On the processes of sympatric speciation in the group of «yellow» wagtails in the Middle Volga region

This article discusses the mechanisms of sympatric speciation in the group of species of «yellow» wagtails based on hybridization. Interspecific and intraspecific hybridization can be attributed to the genetic mechanisms of divergence of populations of «yellow» wagtails. The existence of hybridization between the subspecies of the white-eared yellow wagtail M. flava beema and the yellow-fronted wagtail M. lutea leads to the emergence and further accumulation in the population of individuals with a light-colored head to varying degrees, the so-called «gray-headed» individuals. Intraspecific hybridization of subspecies forms of the yellow wagtail M. flava — nominative M. f. flava and white-eared M. f. beema leads to constantly occurring genotypic splits, which support intraspecific polymorphism of populations and provide the basis for further genetic divergence of these subspecies and species. The form of "gray-headed" hybrids is characterized by maximum genetic distances (1306.67–1375.67), which may correspond to the species rank. The modern polytypic complex of M. flava (in the narrow sense, a series of species and subspecies of only M. flava) probably formed in historical time on the basis of fan hybridization between the original forms of M. f. flava and M. lutea. Thus, the factors of genetic differentiation and divergence, along with ecological and geographical isolation, play a leading role in the formation of the spatio-temporal and genetic structure of the genus Motacilla. Currently, there is an active process of genetic divergence and separation of subspecies and species forms of «yellow» wagtails under conditions of wide sympatry within a single polytypic complex based on intraspecific and interspecific hybridization in the European part of Russia.

Ecological and genetic characteristics of «yellow» wagtail hybrids

The paper examines ecological and genetic characteristics of hybrids of yellow wagtails: yellow white-eared wagtail Motacilla flava beema and yellow-fronted wagtail Motacilla lutea . At present, in the zone of contact between closely related forms of yellow wagtails, a system of their spatial and reproductive interaction with each other has been formed under conditions of wide sympatry. This interaction is manifested in the existence and maintenance in the population samples of three components of their genetic system: the genotypes M. flava , M. lutea , and the light-headed hybrid form M. f. beema M. lutea . The new data obtained significantly supplement the understanding of the intraspecific interaction of three forms: M. flava , M. lutea , and the light-headed hybrid form M. f. beema M. lutea . Light-headed hybrids M. f. beema M. lutea have their own specific stable characters at different levels: morphological, behavioral, and molecular genetic as confirmation of the genetic interaction existing in natural populations between the two species, which is an interspecies mechanism for maintaining their structure. In the zone of contact between M. flava and M. lutea , unlimited hybridization of these species occurs and mixed pairs are formed. In this case, the isolation of light-headed hybrid forms with a characteristic manifestation of various groups of characters: morphological - the color of the plumage of the head; genetic - distinguishing light-headed hybrids from the original species ( M. flava and M. lutea ). This phenomenon can act as a mechanism for maintaining the integrity of the species of yellow wagtails - both the yellow wagtail M. flava and the yellow-fronted wagtail M. lutea due to the constantly occurring interspecific hybridization in areas of wide sympatry within a single polytypic complex.

The White-headed yellow wagtail Motacilla flava leucocephala (Przewalski, 1887): migration, movements, and breeding and wintering ranges

The subspecies leucocephala of the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava is endemic to the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion (Central Asia). The occurrence of leucocephala is associated with saline water bodies and solonchak habitats. Its distribution, especially outside the breeding season, is still uncertain. The aim of this work is to better define the breeding range, migratory movements, and the wintering range of this subspecies and provide guidance to distinguish whiteheaded intraspecific hybrids from the true leucocephala subspecies. The reproductive range of leucocephala is concentrated near lakes and wetlands in the Great Lakes Depression (north-west Mongolia) and in the flat southern part of the Tuva Republic (Russian Federation). The small population uses two separate areas for wintering: the eastern equatorial Africa reached through the Great Rift Valley Flyway and the Indian subcontinent reached along a route that bypasses the great belt of mountains and plateaus of central Asia to the west.

Avifauna of meadow ecosystems in borderland areas of Lviv and Volyn Oblasts

Meadow ecosystems comprise a significant part of the area of Ukraine, especially in its western regions. Those ecosystems are subjects of concern today because of the active agricultural use and droughts that also threatens the animal population of meadows, including birds. Studies of meadow bird species of western Ukraine are limited to atlases, which results in a lack of precise data. This work was part of an international project on the conservation of the great snipe Gallinago media and allowed us to collect valuable data on the abundance and occurrence of meadow bird species nearby to the Polish and Belarusian borders of Ukraine — territories that are commonly ignored by Ukrainian researchers. The surveys of meadow birds conducted near the Ukrainian-Polish border in 2020 have shown that the general state of the marshes is worse compared to 2019: even close to the Western Bug river, only deep oxbow lakes were wet or contained some water, but minor lakes and wetlands of the valley were found to be dry. In total, we observed 141 bird species belonging to 17 orders. Among them, 26 were common by abundance and frequency, such as the great egret Ardea alba, the white stork Ciconia ciconia, the common quail Coturnix coturnix, the corn crake Crex crex, the northern lapwing Vanellus vanellus, the common redshank Tringa totanus, the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, the Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis, the meadow pipit Anthus pratensis, the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava, the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, the marsh warbler A. palustris, the great reed warbler A. arundinaceus, the common whitethroat Sylvia communis, the whinchat Saxicola rubetra, the thrush nightingale Luscinia luscinia, the common linnet Linaria cannabina, the corn bunting Emberiza calandra, the common reed bunting E. schoeniclus, and 7 more species, which were observed frequently though are not typical marshland species. We have identified the species that can be used as indicators of parameters of marsh ecosystems such as grass height (corn crake, western yellow wagtail, and sedge warbler), moisture (common redshank, common cuckoo, and the sedge and great reed warblers), and habitat type (corn crake, European bee-eater Merops apiaster, sedge warbler, common reed, and corn buntings).

The Hero of The Yellow Wagtail: roots of the image

Introduction: Mir Susne Khum (son of the Heaven Torum) occupies a special place in the pantheon of the Mansi people and is named Mir Shetivi-Kho, Каn-Iki, Оrt Iki (the Eastern Khanty), Ar Mig-Khui, Kale-Khui, Pairaxta (the Southern Khanty). This is one of the few images of the Ob-Ugric pantheon that has explicit Indo-Iranian roots (a horseman), which organically combines with characteristic ornithomorphic features. There are obvious (but unclear) different origins of the genesis of the image of the Son of Heaven, in different parts of the Ob-Ugric world. The analysis of the texts allows us to talk about the symbiosis of the trickster’s features and the hero in the image of Mir Susne Khum, and his belonging to the circle of «the last heroes». Objective: to identify and analyze the ornithomorphic aspects of the image of Mir Susne Khum, and the peculiarities of the images of the trickster and the «last hero» in the Ob-Ugric texts. Research materials: folklore and epic texts of the Ob Ugrians. Results and novelty of the research: although the traditional image of Mir Susne Khum as a heavenly horseman is quite early, but the original image is, apparently, ornithomorphic. The world of Mir Susne Khum is endowed with the features of both a trickster and the «last hero». The initial model of his image had two components: «dark» (winter / death) and «light» (summer / life), balancing each other. Later, under the influence of traditional ornithomorphic (migratory) images (wagtail, goose, crane), the solar aspect of the image began to dominat

Wintering range of western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava in Africa and Europe in a historical perspective

Over the past few centuries, some subspecies of the western yellow wagtail Motacilla flava have shown changes in their reproductive ranges. The aim of this research is to verify if changes have occurred also in the wintering range of the species in Africa and Europe from 1848 to 2017. The data, collected through the consultation of over 840 bibliographic sources, 184 travel reports, 38 databases (including 25 relating to museum collections) and some website, shows an expansion of the wintering range to the north. The analysis is also extended to the single subspecies (flava, iberiae, cinereocapilla, flavissima, thunbergi, pygmaea, feldegg, beema, lutea, leucocephala). The factors that can affect the conservation of the species during wintering are examined and the oversummering range of Motacilla flava in sub-Saharan Africa is also discussed.