Use of stabilized thaw slumps by Arctic birds and mammals: evidence from Herschel Island, Yukon

As evidenced by animal sign (scat, active nests, nesting materials, rodent runways) observed across five stabilized retrogressive thaw slumps and two areas of undisturbed upland tundra, Arctic birds and mammals on Herschel Island, Canada, use stabilized thaw slumps differently than undisturbed tundra. Rodent winter nests and scat were found exclusively in undisturbed tundra and at a 250-year-old stabilized thaw slump site, whereas rodent runways and Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) nests were found exclusively at 10- and 20-year-old stabilized thaw slump sites. Bird scat was found in each tundra type, but was most common in the youngest sites, and the number of observations decreased with increasing site age. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) scat was found at all sites, whereas Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) scat was not found at 20-year-old sites and was most common in undisturbed tundra. To our knowledge, these observations are the first examples of birds and mammals using stabilized thaw slump habitat of different ages, and they provide new avenues of research for Arctic wildlife biologists concerned with the adaptation of these animals to permafrost disturbance and the resulting changes in vegetation cover.

Nuevos registros de aves acuáticas para el interior del Estado de Jalisco: caso Laguna de Sayula, México

El conocimiento de la avifauna en México, es el resultado de muchos años de exploraciones en áreas específicas, sin embargo a pesar del esfuerzo realizado, en algunas regiones de México aún se desconoce su composición y distribución; tal es el caso de los humedales continentales, los cuales representan sitios de invernada y de paso migratorio para una gran variedad de aves acuáticas y terrestres del Neártico, así como sitios de reproducción para especies residentes. Se destacan observaciones realizadas en el Sitio Ramsar Laguna de Sayula, resultado de un estudio avifaunístico a largo plazo con muestreos mensuales durante cinco periodos de migración. Se reportan seis nuevos registros para el humedal y algunos para el interior del estado (Dendrocygna autumnalis, Branta canadensis, Sula leucogaster, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pluvialis squatarola y Charadrius semipalmatus) y se informa la presencia de Anser albifrons y Anser rossii con pocos registros publicados para la zona.

RARE BIRDS IN ECUADOR: THIRD REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE FOR ECUADORIAN RECORDS IN ORNITHOLOGY (CERO)

Presentamos nuevos registros de distribución de aves del Ecuador que han sido presentados al Comité Ecuatoriano de Registros Ornitológicos (CERO) entre abril 2014 y agosto 2015. Incluimos reportes de seis especies nuevas para Ecuador (Anas crecca, Thalassarche bulleri, Puffinus puffinus, Morus sp., Numenius americanus y Elaenia strepera), una especie nueva para el Ecuador continental (Fregetta grallaria), cuatro especies con primera documentación en Ecuador (Calidris alpina, Larus argentatus, Stercorarius longicaudus, Tyrannus dominicensis), extensiones considerables de distribución de 14 especies (Podilymbus podiceps, Pterodroma phaeopygia, Charadrius semipalmatus, C. collaris, Bartramia longicauda, Calidris alba, Limnodromus scolopaceus, Phalaropus fulicarius, Stercorarius longicaudus, Sternula superciliaris, Chlidonias niger, Galbula dea, Elaenia spectabilis y Geothlypis philadelphia) y nuevos reportes de 12 especies raras (Aythya affinis, Sula leucogaster, Busarellus nigricollis, Stercorarius chilensis, Chordeiles minor, Psittacara wagleri, Philydor fuscipenne, Muscisaxicola fluviatilis, Pyroderus scutatus, Passerina caerulea, Vermivora chrysoptera y Setophaga castanea) y el primer reporte moderno de Oreopholus ruficollis. Además, presentamos el primer registro en Ecuador de Lurocalis semitorquatus semitorquatus y el segundo registro de la subespecie Petrochelidon pyrrhonota melanogaster. Finalmente, invalidamos los registros previos de Picumnus castelnau, especie que no habita en Ecuador. CERO revisa y actualiza el listado nacional de aves, que en la actualidad alcanza las 1678 especies (1626 confirmadas y documentadas, y 52 no documentadas).

Diet and prey size selectivity of Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus) in coastal Georgia

We examined diet of nonbreeding Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus Bonaparte, 1825) in the Cumberland Island estuary, Georgia, USA, through fecal sample analysis. We also examined prey size selectivity by Semipalmated Plovers for the most common prey item found in the fecal samples, which are polychaetes in the family Nereidae (= Nereididae). We compared the size distribution of polychaetes in Semipalmated Plover fecal samples from salt marshes and mudflats with the size distribution of polychaetes sampled from the two habitats. Semipalmated Plovers foraging on mudflats had less variable diets than those foraging on salt marshes, although the mean number of prey per Semipalmated Plover fecal sample was similar between the two habitats. Size selectivity by Semipalmated Plovers of nereid (= nereidid) polychaetes varied as a function of habitat, with Semipalmated Plovers eating larger polychaetes in salt marshes than in mudflats, although in both habitats Semipalmated Plovers avoided extremely small and (or) large ones. Semipalmated Plovers took fewer of the available prey groups and were more selective in sizes of the dominant prey group on mudflats, where prey densities were the highest. These observations are consistent with predictions from optimal foraging theory.

First records of Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonaparte 1825 (Charadriidae) and Gelochelidon nilotica Gmelin 1789 (Sternidae) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Around forty bird species habitually reproduce in the Northern Hemisphere during summer, and migrate to the Southern Hemisphere during northern winter. These migrating birds fly together in large or small groups until they have reached the Caribbean, Central American, or Brazilian shores. Charadrius semipalmatus, Bonaparte 1825, is one of these migrating species that uses resting and feeding areas along eastern and western coasts of North and South America, with several records for the Brazilian coast, and very few for the inland country. On November 24, 2011, an individual of this species was observed on the banks of one of the lakes that compose a complex of about 40 temporary lakes within the Karst of Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area. On October 29 and 30, 2012 a single individual of Gelochelidon nilotica, Gmelin 1789, was also observed in Sumidouro State Park. We suggest that these specimens have used the Atlantic Ocean migration route, following the São Francisco River Basin, until the karst area. Although highly impacted, the temporary lakes within the Karst of Lagoa Santa still harbor a significant number of bird species, and serve as resting and feeding places for migratory or errant species that are still eliciting new records.