scholarly journals Mapping bird assemblages in a Mediterranean urban park: Evidence for a shift in dominance towards medium-large body sized species after 26 years

2020 ◽  
Vol 146 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Corrado Battisti ◽  
Giuseppe Dodaro
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
Urban Park ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Cavity Nesters ◽  
Psittacula Krameri ◽  
Jynx Torquilla ◽  
Synanthropic Species ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Density And Biomass

We assessed the structure of the breeding bird assemblage in a Mediterranean urban park in 2012, and compared it with data gathered in the same area in 1986. Since 1986, Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) territories have disappeared from the study area, while breeding pairs of Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) and the introduced Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) have colonized the park. We observed a significant decrease in density of the Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) and a significant increase in Starling (Sturnus vulgaris). At the assemblage level, overall bird densities decreased but total bird biomass increased due to the increase in density of (often cavity-nesting) medium to large body sized species (such as woodpeckers, Rose-ringed Parakeet and Starling). A presumed increase in mature tree availability and in predation by synanthropic species (e.g. crows) may explain the high density and biomass of primary and secondary cavity nesters characterized by medium-to-large body sizes. The decline of Sparrows and Wryneck may reflect the decreasing trend at the continental scale.

scholarly journals A Possible Role for Red Squirrels in Structuring Breeding Bird Communities in Lodgepole Pine Forests

The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 232-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Siepielski
Keyword(s):  
Nest Predation ◽  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Bird Communities ◽  
Pine Forests ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Breeding Bird ◽  
Bird Abundance ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Cavity Nesters

Abstract Nest predation is thought to play an important role in structuring certain breeding bird communities. One potential consequence of nest predation is lower recruitment in breeding birds, which may be manifested as lower breeding bird abundance. Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia) forests east and west of the Rocky Mountains became isolated following glacial retreat 12 000 years ago and differ in whether or not red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), which are a key nest predator, are present. Breeding bird abundance in lodgepole pine forests was compared between four ranges with red squirrels and four ranges without red squirrels. Species grouped into canopy and understory nesting guilds were, on average, two and three times more abundant, respectively, in forest ranges without red squirrels than in ranges with red squirrels; no statistically significant differences were found for midstory, ground, or cavity nesters. These results suggest that geographic variation in the presence or absence of red squirrels is likely important in structuring breeding bird communities in lodgepole pine forests across the landscape.

Remarkable new species of epedanid from Vietnam (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores: Epedanidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4858 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-437
Author(s):  
ALEKSEY N. TCHEMERIS
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Distal Segment ◽  
Southern Vietnam ◽  
The Family ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
First Time ◽  
Latin Letter

The genus Euepedanus of the family Epedanidae is recorded from Vietnam for the first time. Euepedanus vietnamicus sp. nov. (males and females) is diagnosed, figured and described. The main characteristics that distinguish this species from other species Euepedanus are quite large body sizes, structure of the distal segment of the chelicerae, armament of palps and on the dorsal surface of body with a pattern resembling the Latin letter X. The only known locality of the new E. vietnamicus sp. nov. in southern Vietnam, is mapped. 

Mammals across the K/Pg boundary in northeastern Montana, U.S.A.: dental morphology and body-size patterns reveal extinction selectivity and immigrant-fueled ecospace filling

Paleobiology ◽  
10.1666/12041 ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory P. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Dental Morphology ◽  
Continental Scale ◽  
Size Disparity ◽  
Mammalian Faunas ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Extinction Selectivity ◽  
Spatiotemporal Scales

The Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/Pg) mass extinction has long been viewed as a pivotal event in mammalian evolutionary history, in which the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs allowed mammals to rapidly expand from small-bodied, generalized insectivores to a wide array of body sizes and ecological specializations. Many studies have used global- or continental-scale taxonomic databases to analyze this event on coarse temporal scales, but few studies have documented morphological diversity of mammalian paleocommunities on fine spatiotemporal scales in order to examine ecomorphological selectivity and ecospace filling across this critical transition. Focusing on well-sampled and temporally well-constrained mammalian faunas across the K/Pg boundary in northeastern Montana, I quantified dental-shape disparity and morphospace occupancy via landmark- and semilandmark-based geometric morphometrics and mean body size, body-size disparity, and body-size structure via body-mass estimates.My results reveal several key findings: (1) latest Cretaceous mammals, particularly metatherians and multituberculates, had a greater ecomorphological diversity than is generally appreciated, occupying regions of the morphospace that are interpreted as strict carnivory, plant-dominated omnivory, and herbivory; (2) the decline in dental-shape disparity and body-size disparity across the K/Pg boundary shows a pattern of constructive extinction selectivity against larger-bodied dietary specialists, particularly strict carnivores and taxa with plant-based diets, that suggests the kill mechanism was related to depressed primary productivity rather than a globally instantaneous event; (3) the ecomorphological recovery in the earliest Paleocene was fueled by immigrants, namely three multituberculate families (taeniolabidids, microcosmodontids, eucosmodontids) and to a lesser extent archaic ungulates; and (4) despite immediate increases in the taxonomic richness of eutherians, their much-celebrated post-K/Pg ecomorphological expansion had a slower start than is generally perceived and most likely only began 400,000 to 1 million years after the extinction event.

Reproductive dynamics of a turtle (Pseudemys scripta) population in a reservoir receiving heated effluent from a nuclear reactor

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 881-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Whitfield Gibbons
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Nuclear Reactor ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Reproductive Rate ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Pseudemys Scripta ◽  
Growth Differences

Individual yellow-bellied turtles (Pseudemys scripta) in Par Pond, a thermally polluted reservoir on the Savannah River Plant, Aiken, South Carolina, U.S.A., reach exceedingly large body sizes and maintain extraordinary juvenile growth rates when compared with turtles of this species from other populations in the vicinity. Increased water temperatures are not directly responsible for the observed size and growth differences. Diet differences resulting from increased productivity at lower trophic levels as a result of the hot-water effluent may be the cause of the observed growth and size phenomena. The increased growth rates and larger body sizes in the Par Pond turtles result in changes in reproductive rate which may have interesting consequences on the demography of the population.

scholarly journals Does a Simple Cope's Rule Mechanism Overlook Predators?

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Penteriani ◽  
Robert Kenward
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
General Increase ◽  
Predator Species ◽  
Animal Groups ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Large Size ◽  
High Fitness ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Cope’S Rule

The Cope’s rule predicts a tendency for species to evolve towards an increase in size. Recently, it has been suggested that such a tendency is due to the fact that large body sizes provide a general increase in individual fitness. Here we highlight evidence that predator species do not always fit the large-size = high-fitness mechanism for Cope’s rule. Given the specific requirements of predators and the complexity of prey-predator relationships, any analysis that does not take into account all animal groups may overlook a significant portion of evolutive trends. Generalisations may not be possible regardless of taxa.

scholarly journals Size- and sex-specific predation on dung flies by amphibian and arthropod predators – size match matters

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolf U. Blanckenhorn ◽  
Gabriele Cozzi ◽  
Gregory Jäggli ◽  
Juan Pablo Busso
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Rana Temporaria ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Mechanistic Study ◽  
Mating Activity ◽  
Size Dimorphism ◽  
Arthropod Predators ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Predation Rates

Because predator-prey interactions in nature are multifarious, linking phenomenological predation rates to the underlying behavioural or ecological mechanisms is challenging. Size- and sex-specific predation has been implicated as a major selective force keeping animals small, affecting the evolution of body size and sexual size dimorphism. We experimentally assessed predation by various amphibian (frogs and toads) and arthropod predators (bugs, flies, spiders) on three species of dung flies with similar ecology but contrasting body sizes, sexual size dimorphism and coloration. Predators were offered a size range of flies in single- or mixed-sex groups. As expected based on optimal foraging theory, some anurans (e.g. Bufo bufo) selected larger prey, thus selecting against large body size of the flies, while others (Bombina variagata and Rana esculenta) showed no such pattern. Small juvenile Rana temporaria metamorphs, in contrast, preferred small flies, as did all arthropod predators, a pattern that can be explained by larger prey being better at escaping. The more mobile males were not eaten more frequently or faster than the cryptic females, even when conspicuously colored. Predation rates on flies in mixed groups permitting mating activity were not higher, contrary to expectation, nor was predation generally sex-specific. We conclude that the size-selectivity of predators, and hence the viability selection pattern exerted on their prey, depends foremost on the relative body sizes of the two in a continuous fashion. Sex-specific predation by single predators appears to contribute little to sexual dimorphism. Therefore, the mechanistic study of predation requires integration of both the predator’s and the prey’s perspectives, and phenomenological field studies of predation remain indispensable.

scholarly journals Sound Analysis to Predict the Growth of Turkeys

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 866 ◽  
Author(s):  
El-Sayed M. Abdel-Kafy ◽  
Samya E. Ibraheim ◽  
Alberto Finzi ◽  
Sabbah F. Youssef ◽  
Fatma M. Behiry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Growth Period ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Peak Frequency ◽  
Sound Signal ◽  
Sound Analysis ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
The Relationship

Protocols for manual weighing of turkeys are not practical on turkey farms because of the large body sizes, heavy weights and flighty nature of turkeys. The sounds turkeys make may be a proxy for bird weights, but the relationship between turkey sounds and bird weights has not been studied. The aim of this study was to correlate peak frequency (PF) of vocalization with the age and weight of the bird and examine the possibility using PF to predict the weight of turkeys. The study consisted of four trials in Egypt. Sounds of birds and their weights were recorded for 11 days during the growth period in each trial. A total 2200 sounds were manually analyzed and labelled by extracting individual and general sounds on the basis of the amplitude and frequency of the sound signal. The PF of vocalizations in each trial, as well as in pooled trails, were evaluated to determine the relationship between PF and the age and weight of the turkey. PF exhibited a highly significant negative correlation with the weight and age of the turkeys showing that PF of vocalizations can be used for predicting the weight of turkeys. Further studies are necessary to refine the procedure.

“She was neither unduly fat nor lanky”: Representation of body size and beauty in the novels of Daniel O. Fágúnwà

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-147
Author(s):  
Fausat Motunrayo Ibrahim ◽  
Ayodele S. Jegede
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Large Body ◽  
African Literature ◽  
Thin Structure ◽  
Self Worth ◽  
Body Sizes ◽  
Definition Of

The climate of thought regarding beauty characterization among Africans and other people of colour portrays the large body as beautiful. This reflects that body size and beauty is racially and culturally expressive, making it apposite to be disparate in advancing related discourses. This is particularly important because such discourses can influence Africans’ evaluation of their self-worth. The concerns generated by the global rise in obesity further create interest in these issues. African literature offers a fine and disparate platform to understand social realities. Consequently, relevant contents of the five precedent Yorùbá novels of Daniel Fágúnwà including Igbó Olódùmarè, Ìrèké Oníbùdó,Ògbójú ọdẹ nínú Igbó Irúnmọlè, Ìrìnkèrindò nínú Igbó Elégbèje and Àdììtú Olódùmarè were extracted and analyzed to examine association of beauty with body sizes. Findings reflect more of bipolarity in the definition of beauty, such that the none-fat/none-thin structure is conveyed as beautiful. Concurrently, the fat and the thin is also portrayed as beautiful, making ‘body size’ definition of beauty to be elusive, and strongly suggesting neutrality to body size among the Yorùbá. This is strongly borne out of Fágúnwà’s and indeed, Yorùbá construction of beauty from a ‘character’ perspective. Character (ìwà) is staunchly expounded as constituting beauty. The beautiful body size is indeterminate in Fágúnwà’s narratives and indeed, in Yorùbá thought.

Prey preference of a wasp determined by nest size supports the role of natural selection in body size evolution in Cassidinae leaf beetles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tadashi Shinohara ◽  
Yasuoki Takami
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Size Variation ◽  
Prey Preference ◽  
Nest Size ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Leaf Beetles ◽  
Body Sizes

Abstract The prey preference of a predator can impose natural selection on prey phenotypes, including body size. Despite evidence that large body size protects against predation in insects, the determinants of body size variation in Cassidinae leaf beetles are not well understood. We examined the prey preference of the digger wasp Cerceris albofasciata, a specialist predator of adult Cassidinae leaf beetles, and found evidence for natural selection on prey body size. The wasp hunted prey smaller than the size of their nest entrance. However, the wasp preferred larger prey species among those that could be carried into their nest. Thus, the benefits of large prey and the cost associated with nest expansion might determine the prey size preference. As expected from the prey species preference, the wasp preferred small individuals of the largest prey species, Thlaspida biramosa, and large individuals of the smallest prey species, Cassida piperata, resulting in natural selection on body sizes. In intermediate-sized prey species, however, there was no evidence for selection on body size. Natural selection on body size might explain the variation of prey morphologies that increase body size, such as explanate margins, in this group.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document