Suitable Habitat Distribution for the Long-Tailed Tit (Aegithalos Caudatus) As Indicated by the Frequency of Occurrence - a Long-Term Study

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Suitable Habitat Distribution for the Long-Tailed Tit (Aegithalos Caudatus) As Indicated by the Frequency of Occurrence - a Long-Term Study Ornis Fennica 76:115-122. 1999 Suitable habitat distribution for the Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) as indicated by the frequency of occurrence - a long-term study Gunnar Jansson & Lennart Saari Jansson, G., Grimsd Wildlife Research Station, Department of Conservation Biology SLU, S-730 91 Riddarhyttan, Sweden. E-mail: [email protected] Lennart Saari, Vdrrid Subarctic Research Station, Department ofApplied Zoology, University ofHelsinki, P.O. Box 27 (Viiki C) FIN-00014, Finland Received 11 January 1999, accepted 23 April 1999 Data from 22 seasons were used to analyse the occurrence ofLong-tailed Tits (Aegithalos caudatus) in relation to the habitat distribution in 26 one km-squares on the island Aasla in the SW archipelago of Finland. The one km-squares most frequently used by Long-tailed Tits had considerably higher proportions of deciduous/mixed (all species) and alder forest, whereas the number of habitat patches in the km-squares were less correlated to bird occurrences. A threshold for the frequent presence of Long-tailed Tits showed at 15-20% deciduous/mixed forest in km-squares in a logistic regression model, which agrees with the level suggested from a study in a Swedish landscape where the total proportion of deciduous/mixed forest was much lower. Further, the occurrence pattern of Long-tailed Tits over time suggested a density dependent rela- tionship . The six km-squares occupied in low density seasons had a mean proportion of deciduous/mixed forest twice as high and a mean proportion of alder forest three times as high as the 20 others . Long-tailed Tits were also present in these six km- squares in all seasons with higher population densities, as predicted by a density dependent habitat selection. The importance of long-term monitoring, scale considera- tions and the use of population densities for habitat or landscape assessments are discussed. 1. Introduction heterogeneous landscapes (Morris 1995), or un- predictable rates of patch colonisation in land- Aspects oflandscape ecology are now commonly scapes with partly isolated populations (Hanski introduced into Scandinavian forest management et al. 1994, Edenhamn 1996). Further obstacles (Angelstam &Pettersson 1997). However, knowl- to the analyses of large study areas are the diffi- edge ofspecies-habitat relationships on large geo- culty ofdetermining relevant measures of habitat graphical scales applicable in landscape manage- quality (Morrison et al. 1992, Wiens 1995) and ment is scarce . This lack of general results may that long-term studies and experiments covering be due to, for example, different and complex pat- large spatial scales are rare. The relationships terns among species and for homogenous versus between population density and habitat quality ORNIS FENNICA Vol. 76, 1999 may also vary between, and within, species due for Long-tailed Tits on a scale larger than single to the scale of the study area, the season and ge- forest stands . We used the frequency ofbird pres- ography (Wiens et al. 1993, Jokimäki & Huhta ence to reflect the quality of sample plots (one 1996). km-squares) and thereby determine measures of In birds, long-term data are often available and suitable habitat distributions. are used for population surveillance, where The Long-tailed Tit is a resident species in changes in the relative density are analysed (Mar- Fennoscandia . Population densities are generally chant et al. 1990, Koskimies & Väisänen 1991). quite low but show great variations (Svensson However, these data are rarely used by managers 1996), where irruptive invasions and long-distance because, for example, they are often not spatially night flights occur (Lampolahti 1985). Pairs of explicit. It is also clear that the use of population the Long-tailed Tit defend territories only during density for assessment of habitat or landscape the breeding season, approximately three months quality involves scientific pitfalls . Habitat selec- from early to mid-summer (Gaston 1973). Most tion by individuals is suggested to be density de- of the year, however, they roam around in flocks pendent (Svärdsson 1949, Fretwell & Lucas searching for suitable habitat patches, with daily 1970). However, in territorial species with des- movements normally within 1 km2 (Nakamura potic distributions, population density may be in- 1969, Gaston 1973, Bleckert 1991). The preferred versely related to habitat quality or breeding suc- habitat of the Long-tailed Tit is mature deciduous cess (Van Horne 1983, Pulliam 1988, Vickery et forests (> 30 years), often mixed with some coni- al. 1992). In general, studies of the dynamics of fers, where they feed on insects in the canopy population density in relation to habitat quality (Gaston 1973, Rosenberg 1988, Harrap & Quinn show a great variation due to the species and scale 1996). Insects are most abundant on old decidu- under study (Whitham 1980, Holt 1985, O'Connor ous trees of, for example, alder (Alnus spp.) and 1986, Maurer 1986, Pulliam 1988). In spite ofthe birch (Betula spp.) (Ehnström & Waldén 1986). difficulties, the possible use of species occurrence These two generaare also known to be frequently 1991, frequency (if not density) for habitat assessments used by foraging Long-tailed Tits (Bleckert are also shown continues to interest ecologists (Furness &Green- L. Saari unpubl.). Long-tailedTits isolation, as they are com- wood 1993, Pollard & Yates 1993). For defini- to be sensitive to habitat areas with relatively dense aggrega- tion of habitat types plant species are often used mon only in of suitable habitats (Enoksson et al. 1995, (Bunce 1982, Hägglund & Lundmark 1984), but tion Hinsley etal. 1995). Jansson and Angelstam (1999) including animal species in such habitat evalua- presented a model, based on a five year study, for tions as well would further improve their value the occurrence of Long-tailed Tits prior to the (Morrison 1986, Angelstam 1997). breeding season (March-April) inhabitat patches However, to obtain reliable data regarding the in aboreal landscape. Their model showed thresh- relationships between population densities or dis- olds for the isolation ofpatches (< 300 m) and the tributions and habitat characteristics, long-term proportion of suitablehabitat (> 15% per km2) for the only tool studies are often a prerequisite. Also, the reliable presence of Long-tailed Tits. We re- to discriminate between good years andpooryears late our results to their model. and to define natural variations in population den- sities is long-term data on population trends (Kos- kimies & Väisiinen 1991, Morrison et al. 1992, 2. Methods Beshkarev et al. 1994). Unfortunately, useful and/ or comparable data on populations, spanning sev- 2.1. Study area eral seasons, are rare for most species and areas. In the present study we used data on Long- The census was conducted on the island of Aasla tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) occurrences dur- (15.85 km2) in the south-western archipelago of ing 22 seasons in a landscape where suitable habi- Finland (60°17'N, 21°55'E) . The area is owned tats were fairly well represented. The aim of the by private landowners and is characterised by a study was to define a suitable habitat distribution mosaic of coniferous and deciduous forest, agri- Jansson & Saari: Suitable habitat distribution for the Long-tailed Tit cultural fields and lakes. Forestry and agriculture are fine-grained and the distribution offorest habi- tats has not changed notably during our study period. The forest is dominated by scots pine (Pi- nus sylvestris) and norway spruce (Picea abies), and the most common deciduous species are birches (Betula pendula and B. pubescens), black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and aspen (Populus tre- mula) (Saari 1984). Deciduous trees occur both as pure or mixed stands and as single trees dis- persed throughout most forest types. Deciduous and mixed habitats cover about 9% of the island. Based on field determinations, the position and shape of all deciduous/mixed (deciduous-conif- erous) and alderpatches largerthan approximately 0.25 ha were registered on a conventional topo- Fig. 1 . The number of one km-squares at Aasla with graphical map (scale 1 :20 000). These patches Long-tailed Tit presence per season from 1975/76 to were not always delineated by clear borders from 1996/97. The rectangle frames the three seasons selected as low density seasons (see Discussion) . the surrounding habitats, but still, since they were relativelylarge, we treated them as separate patches. A grid of 26 one kilometre squares, which often 2.3. Analyses included water (the Baltic Sea or lakes), covered all parts of the island . For each square we calcu- Observations of Long-tailed Tits, flocks or indi- lated the number of deciduous/mixed and alder viduals, were only used as presence/absence data patches, as well as the total proportion ofthe land per sample plot (one km-square) and season for area (%) covered by these habitats, and from that, the species-habitat analyses . Density was notused also the proportions of deciduous/mixed forest because flock size is often hard to determine and except alders were calculated. The habitat pro- usually decreases during the season and may not portions were measured from the map with aplan- be an accurate estimate of density. However, to imeter (Appendix) . what degree the frequency of observations re- flected the number ofindividuals seen was tested. The relationships between the number of sea- 2.2. Census sons with Long-tailed Tits presence per one km- square and the measured habitat variables were Long-tailed Tits were counted regularly on Aasla analysed by simple and multiple regressions. A during 22 seasons, from 1975/76 to 1996/97. Data logistic regression was used to analyse the rela- on the Long-tailed Tit occurrence were obtained tionshipbetween themostfrequently used one km- by bird counts along a route that went through all squares and a significant habitat variable . the 26 one km-squares ofthe island, approximately Further, the proportions of deciduous/mixed twice a month all the year around.
Recommended publications
  • ED45E Rare and Scarce Species Hierarchy.Pdf
    104 Species 55 Mollusc 8 Mollusc 334 Species 181 Mollusc 28 Mollusc 44 Species 23 Vascular Plant 14 Flowering Plant 45 Species 23 Vascular Plant 14 Flowering Plant 269 Species 149 Vascular Plant 84 Flowering Plant 13 Species 7 Mollusc 1 Mollusc 42 Species 21 Mollusc 2 Mollusc 43 Species 22 Mollusc 3 Mollusc 59 Species 30 Mollusc 4 Mollusc 59 Species 31 Mollusc 5 Mollusc 68 Species 36 Mollusc 6 Mollusc 81 Species 43 Mollusc 7 Mollusc 105 Species 56 Mollusc 9 Mollusc 117 Species 63 Mollusc 10 Mollusc 118 Species 64 Mollusc 11 Mollusc 119 Species 65 Mollusc 12 Mollusc 124 Species 68 Mollusc 13 Mollusc 125 Species 69 Mollusc 14 Mollusc 145 Species 81 Mollusc 15 Mollusc 150 Species 84 Mollusc 16 Mollusc 151 Species 85 Mollusc 17 Mollusc 152 Species 86 Mollusc 18 Mollusc 158 Species 90 Mollusc 19 Mollusc 184 Species 105 Mollusc 20 Mollusc 185 Species 106 Mollusc 21 Mollusc 186 Species 107 Mollusc 22 Mollusc 191 Species 110 Mollusc 23 Mollusc 245 Species 136 Mollusc 24 Mollusc 267 Species 148 Mollusc 25 Mollusc 270 Species 150 Mollusc 26 Mollusc 333 Species 180 Mollusc 27 Mollusc 347 Species 189 Mollusc 29 Mollusc 349 Species 191 Mollusc 30 Mollusc 365 Species 196 Mollusc 31 Mollusc 376 Species 203 Mollusc 32 Mollusc 377 Species 204 Mollusc 33 Mollusc 378 Species 205 Mollusc 34 Mollusc 379 Species 206 Mollusc 35 Mollusc 404 Species 221 Mollusc 36 Mollusc 414 Species 228 Mollusc 37 Mollusc 415 Species 229 Mollusc 38 Mollusc 416 Species 230 Mollusc 39 Mollusc 417 Species 231 Mollusc 40 Mollusc 418 Species 232 Mollusc 41 Mollusc 419 Species 233
    [Show full text]
  • Passive Citizen Science: the Role of Social Media in Wildlife Observations
    Passive citizen science: the role of social media in wildlife observations 1Y* 1Y 1Y Thomas Edwards , Christopher B. Jones , Sarah E. Perkins2, Padraig Corcoran 1 School Of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK 2 School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF10 3AX YThese authors contributed equally to this work. * [email protected] Abstract Citizen science plays an important role in observing the natural environment. While conventional citizen science consists of organized campaigns to observe a particular phenomenon or species there are also many ad hoc observations of the environment in social media. These data constitute a valuable resource for `passive citizen science' - the use of social media that are unconnected to any particular citizen science program, but represent an untapped dataset of ecological value. We explore the value of passive citizen science, by evaluating species distributions using the photo sharing site Flickr. The data are evaluated relative to those submitted to the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas, the largest collection of species distribution data in the UK. Our study focuses on the 1500 best represented species on NBN, and common invasive species within UK, and compares the spatial and temporal distribution with NBN data. We also introduce an innovative image verification technique that uses the Google Cloud Vision API in combination with species taxonomic data to determine the likelihood that a mention of a species on Flickr represents a given species. The spatial and temporal analyses for our case studies suggest that the Flickr dataset best reflects the NBN dataset when considering a purely spatial distribution with no time constraints.
    [Show full text]
  • Programs and Field Trips
    CONTENTS Welcome from Kathy Martin, NAOC-V Conference Chair ………………………….………………..…...…..………………..….…… 2 Conference Organizers & Committees …………………………………………………………………..…...…………..……………….. 3 - 6 NAOC-V General Information ……………………………………………………………………………………………….…..………….. 6 - 11 Registration & Information .. Council & Business Meetings ……………………………………….……………………..……….………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………………………………..…..……...….. 11 6 Workshops ……………………….………….……...………………………………………………………………………………..………..………... 12 Symposia ………………………………….……...……………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 13 Abstracts – Online login information …………………………..……...………….………………………………………….……..……... 13 Presentation Guidelines for Oral and Poster Presentations …...………...………………………………………...……….…... 14 Instructions for Session Chairs .. 15 Additional Social & Special Events…………… ……………………………..………………….………...………………………...…………………………………………………..…………………………………………………….……….……... 15 Student Travel Awards …………………………………………..………...……………….………………………………..…...………... 18 - 20 Postdoctoral Travel Awardees …………………………………..………...………………………………..……………………….………... 20 Student Presentation Award Information ……………………...………...……………………………………..……………………..... 20 Function Schedule …………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………..…………. 22 – 26 Sunday, 12 August Tuesday, 14 August .. .. .. 22 Wednesday, 15 August– ………………………………...…… ………………………………………… ……………..... Thursday, 16 August ……………………………………….…………..………………………………………………………………… …... 23 Friday, 17 August ………………………………………….…………...………………………………………………………………………..... 24 Saturday,
    [Show full text]
  • SICHUAN (Including Northern Yunnan)
    Temminck’s Tragopan (all photos by Dave Farrow unless indicated otherwise) SICHUAN (Including Northern Yunnan) 16/19 MAY – 7 JUNE 2018 LEADER: DAVE FARROW The Birdquest tour to Sichuan this year was a great success, with a slightly altered itinerary to usual due to the closure of Jiuzhaigou, and we enjoyed a very smooth and enjoyable trip around the spectacular and endemic-rich mountain and plateau landscapes of this striking province. Gamebirds featured strongly with 14 species seen, the highlights of them including a male Temminck’s Tragopan grazing in the gloom, Chinese Monal trotting across high pastures, White Eared and Blue Eared Pheasants, Lady Amherst’s and Golden Pheasants, Chinese Grouse and Tibetan Partridge. Next were the Parrotbills, with Three-toed, Great and Golden, Grey-hooded and Fulvous charming us, Laughingthrushes included Red-winged, Buffy, Barred, Snowy-cheeked and Plain, we saw more Leaf Warblers than we knew what to do with, and marvelled at the gorgeous colours of Sharpe’s, Pink-rumped, Vinaceous, Three-banded and Red-fronted Rosefinches, the exciting Przevalski’s Finch, the red pulse of Firethroats plus the unreal blue of Grandala. Our bird of the trip? Well, there was that Red Panda that we watched for ages! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Sichuan Including Northern Yunnan 2018 www.birdquest-tours.com Our tour began with a short extension in Yunnan, based in Lijiang city, with the purpose of finding some of the local specialities including the rare White-speckled Laughingthrush, which survives here in small numbers. Once our small group had arrived in the bustling city of Lijiang we began our birding in an area of hills that had clearly been totally cleared of forest in the fairly recent past, with a few trees standing above the hillsides of scrub.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecography E4831 Yamaura, Y., Katoh, K
    Ecography E4831 Yamaura, Y., Katoh, K. and Takahashi, T. 2006. Reversing habitat loss: deciduous habitat fragmentation matters to birds in a larch plantation matrix. – Ecography 29: 827–834. Appendix. Assignment of bird species to groups. Common name Scientific name Season Winter guild Breeding guild Nest location Black-faced bunting Emberiza spodocephala Breeding Ground, Ground, early successional shrub Blue-and-white flycatcher Cyanoptila cyanomelana Breeding Flycatcher Ground Brambling Fringilla montifringilla Winter Seed Shrub Brown thrush Turdus chrysolaus Breeding Ground Shrub Brown-eared bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis Breeding Omnivore Shrub Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Both Seed Canopy, Shrub hemlock-fir Bush warbler Cettia diphone Breeding Shrub Shrub Coal tit Parus ater Both Canopy, Canopy, Tree hemlock-fir hemlock-fir Copper pheasant Phasianus soemmerringii Breeding Ground Ground Eastern crowned warbler Pylloscopus coronatus Breeding Shrub Ground Goldcrest Regulus regulus Winter Canopy, Tree hemlock-fir Great spotted woodpecker Dendrocopos major Winter Stem Tree Great tit Parus major Both Canopy Canopy Tree Indian tree pipit Anthus hodgsoni Breeding Ground, Ground early successional Japanese grey thrush Turdus cardis Breeding Ground Shrub Japanese grosbeak Eophona personata Both Seed Canopy Tree Japanese pygmy woodpecker Dendrocopos kizuki Both Stem Stem Tree Japanese white-eye Zosterops japonica Both Canopy Canopy Shrub Jay Garrulus glandarius Both Seed Omnivore Tree “Large woodpeckers” Breeding Stem Tree Long-tailed tit Aegithalos
    [Show full text]
  • Wild China – Sichuan's Birds & Mammals
    Wild China – Sichuan’s Birds & Mammals Naturetrek Tour Report 9 - 24 November 2019 Golden snub-nosed Monkey White-browed Rosefinch Himalayan Vulture Red Panda Report and images compiled by Barrie Cooper Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Wild China – Sichuan’s Birds & Mammals Tour participants: Barrie Cooper (leader), Sid Francis (Local Guide), with six Naturetrek clients. Summary Sichuan is a marvellous part of China with spectacular scenery, fine food and wonderful wildlife. We had a rich variety of mammals and birds on this trip. Mammals included Red Panda, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey, the endemic Chinese Desert Cat, Pallas’s Cat on two days, including during the daytime. The “golden fleece animal” –Takin never fails to attract the regular attention of cameras. A good range of bird species, including several endemics, was also recorded and one lucky group member now has Temminck’s Tragopan on his list. Day 1 Saturday 9th November The Cathay Pacific flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong had its usual good selection of films and decent food. Day 2 Sunday 10th November The group of three from London, became seven when we met the others at the gate for the connecting flight to Chengdu the following morning. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed by an hour but we had the compensation of warm, sunny weather at Chengdu where we met up with our local guide Sid. After a couple of hours of driving, we arrived at our hotel in Dujiangyan.
    [Show full text]
  • Foraging Behavior of Plain-Mantled Tit-Spinetail (Leptasthenura Aegithaloides) in Semiarid Matorral, North-Central Chile
    ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL 22: 247–256, 2011 © The Neotropical Ornithological Society FORAGING BEHAVIOR OF PLAIN-MANTLED TIT-SPINETAIL (LEPTASTHENURA AEGITHALOIDES) IN SEMIARID MATORRAL, NORTH-CENTRAL CHILE Andrew Engilis Jr. & Douglas A. Kelt Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology - University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA. E-mail: [email protected] Resumen. – Comportamiento de forrajeo del tijeral (Leptasthenura aegithaloides) en matorral semiárido, centro-norte de Chile. – Hemos estudiado el comportamiento de forrajeo del tijeral (Leptas- thenura aegithaloides) en el matorral del centro-norte de Chile. Se trata de una especie de la familia Fur- nariidae que es insectívora recolectora desde perchas. Frecuenta los arbustos más dominantes y busca presas y alimentos principalmente en el follaje, grupos de flores, pequeñas ramas y masas de líquenes. Los arbustos preferidos incluyen a Porlieria y Baccharis. Se alimentan desde alturas cercanas al suelo hasta arbustos superiores a dos metros de altura. Se los encuentra más frecuentemente en parejas o en grupos pequeños, posiblemente familias, de tres a cinco aves. Las densidades promedio en el matorral (1,49 - 1,69 aves por hectárea) son mayores que las reportadas para otros lugares. Los tijerales en el matorral forman grupos de especies mixtas con facilidad, especialmente en el invierno Austral. Su estrategia de forrajeo y su comportamiento son similares a las del Mito sastrecillo de América del Norte (Psaltriparus minimus) y del Mito común (Aegithalos caudatus), ambos de la familia Aegithalidae, sugir- iendo estrategias ecológicas convergentes en ambientes estructuralmente similares. Abstract. – We studied foraging behavior of Plain-mantled Tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura aegithaloides) in matorral (scrubland) habitat of north-central Chile.
    [Show full text]
  • Bhutan II Th Th 16 April to 5 May 2015 (20 Days)
    Trip Report Bhutan II th th 16 April to 5 May 2015 (20 days) Ibisbill by Wayne Jones Trip report compiled by tour leader Wayne Jones Trip Report - RBT Bhutan II 2015 2 Our Bhutan tour kicked off at 350m above sea level in Samdrup Jongkhar, the border town close to Assam. The town's quiet gentility was quite a contrast to the hubbub of the Indian province in which we had just spent the last five days. Our arrival was in the late afternoon, so after settling into our hotel and meeting for dinner there wasn't much scope for birding. After supper, attempts to draw in a calling Collared Scops Owl were not entertained by the bird in question and a thunderstorm gently encouraged us to head to our rooms. This was to be the first of many encounters with rain in Bhutan! Crimson Sunbird by Wayne Jones The next morning we began our birding day with a walk along the main road on the outskirts of town while our bus went ahead to collect us later, the general modus operandi of birding in Bhutan. We glimpsed Red Junglefowl, Striated and Indian Pond Herons, Crested Honey Buzzard – one of which perched in a tree for good views, a Black Eagle cruising low over the treetops, Crested Goshawk, Green-billed Malkoha, House Swift, Wreathed Hornbill, Oriental Dollarbird, Lesser Yellownape, White-throated Kingfisher, Black-winged Cuckooshrike, Scarlet Minivet, Long-tailed Shrike, Ashy and Bronzed Drongos, Black-crested Bulbul, Red-rumped Swallow, Greenish Warbler, Rufescent Prinia, a gorgeous Asian Fairy-bluebird, a fleeting White-rumped Shama, common but beautiful Verditer Flycatcher, Black-backed Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, White- capped Redstart, Crimson Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter and Chestnut-tailed Starling.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Origin and Evolution of Nest Building by Passerine Birds’
    T H E C 0 N D 0 R r : : ,‘ “; i‘ . .. \ :i A JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY ,I : Volume 99 Number 2 ’ I _ pg$$ij ,- The Condor 99~253-270 D The Cooper Ornithological Society 1997 ON THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF NEST BUILDING BY PASSERINE BIRDS’ NICHOLAS E. COLLIAS Departmentof Biology, Universityof California, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1606 Abstract. The object of this review is to relate nest-buildingbehavior to the origin and early evolution of passerinebirds (Order Passeriformes).I present evidence for the hypoth- esis that the combinationof small body size and the ability to place a constructednest where the bird chooses,helped make possiblea vast amountof adaptiveradiation. A great diversity of potential habitats especially accessibleto small birds was created in the late Tertiary by global climatic changes and by the continuing great evolutionary expansion of flowering plants and insects.Cavity or hole nests(in ground or tree), open-cupnests (outside of holes), and domed nests (with a constructedroof) were all present very early in evolution of the Passeriformes,as indicated by the presenceof all three of these basic nest types among the most primitive families of living passerinebirds. Secondary specializationsof these basic nest types are illustratedin the largest and most successfulfamilies of suboscinebirds. Nest site and nest form and structureoften help characterizethe genus, as is exemplified in the suboscinesby the ovenbirds(Furnariidae), a large family that builds among the most diverse nests of any family of birds. The domed nest is much more common among passerinesthan in non-passerines,and it is especially frequent among the very smallestpasserine birds the world over.
    [Show full text]
  • Passeriformes) Based on Seven Molecular Markers Silke Fregin1*, Martin Haase1, Urban Olsson2 and Per Alström3,4
    Fregin et al. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2012, 12:157 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2148/12/157 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access New insights into family relationships within the avian superfamily Sylvioidea (Passeriformes) based on seven molecular markers Silke Fregin1*, Martin Haase1, Urban Olsson2 and Per Alström3,4 Abstract Background: The circumscription of the avian superfamily Sylvioidea is a matter of long ongoing debate. While the overall inclusiveness has now been mostly agreed on and 20 families recognised, the phylogenetic relationships among the families are largely unknown. We here present a phylogenetic hypothesis for Sylvioidea based on one mitochondrial and six nuclear markers, in total ~6.3 kbp, for 79 ingroup species representing all currently recognised families and some species with uncertain affinities, making this the most comprehensive analysis of this taxon. Results: The resolution, especially of the deeper nodes, is much improved compared to previous studies. However, many relationships among families remain uncertain and are in need of verification. Most families themselves are very well supported based on the total data set and also by indels. Our data do not support the inclusion of Hylia in Cettiidae, but do not strongly reject a close relationship with Cettiidae either. The genera Scotocerca and Erythrocercus are closely related to Cettiidae, but separated by relatively long internodes. The families Paridae, Remizidae and Stenostiridae clustered among the outgroup taxa and not within Sylvioidea. Conclusions: Although the phylogenetic position of Hylia is uncertain, we tentatively support the recognition of the family Hyliidae Bannerman, 1923 for this genus and Pholidornis. We propose new family names for the genera Scotocerca and Erythrocercus, Scotocercidae and Erythrocercidae, respectively, rather than including these in Cettiidae, and we formally propose the name Macrosphenidae, which has been in informal use for some time.
    [Show full text]
  • Study on the Grading Method of Baekdudaegan in South Korea by the Avifauna
    Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity Vol. 6, No. 3 375-381, 2013 http://dx.doi.org/10.7229/jkn.2013.6.3.375 Study on the Grading Method of Baekdudaegan in South Korea by the Avifauna In-Kyu Kim1, Hae-Jin Cho1, Seung-Woo Han1,2, Yong-Un Shin1, Joon-Woo Lee2*, Woon-Kee Paek3, Seon-Deok Jin3 and In-Hwan Paik3 1Korea Institute of Environmental Ecology, Daejeon 305-509, Korea 2Department of Environment & Forest Resources, Chungnam National Univ., Daejeon 305-764, Korea 3Research and Planning Division, National Science Museum, Daejeon 305-705, Korea Abstract: This study surveyed the avifauna in five areas of Baekdudaegan in South Korea, except for national parks or nature reserves, from 2007 to 2011. The results were as follows. The observed number of birds was 5,827 individuals of 92 species in total (Sum of maximum number of observation). II area (Dakmokryeong~Gitdaegibong) had the most number of species (71 species) and individuals (1,831 individuals). On the other han, V area (Yuksimnyeong~Yeowonjae) had the least number of species (40 species) and individuals (446 individuals). The major dominant birds were Fringilla montifringilla, Aegithalos caudatus, Emberiza elegans, Microscelis amaurotis, and Garrulus glandarius. The birds which wintered during the winter season and formed a colony were the major dominant birds. The species diversity was relatively high (3.60 in total). In particular, IV area (Hyeongjebong~ Satgatbong) was the highest (3.45) but V area was the lowest (2.93). The total of 11 species of the legally protected birds indicated by Cultural Heritage Administration or Ministry of Environment were observed, including Aix galericulata.
    [Show full text]
  • Type Specimens of Birds in the American Museum of Natural History
    L Scientific Publications of the American Museum of Natural History e Croy American Museum Novitates TyPe SPeCIMeNS oF BIrDS IN THe Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History : Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History T AMERICAN MUSeUM oF NATUrAL HISTORY y P Publications Committee e SP PArT 8. PASSERIFORMeS: Robert S. Voss, Chair e Board of Editors CIM PACHyCePHALIDAe, AeGITHALIDAe, reMIZIDAe, Jin Meng, Paleontology e Lorenzo Prendini, Invertebrate Zoology NS PArIDAe, SITTIDAe, NEOSITTIDAe, CERTHIIDAe, Robert S. Voss, Vertebrate Zoology o rHABDORNITHIDAe, CLIMACTERIDAe, DICAeIDAe, Peter M. Whiteley, Anthropology F BI PArDALoTIDAe, AND NeCTArINIIDAe Managing Editor r DS: DS: Mary Knight 8. PAS M Ary L eCroy Submission procedures can be found at http://research.amnh.org/scipubs S ER Complete lists of all issues of Novitates and Bulletin are available on the web (http:// IF digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace). Inquire about ordering printed copies via e-mail from OR [email protected] or via standard mail from: M e American Museum of Natural History—Scientific Publications, S Central Park West at 79th St., New York, NY 10024. This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992 (permanence of paper). AMNH BULL On the cover: The type specimen of Pachycephala nudigula Hartert, 1897, shown here in a lithograph by J.G. e TIN 333 Keulemans (Novitates Zoologicae, 1897, 4: pl. 3, fig.3), was collected by Alfred Everett on Flores Island, Indonesia, in October 1896. The bare, deep red throat, unique in the genus, occurs only in the adult male and is inflated when he sings.
    [Show full text]