A well‐preserved ‘charadriiform‐like’ fossil bird from the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

Abstract: We describe a new, exceptionally well‐preserved fossil bird recovered from marine deposits of the Early Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. Morsoravis sedilis gen. et sp. nov. is known by a single specimen that consists of a three‐dimensional skull, vertebral column, ribs, pelvis, and left hindlimb and associated parts of the right hindlimb. Comparisons based on overall morphology and particularly characters of the skull, vertebrae and pelvis indicate that the new specimen is morphologically similar to charadriiform birds (the shorebirds and relatives). This similarity is also expressed by a phylogenetic analysis of higher neornithine (modern birds) taxa, which supports a close relationship between the new fossil and modern charadriiforms. The morphology of the hindlimbs, in particular, shows that the new fossil corresponds to a new taxon that is distinguishable from modern charadriiform clades. One interesting aspect of its morphology is the presence of hindlimb specializations that are most commonly found among perching birds – these suggest that ecologically the new Danish fossil bird may have differed from the wading habits typical of most charadriiforms.     

Fungitoxic action of dimethirimol and ethirimol

The systemic fungicides dimethirimol and ethirimol were shown to be toxic to spores of Erysiphe graminis and Sphaerotheca fuliginea, in germination tests in vitro. Toxicity of dimethirimol to spores of Botrytis fabae, Phytophthora infestans, Puccinia recondita, Uncinula necator and Venturia inaequalis was relatively feeble or absent. When applied in foliage sprays or in root treatments, both compounds inhibited the emergence of germ tubes from powdery mildew spores on cucumber and barley plants. The specific disease control shown by these fungicides can be explained by their direct fungitoxic action. The effects of dimethirimol and ethirimol on powdery mildew infections and on spore germination were greatly decreased by the presence of riboflavin in the light. A rapid photo-chemical interaction between riboflavin and dimethirimol was demonstrated. Marked reversals both of disease control and of fungitoxicity were also given by folic acid, and it is suggested that folic acid overcomes a metabolic block induced in powdery mildew fungi by the fungicides.     

Die-back of Phragmites australis: influence on the distribution and rate of sediment methanogenesis

Methanogenesis was measured during the summer of 1994, in sediment coresand bulk samples from a Phragmites australis wetland in northern Jutland,Denmark. We compared sediment from healthy reed and dying-back reed, andan open lagoon resulting from die-back. Cores revealed variability withdepth and between sites, with the highest rates coinciding with layers oforganic gyttja, and negligible methane production from the underlying sandbase. Methanogenesis rates in the lagoon and die back sites were higher(up to 100–150 nmol h^-1 g^-1dry wt. sediment) than in the healthy reed (50–80 nmolh^-1 g^-1), with the highest rates being recordedfrom May to July. At these times, methanogenesis was markedly temperature-limited; samples incubated at 30 °C anon-limiting temperature, gave rates as high as 200–400nmol h^-1 g^-1 for the lagoon and die-backareas and 150 nmol h^-1 g^-1 for the healthyarea. Addition of 8 mM acetate and H₂/CO₂headspace suggested that both acetate-fermenting andCO₂-reducing bacteria were present. Acetate additions suggested some co-limitation by substrate availability, with acetate limitation occurring in the healthy site during July and in the die-back site during August. Lower rates during August, especially in the healthy area, were associated with low water levels which resulted in more oxidized sediments. The data reveal highly variable methanogenesis in the sediment which, when considered with sediment depths, indicates that sites of Phragmites die-back have significantly greater rates of anaerobic mineralization than surrounding healthy wetland, and may be intense sources of methane.     

Vapour action of fungicides against powdery mildews

Certain fungicides prevented the growth of powdery mildews at distances extending several millimetres beyond the edge of localized deposits on leaves. Most of the materials also acted at a distance when separated from the leaf by glass cover-slips, indicating that the effect was due to the emission of vapour. In addition to sulphur and lime-sulphur, whose vapour action is already known, fungicides based on drazoxolon, oxythioquinox, binap-acryl, dinitro-octyl phenyl crotonates and a phthalimido-phosphonothionate were found to act in this way. Two systemic fungicides, griseofulvin and triamiphos, did not give a detectable vapour action. Tests were conducted mostly on open glasshouse benches. A draught from a fan shifted the zones of inhibition to one side of the deposits, but did not reduce their areas. Vapour effects were similar in extent on plants maintained at 18–25° C and at 27–32° C. Variation in the areas protected was studied in relation to the size and fungicide content of the deposits, to different powdery mildews, to time of incubation and to different types of formulation. Deposits applied to leaves by high- or low-volume sprays at concentrations used in the field gave significant protection at a distance. Vapour effects were demonstrated also on mildew conidia incubated on glass slides bearing a spot of fungicide, and on infected plants placed in beakers coated on the bottom with fungicide. Movement of fungicides in the gaseous state is discussed in relation to the control of foliage diseases in the field.     

GENETIC VARIATION IN SIX SPECIES OF SACOGLOSSAN OPISTHOBRANCHS

Genetic variation in allozymes of six species of Saco-glossa(Mollusca, Opisthobranchia) from Denmark was studied. Nine enzymesrepresenting 11 loci gave reactions that could be used to calculateallele frequencies. Elysia viridis, Limapontia capitata, L.de-pressa, Ercolania nigra, Alderia modesta and Calliopaea oophagaall showed very great variation both within and between species.Levels of polymorphism varied between 0.5 and 0.8, and levelsof observed heterozygosity were between 0.18 and 0.42. Interspecificidentity of alleles in polymorphic loci was only found betweenthe two species of Limapontia. Even in these two species geneticidentity (I) was very low (0.07) for congeneric species. Theresults are discussed in relation to habitat, fertility, developmenttype and geographic range of the species. (Received 28 February 1990; accepted 26 July 1990)     

TWO NEW PARROTS (PSITTACIFORMES) FROM THE LOWER EOCENE FUR FORMATION OF DENMARK

Abstract:  Two new fossil psittaciform birds from the Lower Eocene 'Mo Clay' (Fur Formation) of Denmark ( c . 54 Ma) are described. An unnamed specimen is assigned to the extinct avian family of stem-group parrots, Pseudasturidae (genus and species incertae sedis ), while a second ( Mopsitta tanta gen. et sp. nov.) is the largest fossil parrot yet known. Both specimens are the first fossil records of these birds from Denmark. Although the phylogenetic position of Mopsitta is unclear (it is classified as family incertae sedis ), this form is phylogenetically closer to Recent Pstittacidae than to other known Palaeogene psittaciforms and may, therefore, represent the oldest known crown-group parrot.     

Relationships between frequency of mixed-species flocks, weather and insect activity in a montane cloud forest in Ecuador

The frequency of mixed-species flocks of birds, weather and insect activity were studied in a high-altitude cloud forest in Ecuador. It is generally accepted that participation in mixed-species flocks improves foraging efficiency. If this is true, more flock activity may be expected when food is less available, which may happen during long-lasting periods of rain and otherwise adverse weather conditions. The total number and mean size of flying insects decreased as rainfall increased. The number of flocks observed increased with decreasing number and biomass of insects. Relatively more flocks were seen during rain than during dry weather. No flocks stopped foraging during rain. The flock activity pattern appeared to be the opposite of that found in humid lowlands, probably because of different weather regimes in the two zones. In the lowlands, heavy rain is typically of short duration. In high-altitude cloud forest, the rainfall is often less intense but persists for prolonged periods. Hence, from an energy point of view, cloud forest birds cannot afford to stop foraging during adverse weather conditions when insect availability is low. The results suggest that some mixed feeding parties have evolved in response to low tropical insect availability, necessitating long feeding excursions outside the territory.     

Avian rarity in ten cloud-forest communities in the Andes of Ecuador: implications for conservation

Avian rarity was investigated in ten high-altitude cloud forests in the Andes of Ecuador. Data on species compositions and abundances were obtained by a fully standardized method (standardization for area, altitude, habitat, effort and seasonality). The rare species were isolated from rank-abundance plots on the basis of the quartile definition of rarity. A positive correlation between mean abundances of species and number of sites occupied suggests that high-altitude bird species classified rare by abundance generally can also be classified rare by range. However, it is necessary to be cautious using this result in ranking conservation priorities since the generality is not obeyed by all species. Within the two abundance classes (contains one and two individuals, respectively) represented among the rare species, the one-individual class had significantly more species than the two-individual class. The quantitative rarity of taxa and ecological groupings produced similar results for all sites, while pairwise similarity of rare species between sites was very low. Together with the difficulty of identifying species that are truly rare by abundance, these results imply that sites selected for conservation preferably should be based upon a qualitative evaluation of lists of species referred to vulnerability categories such as endemic, restricted-range, CITES or IUCN threatened/near-threatened species. However, it is necessary also to incorporate other aspects of biodiversity to cover a full range of biotic diversity.