Description of Sarcocystis turdusi sp. nov. from the common blackbird (Turdus merula)

Parasitology ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 139 (11) ◽  
pp. 1438-1443 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. KUTKIENĖ ◽  
P. PRAKAS ◽  
D. BUTKAUSKAS ◽  
A. SRUOGA
Keyword(s):  
Cyst Wall ◽  
Morphological Type ◽  
Single Cyst ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
Accipiter Nisus ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
The Common ◽  
Predatory Birds ◽  
Different Thickness ◽  
Common Blackbird

SUMMARYCysts of Sarcocystis species were found in 24 of 44 (54·5%) examined blackbirds (Turdus merula). Under the light microscope, only 1 morphological type of cyst was found in all birds investigated. Ribbon-shaped cysts were long (the largest fragment found amounted to 7 mm) and of different thickness (25–206 μm). A cyst wall reached up to 3·5 μm and had finger-like protrusions. Under the transmission electron microscope, a single cyst isolated from 1 blackbird was studied. The cyst wall was 2·5–4·4 μm thick, had club- or irregularly-shaped and sometimes branched protrusions that differed in size. The content of cysts was divided into large chambers by septa. Orange segment-shaped cystozoites were 6·2 × 1·4 (5·5–7·2 × 1·2–1·5) μm. This type of cyst wall has never been described in Sarcocystis species isolated from birds, thus far. The results of 18S rDNA, 28S rDNA and ITS–1 region sequences showed that S. turdusi was most closely related to S. columbae, S. calchasi, S. wobeseri, S. cornixi and Sarcocystis sp. ex Accipiter nisus parasitizing birds. Phylogenetic results suggest that predatory birds are the most probable definitive hosts of S. turdusi.

scholarly journals Air sac trematodes: Morishitium polonicum as a newly identified cause of death in the common blackbird (Turdus merula)

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 74-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Livio Galosi ◽  
Petr Heneberg ◽  
Giacomo Rossi ◽  
Jilji Sitko ◽  
Gian Enrico Magi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cause Of Death ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Blackbird

A comparison of infestation patterns by Ixodes ticks in urban and rural populations of the Common Blackbird Turdus merula

Ibis ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 144 (4) ◽  
pp. 640-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud Gregoire ◽  
Bruno Faivre ◽  
Philipp Heeb ◽  
Frank Cezilly
Keyword(s):  
Rural Populations ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
Ixodes Ticks ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Blackbird

Breeding Biology of the Common Blackbird Turdus merula in Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry J. Kentish ◽  
Peter Dann ◽  
W Kim
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Blackbird

scholarly journals Vineyards, but not cities, are associated with lower presence of a generalist bird, the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), in Western France

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bertille Mohring ◽  
François Brischoux ◽  
Frédéric Angelier
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Generalist Species ◽  
Landscape Characteristics ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
The Common ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Common Blackbird

Abstract Background Land-use change is one of the main drivers of the global erosion of biodiversity. In that context, it is crucial to understand how landscape characteristics drive the presence of rare endangered species. Nevertheless, it is also important to study common species in multiple habitats, because they represent a large proportion of biodiversity and are essential to maintain ecological functions. Interestingly, some habitats, as farmlands with permanent crops (e.g. vineyards), have been overlooked in the literature. Methods In this study, we investigated the distribution of a widespread and common bird species, the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula), within and between the three main habitats of our study area (rural Western France). We specifically focused on (1) woodlands, (2) farmlands with a high vineyard coverage, and (3) moderately urbanized areas. Specifically, we aimed to assess the beneficial and detrimental effects of these habitats and their fine-scale composition on the presence of a common bird species, relying on a survey by point counts (nearly 100 locations). We studied the effects of habitats and gradients of fine-scale habitat composition on blackbird presence using logistic regression analyses. Results Blackbirds were present in all studied habitats. However, their presence varied between habitats, being lower in vineyards than in woodlands and cities. In woodlands and cities, fine-scale analyses did not reveal any component driving the species’ presence. However, we found that shrub and tree vegetation cover had a significant positive effect on blackbird presence in vineyards. Conclusions Our results are in agreement with the definition of a generalist species. Interestingly, species distribution varied between habitats. The high presence of blackbirds in urban areas suggests that medium-sized cities, despite their artificialization, do not constrain the settlement of this former forest specialist and that green spaces may allow blackbirds to thrive in medium-sized cities. On the contrary, we found an impoverished presence of blackbirds in vineyards and a positive effect of vegetation on their presence in these landscapes. This suggests that permanent crops, and more generally farmlands, may impose important constraints to common species. Future studies should examine how to enhance biodiversity through agricultural management policies, especially in vineyards.

scholarly journals Corticosterone levels in relation to trace element contamination along an urbanization gradient in the common blackbird (Turdus merula)

2016 ◽  
Vol 566-567 ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alizée Meillère ◽  
François Brischoux ◽  
Paco Bustamante ◽  
Bruno Michaud ◽  
Charline Parenteau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Element ◽  
Urbanization Gradient ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
The Common ◽  
Trace Element Contamination ◽  
Common Blackbird

scholarly journals Common blackbirds Turdus merula use anthropogenic structures as nesting sites in an urbanized landscape

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 435-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanping Wang ◽  
Qin Huang ◽  
Sisi Lan ◽  
Qin Zhang ◽  
Shuihua Chen
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Behavioral Flexibility ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
The Common ◽  
Anthropogenic Structures ◽  
Common Blackbird

Abstract The common blackbird Turdus merula is one of the most highly urbanized bird species. However, to date, the use of anthropogenic structures as nesting sites in the common blackbird is rarely documented, and the factors influencing its use of the anthropogenic structures as nesting sites remain unclear. In this study, we systematically quantified and determined the factors influencing the use of anthropogenic structures as nesting sites in common blackbirds in a highly urbanized city of Hangzhou, China. We searched for nests of common blackbirds during four breeding seasons from 2010 to 2013. Among the 60 nests found, 34 nests were in anthropogenic structures such as wall ledges, air condition mounts, window canopies, cable poles, guardrails, eaves, balcony frames, flowerpots and flower shelves on balconies. We found that the available anthropogenic nest sites and the available nesting trees were main factors determining the use of anthropogenic structures as nesting sites in common blackbirds. In urban environments, the amount of available anthropogenic nesting sites increased significantly, whereas the number of natural nesting sites reduced greatly. Our results suggest that common blackbirds can adjust their nest sites in response to urbanization and such nesting behavior shifts may aid them to colonize urban environments. From a management viewpoint, our results indicate that behavioral flexibility should be taken into account for effective urban wildlife management and conservation.

Divorce and its consequences in the Common Blackbird Turdus merula

Ibis ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
pp. 554-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL STREIF ◽  
O. ANNE E. RASA
Keyword(s):  
Turdus Merula ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Blackbird

scholarly journals Factors associated with leucism in the common blackbird Turdus merula

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (9) ◽  
pp. e01778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucía Izquierdo ◽  
Robert L. Thomson ◽  
José I. Aguirre ◽  
Alazne Díez-Fernández ◽  
Bruno Faivre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Factors Associated ◽  
Turdus Merula ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Blackbird
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