scholarly journals Nestling Growth and Thermoregulatory Development in Subalpine Dusky Flycatchers

The Auk ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 116-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Elena Pereyra ◽  
Martin L. Morton

Abstract The Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri), a small, open-nesting Neotropical migrant, is a relatively common summer inhabitant of subalpine environments in the western and southwestern United States. Nestling growth and development of thermoregulation were studied in a population at Tioga Pass (3,000 m) in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California. Despite the selective advantages that might be expected from accelerating rates of growth and thermoregulatory development, in an environment where the season was relatively short and cold temperatures and inclement weather were common, there was little evidence of adaptive modification in either of those parameters; growth rates were comparable to those of other tyrant flycatchers. Feather eruption began around day 5, brushing in dorsal and ventral tracts began two days later, and brushing of the flight feathers around day 9. Asymptotic body masses were attained around day 12, but nestlings did not fledge for another 4 to 5 days. The physiological development of endothermy was closely correlated with increases in body mass and accompanying decreases in surface-area-to-volume ratio and age, but was not significantly correlated with changes in plumage development, when mass and age were statistically controlled. On exposure to ambient temperatures between −3 and 5°C for 10 min (roughly twice as long as the average female bout of inattentiveness), individual nestlings were unable to prevent deep hypothermia until after day 7. Homeothermy, at 80% of adult levels, was not attained until after day 12, although broods of nestlings maintained relatively stable body temperatures as early as day 5. Whereas clutch sizes in this population generally ranged from two to four eggs, the most stable thermal environments were provided by broods of three or four chicks. Although broods of nestlings were generally able to maintain temperatures within 5°C of adult levels, temperature profiles during storms indicated a remarkable capacity for nestlings to tolerate temperatures in the nest as low as 15°C for periods as long as 4 h without apparent ill effect.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (19) ◽  
pp. 6261
Author(s):  
Alexander Brem ◽  
Ken Bruton ◽  
Paul D. O’Sullivan

Increasing participation in demand response within the industrial sector may be crucial to growing the levels of available flexible capacity required to reliably control national electricity grids as renewable generation increases to satisfy emission targets. This research aims to assist the uptake of demand response in the industrial sector by investigating risk to indoor thermal environments on industrial sites offering air handling unit capacity for demand response. This evaluation uses a systematic model-based approach, calibrated and validated with empirical data from a relevant case study industrial building to assess risk through a number of scenarios. The conditions investigated cover several relevant grid response times and durations, and national and international extreme external ambient temperatures in the past, present and future under a variety of temperature limits. The study demonstrated that there is very low risk to the case study site participating in demand response, with only 15 of 264 initial and 284 of 936 total scenarios triggering any risk. The major factors affecting risk levels identified were more stringent temperature limits and the influence of more extreme climates. The development and implementation of this concept has considerable potential to benefit industrial participants and the wider national electricity grids.


Data ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylwia Stegenta ◽  
Karolina Sobieraj ◽  
Grzegorz Pilarski ◽  
Jacek Koziel ◽  
Andrzej Białowiec

Composting is generally accepted as the sustainable recycling of biowaste into a useful and beneficial product for soil. However, composting processes can produce gases that are considered air pollutants. In this dataset, we summarized the spatial and temporal distribution of process gases (including rarely reported carbon monoxide, CO) generated inside full-scale composting piles. In total 1375 cross-sections were made and presented in 230 figures. The research aimed to investigate the phenomenon of gas evolution during the composting of biowaste depending on the pile turning regime (no turning, turning once a week, and turning twice a week) and pile location (outdoors, and indoors in a composting hall). The analyzed biowaste (a mixture of tree leaves and branches, grass clippings, and sewage sludge) were composted in six piles with passive aeration including additional turning at a municipal composting plant. The chemical composition and temperature of process gases within each pile were analyzed weekly for ~49–56 days. The variations in the degree of pile aeration (O2 content), temperature, and the spatial distribution of CO, CO2 and NO concentration during the subsequent measurement cycles were summarized and visualized. The lowest O2 concentrations were associated with the central (core) part of the pile. Similarly, an increase in CO content in the pile core sections was found, which may indicate that CO is oxidized in the upper layer of composting piles. Higher CO and CO2 concentrations and temperature were also observed in the summer season, especially on the south side of piles located outdoors. The most varied results were for the NO concentrations that occurred in all conditions. The dataset was used by the composting plant operator for more sustainable management. Specifically, the dataset allowed us to make recommendations to minimize the environmental impact of composting operations and to lower the risk of worker exposure to CO. The new procedure is as follows: turning of biowaste twice a week for the first two weeks, followed by turning once a week for the next two weeks. Turning is not necessary after four weeks of the process. The recommended surface-to-volume ratio of a compost pile should not exceed 2.5. Compost piles should be constructed with a surface-to-volume ratio of less than 2 in autumn and early spring when low ambient temperatures are common.


The Condor ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 507-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Liebezeit ◽  
T. Luke George

AbstractAmong hypotheses explaining nest-site selection, the potential-prey-site hypothesis predicts that birds place nests in areas with many potential nest sites, while the nest-concealment hypothesis predicts nest placement in sites with greater surrounding vegetation. We examined these hypotheses by comparing habitat attributes between Dusky Flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) nest sites and random sites, successful and unsuccessful nests, and nests depredated by birds versus mammals. Nesting success was 28% (n = 167), and predation was the most important cause of nest failure (96%) during the study (1998–2000) at our site in northeastern California. We identified 28 nest predators using surveillance cameras. Sciurid mammals were the most common predators (17 of 28, 61%), with Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii; 25%), small owls (11%), and Steller's Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri; 3%) accounting for the rest. Raptors preyed on nestlings more frequently than on eggs, while small mammals depredated nestlings and eggs in proportion to their availability. Dusky Flycatchers nested in larger shrub patches with greater shrub cover than at random sites, supporting the potential-prey-site hypothesis. Successful nests were in larger shrub patches surrounded by fewer seedlings and saplings compared to depredated nests, providing equivocal support for the potential-prey-site hypothesis. Nests depredated by birds were less concealed, located in smaller shrub patches, surrounded by fewer seedlings and saplings, and were closer to the shrub edge than nests depredated by mammals. Our results, strengthened by identification of nest predators, suggest that differences in search strategies among predators may constrain the ability of Dusky Flycatchers to optimize nest-site selection.Depredadores de Nidos, Selección de Sitios de Anidación y Éxito de Anidación de Empidonax oberholseri en un Bosque Manejado de Pino PonderosaResumen. Entre las hipótesis que explican la selección de sitios de anidación, la de “presa potencial” predice que las aves ubican sus nidos en lugares con muchos sitios de anidación, mientras que la de “ocultación del nido” predice la ubicación de nidos en sitios con mayor vegetación circundante. Nosotros examinamos estas hipótesis comparando características del hábitat entre sitios de anidación del mosquerito Empidonax oberholseri y sitios aleatorios, entre nidos exitosos y no exitosos, y entre nidos depredados por aves y por mamíferos. Entre 1998 y 2000 en un área del noreste de California, el éxito de anidación fue del 28% (n = 167) y la depredación fue la causa más importante del fracaso de los nidos (96%). Identificamos 28 depredadores de nidos utilizando cámaras. Los mamíferos sciúridos fueron los depredadores más comunes (17 de 28, 61%), mientras que los demás nidos fueron depredados por Accipter cooperii (25%), búhos pequeños (11%) y Cyanocitta stelleri (3%). Las aves rapaces se alimentaron con mayor frecuencia de pichones que de huevos, mientras que los mamíferos pequeños depredaron pichones y huevos en proporción a su disponibilidad. Los mosqueritos anidaron en parches con mayor cobertura de arbustos que sitios aleatorios, lo cual apoya la hipótesis de presa potencial. Los nidos exitosos se ubicaron en parches de arbustos más grandes rodeados por menos plántulas y renovales en comparación con los nidos depredados, lo que apoya equívocamente la hipótesis de presa potencial. Los nidos depredados por aves estuvieron menos ocultos, ubicados en parches de arbustos más pequeños, rodeados por menos plántulas y renovales, y estuvieron más cerca del borde del matorral que los nidos depredados por mamíferos. Nuestros resultados, fortalecidos por la identificación de los depredadores, sugieren que las diferencias en las estrategias de búsqueda entre depredadores pueden limitar la habilidad de los mosqueritos para optimizar la selección de sitios de anidación.


1967 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Johnson ◽  
M. E. D. Webster

1. Extremity skin temperature changes in British and Zebu cross cattle examined in moderate thermal environments followed a thermoregulatory pattern similar to that describedby Whittow (1962). At low environmental temperatures, ear and lower leg skin temperatures were usually only slightly above air temperature. At a variable time after air temperatures began to rise or the animals were fed, extremity skin temperatures increased suddenly to near trunk skin temperature.2. In eight of the ten pairs of animals studied in rising ambient temperatures and during feeding after fasting for 36–72 hr, increases in ear temperature were measured in the British animal before similar changes occurred in its Zebu counterpart. Changes in lower leg skin temperature followed a similar pattern.Trunk skin temperatures and respiratory frequencies were significant higher in British cross animals than in Zebu cross animals of similar thermal history. The mean rectal temperature of both British and Zebu cattle was 38·5 °C.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Pereyra ◽  
James A. Sedgwick

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (8) ◽  
pp. 1079-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.L. Lausen ◽  
R.M.R. Barclay

Periodic arousal from hibernation among mammalian hibernators is poorly understood. In bats, arousal is often associated with flight. We acoustically monitored two rocky areas along the Red Deer River in southeastern Alberta for bat activity in autumn, winter, and spring months. We found bats to be active in all months and at unexpectedly cold temperatures (coldest activity –8 °C). Bats were active even when ambient temperatures remained below 0 °C during the day and night. We documented Myotis ciliolabrum (Merriam, 1886), Myotis evotis (H. Allen, 1864), and Eptesicus fuscus (Beauvois, 1796) flying outside hibernacula in winter. Active E. fuscus that we captured in mid-winter of 2004–2005 weighed less than bats captured in the fall, but masses ranged from 14.0 to 21.0 g, indicating that some individuals still had fat reserves. Captured individuals were of various ages, with a male bias. Using radiotelemetry, we located the first natural rock-crevice hibernacula for male and female E. fuscus in the Canadian prairies. Winter roosts were narrow, deep rock crevices or erosion holes located in steep valley walls. We found evidence to suggest that dehydration may be a driving force for winter flights.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 253-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Motti Charter ◽  
Ido Izhaki ◽  
Kobi Meyrom ◽  
Shauli Aviel ◽  
Yossi Leshem ◽  
...  

Even though the Barn Owl ( Tyto alba) is distributed worldwide, little information is available on how weather affects Barn Owl breeding outside of Europe and North America. For instance, if cold temperatures can negatively influence population dynamics in temperate regions, heat could have a similar negative effect in arid regions. We have studied a breeding population of Barn Owls in a semi-arid agricultural environment over 13 years in Israel in order to determine whether lack of rain and hot ambient temperatures impair Barn Owl reproductive success. The percentage of nest boxes occupied by Barn Owls was not related to any of the weather variables, whereas the number of nestlings per Barn Owl pair and the percentage of pairs that succeeded to fledge young was lower in years when it started to rain later in the season and when the minimum daily temperature was higher during the breeding season. In comparison to temperate regions, heat is detrimental to Barn Owl breeding and early precipitation is probably important in boosting vegetation and, in turn, the abundance of small mammals, the Barn Owl's staple food.


1994 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Olson

The ontogeny of shivering thermogenesis was investigated in the altricial red-winged blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus). Two indices of heat production ­ the rate of oxygen consumption (V(dot)O2) of the bird and the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the pectoralis (PECT) and gastrocnemius (GAST) muscles ­ were measured simultaneously in adult and nestling red-winged blackbirds as they were subjected first to thermoneutral temperatures and subsequently to progressively colder ambient temperatures (Ta). The ontogenetic changes in both indices indicated that the capability for thermogenesis in nestling red-winged blackbirds improved markedly with age. The metabolic rates of 3-day-old nestlings decreased during exposure to gradually falling ambient temperatures; at best, these nestlings were only able to maintain mass-specific V(dot)O2 at levels similar to or slightly above the resting metabolic rate at thermoneutral temperatures (RMR) for a short time before metabolic rates decreased with further cooling. Shivering was detected only in the PECT muscles and was of a relatively low intensity (maximum of sevenfold increase in intensity over basal levels). The 5-day-old nestlings increased mass-specific V(dot)O2 modestly (approximately 1.4-fold) above RMR and attained slightly higher maximal factorial increases in the EMG activity of the PECT (maximum of 18-fold basal levels) when exposed to the same experimental conditions. Shivering was also detected in the GAST muscles of these birds. The most striking improvements in both measures observed during the nestling period occurred between day 5 and day 8. Eight-day-old nestlings increased metabolic rates by approximately 2- to 2.5-fold over basal levels and sustained these elevated rates for longer before becoming hypothermic. Both the PECT and GAST muscles contributed significantly to shivering thermogenesis, and these older nestlings attained much higher factorial increases in the intensity of shivering (up to 72-fold) during exposure to cold temperatures. In addition, both the range and magnitude of the dominant frequencies of muscle activity in the PECT increased during postnatal development. The PECT muscles were a principal site of shivering thermogenesis in all nestling and adult red-winged blackbirds studied here. Shivering in these muscles was a 'first line defense' against cold; the threshold temperature for shivering in the PECT muscles coincided with the lower critical temperature for oxygen consumption (TLC), and the subsequent increases in EMG activity in this muscle with further cooling correlated well with the corresponding increases in mass-specific V(dot)O2.


Author(s):  
Fateh Mebarek-Oudina ◽  
Ahmed Kadhim Hussein ◽  
Obai Younis ◽  
Sara Rostami ◽  
Rasoul Nikbakhti

The natural convection heat tranfer in annulate region confined between two homocentric cylinders were numerically studied in the present work. The annulus was filled by ethylene glycol / water based Titania nanofluid. Both internal and external cylinders are presereved at an isothermal hot and cold temperatures respectively, whereas, the upper and lower walls are adiabatic. The numerical solution is obtained by applying the finite volume method along with the SIMPLER, and TDMA algorithms. In the current study, the solid volumetric fraction is varied as (0 % ? ? ? 3 %), the volume ratios of EG to water are varied as (0:100 %, 40 : 60 %, 100:0 %), while both the Rayleigh number and radii ratio are considered fixed at (Ra = 104 and ? = 2). The obtained results indicated that, the average Nusselt number increases as the solid volumetric fraction and the volume ratio of ethylene glycol in the base fluid increase. Moreover, the velocity profiles reach their maximum value in the half region adjacent the internal hot wall when TiO2 – water nanofluid is used. Also, the temperature profiles decrease along the radial distance for all considered values of volume ratios of EG to water.


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