First constitutive heterochromatin characterization and Karyotype of white stork Ciconia ciconia (Aves: Ciconiidae)

The karyotype and constitutive heterochromatin pattern of the white stork Ciconia ciconia samples obtained from Manzala lake, Dimiaat, Egypt was described. Somatic cells of Ciconia ciconia samples have diploid number 2n= 68 chromosomes. Out of 68 chromosomes, 11 pairs including sex chromosomes were macrochromosomes and the remaining pairs were microchromosomes. Of the 11 macrochromosome pairs, no.1, 2, 4 and 5 were submetacentric and pairs no. 6, 7 and 8 were described as metacentric. In addition, the autosome pair no.3 was subtelocentric, while autosome pair no.9 was acrocentric. Also, the sex chromosome Z represents the fourth one in size and it was classified as submetacentric while, W chromosome appeared as medium size and was acrocentric. Furthermore, C-banding pattern (constitutive heterochromatin) revealed variation in their sizes and occurrence between macrochromosomes. Pairs no. 7 and 8 of autosomes exhibited unusual distribution of heterochromatin, where they appeared as entirely heterochromatic. This may be related to the origin of sex chromosomes Z and W. However, there is no sufficient evidence illustrate the appearance of entirely heterochromatic autosomes. Therefore, there is no available cytogenetic literature that describes the C-banding and karyotype of Ciconia Ciconia, so the results herein are important and may assist in cytogenetic study and evolutionary pattern of Ciconiiformes.

DATA ON WHITE STORK NESTS (Ciconia ciconia Linnaeus, 1758) FROM SEVERAL VILLAGES IN ARGEȘ COUNTY AND OLT COUNTY

In this paper is presented the situation of the White Stork breeding from several villages in the Argeş County and Olt County, in 2021. The data were collected during the White Stork Census in Romania, coordinated at the national level by the Romanian Ornithological Society (SOR) and Milvus Group. We checked the presence of nests in the 7 localities in Argeș County and Olt County using the car and the GPS track. The data is used to calculate numbers and study population trends of the species in Romania. An analysis was performed on several indicators (uH, HPo, HPm, Hpa, H, JZG) that characterize the reproduction, as well as other facts about the distribution. The results were compared with those from the previous White Stork census in Argeş County, in 2004 and 2014. Although the population of the White Storks from Argeş County shows a slight increase in this localities, the anthropogenic pressure is strong, in addition the dry climate, from the south of Arges County, strongly affects, at local level, the population of the White Storks.

Pasture feeding associations of european white stork Ciconia Ciconia Ciconia with herbivorous mammals and agricultural machinery: historical and geographical aspects

На основе обширных литературных данных и авторского материала представлен детальный анализ современного географического распространения пастбищных кормовых ассоциаций европейского белого аиста Ciconia ciconia ciconia с крупными травоядными млекопитающими и сельскохозяйственной техникой. Ассоциации белого аиста с землеобрабатывающей и уборочной сельскохозяйственной техникой оцениваются как антропогенные модификации кормового поведения. Рассмотрен историко-географический аспект происхождения кормовых ассоциаций белого аиста с дикими травоядными млекопитающими и домашним скотом. Предложена гипотеза независимого африканского, ближневосточного и европейского происхождения пастбищных кормовых ассоциаций белого аиста. Based on the extensive literature review and original observations, a detailed analysis of the modern geographical distribution of pasture forage associations of the European white stork Ciconia ciconia ciconia with large herbivorous mammals and agricultural machinery is presented. Associations of the white stork with land and harvesting agricultural machinery are evaluated as anthropogenic modifications of forage behavior. The historical and geographical aspect of the origin of feedingr associations of the white stork with wild herbivorous mammals and livestock is considered. The hypothesis of independent African, Middle Eastern and European origin of pasture forage associations of the white stork is proposed.

Comparative analysis of the digestive system’s anatomical parts in two zoophagous bird species: White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) and Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)

Aristotle in his anatomical observations is marking the beginning of functional anatomy followed by Georges Cuvier that formulate the low of the correlation of parts. According with this we can expect that the digestive system structures tend to be similar between species that consume approximately the same type of food. In this study we chose to evaluate macroscopic the digestive system of two different zoophytophagous species, with similar body size but different life behavior and feeding strategies: White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) and Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo). Data were collected after the dissection of 10 carcass (5 White Stork and 5 Common Buzzard). The digestive tract and its structures were measured and weighed. In common buzzard the beak is strong and short adapted for the laceration of the prey. In white stork the beak is long, strong, straight adapted to capture prey like a harpoon. In both species, the esophagus is located on the right side of the neck, the length is different, proportional to the neck. In common buzzard the crop is present and absent in white storks. The cuticle or koilin layer is highlighted in white stork compared to common buzzard. In common buzzard, the small intestine is reduced in size, without marked transition between the duodenum and the ileum. The white storks have a long small intestine with many loops, with no transition between the segments. In both species, the cecum is reduced in size and has a vestigial appearance; the colon is reduced in size, and extends from the level of the ileo-colic junction to the cloaca. The digestive system is adapted to a strictly carnivorous diet and the differences identified between the anatomical structures of the digestive tract of the two species are correlated with the differences of their feeding behavior.

Quantitative analysis of the orientation of white stork nestlings’ parents from video monitoring

Video-monitoring has become in the last decades common practice for animal observation and conservation purposes. In Ornithology, it is mostly used for tracking predators and nest surveillance, but, with the rapid development and spreading of webcams on nests for educational purposes, new opportunities arise for behavioral investigation, through citizen science for instance. In this article, we use video-monitoring from a public webcam on a White stork (Ciconia ciconia) nest and perform systematic image analysis to record the positioning and orientation of the guarding parent on the nest, during the nestling period over 60 days. From this data of 450 orientation samples, correlations with weather parameters are drawn. Our results suggest that the sun is responsible for most of the orientation with an hourly dependence, while the wind has prevalence during rainy days. A change in the parent behavior is also observed around the time the nestlings are known to attain their maximal weight. These preliminary findings provide new insights on weather influence on parental care behavior likely linked with the parent’s sensing. The versatility of the proposed method allows for behavioral studies on a wide variety of species.

Application of Non-Destructive Methods: Biomarker Assays in Blood of White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) Nestlings

White stork (Ciconia ciconia) nestlings can provide quantitative information on the quality of the surrounding environment by indicating the presence of pollutants, as they depend on locally foraged food. This study represents the first comparison of biomarkers in two fractions of white stork nestling blood: plasma and S9 (the post-mitochondrial fraction). The aim of this study was to evaluate acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carboxylesterase (CES), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR), as well as to establish a novel fluorescence-based method for glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection in plasma and S9. Considering the enzymatic biomarkers, lower variability in plasma was detected only for AChE, as CES, GST, and GR had lower variability in S9. Enzyme activity was higher in plasma for AChE, CES, and GST, while GR had higher activity in S9. Regarding the fluorescence-based method, lower variability was detected in plasma for GSH and ROS, although higher GSH detection was reported in S9, and higher ROS was detected in plasma. The present study indicated valuable differences by successfully establishing protocols for biomarker measurement in plasma and S9 based on variability, enzyme activity, and fluorescence. For a better understanding of the environmental effects on nestlings’ physiological condition, biomarkers can be measured in plasma and S9.

Head and body orientation of the White Stork Ciconia ciconia during incubation: effect of wind, apex predators and power lines

Incubation behaviour is essential for understanding the reproductive success in birds. For example, the orientation of the bird is important for reducing incubation costs associated with wind or sun, but on the other hand can be modified by the perceived risk of predation. We studied the body position of incubating White Stork Ciconia ciconia in eastern Poland using a small unmanned aerial vehicle (drone). The head and body orientation of the incubating storks was non-random and modified by natural factors, mainly wind direction and speed, but also by the presence of an apex predator, the White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla. However, head orientation during incubation in nests located on electricity poles was also modified by the presence of the power lines, probably due to disturbance in the magnetic field detected by birds. Surprisingly, although the positioning of incubating birds (mainly females) is very important for the detection of predators and for reducing energy costs, these have not previously been studied. New technologies, such as drones, make it possible to collect new, extensive information on the incubation behaviour of birds.

Bocian biały jako okaz językowy, czyli polsko-chorwackie wędrówki lingwistyczne

The White Stork as a Linguistic Specimen, or Croatian-Polish Linguistic WanderingsThe analysis, presented in the article aims to present the white stork as a linguistic specimen, i.e. biological species as perceived through the prism of linguistic realisations, in this instance – in the Polish and Croatian languages. The linguistic specimen is closely connected with the linguistic picture of the world; however, in the chain that is the process of acquiring information by human beings of their surrounding reality, the specimen is an earlier link. The basics of definition of the linguistic specimen are linked to biological features that are extralinguistic, while in the linguistic picture of the world designations are linguistically and culturally transformed. The linguistic specimen can therefore be a more objective tool for describing linguistic reality in a more conscious fashion. Bocian biały jako okaz językowy, czyli polsko-chorwackie wędrówki lingwistyczneW artykule została zaprezentowana nowatorska koncepcja wprowadzająca pojęcie okazu językowego, czyli gatunku biologicznego, zjawiska przyrodniczego, fizycznego, chemicznego widzianego przez pryzmat realizacji językowych. Jako podstawę analizy przyjęto języki polski i chorwacki, a definicja okazu językowego została zaprezentowana na podstawie bardzo popularnego w Europie gatunku ptaka, jakim jest bocian biały (łac. Ciconia ciconia). Proponowane pojęcie jest ściśle powiązane z językowym obrazem świata, jednak może stanowić wobec niego wcześniejsze ogniwo w procesie pozyskiwania przez człowieka informacji przetwarzanych później w interpretacje językowe i kulturowe. Okaz językowy ma swoje źródło bezpośrednio w cechach desygnatu, ponieważ by go zdefiniować, korzysta z informacji pozajęzykowych.