The Effects of Environmental Conditions and Stress on Feather Ultraviolet Reflectance Rebecca Lynn Windsor University of South Florida, [email protected]

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Effects of Environmental Conditions and Stress on Feather Ultraviolet Reflectance Rebecca Lynn Windsor University of South Florida, Rwindsor@Mail.Usf.Edu University of South Florida Scholar Commons Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate School 3-16-2017 Consistency of Structural Color across Molts: The Effects of Environmental Conditions and Stress on Feather Ultraviolet Reflectance Rebecca Lynn Windsor University of South Florida, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd Part of the Biology Commons Scholar Commons Citation Windsor, Rebecca Lynn, "Consistency of Structural Color across Molts: The Effects of Environmental Conditions and Stress on Feather Ultraviolet Reflectance" (2017). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/6782 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Consistency of Structural Color across Molts: The Effects of Environmental Conditions and Stress on Feather Ultraviolet Reflectance by Rebecca L. Windsor A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science with a concentration in Ecology and Evolution Department of Integrative Biology College of Arts and Sciences University of South Florida Co-Major Professor: Reed Bowman, Ph.D. Co-Major Professor: Gordon Fox, Ph.D. Stephen Deban, Ph.D. Date of Approval: March 20, 2017 Keywords: Aphelocoma coerulescens, scrub-jay, UV color, plumage consistency, corticosterone Copyright © 2017, Rebecca L. Windsor DEDICATION This work is dedicated to the jays, who captured my heart from the start, and who will hopefully continue to capture hearts for decades to come. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work would not have been possible without the constant support of my advisors, Reed and Gordon, who tirelessly answered all of my questions and gave me input. I thank Archbold Biological Station and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for continued lodging and research support. Project guidance and emotional support were provided by Shane Pruett and Angela Tringali, who helped convince me that I really was a competent member of the field. Corticosterone administration guidance was provided by Stephen Schoech, Thomas Small, Emily Elderbrock, and Blake Jones. I also want to thank Lynn Siefferman, who provided endless guidance and troubleshooting advice on the spectrometer. Lastly, thank you to the countless interns and collaborators who helped collect data for the demography project at Archbold Biological Station. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. vi INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1 Literature Review............................................................................................................................. 1 Ornamentation .................................................................................................................... 1 Consistency of Structural Plumage Color ........................................................................... 2 Florida Scrub-Jays .............................................................................................................. 3 Effects of Environmental Conditions on Plumage Variation .............................................. 5 Nutritional condition. ............................................................................................. 5 Social environment. ............................................................................................... 7 Parasites. ................................................................................................................ 8 Habitat quality........................................................................................................ 9 Stress. ................................................................................................................... 10 Reproductive Fitness ......................................................................................................... 11 Questions and Hypotheses ............................................................................................................. 12 METHODS ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Study Site and Juvenile Feather Collection ................................................................................... 15 Corticosterone Administration ....................................................................................................... 16 Blood and Adult Feather Collection .............................................................................................. 17 Environmental Parameters ............................................................................................................. 17 Nutritional Condition ........................................................................................................ 18 Social Environment ........................................................................................................... 18 Parasites ............................................................................................................................ 18 Habitat Quality .................................................................................................................. 18 Stress ................................................................................................................................. 19 Breeding Observations ................................................................................................................... 19 Spectroscopy .................................................................................................................................. 19 Statistical Analysis ......................................................................................................................... 20 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................... 22 Tri-stimulus Color Measures ......................................................................................................... 22 Consistency of Color...................................................................................................................... 22 Effects of Environmental Conditions ............................................................................................. 23 Juvenile Plumage Color .................................................................................................... 23 Adult Plumage Color ........................................................................................................ 25 Relative Change in Plumage Color ................................................................................... 27 Effects of corticosterone. ..................................................................................... 28 i Effects of Color on Reproduction .................................................................................................. 29 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................................. 31 Consistency of Color...................................................................................................................... 31 Effects of Environmental Conditions ............................................................................................. 34 Juvenile vs. Adult Color ................................................................................................... 34 Relative Change in Reflectance ........................................................................................ 36 Effects of Corticosterone .................................................................................................. 37 Effects of Color on Reproduction .................................................................................................. 38 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................... 40 REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 42 TABLES ..................................................................................................................................................... 49 FIGURES .................................................................................................................................................... 62 APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................ 75 Appendix A: Effects of Individual Variables on Florida Scrub-Jay Rectrix Color ....................... 76 ii LIST OF TABLES Table
Recommended publications
  • Azure-Winged Magpie Onaga (Jpn) Cyanopica Cyana
    Bird Research News Vol.6 No.6 2009.6.24. Azure-winged Magpie Onaga (Jpn) Cyanopica cyana Morphology and classification Flock: Azure-winged Magpies live in a flock in the breeding and non- Classification: Passeriformes Corvidae breeding seasons, holding their flock territory throughout the year (Hosono 1989). In breeding period they roost in a flock except for Total length: 366.8mm (319-390) Wing length: 130.7mm (122-141) females incubating eggs and nestlings. In Nagano Pref., for instance, Tail length: 214.8mm (192-240) Culmen length: 25.7mm (24-30) the mean flock and home range sizes were 23 birds (9-45) and 21.8 ha Tarsus length: 33.3mm (32-35) Weight: 83.4g (69-96) (11-48), respectively in Kawanakajima (Hosono 1968), 28.7 birds and 135.1ha (103-243) in Ina, and 16.7 birds and 287.6 ha (130-376) in Measurements by Kuzu (1942). Nobeyama (Imanishi 2003). In Saitama Pref., on the other hand, they Appearance: were 24 birds (17-31, n = 16) and 13.4ha (6.2-24.8, n = 11) respec- Azure-winged Magpies are similar in tively in Tokorozawa, where Azure-winged Magpies are assumed to plumage coloration in males and fe- occur in the highest density. They also roost in a flock, but more than one flock occasionally roosted together in the same site. They use as a males. Males are slightly larger than roost site a dense thicket of bamboo, a coniferous wood and a broad- females in body size. They are gray on leaved deciduous wood. A coniferous wood and a thicket of bamboo the upperpart and white or light gray were used with higher frequency in winter, but a broad-leaved decidu- on the underpart (Photo 1).
    [Show full text]
  • Cooperative Breeding in Azure-Winged Magpies, Cyanopica Cyana, Living in a Region of Heavy Snowfall ’
    The Condor89:835-841 0 The CooperOrnithological Society 1987 COOPERATIVE BREEDING IN AZURE-WINGED MAGPIES, CYANOPICA CYANA, LIVING IN A REGION OF HEAVY SNOWFALL ’ SHIGEMOTO KOMEDA,~ SATOSHI YAMAGISHI,~ AND MASAHIRO FUJIOKA Department of Biology, Faculty of Science,Osaka City University,Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558, Japan Abstract. The frequencyof occurrenceof helpers, their age and sex, and certain behavior at nests were investigated in Azure-winged Magpies, Cyanopica cyana, living in central Japan, a region of heavy snowfall. One group of 16 birds was a summer visitor and the other two groupsof about 20 birds were resident. Out of 14 nestswe observed in 1983, six had one to two helpers, one had no helper, and at the other seven we could not confirm whether helpers attended or not. Therefore, 43% to 93% of nests had helpers. One helper was known to attend at least four nests, and seven of 14 marked individuals (50%) acted as helpers.These resultsmean that cooperativebreeding occurs regularly in this population. Key words: Cooperativebreeding; helper; Corvidae;group living;feeding; plural nester: Cyanopica cyana. INTRODUCTION amples of regular cooperative breeders in cool- Cooperative breeding, which involves care of temperate zones are the Long-tailed Tit, Aegi- young by individuals other than parents, has been thalos caudatus (Nakamura 1972, 1975; Gaston reported in a few hundred avian speciesin a wide 1973), Pinyon Jay, Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus variety of taxonomic groups. Most cooperative (Balda and Balda 1978), Gray-breasted Jay, breedersoccur in tropical or subtropical regions Aphelocoma ultramarina (Brown 1970, 1972) or in temperate zones with equable climate and Acorn Woodpecker, Melanerpes formicivo- , (Grimes 1976, Rowley 1976, Woolfenden 1976, rus (Stacey 1979, Koenig 198 1, Koenig et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Reconstructing the Geographic Origin of the New World Jays
    Neotropical Biodiversity ISSN: (Print) 2376-6808 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tneo20 Reconstructing the geographic origin of the New World jays Sumudu W. Fernando, A. Townsend Peterson & Shou-Hsien Li To cite this article: Sumudu W. Fernando, A. Townsend Peterson & Shou-Hsien Li (2017) Reconstructing the geographic origin of the New World jays, Neotropical Biodiversity, 3:1, 80-92, DOI: 10.1080/23766808.2017.1296751 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/23766808.2017.1296751 © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group Published online: 05 Mar 2017. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 956 View Crossmark data Citing articles: 2 View citing articles Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tneo20 Neotropical Biodiversity, 2017 Vol. 3, No. 1, 80–92, https://doi.org/10.1080/23766808.2017.1296751 Reconstructing the geographic origin of the New World jays Sumudu W. Fernandoa* , A. Townsend Petersona and Shou-Hsien Lib aBiodiversity Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA; bDepartment of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan (Received 23 August 2016; accepted 15 February 2017) We conducted a biogeographic analysis based on a dense phylogenetic hypothesis for the early branches of corvids, to assess geographic origin of the New World jay (NWJ) clade. We produced a multilocus phylogeny from sequences of three nuclear introns and three mitochondrial genes and included at least one species from each NWJ genus and 29 species representing the rest of the five corvid subfamilies in the analysis.
    [Show full text]
  • Zoologische Verhandelingen
    Systematic notes on Asian birds. 45. Types of the Corvidae E.C. Dickinson, R.W.R.J. Dekker, S. Eck & S. Somadikarta With contributions by M. Kalyakin, V. Loskot, H. Morioka, C. Violani, C. Voisin & J-F. Voisin Dickinson, E.C., R.W.R.J. Dekker, S. Eck & S. Somadikarta. Systematic notes on Asian birds. 45. Types of the Corvidae. Zool. Verh. Leiden 350, 26.xi.2004: 111-148.— ISSN 0024-1652/ISBN 90-73239-95-8. Edward C. Dickinson, c/o The Trust for Oriental Ornithology, Flat 3, Bolsover Court, 19 Bolsover Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7JG, U.K. (e-mail: [email protected]). René W.R.J. Dekker, National Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]). Siegfried Eck, Staatliche Naturhistorische Sammlungen Dresden, Museum für Tierkunde, A.B. Meyer Bau, Königsbrücker Landstrasse 159, D-01109 Dresden, Germany (e-mail: [email protected]. sachsen.de). Soekarja Somadikarta, Dept. of Biology, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, University of Indonesia, Depok Campus, Depok 16424, Indonesia (e-mail: [email protected]). Mikhail V. Kalyakin, Zoological Museum, Moscow State University, Bol’shaya Nikitskaya Str. 6, Moscow, 103009, Russia (e-mail: [email protected]). Vladimir M. Loskot, Department of Ornithology, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Science, St. Petersburg, 199034 Russia (e-mail: [email protected]). Hiroyuki Morioka, Curator Emeritus, National Science Museum, Hyakunin-cho 3-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 100, Japan. Carlo Violani, Department of Biology, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 9, 27100 Pavia, Italy (e-mail: [email protected]).
    [Show full text]
  • A Guide to Beijing's Common Birds
    A Guide To Beijing’s Common Birds The author birding in the Temple of Heaven Park, one of the best sites in central Beijing, especially during migration season. Beijing is a brilliant place to watch birds. More than 460 different types have been recorded in the Chinese capital. And, even inside the 2nd Ring Road, birds can be found! Here is a short guide to 26 of the most common birds that can be found in central Beijing’s parks and green spaces. During migration season (Spring and Autumn), many more species will be possible. 1. Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus, 红隼) Eurasian Kestrel. Breeds in small numbers in the city. Eats small rodents (mice, voles) and small birds. Can see ultra-violet! 2. Spotted Dove (Streptopelia chinensis, 珠颈斑鸠) Spotted Dove is common in parks and gardens. Often on the ground. 3. Hoopoe (Upupa epops, 戴胜) The Hoopoe is one of Beijing’s most spectactular birds. It raises its crest when excited or alarmed. 4. Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker (Yungipicus canicapillus, 星头啄木鸟) Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker is Beijing’s smallest woodpecker. 5. Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major, 大斑啄木鸟) Great Spotted Woodpecker. Common in and around Beijing. 6. Grey-headed Woodpecker (Picus canus, 灰头绿啄木鸟) The Grey-headed Woodpecker is common in open woodland and parks. Likes to feed on the ground. Ants are its favourite food! 7. Azure-winged Magpie (Cyanopica cyanus, 灰喜鹊) The Azure-winged Magpie is sociable and often seen in small noisy flocks. 8. Red-billed Blue Magpie (Urocissa erythrorhyncha, 红嘴蓝鹊) The spectacular Red-billed Blue Magpie is a resident in some of the larger parks.
    [Show full text]
  • Habitat Use and Population Dynamics of the Azure-Winged Magpie, Cyanopica Cyanus, and Their Response to Fire in Northern Mongolia
    Lincoln University Digital Thesis Copyright Statement The digital copy of this thesis is protected by the Copyright Act 1994 (New Zealand). This thesis may be consulted by you, provided you comply with the provisions of the Act and the following conditions of use: you will use the copy only for the purposes of research or private study you will recognise the author's right to be identified as the author of the thesis and due acknowledgement will be made to the author where appropriate you will obtain the author's permission before publishing any material from the thesis. Habitat Use and Population Dynamics of the Azure-Winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyanus, and their Response to Fire in Northern Mongolia A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of International Nature Conservation (M.I.N.C) at Lincoln University by Haojin Tan Lincoln University, New Zealand/ Georg-August University, Germany 2011 The Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus in Khonin Nuga, Northern Mongolia. Photo by Kerry- Jayne Wilson (2010) ii Abstract of a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of International Nature Conservation Abstract Habitat Use and Population Dynamics of the Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyanus, and their Response to Fire in Northern Mongolia by Haojin Tan Fires are natural distubances in many ecosystems, but humans have altered fire regimes throughout the world. The effect of fire on organisms, particularly birds, depend on the extent and regime of the fire and the species’ ecology. The Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyanus is a cooperative breeder, and occurs in a disjunct distribution across much of Asia and in Iberia (Portugal and Spain).
    [Show full text]
  • Corvidae Species Tree
    Corvidae I Red-billed Chough, Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax Pyrrhocoracinae =Pyrrhocorax Alpine Chough, Pyrrhocorax graculus Ratchet-tailed Treepie, Temnurus temnurus Temnurus Black Magpie, Platysmurus leucopterus Platysmurus Racket-tailed Treepie, Crypsirina temia Crypsirina Hooded Treepie, Crypsirina cucullata Rufous Treepie, Dendrocitta vagabunda Crypsirininae ?Sumatran Treepie, Dendrocitta occipitalis ?Bornean Treepie, Dendrocitta cinerascens Gray Treepie, Dendrocitta formosae Dendrocitta ?White-bellied Treepie, Dendrocitta leucogastra Collared Treepie, Dendrocitta frontalis ?Andaman Treepie, Dendrocitta bayleii ?Common Green-Magpie, Cissa chinensis ?Indochinese Green-Magpie, Cissa hypoleuca Cissa ?Bornean Green-Magpie, Cissa jefferyi ?Javan Green-Magpie, Cissa thalassina Cissinae ?Sri Lanka Blue-Magpie, Urocissa ornata ?White-winged Magpie, Urocissa whiteheadi Urocissa Red-billed Blue-Magpie, Urocissa erythroryncha Yellow-billed Blue-Magpie, Urocissa flavirostris Taiwan Blue-Magpie, Urocissa caerulea Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyanus Cyanopica Iberian Magpie, Cyanopica cooki Siberian Jay, Perisoreus infaustus Perisoreinae Sichuan Jay, Perisoreus internigrans Perisoreus Gray Jay, Perisoreus canadensis White-throated Jay, Cyanolyca mirabilis Dwarf Jay, Cyanolyca nanus Black-throated Jay, Cyanolyca pumilo Silvery-throated Jay, Cyanolyca argentigula Cyanolyca Azure-hooded Jay, Cyanolyca cucullata Beautiful Jay, Cyanolyca pulchra Black-collared Jay, Cyanolyca armillata Turquoise Jay, Cyanolyca turcosa White-collared Jay, Cyanolyca viridicyanus
    [Show full text]
  • A Resume of Anting, with Particular Reference to A
    A RESUMI? OF ANTING, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO A CAPTIVE ORCHARD ORIOLE BY LOVIE M. WHITAKER INCE Audubon (1831:7) wrote of Wild Turkeys (Meleugris gallopuvo) S rolling in “deserted” ants ’ nests (Allen, 1946)) and Gosse (1847:225) reported Tinkling Grackles (Q uiscalus niger) in nature anointing themselves with lime fruits (Chisholm, 1944), an extensive literature on the anting ac- tivities of birds has slowly evolved. The complete bibliography of anting probably would approximate 250 items, yet the purpose of the behavior re- mains unexplained. Anting may be defined as the application of foreign substances to the plum- age and possibly to the skin. These substances may be applied with the bill, or the bird may “bathe” or posture among thronging ants which invest its plumage. Among numerous explanations for the use of ants are these: (1) the bird wipes off ant acid, preparatory to eating the ant; (2) ants prey upon, and their acids repel, ectoparasites; (3) ant acids have tonic or medicinal effects on the skin of birds; (4) odor of ants attracts birds, much as dogs are drawn to ordure or cats to catnip; (5) an t s intoxicate the bird or give it unique pleasurable effects; (6) ant substances on the plumage, irradiated by sun- light, produce vitamin D, which the bird ingests during preening; (7) the bird enjoys the movement of insects in its plumage; (8) ant substances pre- vent over-drying of feather oils or give a proper surface film condition to the feathers. For discussions of these possibilities, see Chisholm (1944, 1948: 163-175)) Adlersparre (1936)) IJ zen d oorn (1952~)) Eichler (1936~)) Klein- Schmidt (in Stresemann, 1935b), L ane (1951:163-177)) Kelso (1946, 1949, 1950a, 19506, 1955 :37-39)) Brackbill (1948)) G6roudet (1948), Groskin (1950)) and McAtee (1938).
    [Show full text]
  • SE China and Tibet (Qinghai) Custom Tour: 31 May – 16 June 2013
    SE China and Tibet (Qinghai) Custom Tour: 31 May – 16 June 2013 Hard to think of a better reason to visit SE China than the immaculate cream-and-golden polka- dot spotted Cabot’s Tragopan, a gorgeous serious non-disappointment of a bird. www.tropicalbirding.com The Bar-headed Goose is a spectacular waterfowl that epitomizes the Tibetan plateau. It migrates at up to 27,000 ft over the giant Asian mountains to winter on the plains of the Indian sub-continent. Tour Leader: Keith Barnes All photos taken on this tour Introduction: SE and Central China are spectacular. Both visually stunning and spiritually rich, and it is home to many scarce, seldom-seen and spectacular looking birds. With our new base in Taiwan, little custom tour junkets like this one to some of the more seldom reached and remote parts of this vast land are becoming more popular, and this trip was planned with the following main objectives in mind: (1) see the monotypic family Pink-tailed Bunting, (2) enjoy the riches of SE China in mid-summer and see as many of the endemics of that region including its slew of incredible pheasants and the summering specialties. We achieved both of these aims, including incredible views of all the endemic phasianidae that we attempted, and we also enjoyed the stunning scenery and culture that is on offer in Qinghai’s Tibet. Other major highlights on the Tibetan plateau included stellar views of breeding Pink-tailed Bunting (of the monotypic Chinese Tibetan-endemic family Urocynchramidae), great looks at Przevalski’s and Daurian Partridges, good views of the scarce Ala Shan Redstart, breeding Black-necked Crane, and a slew of wonderful waterbirds including many great looks at the iconic Bar-headed Goose and a hoarde of www.tropicalbirding.com snowfinches.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeographic Patterns in Widespread Corvid Birds
    Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 45 (2007) 840–862 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Phylogeographic patterns in widespread corvid birds E. Haring a,*, A. Gamauf a, A. Kryukov b a Museum of Natural History Vienna, 1st Zoological Department, Burgring 7, A-1010 Vienna, Austria b Institute of Biology and Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690022, Russia Received 17 November 2006; revised 1 June 2007; accepted 7 June 2007 Available online 10 July 2007 Abstract Intraspecific genetic diversity and phylogeography of Corvus corone was investigated using the mitochondrial (mt) control region as a molecular marker. A split into two distinct mt lineages was observed. One represents individuals from a wide geographic range spanning from England to the Russian Far East (Kamchatka), while the other one was found in the Primorye and Khabarovsk regions (southern parts of Russian Far East) as well as Japan. For comparison, we investigated several widespread Palearctic corvid taxa with respect to their phylogeographic patterns. A deep split into two lineages was revealed in five cases: Besides C. corone, within Corvus frugilegus, Pica pica, and between the species pairs Corvus monedula–Corvus dauuricus and Cyanopica cyanus–Cyanopica cooki. Although these taxa dis- play a variety of distribution patterns, from disjunct, para/allopatric to continuous, the genetic pattern and level of divergence between clades is very similar. This implies that the differentiation started in about the same time range. In contrast, no differentiation into highly divergent lineages was detected in Corvus corax, Perisoreus infaustus, and Nucifraga caryocatactes. We try to explain the two phyloge- ographic patterns in corvid birds with ecological factors accompanying the changing climatic conditions during the Pleistocene.
    [Show full text]
  • The Birdmen of the Pleistocene: on the Relationship Between Neanderthals and Scavenging Birds
    Quaternary International xxx (2016) 1e7 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Quaternary International journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/quaint The birdmen of the Pleistocene: On the relationship between Neanderthals and scavenging birds * Stewart Finlayson a, b, , Clive Finlayson b, c a Department of Life Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, East Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB1 1PT, United Kingdom b Department of Natural History, The Gibraltar Museum, 18-20 Bomb House Lane, Gibraltar c Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, The University of Gibraltar, Gibraltar Museum Associate Campus, 18-20 Bomb House Lane, Gibraltar article info abstract Article history: We have examined 192 Middle Palaeolithic sites in the Palaearctic which have raptor and corvid bones Available online xxx associated in human occupation contexts. We have also examined 395 sites with Upper Palaeolithic contexts for comparison. We show that Neanderthals were regularly associated with a suite of birds of Keywords: prey and corvids. We identify that the main species were regular or seasonal scavengers which co- Neanderthals occurred across large areas of the Neanderthal geographical range. This suggests a long-standing in- Modern humans ter-relationship between Neanderthals, raptors and corvids. We propose that the degree of difficulty of Raptors capturing these species was not an insurmountable problem for the Neanderthals and provide present- Corvids Scavengers day examples of close interaction between scavenging birds and people. We also show that modern Mid-latitude belt humans had a similar relationship with the same suite of birds as the Neanderthals. We suggest that one possibility is that Neanderthals transmitted the behaviour to modern humans. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA.
    [Show full text]
  • Cyanopica Cyanus
    Report under the Article 12 of the Birds Directive European Environment Agency Period 2008-2012 European Topic Centre on Biological Diversity Cyanopica cyanus Annex I No International action plan No Azure-winged Magpie, Cyanopica cyanus, is a species of passerine bird in the crow and jay family found in woodland and forest ecosystems. Cyanopica cyanus has a breeding population size of 2660000-4460000 pairs and a breeding range size of 236000 square kilometres in the EU27. The breeding population trend in the EU27 is Increasing in the short term and Increasing in the long term. The EU population status of Cyanopica cyanus was assessed as Secure, because the species does not meet any of the IUCN Red List criteria for threatened or Near Threatened, or the criteria for Depleted or Declining (the EU27 population or range has not declined by 20% or more since 1980). Page 1 Cyanopica cyanus Report under the Article 12 of the Birds Directive Assessment of status at the European level Breeding Breeding range Winter population Winter Breeding population trend Range trend trend Population population population size area status Short Long Short Long size Short Long term term term term term term 2660000 - 4460000 p + + 236000 Secure See the endnotes for more informationi Page 2 Cyanopica cyanus Report under the Article 12 of the Birds Directive Page 3 Cyanopica cyanus Report under the Article 12 of the Birds Directive Trends at the Member State level Breeding Breeding range Winter population Winter % in Breeding population trend Range trend trend MS/Ter. population EU27 population size area Short Long Short Long size Short Long term term term term term term ES 77.6 2565000 - 3960000 p + + 179259 + + PT 22.4 100000 - 500000 p 0 + 56800 0 + See the endnotes for more informationii Page 4 Cyanopica cyanus Report under the Article 12 of the Birds Directive Page 5 Cyanopica cyanus Report under the Article 12 of the Birds Directive Short-term winter population trend was not reported for this species.
    [Show full text]