Winter Avian Community and Sparrow Response to Field Border Width

Abstract: Transformations of agricultural practices in the southeastern United States have drastically reduced preexisting quantities of strip-cover habitat along field margins. The National Conservation Buffer Initiative has promoted the establishment of herbaceous field borders to restore wildlife benefits once provided by such habitat. We evaluated effects of native warm-season grass field border establishment and width on winter bird response. Narrow (approx. 8-m) field borders represented a marginal improvement to non-bordered margins that were cropped ditch to ditch, whereas wide (approx. 30-m) borders significantly enhanced total avian conservation value, abundance, species richness, and sparrow abundance compared to non- or narrow borders. Furthermore, presence of wide borders altered bird use of row-crop fields. We observed increased sparrow (Emberizidae) abundances in agricultural fields adjacent to wide borders, which likely resulted from enhanced waste grain foraging opportunities. Given these benefits to wintering farmland birds, we advocate the integration of herbaceous field border habitat in agricultural landscapes, particularly borders of enhanced width.     

Vergleich von Habitatstruktur und Habitatnutzung in Brutgebiet und Winterareal des Europ?ischen Pirols (Oriolus o. oriolus, L. 1758)

Zusammenfassung Im Brutgebiet des Pirols in Schleswig-Holstein sowie im Winterareal in Simbabwe wurden auf individuenbezogenen Untersuchungsflächen (bird-use-plots, Capen et al. 1986) Vegetationsstruktur und Habitatnutzung erfaßt und verglichen. Der Lebensraum in Afrika ist offener als im Brutgebiet (durchschnittlich 573 Bäume/ha in Afrika gegenüber 865 Bäumen/ha im Brutgebiet) und die Baumbestände sind niedriger (durchschnittliche maximale Vegetationshöhe in Afrika 14 m gegenüber 16,2 m im Brutgebiet). Auch die vertikale Laubverteilung der Bestände ist unterschiedlich. Gemeinsam ist den Habitaten ihre Saisonalität und ihr Strukturreichtum. Vergleicht man als Maße für den Strukturreichtum den Diversitätsindex der vertikalen Laubverteilung und die Heterogenitätsindices für Kronendeckung und Baumdichte, so liegen im Brutgebiet die Diversitätsmaße der vertikalen Laubverteilung um 21 % höher als in Afrika, während dort die Heterogenität der Baumverteilung um 25% und die der Kronendeckung um 29% höher sind. In beiden Gebieten werden vom Europäischen Pirol häufig solche Gehölze aufgesucht, deren floristische Zusammensetzung von wenigen Baumarten dominiert wird.Bei der Nahrungssuche sind die Europäischen Pirole im Brut- wie im Überwinterungsgebiet im Außenbereich der Krone in etwa 85 % der Baumhöhe und oberhalb der Zone mit der maximalen Laubdichte zu finden. Sie bevorzugten in beiden Gebieten Bäume von etwa 13–14 m Höhe.

---

Habitat structure and habitat use of European Golden Orioles (Oriolus o. oriolus, L. 1758) during breeding and wintering

Summary Habitat structure and habitat use of European Golden Orioles were compared in breeding and wintering habitats of northwestern Germany and Zimbabwe. In 25 bird use plots per area, tree density, crown cover, vertical foliage distribution, maximal vegetation height and stratum of maximal vegetation density were measured as an analysis of vegetation structure. For habitat use, the height of trees used by the birds, the horizontal and vertical position of birds in the trees and behavioural parameters were observed.Woodlands in Zimbabwe are lower (14,2 vs 16 m maximal height of vegetation) and more open (573 trees/ha vs 865 trees/ha) than breeding habitats in Schleswig-Holstein and show differences in vertical vegetation structure. Both habitats show well developped vegetation structure and seasonality. In northwestern Germany the diversity of vertical foliage distribution is about 21 % higher than in the plots of Zimbabwe, however in Africa the heterogeneity of tree distribution is 25 % higher and the index of heterogeneity of crown cover is 29 % above the data measured in the breeding habitats. The floral composition in both habitats is dominated by a few tree species.In respect to habitat use no niche shift could be documented between breeding and wintering areas as the birds prefer the outer crown area of trees of 13 – 14 m in height. European Golden Orioles can normally be found at about 85 % of tree height, closely above the zone of maximum vegetation density.

     

Survival strategies of Dalbulus maidis during maize off‐season in Brazil

Despite the importance of Dalbulus maidis (DeLong & Wolcott) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) as a vector of maize‐stunting pathogens, it is not understood how this leafhopper survives the maize off‐season in regions where overwintering hosts do not occur. We investigated migration and the use of alternate hosts as possible survival mechanisms for D. maidis during maize off‐season in Brazil. Dalbulus maidis populations were monitored with yellow sticky cards for 16–29 months in Anastácio (Mato Grosso do Sul State), in two farms with perennial pastures (Pasture1 and Pasture2), where maize had not been planted for >5 years, in a subsistence farm >20 km distant, where maize was annually planted (spring) (Maize1), and in Piracicaba (São Paulo State), where maize was grown year round (Maize2). RAPD‐PCR analysis of leafhoppers sampled on maize in two plots (Maize1 and Pasture1) at 15–20 and 110–120 days after germination was performed. Dalbulus maidis was trapped in the maize plots of all areas, but not in weedy or woody vegetation adjacent to the plots. Higher numbers were trapped throughout the year in Piracicaba, where maize was continuously grown under irrigation, and in the subsistence farm of Anastácio, where volunteer maize plants were available for long periods in the maize off‐season. In Anastácio farms, some population peaks were recorded in the absence of maize from midwinter to early spring, especially after soil plowing. RAPD‐PCR analysis showed that D. maidis populations sampled were genetically similar. Our data suggest that D. maidis uses a mixed strategy to survive the over‐season period in Brazil, in which part of the population overwinters locally on volunteer maize plants or nearby irrigated maize crops, whereas the other individuals migrate to colonize new maize crops in distant areas or regions. We hypothesize that immigrant D. maidis uses the contrast between plowed and vegetated soil as a visual cue for locating new maize crops.     

Effects of 1 vs. 2 sessions per week of equal-volume sprint training on explosive,high-intensity and endurance-intensive performances in young soccer players

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of 1 vs. 2 sessions per week of equal-volume sprint training on explosive, high-intensity and endurance-intensive performances among young soccer players. Thirty-six young male soccer players were randomly divided into 2 experimental groups that performed either a single weekly sprint training session (ST1, n = 18, age: 17.2 ± 0.8 years) or two weekly sprint training sessions (ST2, n = 18; age: 17.1 ± 0.9 years) of equal weekly and total volume, in addition to their regular soccer training regimen. Linear sprinting (10 m, 20 m, 30 m, and flying 10 m), T-test agility, countermovement jump (CMJ) and maximal oxygen consumption were assessed one week before (T1), in the middle (T2) and immediately after the 10 weeks of training (T3). A large magnitude and statistically significant main effect for time was found in all the assessed variables after both training interventions (all p < 0.001; ES ≥ 0.80). No main effect was observed between the 2 groups at any time in linear sprinting, T-test or CMJ test (p > 0.05; ES < 0.20). A significant interaction effect (F = 4.05; p = 0.04, ES = 0.21) was found for maximal oxygen consumption with ST2 inducing better performance than ST1 (p = 0.001; ES = 1.11). Our findings suggested that the two sprint training frequencies were effective in enhancing explosive, high-intensity and endurance-intensive performances. However, it is recommended for coaches and fitness coaches to use a biweekly sprint training modality as it was found to be more effective in improving endurance-intensive performance.     

Climatic factors controlling interannual variability of the onset of vegetation phenology in the northern Sub-Saharan Africa from 1988 to 2013

Satellite-based evaluations of change in vegetation phenology have been explored extensively but land cover-specific climate factors driving these anomalous changes are not fully understood in northern Sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, we identified the climatic factors controlling the start of the season (SOS) extracted from GIMMS NDVI from 1988 to 2013 with onset of rainy season (ORS), annual mean temperature (Temp) and precipitation (PP) through the stepwise regression analysis. The results showed that the SOS shifted towards a late onset in a northward direction with distinct earlier and later trends in grassland and cropland, respectively. The stepwise regression has successfully built a model between SOS and its drivers in 46.0% of the total pixels, where its primary factor differed regionally across land covers. The ORS explained the local anomalous SOS change primarily at 44.7% of the pixels where the model was built. Although the ORS was the primary dominant factor in savannah and cropland, the Temp and PP were leading in grassland and shrubland, respectively, and all factors contributed evenly in evergreen forest. The difference of land cover-specific primary factor implicates complex process in dependency of local vegetation phenology on physiological traits and climate regime across land cover in Sub-Saharan Africa.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of wintering Western Sandpipers from the Sinaloa coast,Mexico

ABSTRACT Although Western Sandpipers (Calidris mauri) are one of the best‐studied shorebirds along the Pacific Flyway, their genetic identity and population structure is poorly known. We studied the genetic population structure of nonbreeding Western Sandpipers at Bahia Santa María in Sinaloa, northwestern Mexico. A 685‐bp fragment of the mtDNA control region was sequenced for 162 individuals, resulting in 29 variable positions that defined 41 haplotypes. The most common haplotype (WESA01) occurred in 44% of all individuals, whereas 15 were unique to single individuals. Nucleotide diversity was low (π= 0.0030 ± 0.0019 [SE]), but haplotype diversity was moderately high (h= 0.802 ± 0.033 [SE]). The main two maternal lineages exhibited a slightly different local scale distribution that appeared to be related to migratory chronology. Lineage A represented 71% of the haplotypes and was evenly distributed across the nonbreeding season and habitat types, whereas Lineage B represented only 29% of the haplotypes and was disproportionately represented in January in some habitat types. Overall, the low level of nucleotide diversity, the star‐shape of the haplotype tree, the mismatch distribution, and the significantly negative Tajima's D values suggest that Western Sandpipers underwent a recent demographic expansion. Although our results are based on a small sample size from one of several wintering sites along the Pacific Flyway, Santa María likely contains a relatively high proportion of the species genetic variability because it is the wintering ground of nearly 10% of the global population.     

Sow level risk factors for early piglet mortality and crushing in organic outdoor production

Piglet mortality is a major problem in organic pig production affecting both farm economy and animal welfare. Knowledge is scarce on the risk factors of piglet mortality in Danish commercial organic pig production. The objectives of this study were to evaluate season, litter size, parity, sow body condition and stillborn littermates as risk factors for early piglet mortality and crushing of liveborn piglets from parturition until castration at day 3 to 5 postpartum (pp). The study was conducted over a 1-year period in nine commercial Danish organic pig herds practicing outdoor farrowing all year round. Data included recordings on 3393 farrowings with 50 284 liveborn piglets of which 14.8% died before castration. A subset of the dead piglets were collected and necropsied to identify crushed piglets. The average number of liveborn piglets per litter was 14.8 (SD=3.7) and the average time from parturition until castration was 4.1 (SD=1.7) days. A negative binomial regression analysis was used to model the effect of the predictive variables on the early piglet mortality accounting for different time periods from parturition to castration. An increase in maternal body condition score (BCS) and parity significantly increased the risk of dying between parturition and castration. Early mortality was found to be lowest during spring (March to May) and highest during summer (June to August). Being born into a litter with one or more stillborn littermates increased the risk of early mortality. The risk factors for crushing of piglets were evaluated using a logistic analysis. A significant effect of parity and litter size was found where the odds of at least one piglet in a litter with mortality was diagnosed as crushed increased with increasing parity and litter size. In conclusion, being born during summer (June to August), high parity and maternal BCS and stillborn littermates were found to be risk factors for piglet mortality between parturition and castration. In addition, parity and increasing litter size were found to be risk factors for crushing of piglets in litters with mortality.     

Notes on some summer birds of Syria by Wolfgang Baumgart and Max Kasparek

Abstract

A sample of 10 skulls of Vulpes vulpes arabica from the southeastern part of the Sultanate of Oman was investigated craniologically. The measurements fit well into the known datascts of the subspecies. The foxes show the same secondary teeth losses as animals from Europe, but no paradental disease or dental caries. Age structure of the population is more natural than in Europe due to the lower or almost non-existent pressure from human hunting. In relation to the slight seasonal change in climatic conditions, the incremental lines of the tooth cement are more clearly visible than expected.     

Effective population size and persistence of Anopheles arabiensis during the dry season in West Africa

Abstract. The way that the malaria vectors Anopheles arabiensis and An.gambiae survive the dry season in sub-saharan Sahel or northern Savanna areas of Africa remains enigmatic. We examined this problem by calculating the effective sizes (N_e) of An.arabiensis populations for several locations in West Africa. An indirect/genetic procedure was used, comparing gene frequencies at several time intervals. The amount of drift which occurred provides an estimate of N_e. Most estimates of N_e were approximately 2000 individuals, probably close to the yearly minimum. This supports the hypothesis that populations of An.arabiensis in this region are continuous throughout the year, with many individuals surviving through the dry season, perhaps in a physiologically altered state, rather than extinction or severe bottlenecks during the dry season, followed by recolonization by a few individual survivors or immigrants in the subsequent rainy season.