DOCSLIB.ORG

Università Degli Studi Di Ferrara

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Università Degli Studi Di Ferrara Università degli Studi di Ferrara DOTTORATO DI RICERCA IN BIOLOGIA EVOLUZIONISTICA E AMBIENTALE co-tutela di tesi con Université de Montpellier CICLO 27 COORDINATORE Prof. Guido Barbujani Scale-dependent approaches in conservation biogeography of a cosmopolitan raptor: the Osprey. Settore Scientifico Disciplinare BIO/05 Dottorando Tutore Universitá di Ferrara Dott. Monti Flavio Prof. Fusani Leonida (firma) (firma) Tutore Université de Montpellier Prof. Duriez Olivier (firma) Anni 2012/2014 1 2 Délivré par Université de Montpellier Préparée au sein de l’école doctorale SIBAGHE-GAIA Et de l’unité de recherche UMR5175 CEFE Spécialité : Ecologie, Evolution, Ressources Génétiques, Paléontologie Présentée par Flavio Monti Scale-dependent approaches in conservation biogeography of a cosmopolitan raptor: the Osprey. Soutenue le 10/04/2015 devant le jury composé de Dr. Olivier Duriez, Maitre de Conf., Univ. de Montpellier Directeur de these Pr. Leonida Fusani, Professeur, Univ. de Ferrara Directeur de these Pr. Fran ҫois Sarrazin, Professeur, Univ. Pierre et Marie Curie Rapporteur Pr. Matteo Griggio, Maitre de Conf., Univ. de Padova Rapporteur 3 4 Flavio Monti Scale-dependent approaches in conservation biogeography of a cosmopolitan raptor: the Osprey. PhD Thesis Defended on 10 April 2015, University of Ferrara Jury committee: Pr. Leonida Fusani – Supervisor - University of Ferrara - Italy Dr. Olivier Duriez - Supervisor - Université de Montpellier - France Pr. Fran ҫois Sarrazin - Reviewer - Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris - France Dr. Matteo Griggio- Reviewer - University of Padova - Italy Doctor Europaeus Pr. Anders P. Tøttrup - Reviewer - University of Copenaghen – Denmark 5 This PhD project was carried out in the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology of the University of Ferrara (Italy), and in the Department of Biogeography and Ecology of Vertebrates, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS UMR5175), University of Montpellier (France), according to the joint collaboration signed by the two institutions. The production of this thesis was financially supported by the Foundation Prince Albert II de Monaco and the Associazone Italiana della Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco ONLUS, the Corsica Natural Regional Park (France), the Maremma Regional Park Agency (Italy), the Mediterranean Small Islands Initiative PIM coordinated by the Conservatoire du Littoral (France), the Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêt et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification and Association de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources (AGIR) (Morocco). FM benefits from a grant from the Maremma Regional Park and from a mobility grant from the Universitá Italo Francese/Université Franco Italienne. Collaborations: David Grémillet - Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS UMR5175) Claudine Montgelard - Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS UMR5175) Andrea Sforzi - Maremma Natural History Museum, Grosseto, Italy Jean-Marie Dominici - Rèserve Naturelle Scandola, Parc Naturel Règional de Corse, Galeria, France Thomas Alerstam - Migration Ecology Group, Department of Animal Ecology –Lund University, Sweden Raymond H.G. Klaassen - Animal Ecology Group, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Studies, University of Groningen, Netherlands Mathieu Thévenet - Conservatoire du Littoral, Aix-en-Provence, France Giampiero Sammuri - Federparchi – Roma , Italy Rafel Triay Bagur - IME (Institut Menorquí d’Estudis), Balearic Islands, Spain Antoni Muñoz Navarro - Grup Balear d'Ornitologia i Defensa de la Naturalesa (GOB), Balearic Islands, Spain Ilham Bentaleb - Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (UMR5554), France Gaël Guillou - Université de la Rochelle, France Rémi Choquet - Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS UMR5175). Nibani Houssine - Association de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources (AGIR), Al Hoceima, Morocco. Hamid Rguibi Idrissi - University Chouaib Doukkali, Faculty of Sciences, El Jadida, Morocco. Véronique Arnal - Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS UMR5175) Pierre-Christian Beaubrun - Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS UMR5175) Alo їs Robert – École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE), Paris, France How to cite this thesis: Monti, F. (2015). Scale-dependent approaches in conservation biogeography of a cosmopolitan raptor: the Osprey. PhD thesis. University of Ferrara / University of Montpellier. 6 Acknowledgments: I spent most of my life on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea: cradle of many civilizations, the Mediterranean region is an interweaving of cultures, colours, traditions that leave an important mark on those who, like me, had the good fortune to sail its sea, know the voices of its ports, and smell the scent of its islands. I owe to thank the Mare Nostrum and the people I met along its shores, during this pilgrimage which had the taste of a personal Odyssey. It is difficult to accomplish a challenging mission without good “traveling companions”: my fortune was to share this experience with an enthusiastic group of people that, in an atmosphere of friendship and collaboration, constantly supported me along the “PhD- journey”. I would say thanks to my supervisors Olivier Duriez, Leonida Fusani, David Grémillet and Andrea Sforzi which have equally contributed to lay the foundation for such successful project with their important scientific contribution and practical suggestions. Thank you for untangling the task concerning the joint supervision and for giving me confidence, freedom in work and have passionately supported the ideas of the project since the beginning. Each story has a starting point: how not remember the meeting with David during one of the hottest days in the Corsican summer of 2010, the preliminary brainstorming on ospreys with Olivier in the magnificent scenery of the canyon of the Grand Causses staring at his vultures, the long walks with Leonida on the snowy ancient walls of Ferrara in winter and the talks with Andrea along the banks of the Ombrone river turning the gaze and thoughts, towards the river mouth, the sea… and more far away. Thanks, you had a strong influence on this thesis and you deeply contributed to make such a wonderful experience. Thanks to the three reviewers that will spend time in reading this manuscript: Fran ҫois Sarrazin, Matteo Griggio and Anders P. Tøttrup. Thanks to the coordinator of the doctoral school of the University of Ferrara, Guido Barbujani and to the administrative personnel, Lorenzo Ravaglia and Lena Fabbri. Massimiliano Lunedei, of the Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, was of great help for administrative paperwork. Thanks to the ancient and new director of the Ecole Doctorale Sibaghe (Montpellier), Bernard Godelle and Michel Lebrun and its administrative personnel, Joelle Lopez and Cendrine Jay-Allemand. I also deeply thank the whole organigram of the Fundation Prince Albert II de Monaco for funding this project and in particular Hélène El Missouri, Project Administrator, for her involvement. I am also grateful to the whole personnel of the Universitá Italo 7 Francese/Université Franco Italienne; the institution contributed with a mobility grant from the “Bando Vinci”. Dr. Clarisse Bouillot followed the administrative procedures. I am very grateful to Thomas Alerstam and Raymond H.G. Klaassen for the inspiring discussions about migration during my stay at the University of Lund (Sweden). Thanks to your previous work on ospreys and all your data you kindly shared, it was possible to compare migratory strategies of different populations and discuss them within an evolutionary context. For me, it was the most fascinating and stimulating chapter of the thesis. Thanks to Michael U. Kemp, of the University of Amsterdam, for tips on his own R package for calculating tailwind. Knud Andreas Jønsson, Anders P. Tøttrup, Kasper Thorup and Ran Nathan for organizing and accepting me in the Dispersal Symposium, during the International Ornithological Conference in Tokyo (Japan) in 2014. They also organized a very nice dinner at a Japanese restaurant. During international meetings and summer schools an Italian colleague and friend, Giacomo Dell’Omo, was always present being of great help for general advices before oral presentations. Special Acknowledgements (samples and ringing network): We thank all the colleagues that kindly provided osprey samples: Pertti Saurola, Harri Koskinen and Juhani Koivu (Finland), Urmas Sellis (Estonia), Aigars Kalv āns (Latvia), Miroslav V. Babushkin and Vladimir V. Ivanovsky (Russia), Martin Haase and Daniel Schmidt (Germany), Rolf Wahl, Fran ҫois Gossmann and Eric Pasquet (France), Luis Palma and Ursula Hofle Hansen (Portugal), Manuel Siverio (Canary islands), Pedro López-Suárez (Cape Verde), Houssine Nibani (Morocco), Rafel Triay (Balearic islands). A special thanks to Yula Kapetanakos and Alan Poole (Cornell lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, USA) for collecting and performing free analyses of 10 samples from USA. Many thanks are also addressed to the following museums and birds’ collection curators that allowed us to collect samples from their collection: Mark Adams (Natural History Museum of London; UK), Steven van der Mije and Bechy Desjardins (Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis of Leiden), Isao Nishiumi (National Museum of Nature and Science of Amakubo; Japan), Mikhail Kalyakin, Pavel Tomkovitch, Yaroslav Red’kin (Zoological Museum of Moscow; Russia), Guillermo Delgado (Museo de la Naturaleza y el Hombre of Tenerife Island; Spain) and Enrico Borgo (Museo Civico
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Systematics of Zoothera Thrushes, and a Synthesis of True Thrush Molecular Systematic Relationships
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 49 (2008) 377–381 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Short Communication Systematics of Zoothera thrushes, and a synthesis of true thrush molecular systematic relationships Gary Voelker a,*, John Klicka b a Department of Biology, University of Memphis, 3700 Walker Avenue, Memphis, TN 38152, USA b Barrick Museum of Natural History, Box 454012, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4504 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4012, USA 1. Introduction Questions regarding inter-specific relationships remain within both Catharus and Myadestes. At the inter-generic level, Klicka The true thrushes (Turdinae; Sibley and Monroe, 1990) are a et al. (2005) conducted analyses of true thrush relationships, using speciose lineage of songbirds, with a near-cosmopolitan distribu- the Sialia–Myadestes–Neocossyphus clade (hereafter referred to as tion. Following the systematic placement of true thrushes as a the ‘‘Sialia clade”) as the outgroup. While clearly a true thrush line- close relative of Old World flycatchers and chats (Muscicapinae) age, the Sialia clade is very divergent from other true thrush lin- by the DNA–DNA hybridization work of Sibley and Ahlquist eages. Homoplasy caused by the use of this divergent clade as a (1990), a number of molecular systematic studies have focused root could explain at least some of the as yet unresolved inter-gen- on various aspects of true thrush relationships. These studies have eric relationships within true thrushes. included phylogenetic assessments of genera membership in true Our main objective in this study is to use dense taxon sampling thrushes, assessments of relationships among and within true across true thrushes to resolve inter- and intra-generic relation- thrush genera, and the recognition of ‘‘new” species (Bowie et al., ships that remain unclear.
    [Show full text]
  • Systematic and Taxonomic Issues Concerning Some East African Bird Species, Notably Those Where Treatment Varies Between Authors
    Scopus 34: 1–23, January 2015 Systematic and taxonomic issues concerning some East African bird species, notably those where treatment varies between authors Donald A. Turner and David J. Pearson Summary The taxonomy of various East African bird species is discussed. Fourteen of the non- passerines and forty-eight of the passerines listed in Britton (1980) are considered, with reference to treatments by various subsequent authors. Twenty-three species splits are recommended from the treatment in Britton (op. cit.), and one lump, the inclusion of Jackson’s Hornbill Tockus jacksoni as a race of T. deckeni. Introduction With a revision of Britton (1980) now nearing completion, this is the first of two pa- pers highlighting the complexities that surround some East African bird species. All appear in Britton in one form or another, but since that landmark publication our knowledge of East African birds has increased considerably, and with the advances in DNA sequencing, our understanding of avian systematics and taxonomy is con- tinually moving forward. A tidal wave of phylogenetic studies in the last decade has revolutionized our understanding of the higher-level relationships of birds. Taxa pre- viously regarded as quite distantly related have been brought together in new clas- sifications and some major groups have been split asunder (Knox 2014). As a result we are seeing the familiar order of families and species in field guides and checklists plunged into turmoil. The speed at which molecular papers are being published continues at an unprec- edented rate. We must remember, however, that while many molecular results may indicate a relationship, they do not necessarily prove one.
    [Show full text]
  • Ultimate Kenya
    A pair of fantastic Sokoke Scops Owls. (DLV). All photos taken by DLV during the tour. ULTIMATE KENYA 1 – 20 / 25 APRIL 2017 LEADER: DANI LOPEZ-VELASCO Kenya lived up to its reputation of being one of the most diverse birding destinations on our planet. Once again, our Ultimate Kenya recorded a mind-boggling total of more than 750 species. This was despite the fact that we were prioritizing Kenyan specialities (a task in which we were extremely successful) rather than going all out for a huge list! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Kenya www.birdquest-tours.com The first leg of our epic adventure saw us focusing on the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest where the birding is tough but the rewards are great. Over the course of the two and a half days our talented local guide helped us find all of the main specialities, with the exception of the difficult Clarke’s Weavers, which were presumably on their recently discovered breeding grounds in marshes to the north. Crested Guineafowl and Northern Carmine Bee-eater. We spent much time creeping along sandy tracks, gradually finding our targets one by one. We succeeded in getting great views of a number of skulkers, including a rather showy East Coast Akalat on our last afternoon, some reclusive Eastern Bearded Scrub Robins, a very obliging Red-tailed Ant Thrush and skulking Fischer’s and Tiny Greenbuls. Once in the Brachystegia we kept our eyes and ears open for roving flocks of flock-leader Retz’s and Chestnut-fronted Helmet Shrikes, and with these we found awkward Mombasa Woodpeckers and a single Green-backed Woodpecker, and a variety of smaller species including Black-headed Apalis, Green Barbet, Eastern Green Tinkerbird, dainty Little Yellow Flycatchers, Forest Batis, Pale Batis, cracking little Amani and Plain-backed Sunbirds and Dark-backed Weaver.
    [Show full text]
  • Defying-Extinction.Pdf
    Defying Extinction PartnershiPs to safeguard global biodiversity EDITED BY LISA FITZPATRICK FOREWORD BY MONIQUE BARBUT • INTRODUCTION BY GUSTAVO A. B. da FONSECA Of all environmental ills, biodiversity loss is the only one likely to be irreversible. Unfortunately, biodiversity is being lost today at a scale that will threaten the life-support systems that sustain societies and economies, particularly in the developing world. The Global Environment Facility was established as the financial mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity, helping developing and transition countries to meet their bold commitments before this international accord. Since 1991, the GEF has invested over $2.9 billion, leveraging $8.3 billion in co-financing, to support implementation of more than 1000 projects in more than 155 countries, to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. Copyright © 2010 by EIFE/iLCP Global Environment Facility All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio, television, or online reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Published in the United States by Earth in Focus Editions 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22202 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN 978-0-9841686-5-1 Defying Extinction: Partnerships to Safeguard Global Biodiversity Edited by Lisa Fitzpatrick www.ilcp.com Publisher/Director: Abbie Williams, Earth in Focus Editions–A Division of iLCP Designer: Stefan Gutermuth Senior Editor/Writer: Lisa Fitzpatrick Text copyright © 2010 Earth in Focus Editions–iLCP Published in partnership with the GEF and its respective partners and agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Taita Hills Biodiversity Project Report
    TAITA HILLS BIODIVERSITY PROJECT REPORT Compiled by Benny Bytebier Project Co-ordinator National Museums of Kenya January 2001 This report should be cited as Bytebier, B. 2001. Taita Hills Biodiversity Project Report. National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi. Cover Picture Ronald Mulwa and Taita White-eye, Zosterops (poliogaster) silvanus Photograph by Thierry Geenen Taita Hills Biodiversity Project Report TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. THBP Project Fact Sheet 7 2. Executive Summary 9 2.1. Introduction 9 2.2. Project History 9 2.3. Ornithology research component 11 2.3.1. Effects of forest fragmentation on the bird fauna 11 2.3.2. Ecology of the Taita Thrush 12 2.3.3. Ecology of the Taita White-eye 12 2.3.4. Ecology of the Taita Apalis 12 2.4. Mammalogy research component 13 2.5. Invertebrate zoology research component 14 2.6. Botany research component 16 2.7. Other research 18 2.8. Training 19 2.9. Conclusions 20 3. Research 23 3.1. Introduction 23 3.2. Study area 23 3.2.1. Dabida 24 3.2.2. Mbololo 24 3.2.3. Mount Sagala 24 3.2.4. Mount Kasigau 25 3.3. Ornithological research 27 3.3.1. The effects of forest fragmentation on the forest- dependent birds of the Taita Hills 29 3.3.1.1. Introduction 29 3.3.1.2. Aims and objectives 29 3.3.1.3. Material and methods 30 3.3.1.4. Collaborators 31 3.3.1.5. Time frame of activities 31 3.3.1.6. Results 32 3.3.1.7.
    [Show full text]
  • Breeding Biology of an Endemic Bornean Turdid, the Fruithunter (Chlamydochaera Jefferyi), and Life History Comparisons with Turdus Species of the World
    The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 129(1):36–45, 2017 BREEDING BIOLOGY OF AN ENDEMIC BORNEAN TURDID, THE FRUITHUNTER (CHLAMYDOCHAERA JEFFERYI), AND LIFE HISTORY COMPARISONS WITH TURDUS SPECIES OF THE WORLD ADAM E. MITCHELL,1,4 FRED TUH,2 AND THOMAS E. MARTIN3 ABSTRACT.—We present the first description of the breeding biology for the Fruithunter (Chlamydochaera jefferyi), a member of the cosmopolitan family Turdidae, and a montane endemic to the tropical Asian island of Borneo. We also compile breeding biology traits from the literature to make comparisons between the Fruithunter and the thrush genus Turdus. Our comparisons indicate that Fruithunters exhibit a slower life history strategy than both tropical and north temperate Turdus. We located and monitored 42 nests in 7 years in Kinabalu Park, Sabah, Malaysia. The mean clutch size was 1.89 6 0.08 eggs, and the modal clutch size was 2 eggs. Mean fresh egg mass was 6.15 6 0.13 g, representing 9.5% of adult female body mass. Average lengths of incubation and nestling periods were 14.56 6 0.24 and 17.83 6 0.31 days respectively. Only the female incubated and brooded the eggs and nestlings, but both the male and female fed nestlings. Female attentiveness during incubation was high throughout, reaching an asymptote around 85% with average on-bouts of 39.0 6 2.5 mins. The daily nest survival probability was 0.951 6 0.025, and the daily predation rate was 0.045 6 0.024. Female feeding rate increased as brooding effort decreased, suggesting that female feeding rate may be constrained by the need to provide heat while nestlings are unable to thermoregulate.
    [Show full text]
  • The Birds (Aves) of Oromia, Ethiopia – an Annotated Checklist
    European Journal of Taxonomy 306: 1–69 ISSN 2118-9773 https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.306 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2017 · Gedeon K. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Monograph urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A32EAE51-9051-458A-81DD-8EA921901CDC The birds (Aves) of Oromia, Ethiopia – an annotated checklist Kai GEDEON 1,*, Chemere ZEWDIE 2 & Till TÖPFER 3 1 Saxon Ornithologists’ Society, P.O. Box 1129, 09331 Hohenstein-Ernstthal, Germany. 2 Oromia Forest and Wildlife Enterprise, P.O. Box 1075, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. 3 Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Centre for Taxonomy and Evolutionary Research, Adenauerallee 160, 53113 Bonn, Germany. * Corresponding author: [email protected] 2 Email: [email protected] 3 Email: [email protected] 1 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:F46B3F50-41E2-4629-9951-778F69A5BBA2 2 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:F59FEDB3-627A-4D52-A6CB-4F26846C0FC5 3 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:A87BE9B4-8FC6-4E11-8DB4-BDBB3CFBBEAA Abstract. Oromia is the largest National Regional State of Ethiopia. Here we present the fi rst comprehensive checklist of its birds. A total of 804 bird species has been recorded, 601 of them confi rmed (443) or assumed (158) to be breeding birds. At least 561 are all-year residents (and 31 more potentially so), at least 73 are Afrotropical migrants and visitors (and 44 more potentially so), and 184 are Palaearctic migrants and visitors (and eight more potentially so). Three species are endemic to Oromia, 18 to Ethiopia and 43 to the Horn of Africa. 170 Oromia bird species are biome restricted: 57 to the Afrotropical Highlands biome, 95 to the Somali-Masai biome, and 18 to the Sudan-Guinea Savanna biome.
    [Show full text]
  • Molecular Systematics of a Speciose, Cosmopolitan Songbird Genus: Defining the Limits Of, and Relationships Among, the Turdus Th
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42 (2007) 422–434 www.elsevier.com/locate/ympev Molecular systematics of a speciose, cosmopolitan songbird genus: DeWning the limits of, and relationships among, the Turdus thrushes Gary Voelker a,¤, Sievert Rohwer b, Rauri C.K. Bowie c,1, Diana C. Outlaw a a Department of Biology, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA b Burke Museum and Department of Biology, Box 353010, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA c DST-NRF Centre of Excellence at the FitzPatrick Institute, Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa Received 9 May 2006; revised 6 July 2006; accepted 25 July 2006 Available online 3 August 2006 Abstract The avian genus Turdus is one of the most speciose and widespread of passerine genera. We investigated phylogenetic relationships within this genus using mitochondrial DNA sequence data from the ND3, ND2 and cytochrome b genes. Our sampling of Turdus included 60 of the 65 extant species currently recognized, as well as all four species from three genera previously shown to fall inside Tur- dus (Platycichla, Nesocichla, and Cichlherminia). Phylogenetic trees based on maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony algorithms were congruent. Most of the Turdus taxa sampled fall into one of four clades: an African clade, a Central American-Caribbean clade, a largely South American clade, and a Eurasian clade. Still other taxa are placed either at the base of Turdus, or as links between clades. In no instance is any continent reciprocally monophyletic for the species distributed on it. A general lack of nodal support near the base of the phylogeny seems related to a rapid intercontinental establishment of the major clades within Turdus very early in the history of the genus.
    [Show full text]
  • Globally Threatened Biodiversity of the Eastern Arc Mountains and Coastal Forests of Kenya and Tanzania
    Journal of East African Natural History 105(1): 115–201 (2016) GLOBALLY THREATENED BIODIVERSITY OF THE EASTERN ARC MOUNTAINS AND COASTAL FORESTS OF KENYA AND TANZANIA Roy E. Gereau Missouri Botanical Garden P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63116-0299, USA [email protected] Neil Cumberlidge Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University Marquette, MI 49855-5376, USA [email protected] Claudia Hemp Department of Animal Ecology & Tropical Biology Biocenter University of Würzburg am Hubland 97074 Würzburg, Germany [email protected] Axel Hochkirch Biogeography, Trier University 54286 Trier, Germany [email protected] Trevor Jones Southern Tanzania Elephant Program P.O. Box 2494, Iringa, Tanzania [email protected] Mercy Kariuki Africa Partnership Secretariat, BirdLife International P.O. Box 3502-00100, Nairobi, Kenya [email protected] Charles N. Lange Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya [email protected] Simon P. Loader Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton London, SW15 4JD, United Kingdom [email protected] Patrick K. Malonza Zoology Department, National Museums of Kenya 116 R.E. Gereau et al. P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya [email protected] Michele Menegon Tropical Biodiversity Section, MUSE—Museo delle Scienze Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 38122 Trento, Italy [email protected] P. Kariuki Ndang’ang’a Africa Partnership Secretariat, BirdLife International P.O. Box 3502-00100, Nairobi, Kenya [email protected] Francesco Rovero Tropical Biodiversity Section, MUSE—Museo delle Scienze Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3 38122 Trento, Italy Udzungwa Ecological Monitoring Centre Udzungwa Mountains National Park P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Kenya: the Coolest Trip in Africa
    Kenya: The Coolest Trip in Africa Set Departure Tour: May 9th to May 31st 2013 Tour Leader: Adam Scott Kennedy Tour driver and local guide: John Chege Tour Participants: J.L. & Nancy Walter and Mike Walsh Kenya: The Coolest Trip in Africa May 9-31, 2013 Introduction Kenya is a mind-blowing birding destination at any time of year but our May departure was especially well-timed. Not only did we enjoy the best weather imaginable, but we arrived in time to see a majority of resident birds in full breeding plumage, intra-African migrants just arriving, and we even caught the tail-end of the Palearctic migration, particularly good on the wader front. This classic set departure tour covered the vast array of habitats to be found within Kenya, through the verdant Guinea-Congolese rainforest at Kakamega; the Afro-montane forests of Mount Kenya, the Aberdares and Taita Hills; the very full Rift Valley lakes and papyrus swamps of Lake Victoria; the endless plains of the Masai Maral; the semi-arid bush of Tsavo East and West; and finally the bird- rich coastal forest of Arabuko-Sokoke. In total, we recorded 603 bird species, of which 582 were seen and, as is usual, we missed some typically “easy” species but made up for it with great views of some very tricky species instead – that’s birding for you! It should be mentioned that this was a relaxed tour with no ridiculously early starts or very late finishes; instead, we took our time and enjoyed our birding and, with three keen photographers on-board, we made the most of the fabulous encounters that came our way.
    [Show full text]
  • The Conservation Status of the Forest Birds of the Taita Hills, Kenya THOMAS BROOKS, LUC LENS, JIM BARNES, ROGER BARNES, JOHN KAGECHE KIHURIA and CHRISTINE WILDER
    Bird Conservation International (1998) 8:119-139. © BirdLife International 1998 The conservation status of the forest birds of the Taita Hills, Kenya THOMAS BROOKS, LUC LENS, JIM BARNES, ROGER BARNES, JOHN KAGECHE KIHURIA and CHRISTINE WILDER Summary The forests of the Taita Hills of south-east Kenya are of great importance to conservation, holding three endemic birds and many other endemic taxa. We surveyed birds in their remaining forest fragments in July-August 1996, and followed up these surveys with collection of remote sensing imagery of the area, an assessment of museum specimens and a thorough literature review. In this paper we assess the conservation status in the Taita Hills of their 47 species of forest birds. We conclude with general recommendations for the conservation of the area. Introduction Recent taxonomic changes have thrust the forests of the Taita Hills of south-east Kenya into conservation infamy, for three of their endemic bird taxa are now considered full species and listed as Critical by Collar et al. (1994). The forests, which presently cover less than 400 ha, are included in an Endemic Bird Area with the Eastern Arc mountains of Tanzania (Stattersfield et al. 1997), with which they have close biogeographical affinities (Lovett 1985). Despite this importance for conservation, however, there has never been a detailed study of the area's avifauna. We studied birds in the remaining forest patches of the Taita Hills in July-August 1996, as part of a wider project to assess the times to extinction of bird species following deforestation. We aim here to use our results to provide baseline data on the conservation status of the forest birds of the Taita Hills.
    [Show full text]