scholarly journals Threatened birds of Guatemala: a random subset of the avifauna?

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-353
Author(s):  
ANDREA NÁJERA ◽  
JAVIER A. SIMONETTI
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Aquatic Species ◽  
Random Subset ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Taxonomic Affiliation

SummaryIdentifying attributes that affect the vulnerability of a species to extinction is important as it allows conservation efforts to be focused on more susceptible species. We assessed whether threatened birds of Guatemala are a random subset of the avifauna, considering their taxonomic affiliation, body size, diet and geographical distribution. We found that threatened bird species in Guatemala were neither taxonomically nor geographically randomly distributed. Large-bodied species and Psittaciformes, Galliformes, Falconiformes and Ciconiformes were among the most threatened groups, and the Pacific slopes of the country hosted more threatened birds than would be expected. Published scientific information regarding Critically Endangered bird species in Guatemala is scant and biased against nocturnal and aquatic species. Research and conservation efforts ought to be oriented toward these species and regions to safeguard the Guatemalan avifauna. This study allows an overall consideration on whether we are conserving the species and areas that are important for threatened birds.

Ecology and biogeography in the introduction to “De bestiis marinis” by Georg Wilhelm Steller

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-74
Author(s):  
Stefano Mattioli
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Functional Traits ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Main Part ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Restricted Range ◽  
Direct Influence ◽  
Modern Biology

The rediscovery of the original, unedited Latin manuscript of Georg Wilhelm Steller's “De bestiis marinis” (“On marine mammals”), first published in 1751, calls for a new translation into English. The main part of the treatise contains detailed descriptions of four marine mammals, but the introduction is devoted to more general issues, including innovative speculation on morphology, ecology and biogeography, anticipating arguments and concepts of modern biology. Steller noted early that climate and food have a direct influence on body size, pelage and functional traits of mammals, potentially affecting reversible changes (phenotypic plasticity). Feeding and other behavioural habits have an impact on the geographical distribution of mammals. Species with a broad diet tend to have a wide distribution, whereas animals with a narrow diet more likely have only a restricted range. According to Steller, both sea and land then still concealed countless animals unknown to science.

Rattus exulans (Pacific rat).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Shiels
Keyword(s):  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Tropical Pacific ◽  
Pacific Basin ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Ground Nesting ◽  
The Tropical Pacific

Abstract The Pacific rat, R. exulans, is an major agricultural and environmental pest in parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Thought to have spread with Polynesian colonists over the past several thousand years, it is now found through much of the Pacific basin, and is extensively distributed in the tropical Pacific. It poses a significant threat to indigenous wildlife, particularly ground-nesting birds, and has been linked to the extinction of several bird species. R. exulans may also transmit diseases to humans.

Fritillaria arsusiana (Lilieae, Liliaceae), a new species from southern Anatolia

Phytotaxa ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-159
Author(s):  
HASAN YILDIRIM ◽  
MEHTAP TEKŞEN
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Related Species ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Flower Colour ◽  
Identification Key ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Diagnostic Characters ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Shape And Size

In this study, Fritillaria arsusiana (Liliaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species from Hatay province in southern Anatolia, Turkey. It is related to F. amana and F. hermonis by habitus features and broadly campanulate flowers, but differs mainly by its bulb shape and size, smaller leaf and flower features, and flower colour. It has also been morphologically compared with F. wendelboi, F. pinardii, and F. latakiensis. The detailed description, diagnostic characters, original photographs, geographical distribution, habitat and phenology, etymology, conservation status, and identification key of the new and the related species are presented in this study. IUCN conservation status of F. arsusiana is suggested as Critically Endangered (CR).

scholarly journals Language barriers in global bird conservation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Jose Negret ◽  
Scott Consaul Atkinson ◽  
Bradley Woodworth ◽  
Marina Corella Tor ◽  
James Allan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Information ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Language Barriers ◽  
Language Diversity ◽  
Bird Conservation ◽  
Western Asia ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Official Languages ◽  
Multiple Languages ◽  
Effective Conservation

Multiple languages being spoken within a species distribution can impede communication among conservation stakeholders, the compilation of scientific information, and the development of effective conservation actions. Here, we investigate the number of official languages spoken within the distributions of 10,863 bird species to identify which ones might be particularly affected by consequences of language barriers. We show that 1587 species have 10 languages or more spoken within their distributions. Threatened, migratory and wide-ranging species have especially many languages spoken within their distribution. Particularly high numbers of species with many languages within their distribution are found in Eastern Europe, Russia and central and western Asia. Global conservation efforts would benefit from implementing guidelines to overcome language barriers, especially in regions with high species and language diversity.

scholarly journals Distribution of birds in Colombia

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danny Vélez ◽  
Edwin Tamayo ◽  
Fernando Ayerbe-Quiñones ◽  
Julián Torres ◽  
Juan Rey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Land Use Planning ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Geographic Information ◽  
Huge Number ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

1. Colombia with 1941 known recorded bird species is one of the most species rich countries in the world. Efforts are necessary to conserve, study and promote sustainable use of this important taxonomic group throughout Colombia’s vast territory. 2. In an ideal world, informed decisions that are based on sound scientific information should be likelier to have successful outcomes. Nevertheless, there are barriers that make it difficult to access and use information in a timely fashion. Those same barriers impede the study, conservation and sustainable use of bird species in Colombia. On the other hand, given that there is good documentation about the ecology of a large number of species, information about the distribution of birds can be easily incorporated into decision-making processes, once this information becomes readily available in a consumable format using Geographic Information Sciences tools. 3. In this context, the main objective of this paper is to present the first compilation of the current distribution of 1889 (97%) species of birds in Colombia, using expert criteria. The shapefiles were used to show the distribution and diversity of bird species in Colombia under both geopolitical and conservation geographic units. 4. The information provided in this paper can be used as a baseline for a huge number of initiatives that aim to strengthen conservation efforts and improve knowledge about one the most unique taxonomic groups in the country. These range from land use planning strategies at the municipal or department scale to sustainable use of bird species - such as those initiatives related to bird watching - in Colombia. This study has considered three key aspects: 1) the importance of birds for Colombia’s ecosystems, 2) the privileged place of Colombia in bird species richness and 3) the importance of data mobilisation in formats easily consumable by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to facilitate the processes of informed decision-making. We present the first compilation - in shapefile format - for 1889 of the 1941 bird species recorded from Colombia. Using this novel collection, we showed the species richness of birds in Colombia’s 33 Departments plus its Captial District (DPs), 1122 Municipalities (MNs), 58 protected areas (PAs), 39 Regional Autonomous Corporations (the authorities responsible within their respective jurisdictions for regulating the environment and renewable natural resources in Colombia; CARs) and 916 Collectively Titled Territories (including both indigenous reservations and afro-descendant communities; CTTs). In addition, we provide a list of known bird species richness for the above geographic units found in the available literature. The information provided here can be used as a baseline for a huge number of initiatives concerning the study, conservation and sustainable use of bird species present in Colombia, providing access to key features of bird distribution that should facilitate decision-making.

scholarly journals Russia in Greater Mediterranean: New Pacific Eurasian Transition

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-458
Author(s):  
Ivan Alexandrovich Chikharev
Keyword(s):  
Political Development ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Special Role ◽  
Important Conclusion ◽  
Political Transformations ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mediterranean

The relevance of the issues raised in the article is related to the active return of Russia to the Mediterranean region, as well as the international political transformations taking place in it. The purpose of the article is to identify the historical foundations, current state and strategic prospects of Russias presence and international influence in the Greater Mediterranean region. The article is based on the methodology of critical geopolitics, historical and comparative approaches, which critically analyze the geopolitical structures of the region, built in the interests of various regional and extra-regional political forces. The historical material of the ancient, medieval, new and modern periods in the history of the macro-region is used, including the poorly studied times of the Mongol presence on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Scientific works on the history, geography and international relations in the region, written in the 18th - 19th centuries, as well as modern scientific information on the trends of technological, infrastructural and political development of the Mediterranean region are introduced into scientific circulation. An important element of the article is the thesis about the special role of Russia in the Pacific-European (Eurasian) transit. From the authors point of view, it includes not only the full implementation of Russias transport and logistics potential in the macro-region, but also the transfer of modern technologies, as well as the promotion of the formation of sustainable political regimes. As a result, a conclusion is made about the deep historical foundations of Russias presence and influence in the region, its strategic prospects are justified, and the main directions of our countrys international activities in the Mediterranean region are highlighted. An important conclusion of the article is the thesis about the need for a multilateral balanced approach to solving macro-regional problems.

scholarly journals Positive selection of skeleton genes during domestication indicates the potential genetic mechanism for loss of flight in ducks

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Zhu ◽  
Xin Qi ◽  
Yu Chen ◽  
Liang Wang ◽  
Xueze Lv ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Bone Development ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Genetic Mechanism ◽  
Bone Morphology ◽  
Domestic Ducks ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Background Domestication alters lots of phenotypic, neurologic and physiologic traits between domestic animals and their wild ancestors. Domestic ducks were originated from mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and some documents also showed that spot-billed ducks (Anas zonorhyncha) could also genetically contribute a small part to the domestication. Compared with the two ancestral species, domestic ducks generally present changes in body size and bone morphology, which is supposed to lead to loss of fight in domestic ducks. In the present study, we performed both genomic and transcriptomic analysis to identify candidate genes in order to elucidate the genetic mechanism underlying the phenotypic variation. Results Our results showed that genes associated with the skeleton systems were positively selected during domestication by Fst analysis between the wild and domestic ducks. We also found that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the breast muscle between the wild and domestic ducks were enriched in the pathway for ossification. Among the genes, FGF14 and EIF2AK3 were also under strong selection by the genomic data, and they were both reported to be associated with limb morphology, bone development and flightlessness in some bird species. Conclusions Our study showed that the skeleton related genes were positively selected in the process of domestication, which could also cause the loss of flight in domestic ducks.

Acyl composition of muscle membranes varies with body size in birds

2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (22) ◽  
pp. 3561-3569 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. J. Hulbert ◽  
S. Faulks ◽  
W. A. Buttemer ◽  
P. L. Else
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Acyl Chain ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Unsaturation Index ◽  
Pectoral Muscle ◽  
Muscle Membrane ◽  
Index Number ◽  
Acyl Composition ◽  
Metabolic Intensity

SUMMARYThe acyl composition of phospholipids from pectoral muscle of eight species of birds, ranging in size from the 13 g zebra finch to the 34 kg emu, were measured and combined with recent published results for a 3 g hummingbird. This represents an approximately 11000-fold range in body mass. Muscle phospholipids, and thus muscle membrane bilayers, from birds had a relatively constant unsaturated acyl chain content of 62% but exhibited a significant allometric decline in unsaturation index (number of double bonds per 100 acyl chains) with increasing body mass. There was a significant allometric increase in the percentage of mono-unsaturates and a significant allometric decline in the percentage of n-3 polyunsaturates with increasing body mass,whilst there were no significant allometric trends in either percentage of n-6 or percentage of total polyunsaturates in bird muscle. The relative content of the highly polyunsaturated docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) showed the greatest scaling with body mass, having an allometric exponent of -0.28. The contribution of this n-3 polyunsaturate to the unsaturation index varied with body size, ranging from less than a 6%contribution in the emu to approximately 70% in the hummingbird. Such allometric variation in the acyl composition of bird muscle phospholipids is similar to that observed in mammals, although birds have fewer n-3 polyunsaturates and more n-6 polyunsaturates than do mammalian phospholipids. This allometric variation in phospholipid acyl composition is discussed with respect to both the metabolic intensity and lifespan of different sized bird species.

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