Blood variation implicates respiratory limits on elevational ranges of Andean birds

AbstractThe extent to which species ranges reflect intrinsic physiological tolerances is a major, unsolved question in evolutionary ecology. To date, consensus has been hindered by the limited tractability of experimental approaches across most of the tree of life. Here, we apply a macrophysiological approach to understand how hematological traits related to oxygen transport shape elevational ranges in a tropical biodiversity hotspot. Along Andean elevational gradients, we measured traits that affect blood oxygen-carrying capacity—total and cellular hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit—for 2,355 individuals of 136 bird species. We used these data to evaluate the influence of hematological traits on elevational ranges. First, we asked whether hematological plasticity is predictive of elevational range breadth. Second, we asked whether variance in hematological traits changed as a function of distance from the midpoint of the elevational range. We found that the correlation between hematological plasticity and elevational range breadth was slightly positive, consistent with a facilitative role for plasticity in elevational range expansion. We further found reduced local variation in hematological traits near elevational range limits and at high elevations, patterns consistent with intensified natural selection, reduced effective population size, or compensatory changes in other cardiohematological traits with increasing distance from species-specific optima for oxygen availability. Our findings suggest that constraints on hematological plasticity and local genetic adaptation to oxygen availability promote the evolution of the narrow elevational ranges that underpin tropical montane biodiversity.

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Deflighting zoo birds and its welfare considerations

Animal Welfare ◽

10.7120/09627286.29.1.069 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 69-80 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L Reese ◽

M Ladwig-Wiegard ◽

L von Fersen ◽

G Haase ◽

H Will ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Interest ◽

Surgical Techniques ◽

Bird Species ◽

Scientific Data ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Specific Level ◽

Welfare Implications ◽

Reduce Risk ◽

Species Specific ◽

Over Time

For over a century the practice of deflighting has taken place in zoological collections in order to ensure birds remain in open-topped enclosures. Over time, efforts have been made to improve or develop new (surgical) techniques, reduce risk of complications during deflighting and minimise stress and pain during the procedure. However, increased public interest in issues of animal welfare has coincided with a questioning of the practice of removing a birds ability to fly. The ensuing debate, which continues to progress among a variety of differing stakeholders, has led to various legislative adjustments across a number of countries. Despite significant legislation, the dialogue has been both subjective and highly emotive. A plethora of opinions exist as to why deflighting should be outlawed, why it is necessary, or how it has the potential to improve a birds living conditions. However, most are based on assumption or issues unrelated to welfare. To the authors knowledge, to date, no scientific data have been published on the welfare implications of deflighting for the commonly deflighted bird species, such as waterfowl, flamingos (Phoenicopteridae), pelicans (Pelecanidae), storks (Ciconiidae), cranes (Gruidae) and herons (Ardeidae). The aim of this study is to present an overview of the relevance of deflighting to zoo husbandry, the species primarily affected, the techniques currently in use, the legality in differing countries and the extent of scientific knowledge as regards potential ethological and welfare concerns. An urgent need for evidence-based studies is highlighted, to further inform this practice at a species-specific level.

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Use of endodontic paper points and Schirmer strips for measurement of tear flow in red-lored parrots (Amazona autumnalis)

Veterinaria México OA ◽

10.22201/fmvz.24486760e.2019.1.624 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

René Oswaldo Silva-Castillo ◽

Samuel Flores-Ceballos ◽

Adriana Margarita Ducoing-Watty ◽

Ricardo Itzcóatl Maldonado-Reséndiz

Keyword(s):

Measurement Techniques ◽

Bird Species ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Good Alternative ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Test Strips ◽

Dental Procedures ◽

Tear Flow ◽

Schirmer Tear Test ◽

Species Specific

Ocular diseases are sub-diagnosed in bird species, partly because of limited diagnostic methods and lack of reference data. Placement of Schirmer tear test strips in the bottom of the conjunctival sac of birds for tear flow measurement can prove to be difficult, whereas paper tips commonly used for dental procedures may be easier to use, due to a more adequate size and shape. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess and compare tear flow values, using ABC Dental® # 30 color paper tips and TearFloTM Test strips in Red-lored Parrots (Amazona autumnalis) (n = 26). Captive birds of undetermined sex were housed in groups under similar environmental conditions and fed the same diet. All animals were deemed healthy through remote and physical examinations. Average tear flow values of 0.6365 ± 0.032 cm/min and 0.5942 ± 0.032 cm/min were obtained with the Schirmer strips test and the endodontic tips respectively. Lack of difference in observed values between measurement techniques (p = 0.3629) indicates that endodontic tips may be a good alternative for tear flow assessment in Red-lored parrots. In addition, endodontic tips are more cost effective and may be less invasive. This study stresses the need to establish species specific ophthalmic reference values for clinical practice in birds, since differences have been reported even in specimens within the same genus.Figure 1. Measurement of tear flow in Red-lored parrots using TearFloTM Test Strips

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Power to Detect Trend in Short-Term Time Series of Bird Abundance

The Condor ◽

10.1093/condor/109.4.943 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 109 (4) ◽

pp. 943-948

Author(s):

Wayne E. Thogmartin ◽

Brian R. Gray ◽

Maureen Gallagher ◽

Neal Young ◽

Jason J. Rohweder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sample Size ◽

Short Duration ◽

Bird Species ◽

Population Monitoring ◽

Short Term ◽

Wet Prairie ◽

Bird Abundance ◽

Point Counts ◽

Study Sites ◽

Species Specific

Abstract Avian point counts for population monitoring are often collected over a short timespan (e.g., 3–5 years). We examined whether power was adequate (power ≥0.80) in short-duration studies to warrant the calculation of trend estimates. We modeled power to detect trends in abundance indices of eight bird species occurring across three floodplain habitats (wet prairie, early successional forest, and mature forest) as a function of trend magnitude, sample size, and species-specific sampling and among-year variance components. Point counts (5 min) were collected from 365 locations distributed among 10 study sites along the lower Missouri River; counts were collected over the period 2002 to 2004. For all study species, power appeared adequate to detect trends in studies of short duration (three years) at a single site when exponential declines were relatively large in magnitude (more than −5% year−1) and the sample of point counts per year was ≥30. Efforts to monitor avian trends with point counts in small managed lands (i.e., refuges and parks) should recognize this sample size restriction by including point counts from offsite locations as a means of obtaining sufficient numbers of samples per strata. Trends of less than −5% year−1 are not likely to be consistently detected for most species over the short term, but short-term monitoring may still be useful as the basis for comparisons with future surveys.

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Evidence of change in a low-elevation forest bird community of Hawai'i since 1979

Bird Conservation International ◽

10.1017/s0959270903003149 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 175-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Michelle H. Reynolds ◽

Richard J. Camp ◽

Bonnie M. B. Nielson ◽

James D. Jacobi

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Bird Species ◽

Bird Community ◽

Natural Area ◽

Present Evidence ◽

Forest Bird ◽

Bird Survey ◽

Elevational Range ◽

Abundance And Distribution ◽

Avian Disease

We evaluated the abundance and distribution of low-elevation forest birds on windward Hawai'i Island during August 1993-February 1994, and present evidence of changes in the species composition of the forest bird community since 1979. Endemic Hawaiian birds occurred in native-dominated forests as low as 120 m elevation. Non-native species were detected at all survey locations. We observed non-native Saffron Finch Sicalis flaveola, previously unrecorded in Puna. Variable circular plot surveys of Kahauale'a Natural Area Reserve indicated the disappearance of two native species ('I'iwi Vestiaria coccinea and 'O'u Psittitostra psittacea), and two non-native additions (Red-billed Leiothrix Leiothrix lutea and Kalij Pheasant Lophura leucomelana) to the study area since the Hawai'i Forest Bird Survey conducted in 1979. We present evidence that native 'Elepaio Chasiempsis sandwichensis has experienced a decrease in population density and an elevational range contraction since 1979. Surveys indicate Puna's forest bird community has had increasing aliens and declining native species since 1979. The persistence of some native bird species within the range of avian disease vectors such as Culex quinquefasciatus in forests below 1,000 m elevation presents an important enigma that requires additional study.

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Flock formation and the role of plumage colouration in Ardeidae

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z05-058 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 83 (5) ◽

pp. 683-693 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

M Clay Green ◽

Paul L Leberg

Keyword(s):

Bird Species ◽

Flock Size ◽

Wading Birds ◽

Plumage Colouration ◽

Wading Bird ◽

White Plumage ◽

Fourth Experiment ◽

Species Specific ◽

Colour Morphs ◽

Egretta Rufescens

It has been hypothesized that white plumage facilitates flock formation in Ardeidae. We conducted four experiments using decoys to test factors involved in attracting wading birds to a specific pond. The first three experiments tested the effects of plumage colouration, flock size, and species-specific decoys on flock formation. The fourth experiment examined intraspecific differences in flock choice between the two colour morphs of the reddish egret, Egretta rufescens (Gmelin, 1789). Wading birds landed at flocks of decoys more often than single or no decoys (P < 0.001) but exhibited no overall attraction to white plumage (P > 0.05). White-plumaged species were attracted to white decoys (P < 0.001) and dark-plumaged species were attracted to dark decoys (P < 0.001). Snowy egrets (E. thula (Molina, 1782)), great egrets (Ardea alba L., 1758), and little blue herons (E. caerulea (L., 1758)) landed more often at ponds that contained decoys resembling conspecifics. At the intraspecific level, all observed reddish egrets selected flocks with like-plumaged decoys. Our results suggest that plumage colouration is an attractant for species with similar plumage, but white plumage is not an attractant for all wading bird species. White plumage may facilitate flock formation in certain species but does not serve as a universal attractant for wading birds of varying plumage colouration and size.

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The formation of avian montane diversity across barriers and along elevational gradients

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-27858-5 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

José Martín Pujolar ◽

Mozes P. K. Blom ◽

Andrew Hart Reeve ◽

Jonathan D. Kennedy ◽

Petter Zahl Marki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Flow ◽

Population Differentiation ◽

Bird Species ◽

Geographic Area ◽

Effective Population ◽

Tropical Mountains ◽

Mountainous Regions ◽

Pleistocene Climate ◽

Genome Wide ◽

Population Sizes

AbstractTropical mountains harbor exceptional concentrations of Earth’s biodiversity. In topographically complex landscapes, montane species typically inhabit multiple mountainous regions, but are absent in intervening lowland environments. Here we report a comparative analysis of genome-wide DNA polymorphism data for population pairs from eighteen Indo-Pacific bird species from the Moluccan islands of Buru and Seram and from across the island of New Guinea. We test how barrier strength and relative elevational distribution predict population differentiation, rates of historical gene flow, and changes in effective population sizes through time. We find population differentiation to be consistently and positively correlated with barrier strength and a species’ altitudinal floor. Additionally, we find that Pleistocene climate oscillations have had a dramatic influence on the demographics of all species but were most pronounced in regions of smaller geographic area. Surprisingly, even the most divergent taxon pairs at the highest elevations experience gene flow across barriers, implying that dispersal between montane regions is important for the formation of montane assemblages.

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Continent-wide effects of urbanization on bird and mammal genetic diversity

10.1101/733170 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

C. Schmidt ◽

M. Domaratzki ◽

R.P. Kinnunen ◽

J. Bowman ◽

C.J. Garroway

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Bird Species ◽

Population Level ◽

Natural Environments ◽

Population Declines ◽

Effective Population ◽

Human Footprint ◽

Rate Of Increase ◽

Population Sizes

AbstractUrbanization and associated environmental changes are causing global declines in vertebrate populations. In general, population declines of the magnitudes now detected should lead to reduced effective population sizes for animals living in proximity to humans and disturbed lands. This is cause for concern because effective population sizes set the rate of genetic diversity loss due to genetic drift, the rate of increase in inbreeding, and the efficiency with which selection can act on beneficial alleles. We predicted that the effects of urbanization should decrease effective population size and genetic diversity, and increase population-level genetic differentiation. To test for such patterns, we repurposed and reanalyzed publicly archived genetic data sets for North American birds and mammals. After filtering, we had usable raw genotype data from 85 studies and 41,023 individuals, sampled from 1,008 locations spanning 41 mammal and 25 bird species. We used census-based urban-rural designations, human population density, and the Human Footprint Index as measures of urbanization and habitat disturbance. As predicted, mammals sampled in more disturbed environments had lower effective population sizes and genetic diversity, and were more genetically differentiated from those in more natural environments. There were no consistent relationships detectable for birds. This suggests that, in general, mammal populations living near humans may have less capacity to respond adaptively to further environmental changes, and be more likely to suffer from effects of inbreeding.

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Global abundance estimates for 9,700 bird species

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.2023170118 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 118 (21) ◽

pp. e2023170118

Author(s):

Corey T. Callaghan ◽

Shinichi Nakagawa ◽

William K. Cornwell

Keyword(s):

Scale Up ◽

Bird Species ◽

Global Scale ◽

Heterogeneous Data ◽

Feeding Guilds ◽

Abundance Estimates ◽

Extant Species ◽

The World ◽

Species Abundances ◽

Species Specific

Quantifying the abundance of species is essential to ecology, evolution, and conservation. The distribution of species abundances is fundamental to numerous longstanding questions in ecology, yet the empirical pattern at the global scale remains unresolved, with a few species’ abundance well known but most poorly characterized. In large part because of heterogeneous data, few methods exist that can scale up to all species across the globe. Here, we integrate data from a suite of well-studied species with a global dataset of bird occurrences throughout the world—for 9,700 species (∼92% of all extant species)—and use missing data theory to estimate species-specific abundances with associated uncertainty. We find strong evidence that the distribution of species abundances is log left skewed: there are many rare species and comparatively few common species. By aggregating the species-level estimates, we find that there are ∼50 billion individual birds in the world at present. The global-scale abundance estimates that we provide will allow for a line of inquiry into the structure of abundance across biogeographic realms and feeding guilds as well as the consequences of life history (e.g., body size, range size) on population dynamics. Importantly, our method is repeatable and scalable: as data quantity and quality increase, our accuracy in tracking temporal changes in global biodiversity will increase. Moreover, we provide the methodological blueprint for quantifying species-specific abundance, along with uncertainty, for any organism in the world.

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Identifying charismatic bird species and traits with community science observations

10.1101/2021.06.05.446577 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sara Stoudt ◽

Benjamin R Goldstein ◽

Perry de Valpine

Keyword(s):

Species Conservation ◽

Bird Species ◽

Digital Data ◽

Color Contrast ◽

Specific Effects ◽

Multi Stage ◽

Species Specific ◽

Community Science ◽

Google Search ◽

The Impact

Identifying which species are perceived as charismatic can improve the impact and efficiency of conservation outreach, as charismatic species receive more conservation funding and have their conservation needs prioritized. Sociological experiments studying animal charisma have relied on stated preferences to find correlations between hypothetical "willingness to pay" or "empathy" for a species' conservation and species' size, color, and aesthetic appeal. Recognizing the increasing availability of digital records of public engagement with animals that reveal preferences, an emerging field of "culturomics" uses Google search results, Wikipedia article activities, and other digital modes of engagement to identify charismatic species and traits. In this study, we take advantage of community science efforts as another form of digital data that can reveal observer preferences. We apply a multi-stage analysis to ask whether opportunistic birders contributing to iNaturalist engage more with larger, more colorful, and rarer birds relative to a baseline, from eBird contributors, approximating unbiased detection. We find that body mass, color contrast, and range size all predict overrepresentation in the opportunistic dataset. We also find evidence that, across 473 modeled species, 52 species are significantly overreported and 158 are significantly underreported, indicating a wide variety of species-specific effects. Understanding which birds are charismatic can aid conservationists in creating impactful outreach materials and engaging new naturalists. The quantified differences between two prominent community science efforts may also be of use for researchers leveraging the data from one or both of them to answer scientific questions of interest.

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Demographic history and divergence of sibling grouse species inferred from whole genome sequencing reveal past effects of climate change

BMC Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1186/s12862-021-01921-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Kai Song ◽

Bin Gao ◽

Peter Halvarsson ◽

Yun Fang ◽

Siegfried Klaus ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Boreal Forest ◽

Population Size ◽

Effective Population Size ◽

Demographic History ◽

Bird Species ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Effective Population ◽

Hazel Grouse ◽

Chinese Grouse

Abstract Background The boreal forest is one of the largest biomes on earth, supporting thousands of species. The global climate fluctuations in the Quaternary, especially the ice ages, had a significant influence on the distribution of boreal forest, as well as the divergence and evolution of species inhabiting this biome. To understand the possible effects of on-going and future climate change it would be useful to reconstruct past population size changes and relate such to climatic events in the past. We sequenced the genomes of 32 individuals from two forest inhabiting bird species, Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) and Chinese Grouse (T. sewerzowi) and three representatives of two outgroup species from Europe and China. Results We estimated the divergence time of Chinese Grouse and Hazel Grouse to 1.76 (0.46–3.37) MYA. The demographic history of different populations in these two sibling species was reconstructed, and showed that peaks and bottlenecks of effective population size occurred at different times for the two species. The northern Qilian population of Chinese Grouse became separated from the rest of the species residing in the south approximately 250,000 years ago and have since then showed consistently lower effective population size than the southern population. The Chinese Hazel Grouse population had a higher effective population size at the peak of the Last Glacial Period (approx. 300,000 years ago) than the European population. Both species have decreased recently and now have low effective population sizes. Conclusions Combined with the uplift history and reconstructed climate change during the Quaternary, our results support that cold-adapted grouse species diverged in response to changes in the distribution of palaeo-boreal forest and the formation of the Loess Plateau. The combined effects of climate change and an increased human pressure impose major threats to the survival and conservation of both species.

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