DOCSLIB.ORG

Redfaced Mousebird They Overlap, It Is More Frequently Observed Foraging in Rooiwangmuisvoël Monospecific Flocks

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Redfaced Mousebird They Overlap, It Is More Frequently Observed Foraging in Rooiwangmuisvoël Monospecific Flocks 636 Coliidae: mousebirds unpredictably (Rowan 1967), particularly in drier areas (Herremans & Herremans-Tonnoeyr 1994a). Furthermore, it varies in abundance between years in the southwestern Cape Province (Rowan 1967; Hockey et al. 1989). Breeding: There are records throughout the year, with a marked spring/summer (September–January) peak in breeding in most of southern Africa. Breeding is earlier in the southwestern Cape Prov- ince (Zone 4) and in Zimbabwe (Zone 5), peaking September–October, while it is progressively later in the east with increasing latitude. The atlas data agree with previous information on breeding sea- sonality (Winterbottom 1968a; Dean 1971; Irwin 1981; Tarboton et al. 1987b). Interspecific relationships: It overlaps widely with Speckled Colius striatus and Whitebacked C. colius Mousebirds. It generally occurs in drier woodlands than the Speckled Mousebird, and also occurs in a wider range of vegetation types than both the Speckled and Whitebacked Mousebirds. Where Redfaced Mousebird they overlap, it is more frequently observed foraging in Rooiwangmuisvoël monospecific flocks. Historical distribution and conservation: The distri- Urocolius indicus bution has not changed substantially from that given by Rowan (1967), and there is no evidence of local extinctions The Redfaced Mousebird is widespread in savanna wood- or gross changes in range. However, atlas records suggest lands in Africa south of the equator. It is widely distributed that it is less continuously distributed along the Orange in southern Africa, but only sparsely in the western Karoo River than previously (Rowan 1967) and may indicate interior and arid savanna on granitic sands. It enters the changes in the distribution in this area, where Whitebacked northern Namib Desert via the larger westward-flowing Mousebird is now more common. ephemeral rivers, occurring almost to the coast along the The Redfaced Mousebird is not threatened in any part Kuiseb River. There were relatively few records from the of its range in southern Africa. eastern Transvaal and Swaziland highveld grassland, and W.R.J. Dean the grasslands of the KwaZulu-Natal interior, Lesotho and Transkei. Four subspecies are recognized in southern Africa (Clancey 1980b), and the northernmost U. i. mossambicus Recorded in 2675 grid cells, 59.0% along the Zambezi Valley appears marginally separated Total number of records: 37 489 from the other races. From Tanzania northwards and Mean reporting rate for range: 29.1% throughout the northern savannas to West Africa it is replaced by a close relative, the Bluenaped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus (Fry et al. 1988). It usually occurs in small flocks of 3–10 birds (Tarboton Reporting rates for vegetation types et al. 1987b; Penry 1994; pers. obs.), but sometimes up to % 02550 20 (Maclean 1993b). This is a distinctive species, and con- fusion between it and other mousebirds is unlikely in Miombo 42.3 southern Africa; the atlas data can be considered reliable. Moist Woodland 42.3 Habitat: Like other mousebirds in southern Africa, its Central Kalahari 36.8 distribution and occurrence in certain vegetation types Arid Woodland 36.6 have been influenced by the presence of suburban gardens, Sweet Grasslands 36.6 fruit farming and irrigated agriculture, and this may be the Okavango 34.4 cause of the relatively high reporting rates from the Sweet, Grassy Karoo 32.1 Mixed and Sour Grasslands. It is commonest in savanna Nama Karoo 29.5 woodlands, and was most frequently reported from rela- Mixed Grasslands 25.0 tively moist woodlands; but it occurs in all types of wood- Valley Bushveld 24.7 land and shrubland, avoiding only forest and open grass- Sour Grasslands 22.9 land. In the southern Karoo, it forages in dwarf shrublands Mopane 21.8 and feeds at isolated fruiting shrubs well away from Northern Kalahari 17.5 wooded drainage lines. It occurs in thickets of alien Aca- Fynbos 16.7 cia spp. and roosts in eucalypts in the southwestern Cape Succulent Karoo 16.0 Province (Rowan 1967; Hockey et al. 1989). Namibian Escarpment 12.7 Movements: The models show some evidence of sea- Southern Kalahari 11.3 sonal movements, with lower reporting rates in the drier E Zimbabwe Highlands 10.4 western interior (Zone 3) and higher reporting rates in the East Coast Littoral 8.2 moister east (Zone 7) in winter. Like other mousebirds, it Namib 6.7 is locally nomadic, and flocks may move about somewhat Afromontane Forest 6.0 Coliidae: mousebirds 637 14˚ REDFACED MOUSEBIRD 5 1 18˚ 22˚ 2 6 26˚ 3 7 30˚ Reporting rate (%) > 38.5 18.8 — 38.5 2.0 — 18.7 < 2.0 34˚ 4 8 18˚ 22˚ 26˚ 14˚ 30˚ 10˚ 34˚ 40 40 1 5 20 20 40 40 2 6 20 20 40 40 3 7 20 20 40 Occurrence reporting rate (%) 40 4 8 Breeding reporting rate (%) 20 20 J ASONDJ FMAMJ J ASONDJ FMAMJ Models of seasonality for Zones. Number of records (top to bottom, left to right): Occurrence: 410, 264, 810, 1580, 2785, 3711, 3748, 893; Breeding: 7, 8, 17, 31, 30, 69, 90, 20..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kenya Soe Ch4 A
    PART 2 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT 61 CHAPTER BIODIVERSITY4 Introduction The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defi nes biodiversity as Kenya’s rich biodiversity Lead Authors ‘the variability among living organisms from all sources including, can be attributed to a number Ali A. Ali and Monday S. Businge among others, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and of factors, including a long Contributing Authors S. M. Mutune, Jane Kibwage, Ivy Achieng, the ecological complexes of which they are part [and] includes diversity evolutionary history, variable Godfrey Mwangi, David Ongare, Fred Baraza, within species, between species and of ecosystems.’ Biodiversity climatic conditions, and diverse Teresa Muthui, Lawrence M. Ndiga, Nick Mugi therefore comprises genetic and species diversity of animals and plants habitat types and ecosystems. Reviewer as well as ecosystem diversity. Kenya is endowed with an enormous The major biodiversity Nathan Gichuki diversity of ecosystems and wildlife species which live in the terrestrial, concentration sites fall within aquatic and aerial environment. These biological resources are the existing protected areas fundamental to national prosperity as a source of food, medicines, network (national parks, reserves and sanctuaries) which are mostly energy, shelter, employment and foreign exchange. For instance, managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS). However, over 70 percent agricultural productivity and development are dependent on the of the national biodiversity occurs outside the protected areas. availability of a wide variety of plant and animal genetic resources and In spite of its immense biotic capital, Kenya experiences severe on the existence of functional ecological systems, especially those that ecological and socio-economic problems.
    [Show full text]
  • Landscape Heterogeneity Shapes Taxonomic Diversity of Non-Breeding Birds Across Fragmented Savanna Landscapes
    Landscape heterogeneity shapes taxonomic diversity of non-breeding birds across fragmented savanna landscapes ✉ Alison Ke, 1,2 Phone 215­582­4848 Email [email protected] Muzi D. Sibiya, 3 Email [email protected] Chevonne Reynolds, 1,4,5,7 Email [email protected] Robert A. McCleery, 1 Email [email protected] Ara Monadjem, 3,6 Email [email protected] Robert J. Fletcher, Jr 1 1 Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611­0430 USA 2 Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, 94720 USA 3 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Swaziland, Kwaluseni, M201 Swaziland 4 Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology (PFIAO), DST/NRF Centre of Excellence, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701 South Africa 5 Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation, Department of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701 South Africa 6 Department of Zoology & Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa 7 Present Address: School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, 2001 South Africa Received: 11 July 2017 / Accepted: 23 May 2018 Abstract There is an ongoing need to integrate agricultural production with wildlife conservation to maintain biodiversity, especially in developing countries. The landscape heterogeneity hypothesis identifies a potential means for promoting biodiversity in agricultural landscapes by emphasizing that increasing heterogeneity can increase biodiversity. However, the importance of landscape heterogeneity relative to habitat amount and vegetation structure is poorly understood, particularly regarding the relative importance of different components of landscape heterogeneity.
    [Show full text]
  • Onetouch 4.0 Scanned Documents
    / Chapter 2 THE FOSSIL RECORD OF BIRDS Storrs L. Olson Department of Vertebrate Zoology National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC. I. Introduction 80 II. Archaeopteryx 85 III. Early Cretaceous Birds 87 IV. Hesperornithiformes 89 V. Ichthyornithiformes 91 VI. Other Mesozojc Birds 92 VII. Paleognathous Birds 96 A. The Problem of the Origins of Paleognathous Birds 96 B. The Fossil Record of Paleognathous Birds 104 VIII. The "Basal" Land Bird Assemblage 107 A. Opisthocomidae 109 B. Musophagidae 109 C. Cuculidae HO D. Falconidae HI E. Sagittariidae 112 F. Accipitridae 112 G. Pandionidae 114 H. Galliformes 114 1. Family Incertae Sedis Turnicidae 119 J. Columbiformes 119 K. Psittaciforines 120 L. Family Incertae Sedis Zygodactylidae 121 IX. The "Higher" Land Bird Assemblage 122 A. Coliiformes 124 B. Coraciiformes (Including Trogonidae and Galbulae) 124 C. Strigiformes 129 D. Caprimulgiformes 132 E. Apodiformes 134 F. Family Incertae Sedis Trochilidae 135 G. Order Incertae Sedis Bucerotiformes (Including Upupae) 136 H. Piciformes 138 I. Passeriformes 139 X. The Water Bird Assemblage 141 A. Gruiformes 142 B. Family Incertae Sedis Ardeidae 165 79 Avian Biology, Vol. Vlll ISBN 0-12-249408-3 80 STORES L. OLSON C. Family Incertae Sedis Podicipedidae 168 D. Charadriiformes 169 E. Anseriformes 186 F. Ciconiiformes 188 G. Pelecaniformes 192 H. Procellariiformes 208 I. Gaviiformes 212 J. Sphenisciformes 217 XI. Conclusion 217 References 218 I. Introduction Avian paleontology has long been a poor stepsister to its mammalian counterpart, a fact that may be attributed in some measure to an insufRcien- cy of qualified workers and to the absence in birds of heterodont teeth, on which the greater proportion of the fossil record of mammals is founded.
    [Show full text]
  • Collation of Brisson's Genera of Birds with Those of Linnaeus
    59. 82:01 Article XXVII. COLLATION OF BRISSON'S GENERA OF BIRDS WITH THOSE OF LINNAEUS. BY J. A. ALLEN. CONTENTS. Page. Introduction ....................... 317 Brisson not greatly indebted to Linnaeus. 319 Linneus's indebtedness to Brisson .... .. ... .. 320 Brisson's methods and resources . .. 320 Brisson's genera . 322 Brisson and Linnaeus statistically compared .. .. .. 324 Brisson's 'Ornithologia' compared with the Aves of the tenth edition of Lin- naeus's 'Systema'. 325 Brisson's new genera and their Linnwan equivalents . 327 Brisson's new names for Linnaan genera . 330 Linnaean (1764 and 1766) new names for Brissonian genera . 330 Brissonian names adopted. by Linnaeus . 330 Brissonian names wrongly ascribed to other authors in Sharpe's 'Handlist of Birds'.330 The relation of six Brissonian genera to Linnlean genera . 332 Mergus Linn. and Merganser Briss. 332 Meleagris Linn. and Gallopavo Briss. 332 Alcedo Linn. and Ispida Briss... .. 332 Cotinga Briss. and Ampelis Linn. .. 333 Coracias Linn. and Galgulus Briss.. 333 Tangara Briss. and Tanagra Linn... ... 334 INTRODUCTION. In considering recently certain questions of ornithological nomenclature it became necessary to examine the works of Brisson and Linnaeus in con- siderable detail and this-examination finally led to a careful collation of Brisson's 'Ornithologia,' published in 1760, with the sixth, tenth, and twelfth editions of Linnaeus's 'Systema Naturae,' published respectively in 1748, 1758, and 1766. As every systematic ornithologist has had occasion to learn, Linnaeus's treatment of the class Aves was based on very imperfect knowledge of the suabject. As is well-known, this great systematist was primarily a botanist, secondarily a zoologist, and only incidentally a mammalogist and ornithol- ogist.
    [Show full text]
  • Bontebok Birds
    Birds recorded in the Bontebok National Park 8 Little Grebe 446 European Roller 55 White-breasted Cormorant 451 African Hoopoe 58 Reed Cormorant 465 Acacia Pied Barbet 60 African Darter 469 Red-fronted Tinkerbird * 62 Grey Heron 474 Greater Honeyguide 63 Black-headed Heron 476 Lesser Honeyguide 65 Purple Heron 480 Ground Woodpecker 66 Great Egret 486 Cardinal Woodpecker 68 Yellow-billed Egret 488 Olive Woodpecker 71 Cattle Egret 494 Rufous-naped Lark * 81 Hamerkop 495 Cape Clapper Lark 83 White Stork n/a Agulhas Longbilled Lark 84 Black Stork 502 Karoo Lark 91 African Sacred Ibis 504 Red Lark * 94 Hadeda Ibis 506 Spike-heeled Lark 95 African Spoonbill 507 Red-capped Lark 102 Egyptian Goose 512 Thick-billed Lark 103 South African Shelduck 518 Barn Swallow 104 Yellow-billed Duck 520 White-throated Swallow 105 African Black Duck 523 Pearl-breasted Swallow 106 Cape Teal 526 Greater Striped Swallow 108 Red-billed Teal 529 Rock Martin 112 Cape Shoveler 530 Common House-Martin 113 Southern Pochard 533 Brown-throated Martin 116 Spur-winged Goose 534 Banded Martin 118 Secretarybird 536 Black Sawwing 122 Cape Vulture 541 Fork-tailed Drongo 126 Black (Yellow-billed) Kite 547 Cape Crow 127 Black-shouldered Kite 548 Pied Crow 131 Verreauxs' Eagle 550 White-necked Raven 136 Booted Eagle 551 Grey Tit 140 Martial Eagle 557 Cape Penduline-Tit 148 African Fish-Eagle 566 Cape Bulbul 149 Steppe Buzzard 572 Sombre Greenbul 152 Jackal Buzzard 577 Olive Thrush 155 Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk 582 Sentinel Rock-Thrush 158 Black Sparrowhawk 587 Capped Wheatear
    [Show full text]
  • Mousebirds Tle Focus Has Been Placed Upon Them
    at all, in private aviculture, and only a few zoos have them in their col1ec­ tions. According to the ISIS report of September 1998, Red-hacks are not to be found in any USA collections. This is unfortunate as all six species have been imported in the past although lit­ Mousebirds tle focus has been placed upon them. Hopeful1y this will change in the for the New Millennium upcoming years. Speckled Mousebirds by Kateri J. Davis, Sacramento, CA Speckled Mousebirds Colius striatus, also known as Bar-breasted or Striated, are the most common mousebirds in crops and frequent village gardens. USA private and zoological aviculture he word is slowly spreading; They are considered a pest bird by today. There are 17 subspecies, differ­ mousebirds make great many Africans and destroyed as such. ing mainly in color of the legs, eyes, T aviary birds and, surprising­ Luckily, so far none of the mousebird throat, and cheek patches or ear ly, great household pets. Although still species are endangered or listed on coverts. They have reddish brown body generally unknown, they are the up­ CITES even though some of them have plumage with dark barrings and a very and-coming pet bird of the new mil­ naturally small ranges. wide, long, stiff tail. Their feathering is lennium. They share many ofthe qual­ Mousebirds are not closely related to soft and easily damaged. They have a ities ofsmall pet parrots, but lack many any other bird species, although they soft chattering cal1 and are the most of their vices, which helps explain share traits with parrots.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant-Frugivore Interactions in a Heterogeneous Forest Landscape of South Africa
    Plant-frugivore interactions in a heterogeneous forest landscape of South Africa Dissertation In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of a Doctorate Degree in Natural Sciences (Dr. rer. nat) The Faculty of Biology, Philipps-University of Marburg Lackson Chama, MSc Sinazongwe (Zambia) June 2012, Marburg From the Faculty of Biology, Philipps-University Marburg als Dissertation am angenommen. Dekan: Prof. Dr. Paul Galland Erstgutachterin: Prof. Dr. N. Farwig Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. R. Brandl Tag der Disputation: 25th June 2012 Dedicated to my son, Mishila, who’s first two years on earth I was hardly part of, due to my commitment towards this work. Contents CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 3 EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON FOREST BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................................................ 4 PLANT-FRUGIVORE INTERACTIONS IN CHANGING LANDSCAPES .................................................................................................. 5 THE ROLE OF FUNCTIONAL DIVERSITY IN FRUGIVORE COMMUNITIES ........................................................................................... 5 EFFECTS OF SEED INGESTION BY FRUGIVOROUS BIRDS ON GERMINATION SUCCESS ........................................................................ 6 AIMS OF THE THESIS .........................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Leptosomiformes ~ Trogoniformes ~ Bucerotiformes ~ Piciformes
    Birds of the World part 6 Afroaves The core landbirds originating in Africa TELLURAVES: AFROAVES – core landbirds originating in Africa (8 orders) • ORDER ACCIPITRIFORMES – hawks and allies (4 families, 265 species) – Family Cathartidae – New World vultures (7 species) – Family Sagittariidae – secretarybird (1 species) – Family Pandionidae – ospreys (2 species) – Family Accipitridae – kites, hawks, and eagles (255 species) • ORDER STRIGIFORMES – owls (2 families, 241 species) – Family Tytonidae – barn owls (19 species) – Family Strigidae – owls (222 species) • ORDER COLIIFORMES (1 family, 6 species) – Family Coliidae – mousebirds (6 species) • ORDER LEPTOSOMIFORMES (1 family, 1 species) – Family Leptosomidae – cuckoo-roller (1 species) • ORDER TROGONIFORMES (1 family, 43 species) – Family Trogonidae – trogons (43 species) • ORDER BUCEROTIFORMES – hornbills and hoopoes (4 families, 74 species) – Family Upupidae – hoopoes (4 species) – Family Phoeniculidae – wood hoopoes (9 species) – Family Bucorvidae – ground hornbills (2 species) – Family Bucerotidae – hornbills (59 species) • ORDER PICIFORMES – woodpeckers and allies (9 families, 443 species) – Family Galbulidae – jacamars (18 species) – Family Bucconidae – puffbirds (37 species) – Family Capitonidae – New World barbets (15 species) – Family Semnornithidae – toucan barbets (2 species) – Family Ramphastidae – toucans (46 species) – Family Megalaimidae – Asian barbets (32 species) – Family Lybiidae – African barbets (42 species) – Family Indicatoridae – honeyguides (17 species) – Family
    [Show full text]
  • Kingfishers to Mousebirds
    3.8 Kingshers to mousebirds - Atlas of Birds uncorrected proofs Copyrighted Material Kingfishers to Mousebirds he orders featured on this spread include many of the planet’s most P Size of orders Trogoniformes: trogons R Teye-catching bird families. Some, such as kingfishers and rollers, Number of species in order Trogons make up a single family, the Trogonidae, are known for their dazzling plumage. Others, such as toucans and Percentage of total bird species which numbers seven genera, including the spectacular quetzals (Pharomachrus spp.) of hornbills, sport preposterously big bills. Though smaller species Coraciiformes South and Central America. Their weak feet are in some groups may superficially resemble songbirds, all have a 403 species unique among animals in having a heterodactyl number of key anatomical differences from the Passeriformes, and 4.1% toe arrangement: first and second toes facing none can sing. backwards; third and fourth toes forwards. They are colourful but retiring birds that These orders also share many features of their breeding behaviour, inhabit tropical forests worldwide – with the with the majority of families and species nesting in holes, and many greatest diversity in the Neotropics – and use performing flamboyant courtship displays. The exception to this rule Piciformes their short, broad bill to feed on insects and are the Coliiformes of Sub-Saharan Africa, which are neither colourful 403 species fruit, generally gleaned from the branches in 4.1% a brief fluttering flight. Trogons are typically nor cavity nesters – they build a simple cup-shaped nest in foliage – and have located by their soft, insistent call, given ) an evolutionary history that sets them apart from other near-passerines.
    [Show full text]
  • An Initial Estimate of Avian Ark Kinds
    Answers Research Journal 6 (2013):409–466. www.answersingenesis.org/arj/v6/avian-ark-kinds.pdf An Initial Estimate of Avian Ark Kinds Jean K. Lightner, Liberty University, 1971 University Blvd, Lynchburg, Virginia, 24515. Abstract Creationists recognize that animals were created according to their kinds, but there has been no comprehensive list of what those kinds are. As part of the Answers in Genesis Ark Encounter project, research was initiated in an attempt to more clearly identify and enumerate vertebrate kinds that were SUHVHQWRQWKH$UN,QWKLVSDSHUXVLQJPHWKRGVSUHYLRXVO\GHVFULEHGSXWDWLYHELUGNLQGVDUHLGHQWLÀHG 'XHWRWKHOLPLWHGLQIRUPDWLRQDYDLODEOHDQGWKHIDFWWKDWDYLDQWD[RQRPLFFODVVLÀFDWLRQVVKLIWWKLVVKRXOG be considered only a rough estimate. Keywords: Ark, kinds, created kinds, baraminology, birds Introduction As in mammals and amphibians, the state of avian $VSDUWRIWKH$UN(QFRXQWHUSURMHFW$QVZHUVLQ WD[RQRP\LVLQÁX['HVSLWHWKHLGHDORIQHDWO\QHVWHG Genesis initiated and funded research in an attempt hierarchies in taxonomy, it seems groups of birds to more clearly identify and enumerate the vertebrate are repeatedly “changing nests.” This is partially NLQGVWKDWZHUHSUHVHQWRQWKH$UN,QDQLQLWLDOSDSHU because where an animal is placed depends on which WKH FRQFHSW RI ELEOLFDO NLQGV ZDV GLVFXVVHG DQG D characteristics one chooses to consider. While many strategy to identify them was outlined (Lightner et al. had thought that molecular data would resolve these 6RPHRIWKHNH\SRLQWVDUHQRWHGEHORZ issues, in some cases it has exacerbated them. For this There is tremendous variety seen today in animal HVWLPDWHRIWKHDYLDQ$UNNLQGVWKHWD[RQRPLFVFKHPH OLIHDVFUHDWXUHVKDYHPXOWLSOLHGDQGÀOOHGWKHHDUWK presented online by the International Ornithologists’ since the Flood (Genesis 8:17). In order to identify 8QLRQ ,28 ZDVXVHG *LOODQG'RQVNHUD which modern species are related, being descendants 2012b and 2013). This list includes information on RI D VLQJOH NLQG LQWHUVSHFLÀF K\EULG GDWD LV XWLOL]HG extant and some recently extinct species.
    [Show full text]
  • Status and Distribution of Faunal Diversity in Kafa Afromontane Coffee Forest
    Status and Distribution of Faunal Diversity in Kafa Afromontane Coffee Forest Leykun Abunie Berhan Submitted to PPP Project July 2008 Addis Ababa Contents Executive Summary .....................................................................................................................4 Introduction..................................................................................................................................6 Literature Review Related to Faunal Diversity and Management...............................................8 Macro Policies and Priorities......................................................................................................8 Environmental Protection Policy.................................................................................................8 Wildlife Development / Management Policy................................................................................9 Analysis of Wildlife Sector in Ethiopia ......................................................................................10 Physical and Ecological Description of the Study Area ............................................................14 Objective of the Present Study...................................................................................................16 Methodology ..............................................................................................................................17 General Approach......................................................................................................................17
    [Show full text]
  • Energy Metabolism and Body Temperature in the Blue-Naped Mousebird (Urocolius Macrourus) During Torpor
    Ornis Fennica 76:211-219 . 1999 Energy metabolism and body temperature in the Blue-naped Mousebird (Urocolius macrourus) during torpor Ralph Schaub, Roland Prinzinger and Elke Schleucher Schaub, R., Prinzinger, R. &Schleucher, E., AK Stoffwechselphysiologie, Zoologisches Institut, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitdt, Siesmayerstra²e 70, 60323 Frankfurt/ Main, Germany Received 13 March 1998, accepted IS September 1999 Mousebirds (Coliiformes) respond to cold exposure and food limitation with nightly bouts of torpor. During torpor, metabolic rate and body temperature decrease mark- edly, which results in energy savings. The decrease in body temperature is a regulated phenomenon as is also the arousal which occurs spontaneously without external stimuli. During arousal, Blue-naped Mousebirds warm at a rate of 1 °C/min . This process requires significant amounts of energy . Our calculations show that the overall savings for the whole day are 30% at an ambient temperature of 15°C when daylength is 10 hours . Using glucose assays and RQ measurements, we found that during fasting, the birds switch to non-carbohydrate metabolism at an early phase of the day . This may be one of triggers eliciting torpor. By using cluster analysis of glucose levels we could clearly divide the night phase into a period of effective energy saving (high glucose levels) and arousal (low glucose levels) . 1 . Introduction 1972) . This kind of nutrition is low in energy, so the birds may face periods of energy deficiency The aim of this study is to get information about (Schifter 1972). To survive these times of starva- the daily energy demand and the thermal regula- tion, they have developed a special physiological tion in small birds.
    [Show full text]