Life history and demography of an uncooperative Australian passerine, the brown thornbill

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 633 ◽  
Author(s):  
David J. Green ◽  
Andrew Cockburn
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Life History ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Cooperative Breeding ◽  
Mating Systems ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Reproductive Conflict ◽  
Annual Survival ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
C 63

The genus Acanthiza may be important in understanding the evolution of avian mating systems because while brown thornbills, Acanthiza pusilla, are thought to breed only in pairs, a recent phylogenetic analysis suggests that cooperative breeding is the ancestral trait within this genus. We provide a detailed account of the breeding biology of the brown thornbill, confirm that they breed exclusively in pairs, and compare their population demography with what is known for other members of the Pardalotidae. We found that brown thornbills produced small clutches (3 eggs) with a two-day laying interval, had a long incubation period (declining from 19 to 16 days through the season), and had a long breeding season (4.0 months) that allowed females to occasionally raise two successful broods. Brown thornbills, in our study, produced an average of 1.57 fledglings per pair and had relatively high annual survival rates (c. 63%). We found no evidence to suggest that the evolution of pair-breeding within the Pardalotidae is associated with a reduction in annual survival rates, a short breeding season with reduced productivity, or high levels of predation post-fledging. Since there also appear to be no ecological correlates with mating system in the Pardalotidae we suggest that examination of reproductive conflict between parents and young may shed light on the evolution of pairbreeding in this family.

scholarly journals Corticosterone, testosterone and life-history strategies of birds

2010 ◽  
Vol 277 (1697) ◽  
pp. 3203-3212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Hau ◽  
Robert E. Ricklefs ◽  
Martin Wikelski ◽  
Kelly A. Lee ◽  
Jeffrey D. Brawn
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Tropical Species ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Season Length

Steroid hormones have similar functions across vertebrates, but circulating concentrations can vary dramatically among species. We examined the hypothesis that variation in titres of corticosterone (Cort) and testosterone (T) is related to life-history traits of avian species. We predicted that Cort would reach higher levels under stress in species with higher annual adult survival rates since Cort is thought to promote physiological and behavioural responses that reduce risk to the individual. Conversely, we predicted that peak T during the breeding season would be higher in short-lived species with high mating effort as this hormone is known to promote male fecundity traits. We quantified circulating hormone concentrations and key life-history traits (annual adult survival rate, breeding season length, body mass) in males of free-living bird species during the breeding season at a temperate site (northern USA) and a tropical site (central Panama). We analysed our original data by themselves, and also combined with published data on passerine birds to enhance sample size. In both approaches, variation in baseline Cort (Cort0) among species was inversely related to breeding season length and body mass. Stress-induced corticosterone (MaxCort) also varied inversely with body mass and, as predicted, also varied positively with annual adult survival rates. Furthermore, species from drier and colder environments exhibited lower MaxCort than mesic and tropical species; T was lowest in species from tropical environments. These findings suggest that Cort0, MaxCort and T modulate key vertebrate life-history responses to the environment, with Cort0 supporting energetically demanding processes, MaxCort promoting survival and T being related to mating success.

scholarly journals Life histories and the evolution of cooperative breeding in mammals

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1744) ◽  
pp. 4065-4070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter Lukas ◽  
Tim Clutton-Brock
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Cooperative Breeding ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Mating Systems ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Breeding Systems ◽  
Life History Parameters ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Group Members

While the evolution of cooperative breeding systems (where non-breeding helpers participate in rearing young produced by dominant females) has been restricted to lineages with socially monogamous mating systems where coefficients of relatedness between group members are usually high, not all monogamous lineages have produced species with cooperative breeding systems, suggesting that other factors constrain the evolution of cooperative breeding. Previous studies have suggested that life-history parameters, including longevity, may constrain the evolution of cooperative breeding. Here, we show that transitions to cooperative breeding across the mammalian phylogeny have been restricted to lineages where females produce multiple offspring per birth. We find no support for effects of longevity or of other life-history parameters. We suggest that the evolution of cooperative breeding has been restricted to monogamous lineages where helpers have the potential to increase the reproductive output of breeders.

Population dynamics of the black-cheeked gnateater (Conopophaga melanops, Conopophagidae) in southern Brazil

2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 605-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Magnani Xavier de Lima ◽  
James Joseph Roper
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Territory Size ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Annual Survival ◽  
Socially Monogamous ◽  
Population Structure And Dynamics

Abstract:Population structure and dynamics of the black-cheeked gnateater (Conopophaga melanops) were studied at Salto Morato Nature Reserve, in Paraná, southern Brazil, from October 2006 to September 2007. Territory size and population density, breeding season (timing and length), reproductive success and annual survival rates were estimated from sightings of 18 marked adult birds and the success of 18 nesting attempts. The black-cheeked gnateater is socially monogamous and territorial, with a breeding-season length of approximately 3 mo beginning in early October. Predation caused most nest failures, nest survival was 0.96 d−1and apparent annual nesting success was 22%, resulting in annual productivity of 0.36 individuals per adult. Apparent adult annual survival was ~0.44 y−1. Seventy-five per cent of fledglings survived at least 2 mo after fledging. Two methods of estimating population growth rate suggest very different rates: r = −0.04 (~ stable), or λ varies between 0.475–0.616 (declining). Yet, low apparent adult survival suggests that territories are not permanent, perhaps abandoned after nest failure. We find that by estimating population growth, even in short-term studies, testable hypotheses can be generated that will allow better understanding of population dynamics.

The Association between Depression and Gastroesophageal Reflux based on Phylogenetic Analysis of miRNA Biomarkers

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (38) ◽  
pp. 6536-6547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Hau Chen ◽  
Hsiuying Wang
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Major Depression ◽  
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease ◽  
Gastroesophageal Reflux ◽  
Reflux Disease ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Global Population ◽  
Shed Light

A number of clinical studies have revealed that there is an association between major depression (MD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Both the diseases are shown to affect a large proportion of the global population. More advanced studies for understanding the comorbidity mechanism of these two diseases can shed light on developing new therapies of both diseases. To the best of our knowledge, there has not been any research work in the literature investigating the relationship between MD and GERD using their miRNA biomarkers. We adopt a phylogenetic analysis to analyze their miRNA biomarkers. From our analyzed results, the association between these two diseases can be explored through miRNA phylogeny. In addition to evidence from the phylogenetic analysis, we also demonstrate epidemiological evidence for the relationship between MD and GERD based on Taiwan biobank data.

Survival of red-capped robins (Petroica goodenovii) in woodland remnants of central western New South Wales, Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Major ◽  
Greg Gowing
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rates ◽  
Relative Survival ◽  
Adult Mortality ◽  
Annual Survival ◽  
Survival Probabilities ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Winter Half ◽  
Linear Habitat ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Summer Half

To determine relative survival rates of small birds occupying small, linear strips of woodland compared with large patches of woodland, marked populations of red-capped robins were monitored over a two-year period. In total, 196 male robins were banded with unique colour combinations in 10 woodland remnants and censused by song playback at half-yearly intervals. The Cormack–Jolly–Seber method was used to calculate half-yearly survival probabilities for birds in the two habitat configurations and the strongest model included separate survival parameters for summer (36.2% 5.1) and autumn (88.9% 13.5) half-years, but a constant recapture probability (50.5% 7.2). The inclusion of separate parameters for the large and linear habitat configurations reduced the strength of the model, indicating that there was no significant difference between the survival rates of birds occupying small, linear strips of woodland and birds occupying large patches of woodland. The mean annual survival, determined by multiplying the half-yearly survival probabilities, was 32%, which is low, compared with the annual survival of other Petroica robins. Although no banded birds were located away from the banding site, we suspect that much of the ‘mortality’ represented emigration during the summer half-year. Under this scenario a better estimate of annual survival (79%) might be achieved by extrapolation of survival over the winter half-year. This study provides no data to support the contention that adult mortality is higher in small, linear strips of habitat, although further data on the fate of birds that disappear from remnants is required before this is conclusive. In addition, to detect a 20% difference in survival using similar methods to the present study, with their accompanying sources of variation, at least 10 times the number of birds would need to be monitored. This might most effectively be done as a co-operative banding project.

LIFE HISTORY PARAMETERS IN MELANOPLUS SANGUINIPES (F.) IN TWO CRESTED WHEATGRASS PASTURES

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma E. Sanchez ◽  
Jerome A. Onsager
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Adult Longevity ◽  
Melanoplus Sanguinipes ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Life History Parameters ◽  
Preoviposition Period ◽  
Point Estimates ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Net Replacement

AbstractA combination of published techniques provided point estimates of life history parameters for two natural field populations of Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.) in crested wheatgrass pastures. Stage-specific survival rates averaged 0.4798, 0.2261, 0.7628, and 0.6903 for egg, instars I–III combined, instar IV, and instar V, respectively. Daily survival rates of adults averaged 0.9702, but were slightly lower for females than for males. Estimated duration of nymphal instars averaged 8.4 days, the adult preoviposition period averaged 13.3 days, and adult longevity averaged 26.7 and 36.3 days in the two populations. Oviposition rates were estimated for up to four successive ovipositions, and net replacement rates of populations also were estimated. Neither population replaced itself, indicating that potential capacities for increase were not approached under conditions of these studies.

scholarly journals The biology of Limacina retroversa

1954 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Morton
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Detailed Account ◽  
Larval Stages ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
History Of ◽  
Clione Limacina

The Plymouth Fauna List contains records of two genera of pteropods, Limacina and Clione. Of the first, Limacina retroversa (Flem.) is by far the better-known species, apparently occurring regularly at Plymouth in large numbers in townettings from outside, and sometimes inside, the Sound. It breeds at Plymouth from June to August, and Lebour (1932) has given a detailed account of its breeding and larval stages and has discussed its role in the plankton. The second species of Limacina at Plymouth is lesueuri (d'Orbigny), which has been observed from time to time since 1906, when it was very common. The last record in the Fauna is off the Breakwater in 1920. Of the gymnosomatous pteropods, Clione limacina Phipps is the only species regularly occurring. Lebour (1931) has described the life history of this form, and mentions February to August as its months of greatest abundance. Its breeding season is June to August. Another gymnosome, tentatively referred to as Clionina longicauda, is reported by Russell (1936), and from the specimen department at Plymouth Laboratory the writer obtained some preserved specimens, not easily identifiable, of a Pneumodermopsis taken locally; its species is perhaps ciliata, recorded by Massy (1917) from the Irish Coast.

Epilogue Connecting to Muhammad?

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fergus Millar
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Social History ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Near East ◽  
Religious Affiliation ◽  
Roman Provinces ◽  
History Of ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Roman Near East

This epilogue examines various strands of social history, religious affiliation and language in the Roman Near East in relation to the beginning of Muhammad's preaching in about 610. Muhammad was born, probably in about 570, in Mecca, where he began to receive divinely inspired messages in Arabic. After he died, Muhammad's followers invaded the nearest Roman provinces and conquered all of the Roman Near East, the Sasanid empire, Egypt and Roman North Africa. These are known as ‘the great Arab conquests’. This chapter considers whether the Arabian Peninsula can be properly treated under the title of ‘Arabia and the Arabs’. It also analyses evidence from the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian Near East, as well as the kingdom of Himyar. Finally, it looks at brief allusions to the life-history of Muhammad in a number of Christian sources to shed light on his preaching.

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