness after their skin came into contact with this toxin. In the literature, there is evidence that a specific VGSC plays Intrigued by this phenomenon, we determined the effect of an important role in nociception, namely Nav1.8 (Scn10A). batrachotoxin on the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.8, Nav1.8 is expressed in peripheral neurons such as the small which is considered to be a key player in nociception. As a result, diameter nociceptor neurons of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) we discovered that batrachotoxin profoundly modulates this that originate in afferent nociceptive fibres such as the C-fibres channel: the inactivation process is severely altered, the voltage- and Ad fibres [18–22]. Behavioural studies on Na 1.8 null dependence of activation is shifted towards more hyperpolarised v mutant mice have shown that Nav1.8 plays an important role potentials resulting in the opening of Nav1.8 at more negative membrane potentials and the ion selectivity is modified. -
Avian Chemical Defense: Toxic Birds Not of a Feather
Corrections BIOPHYSICS. For the article ‘‘Molecular spectroscopy and dynam- CELL BIOLOGY. For the article ‘‘SEM1, a homologue of the split ics of intrinsically fluorescent proteins: Coral red (dsRed) and hand͞split foot malformation candidate gene Dss1, regulates yellow (Citrine)’’ by Ahmed A. Heikal, Samuel T. Hess, Geoffrey exocytosis and pseudohyphal differentiation in yeast’’ by Jussi S. Baird, Roger Y. Tsien, and Watt W. Webb , which appeared Ja¨ntti,Johanna Lahdenranta, Vesa M. Olkkonen, Hans So¨der- in number 22, October 24, 2000, of Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA lund, and Sirkka Kera¨nen,which appeared in number 3, Feb- (97, 11996–12001), the authors note the following corrections. ruary 2, 1999, of Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (96, 909–914), the authors note the following correction. In Results under the 1. Eq. 1 on page 11997, line 16 from the top of the left-hand subheading ‘‘SEM1 Is Not Essential for Growth or Invertase column is written as: Secretion,’’ the sentences ‘‘Disruption or deletion of SEM1 did not cause any obvious growth defects at different temperatures 1 1 1 0.5 ͑͒ ϭ ͩ ͪͩ ͪ on synthetic or rich media containing different carbon sources. G ϩ ͞ ϩ ͞2 N 1 D 1 D We conclude that SEM1 is a single-copy gene nonessential for growth,’’ should read ‘‘Disruption or deletion of SEM1 did not m 1 Ϫ ͞ cause any obvious growth defects at different temperatures on ⅐ ͑ Ϫ ϩ r i͒ ͑ Ϫ ͒ 1 fi fie , [1] synthetic or rich media. However, deletion of SEM1 caused poor 1 fi i ϭ 1 growth on rich media when the sole carbon source was glycerol or galactose.’’ but the equation should read: Correction published online before print: Proc. -
Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands Categories Approved by Recommendation 4.7 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties
Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands Categories approved by Recommendation 4.7 of the Conference of the Contracting Parties. 1. Date this sheet was completed/updated: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY. May 1999 DD MM YY 2. Country: Australia Designation date Site Reference Number 3. Name of wetland: Western District Lakes, Victoria 4. Geographical coordinates: Latitude: 380 00' to 380 20'S; Longitude: 1430 07' to 1430 55'E 5. Altitude: Approximately 40 metres. 6. Area: 32,898 ha Note: This is a revised area figure based on GIS Mapping (1995) and does not represent any change to the Ramsar Site boundary. 7. Overview: The Western District Lakes, are important geomorphic features of a basaltic landscape. Water regimes vary both seasonally and annually so at any time the various lakes range from fresh to hypersaline. They support large numbers of mainly non-breeding waterbirds and are particularly important during periods of widespread drought and as moulting sites for some species. 8. Wetland Type: marine-coastal: A B C D E F G H I J K inland: L M N O P Q R Sp Ss Tp Ts U Va Vt W Xf Xp Y Zg Zk man-made: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9. Ramsar Criteria: 1a 1b 1c 1d 2a 2b 2c 2d 3a 3b 3c 4a 4b Please specify the most significant criterion applicable to the site: 10. Map of site included? Please tick yes -or- no.⌧ 11. Name and address of the compiler of this form: Simon Casanelia Parks Victoria 378 Cotham Road Kew VIC 3101 Australia Telephone 613 9816 1163 Facsimile 613 9816 9799 12. -
Managing Bird Damage
Managing Bird Damage Managing Bird Managing Bird Damage Bird damage is a significant problem in Australia with total to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops damage to horticultural production estimated at nearly $300 million annually. Over 60 bird species are known to damage horticultural crops. These species possess marked differences in feeding strategies and movement patterns which influence the nature, timing and severity of the damage they cause. Reducing bird damage is difficult because of the to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops Fruit and Other Horticultural to unpredictability of damage from year to year and a lack of information about the cost-effectiveness of commonly used management practices. Growers therefore need information on how to better predict patterns of bird movement and abundance, and simple techniques to estimate the extent of damage to guide future management investment. This book promotes the adoption of a more strategic approach to bird management including use of better techniques to reduce damage and increased cooperation between neighbours. Improved collaboration and commit- John Tracey ment from industry and government is also essential along with reconciliation of legislation and responsibilities. Mary Bomford Whilst the focus of this review is pest bird impacts on Quentin Hart horticulture, most of the issues are of relevance to pest bird Glen Saunders management in general. Ron Sinclair DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY Managing Bird Damage Managing Bird Managing Bird Damage Bird damage is a significant problem in Australia with total to Fruit and Other Horticultural Crops damage to horticultural production estimated at nearly $300 million annually. Over 60 bird species are known to damage horticultural crops. -
Batrachotoxin Alkaloids from Passerine Birds: a Second Toxic Bird Genus (Ifrita Kowaldi) from New Guinea
Batrachotoxin alkaloids from passerine birds: A second toxic bird genus (Ifrita kowaldi) from New Guinea J. P. Dumbacher*†, T. F. Spande‡, and J. W. Daly‡ *Molecular Genetics Laboratory, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; and ‡Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Room 1A-15, Building 8, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0820 Contributed by J. W. Daly, July 24, 2000 Batrachotoxins, including many congeners not previously de- scribed, were detected, and relative amounts were measured by using HPLC-mass spectrometry, in five species of New Guinean birds of the genus Pitohui as well as a species of a second toxic bird genus, Ifrita kowaldi. The alkaloids, identified in feathers and skin, were batrachotoxinin-A cis-crotonate (1), an allylically rearranged 16-acetate (2), which can form from 1 by sigmatropic rearrange- ment under basic conditions, batrachotoxinin-A and an isomer (3 -and 3a, respectively), batrachotoxin (4), batrachotoxinin-A 3 hydroxypentanoate (5), homobatrachotoxin (6), and mono- and dihydroxylated derivatives of homobatrachotoxin. The highest levels of batrachotoxins were generally present in the contour feathers of belly, breast, or legs in Pitohui dichrous, Pitohui kirho- cephalus, and Ifrita kowaldi. Lesser amounts are found in head, back, tail, and wing feathers. Batrachotoxin (4) and homobatra- chotoxin (6) were found only in feathers and not in skin. The levels of batrachotoxins varied widely for different populations of Pito- hui and Ifrita, a result compatible with the hypothesis that these birds are sequestering toxins from a dietary source. omobatrachotoxin (6) was reported in 1992 to occur in the Hskins and feathers of three passerine bird species in the genus Pitohui (family Pachycephalidae) endemic to New Guinea and considered toxic by New Guineans (1).