Microscopic Analysis of the Plumulaceous Feather Characteristics of Cathartiformes and Accipitriformes In North America

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles P. J. Coddington ◽  
Carla J. Dove ◽  
David A. Luther
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Internode Length ◽  
Circumstantial Evidence ◽  
Taxonomic Identification ◽  
Cathartes Aura ◽  
Turkey Vulture ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Black Vulture ◽  
Identification Of Species

ABSTRACT Although variation in microscopic plumulaceous (downy) feather characters is known to be useful in taxonomic identifications of birds, the conserved characters unique to most avian orders remain understudied. We examined plumulaceous feather characters (morphometric and observed pigmentation patterns [qualitative]) within three avian families (Cathartidae, Pandionidae, Accipitridae) occurring in North America that often require taxonomic identification based on incomplete or fragmentary remains. We found significant quantitative differences among these three families for measurements of barbule length, node width, average number of nodes per barbule, and internode length. We observed additional differences in pigmentation patterns and spine distribution at nodes. Differences in pigment patterns and intensity are diagnostic for distinguishing Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) from Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) within Cathartidae. Further observed differences of a higher percentage of spined structures present at node junctions along the length of barbules are diagnostic of Pandionidae. Within Accipitridae, pigmentation patterns and pigment intensity separate Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) and White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) from all other taxa; and barbule length, together with average nodes per barbule is unique to Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) in the families examined in this study. Although significant differences in a combination of microscopic feather characters among species were seldom observed in this study, family level differences were consistently documented. Results support the use of a suite of microscopic characters in combination with macroscopic feather features, geographic distributions, molecular methods, and other circumstantial evidence to aid in the identification of species of birds from feathers.

scholarly journals First record of death-feigning in Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) (Cathartidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 242-244
Author(s):  
Marjory Auad Spina ◽  
Luís Fábio Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
Cathartes Aura ◽  
Turkey Vulture ◽  
Death Feigning ◽  
Black Vulture ◽  
Natural Predator

AbstractDeath-feigning is a behavior ability with the purpose of allowing prey to evade from predators. Despite death-feigning is recorded on a wide variety of bird species, it has been recorded only once in vultures, more specifically on a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) nest. In addition to this record, we report this behavior while manipulating an individual of Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) in Brazil. This behavior is not usual in Cathartidae since adult vultures do not have a known natural predator.

scholarly journals Trophic niche overlap among scavengers in Patagonia supports the condor-vulture competition hypothesis

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 390-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
FERNANDO BALLEJO ◽  
SERGIO A. LAMBERTUCCI ◽  
ANA TREJO ◽  
LUCIANO J. M. DE SANTIS
Keyword(s):  
Human Activities ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Niche Overlap ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Trophic Niche ◽  
Foraging Strategies ◽  
Cathartes Aura ◽  
Turkey Vulture ◽  
Black Vulture ◽  
Andean Condor

SummaryAnimals that share resources tend to use different foraging strategies in order to decrease potential competition. Scavenging birds using the same nutritional resources can segregate into different space and time scales. However, it has been suggested that when the species do not co-evolve to achieve such segregation competition may result. Our aim was to study the trophic niche overlap between three species of obligate scavengers, the Andean CondorVultur gryphus, Turkey VultureCathartes auraand American Black VultureCoragyps atratus, which are the main avian consumers of carcasses in north-western Patagonia. Black Vultures arrived in the area relatively recently, have expanded their distribution following human activities, and have been suggested to compete with the threatened condor. We collected pellets in communal roosts of the three species to determine their diet, and to estimate the diversity (Shannon Index) and diet similarity (Pianka overlap index). We found that the Turkey Vulture has greater niche breadth and, apart from domestic livestock, it incorporates smaller items such as fish, reptiles and a great number of birds, carnivores and mice. Although the Black Vulture diet includes arthropods, they feed primarily on introduced ungulates, overlapping more with condor diet when roosting far from urban centres. As these latter two species share the same food resource, human activities that positively affect the abundance of the Black Vulture could increase competition among them, with possible implications for the conservation of the Andean Condor.

A Hybrid between Turkey Vulture and Black Vulture

The Auk ◽  
1937 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. McIlhenny
Keyword(s):  
Turkey Vulture ◽  
Black Vulture

ON CONIFEROPHAGOUS SPECIES OF CHORISTONEURA (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE) IN NORTH AMERICA: III. SOME CHARACTERS OF IMMATURE FORMS HELPFUL IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES

1967 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 464-481 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. T. Harvey ◽  
G. Stehr
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Taxonomic Group ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Interspecific Relationships ◽  
Identification Of Species ◽  
Colour Morphs

AbstractPigmentation of heads and prothoracic shields of last-instar larvae, colour of pupae, and frequencies of haemolymph colour morphs in fresh pupae are used to support the taxonomic differentiation of the following members of the genus Choristoneura: fumiferana, biennis, orae, occidentalis, viridis, subretiniana, pinus pinus, p. maritima, and lambertiana. These characters are statistical in nature and not competent to relate a single individual unequivocally to a taxonomic group; nevertheless, a key is developed to assist identification of populations on the basis of the characters described. Interspecific relationships within the genus are considered.

Modernisation of the Hymenoptera: ants, bees, wasps, and sawflies of the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands of western North America

2018 ◽  
Vol 150 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. B. Archibald ◽  
Alexandr P. Rasnitsyn ◽  
Denis J. Brothers ◽  
Rolf W. Mathewes
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Sensu Stricto ◽  
Late Eocene ◽  
Trophic Guilds ◽  
Early Eocene ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Family Level ◽  
Okanagan Highlands ◽  
Taphonomic Processes

AbstractMost major modern families of Hymenoptera were established in the Mesozoic, but the diversifications within ecologically key trophic guilds and lineages that significantly influence the character of modern terrestrial ecosystems – bees (Apiformes), ants (Formicidae), social Vespidae, parasitoids (Ichneumonidae), and phytophagous Tenthredinoidea – were previously known to occur mostly in the middle to late Eocene. We find these changes earlier, seen here in the early Eocene Okanagan Highlands fossil deposits of western North America. Some of these may have occurred even earlier, but have been obscured by taphonomic processes. We provide an overview of the Okanagan Highlands Hymenoptera to family level and in some cases below that, with a minimum of 25 named families and at least 30 when those tentatively assigned or distinct at family level, but not named are included. Some are poorly known as fossils (Trigonalidae, Siricidae, Peradeniidae, Monomachidae), and some represent the oldest confirmed occurrences (Trigonalidae, Pompilidae, Sphecidaesensu stricto, Peradeniidae, Monomachidae, and possibly Halictidae). Some taxa previously thought to be relictual or extinct by the end of the Cretaceous (Angarosphecidae, Archaeoscoliinae, some Diapriidae) are present and sometimes abundant in the early Eocene. Living relatives of some taxa are now present in different climate regimes or on different continents.

Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis of Fossil Bone (Mosasaurs) from Marine Deposits of the Upper Cretaceous of North America

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (S2) ◽  
pp. 328-329
Author(s):  
M. Amy Sheldon
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Histological Study ◽  
Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Marine Deposits ◽  
Fossil Material ◽  
Destructive Analysis ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopic ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscopic Analysis ◽  
Scanning Electron

Research into bone histology of fossil material is a growing area of inquiry in vertebrate paleontology. Incorporating histological study into ontogenetic investigation presents new opportunities for gaining data to better understand ontogeny, ecology, and evolution of mosasaurs. Adding scanning electron microscopy to the growing technology being applied to fossil research can only further the understanding of long extinct animals.Mosasaurs were totally marine lizards which inhabited both open ocean and epicontinental seas during the late Cretaceous (Turonian through Maestrichtian), approximately 90-65. million years ago. Mosasaurs have been collected from many areas of North America. The specimens used in this study were collected from Alabama, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas. I have restricted the fossil material for destructive analysis to ribs and vertebrae. Ribs have not been shown to have importance in morphological analysis relating to systematics or evolution, therefore their destruction does not imped the research of others. Vertebrae were isolated on outcrop but could be identified to genus and growth stage.

scholarly journals Avian pox in a turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) from northern Chile

2019 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 0-0 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Mora-Carreño ◽  
Carlos Guerra-Correa ◽  
Manuel Moroni ◽  
Enrique Paredes
Keyword(s):  
Northern Chile ◽  
Cathartes Aura ◽  
Turkey Vulture ◽  
Avian Pox

Nutlet Morphology and the Use of SEMs to Determine Characteristics for Identification of Species in the Genus Cryptantha Lehm. ex G. Don Section Oreocarya (E. Greene) Payson

2000 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 34-35
Author(s):  
Willow B. Murphy ◽  
Walter A. Kelley ◽  
Richard C. Dujay
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Flower Morphology ◽  
Western North America ◽  
Morphological Variations ◽  
The Past ◽  
Specific Differentiation ◽  
The Family ◽  
Identification Of Species ◽  
Vegetative Characters

The genus Cryptantha Lehm ex G. Don section Oreocarya (E. Greene) Payson of the family Boraginaceae presents some problems to botanists, both professional and amateur, in the keying and identification of species. The genus contains approximately 150 species, the section about 60 perennial and biennial herbs located generally in western North America. Identification has presented some taxonomic difficulty due to the variability and lack of distinctive vegetative characters. Botanists have turned to the nutlet (fruit) and flower morphology to aid in identification for precise specific differentiation. In the past, 10X magnification and a decent botanical illustrator were required to provide the illustrations necessary to assist in this identification. We are in the process of collecting micrographs of nutlets (dorsal, sagital, and ventral views) and developing a webpage containing these micrographs along with descriptions of their morphological variations.

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