Ground cavity nest temperatures and their relevance to Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea conservation

Blue Swallows Hirundo atrocaerulea are Critically Endangered within South Africa. They nest in natural underground holes in mist-belt grasslands. Temperature dataloggers were used to record ground cavity nest (T_n) and ambient temperature (T_a) for one artificial and 11 natural Blue Swallow nests. Mean ground cavity T_n was significantly different to mean T_a. T_n ranged from 17.0 ± 0.1 °C to 28.5 ± 0.3 °C and varied less than T_a (14.0 ± 0.2 to 47.7 ± 0.4 °C). Mean ground cavity T_n averaged 3.3 ± 0.9 °C warmer than mean T_a for 58% of nests, and mean T_a averaged 2.6 ± 0.5 °C warmer than mean ground cavity T_n for 42% of nests. There was no significant difference in mean ground cavity T_n for the aardvark-excavated holes (22.7 ± 1.6 °C) and sinkholes (21.5 ± 1.2 °C). Blue Swallows also nest in man-made holes, potentially a way to increase nesting sites. Mean aardvark-excavated T_n (19.2 ± 0.1 °C) was significantly warmer than mean artificial cavity T_n (18.5 ± 0.2 °C). Further investigation of breeding success of Blue Swallows in relation to T_n, incubation strategies and predation risk needs to be addressed in future studies for a better understanding of their reproductive ecology.     

Water repellency and feather structure of the Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea

Rijke, A.M., Jesser, W.A., Evans, S.W & Bouwman, H. 2000. Water repellency and feather structure of the Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea. Ostrich 71 (1 & 2): 143–145.

The Blue Swallow is an endangered species in southern Africa and is probably the most endangered passerine. It is restricted to escarpments with grasslands above 1 000 m where mists are frequent. It appears to forage on the wing even in thick mist raising the question of feather wettability in relation to its adaptation. Extensive physical and behaviourial adaptations are known to occur in a wide variety of birds to deal with the problem of shedding water continuously. To study the water repellency and resistance to water penetration of Blue Swallow feathers, we have examined the microscopic structure of head, back, throat, breast and abdominal feathers as well as remiges and tail feathers by transmission light microscopy. The width (2R) and separation (2D) of rami and barbules have been measured and were used to calculate the parameter (R + D)/R that serves as an indicator ofwater shedding potential. For the remiges and tail feathers the values of the (R+D)/R range from 5 to 10 which is comparable to values for other terrestrial birds. However, for body feathers the range is from 10 (head) and 35 (abdomen)-higher than previously observed for any other bird including Swifts, Apodidae. Blue Swallow feathers are thus the most effective feather yet discovered at repelling water drops. The water repellency is highest in those feathers that are relatively shielded From the direct impact of small water drops (throat, breast, abdomen, back). By contrast, the flight feathers must possess a relatively large resistance to water penetration to avoid becoming waterlogged and this is coupled to low (R+D)/R values. Values for the barbules lay between 2 and 6—the same as found for other bird families—supporting an earlier conclusion that they have little direct effect in repelling water.     

家燕和金腰燕的卵胚胎心率比较

胚胎心率是衡量胚胎新陈代谢速率的重要指标。鸟类的胚胎心率随新陈代谢的增加而呈上升趋势。对早成性鸟类的种间比较发现,胚胎心率平均值随卵重量的增大而减小,卵体积小的种类具有相对较高的胚胎心率。国内有关野生鸟类胚胎心率的研究较少。2014年5~8月,在黑龙江扎龙国家级自然保护区,利用红外胚胎心率测量仪对两种近缘鸟类家燕(Hirundo rustica,n=14)和金腰燕(Cecropis daurica,n=14)的卵胚胎心率及其变化进行了测量与比较。两种燕均在孵卵的第2天开始出现胚胎心率,并随胚龄增加心率呈上升趋势,但在第8天及第11~14天家燕的胚胎心率显著低于金腰燕(第8天:z=﹣2.602,P=0.009;第11天:z=﹣2.497,P=0.013;第12天:z=﹣2.354,P=0.019;第13天:z=3.424,P=0.001;第14天:z=﹣3.380,P=0.001)。家燕卵胚胎日均增长心率(19.0±3.1)次/min,金腰燕卵胚胎日均增长心率(16.1±3.4)次/min,二者差异不显著(z=﹣1.792,P=0.073)。两种燕的胚胎心率与卵容量和卵重均不存在显著相关性[家燕:卵容量(1.73±0.09)cm3,r=0.192,P=0.511;卵重(1.74±0.09)g,r=0.128,P=0.663。金腰燕:卵容量(1.74±0.08)cm3,r=0.040,P=0.891;卵重(1.51±0.09)g,r=0.054,P=0.855]。这可能表明,卵大小和卵重量对家燕与金腰燕的胚胎心率均影响不明显。     

哈尔滨家燕mandschurica亚种繁殖生态特征

许多鸟种因具有较强的适应性而分布广泛,例如家燕(Hirundo rustica)。在不同纬度地区研究其繁殖生态学特征有助于了解家燕对不同环境的适应。家燕mandschurica亚种在国内仅分布于黑龙江省,且该亚种的繁殖资料少有报道,为此,于2016和2017年每年的4至10月,在哈尔滨对其繁殖生态特征开展研究,并与国内目前已发表的家燕gutturalis亚种繁殖生态特征进行对比。家燕mandschurica亚种4月底或5月初迁来哈尔滨,9月下旬或10月初南迁;窝卵数为4～6枚(n=19);卵长径(18.7±1.4)mm(15.9～22.5 mm)、卵短径(13.0±0.5)mm(12.2～14.2 mm),卵重(1.6±0.1)g(1.3～1.9 g),n=35;孵卵期为(16±2)d(14～18 d,n=19);育雏期为(17±1)d(16～18 d,n=6)。雏鸟的体长、翅长及尾羽长的生长曲线能与Logistic较好地拟合;体重、嘴峰和跗跖在5日龄左右生长最快,体长和翅长在7日龄左右增长最快,雏鸟的生长模式符合能量分配假说。与我国南方的家燕gutturalis亚种相比,在哈尔滨繁殖的mandschurica亚种的卵更小、更轻,二者孵卵期相似,但后者育雏期更短。这或许与不同地区食物丰富度及亲鸟喂食策略有关。     

Segregation in the African wintering ranges of English and Swiss Swallow Hirundo rustica populations: a stable isotope study

Capsule Stable isotope analysis of Swallow feathers, grown in Africa, revealed significant differences between populations breeding in Switzerland and England.

Aims To investigate the extent to which Swallow populations breeding in Switzerland and England are separated on their African wintering grounds.

Methods Swallows were caught at breeding colonies, biometric measurements were taken and feathers, grown in Africa, were collected. Feathers were combusted in a Carlo Erba C/N/S analyser and the δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N signatures were measured using a mass spectrometer.

Results The δ¹³C signatures of Swiss birds were significantly more depleted than those of birds from England. The δ¹⁵N signatures did not differ between the two populations.

Conclusion Birds from Switzerland and England probably winter in geographically distinct parts of Africa. The Swiss birds probably feed on prey that are more reliant on C₃ vegetation, from woodlands, than the prey of English birds, which are more reliant on C₄ vegetation, from grasslands.     

Current population estimate and distribution of the African buffalo in Chebera Churchura National Park,Ethiopia

An investigation into the population status and distribution of the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer Sparrman, 1779) in Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia, was carried out during the wet and dry seasons of 2012–2015. This study tested the hypothesis that buffalo would demonstrate seasonal habitat preferences and changes in population density. Sample counts were carried out in an area of 1215 km². The estimated buffalo population was 5193 individuals, with the population density of 4.3/km². The population showed an increase from 2617 to 5194 individuals during 2006–2015. Males comprised 42.6%, while females 46.7% of the population. Age structure was dominated by adults, which constituted 52.5% of the total population. Subadults comprised 24.3% and young 12.4% of the population. Larger herds of up to 30 individuals were observed during the wet season, and smaller herds of a minimum of four individuals were seen during the dry season. The mean herd sizes during the wet and dry seasons were 29.59 and 16.95, respectively. They were observed more in the riverine vegetation types during the dry season. Of the total, 57.6% utilized riverine habitat during the dry season, whereas 39.8% used this habitat during the wet season. Relative abundance of food sources, green vegetation cover and availability of water were the major factors governing their distribution in the present study area.     

京杭运河邵伯高邮段栖息地破碎化对狗獾种群数量分布的影响

栖息地破碎是生物多样性下降的主要原因之一。栖息地破碎引起的面积效应、隔离效应和边缘效应能影响动物种群的绝灭阈值、分布、多度、种间关系以及生态系统过程, 最终影响动物种群的数量分布。2006年10-11月和2007年10-11月, 利用全球定位系统(GPS)、地理信息系统(GIS)和样方法定量分析京杭运河邵伯至高邮段狗獾栖息地破碎化程度, 确定不同斑块的面积、斑块距离、斑块隔离度以及栖息地质量对斑块中狗獾数量分布的影响。结果表明, 各个斑块内狗獾的洞口数、粪堆数与该斑块的面积显著的正相关(r=0.961, P=0.039; r=0.999, P=0.023), 但与斑块距离、斑块隔离度无显著的相关性(P>0.05)。栖息地的质量也会影响狗獾的数量分布, 多元线性逐步回归分析表明, 人类干扰和与栖息地的郁闭性显著的影响狗獾的数量分布。以上结果说明, 京杭运河邵伯高邮段栖息地的破碎化程度对狗獾的数量分布还没有造成显著的直接影响, 但会间接降低栖息地的质量, 进而影响狗獾的生存。     

苏北地区丹顶鹤越冬种群数量及栖息地分布动态变化

利用资料追踪和历史时期土地利用变化数据深入研究了有资料记载以来苏北地区丹顶鹤越冬种群数量变化与栖息地分布的时空响应。结果显示,20世纪80年代之初,丹顶鹤越冬种群广泛分布于苏北地区,尤其是长江中下游的内陆湖泊、沼泽及江苏沿海滩涂湿地;20世纪90年代之后丹顶鹤分布区域逐渐向沿海滩涂湿地转移,主要分布于盐城市的射阳县境内;进入21世纪,丹顶鹤分布区域集中于盐城国家级珍禽保护区核心区。与此同时,丹顶鹤越冬种群数量也经历了十分明显的变化过程,与20世纪90年代相比,数量减少50%以上。丹顶鹤越冬种群数量及栖息地分布变化与栖息地分布点周围的土地利用方式及人为干扰有关,栖息地面积丧失和景观破碎化是丹顶鹤越冬种群数量减少的主要原因。     

鄱阳湖区灰鹤越冬种群数量与分布动态及其影响因素

1998—2011年,采用地面同步调查法开展了鄱阳湖越冬灰鹤种群监测,并整合1984—2011年鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区历年的越冬灰鹤最大种群数量,分析了鄱阳湖灰鹤越冬种群动态以及影响其数量变化与空间分布的环境因素。结果表明,近13年来鄱阳湖区越冬灰鹤种群平均数量为(2 335±651)只,种群数量呈增长趋势,2011年冬季记录到最大种群数量7 640只。灰鹤越冬种群数量与10月平均最低气温以及10月平均气温存在显著正相关,与10月平均最大风速存在显著负相关,与各月的平均水位没有显著的相关性。每年冬季灰鹤在鄱阳湖呈聚集型分布。大湖池、大莲子湖、三湖、汉池湖、企湖、珠湖、南湖(共青)、大汊湖等8个湖泊是灰鹤的重点活动区,(74.9±5.6)%的越冬灰鹤分布在保护区之外。灰鹤的空间分布与滩地面积存在显著的正相关,与农田面积、人口密度、村庄数量、8月份初级生产力、11月份初级生产力等环境因子存在显著负相关。滩地面积是影响灰鹤空间分布的重要因子,对灰鹤利用频次空间变化的解释率为15.0%,与11月份初级生产力共同解释了灰鹤年平均群体数量空间变化的24.6%。如竞争、小生境结构、干扰等局地尺度的环境要素对灰鹤空间分布的影响研究将有助于更全面地认识鄱阳湖越冬灰鹤种群动态的影响机制。     

皖南凹耳臭蛙地理分布格局与生境选择

凹耳臭蛙(Odorrana tormota)是一种小型山溪蛙类,由于叫声独特,种内具有超声通讯功能而引起国内外相关专家的广泛关注。首次针对皖南凹耳臭蛙地理分布、生境选择以及人为干扰强度对种群密度的影响进行了研究。共调查了9县1区32条不同的山溪,发现其中的16个有凹耳臭蛙分布,除黄山区的香溪和浮溪具文献记录外,其余14个分布点均为首次报道。基于现存凹耳臭蛙分布点的水系关系,推测该物种在皖南的分布呈现出以青弋江、新安江和水阳江三大水系为纽带、间断分布的格局。对其中10个分布点222只凹耳臭蛙生境选择的统计结果表明,在夜晚活动周期内,该物种对乔木、灌木丛、草本植物、岩石、沙滩和倒伏朽木等不同生境的选择具有显著差异(F5,54=25.75,P0.001),栖息在草本植物和灌丛中蛙的数量明显多于栖息在其它几种生境类型中的蛙类。暗示溪流沿岸的草本植物和灌丛对该物种的生存和繁衍具有重要意义,乔木对其非活动周期的隐蔽可能具有不可替代的作用。根据人类活动对其栖息地破坏程度,将人为干扰程度划分为强、中和弱3种不同强度,对不同干扰强度下种群相对密度进行单因素方差分析。结果表明,中等干扰强度下的种群密度显著高于其它两种强度下的种群密度(F2,13=8.155,P=0.005)。推测适度的人为干扰可能增加了栖息地内昆虫的种类和数量,对蛙类的生存和繁衍更为有利。但随着人为干扰强度的增强,对溪流沿岸植被的破坏更为剧烈,种群密度显著下降。     

Haematocrit correlates with tail ornament size in three populations of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

1. Handicap models of sexual selection propose that male ornaments are indicators of male quality and that honesty is enforced by the costs imposed by the exaggerated ornamental traits. In long-distance migratory birds that feed on the wing, the aerodynamic cost of exaggerated ornamental characters should be particularly high because the size of the ornaments deviates from the natural selection optimum. During migration, birds are expected to raise their oxygen consumption in relation to the energetic demands imposed by their morphology. An increase of haematocrit is an adaptive response to enhance oxygen uptake and efficiency of transfer to the muscular tissues during spells of intense muscular activity.
2. The change of haematocrit of Barn Swallows ( Hirundo rustica ) after their arrival to the breeding sites, and the relationships between haematocrit values recorded after migration and the size of ordinary and sexually selected morphological characters in three Barn Swallow populations were analysed.
3. Males had higher haematocrit values than females. Individual haematocrit values declined after arrival to the breeding sites. Haematocrit values of males were significantly and positively correlated with the size of their ornamental tail but not correlated with other characters, thus suggesting that well-ornamented males, in order to arrive early, have to raise their haematocrit above the level of short-tailed males.
4. Males and females of similar tail length did not differ in their haematocrit, thus suggesting that sexual dimorphism in haematocrit might be functionally related to dimorphism in tail length.
5. Our results are consistent with the handicap principle because long-tailed males experience lower mortality and larger seasonal reproductive success compared with short-tailed males.     

Estimation of effective population size and detection of a recent population decline coinciding with habitat fragmentation in a ground beetle

We assess the impact of habitat fragmentation on the effective size (N(e)) of local populations of the flightless ground beetle Carabus violaceus in a small (<25 ha) and a large (>80 ha) forest fragment separated by a highway. N(e) was estimated based on the temporal variation of allele frequencies at 13 microsatellite loci using two different methods. In the smaller fragment, N(e) estimates ranged between 59 and a few hundred, whereas values between 190 and positive infinity were estimated for the larger fragment. In both samples, we detected a signal of population decline, which was stronger in the small fragment. The estimated time of onset of this N(e) reduction was consistent with the hypothesis that recent road constructions have divided a continuous population into several isolated subpopulations. In the small fragment, N(e) of the local population may be so small that its long-term persistence is endangered.     

内蒙古贺兰山冬春季岩羊种群现状及保护

为调查内蒙古贺兰山国家级自然保护区内岩羊（Pseudois nayaur alashanicus）的种群现状,通过样线法在2017、2018年冬季,2018、2019年春季进行了调查,利用R 4.0.3中的Distance 1.0.2对样线观测数据进行分析,估测保护区内岩羊的种群数量及密度,分析其种群结构。结果显示,调查共观测到岩羊6299只,其中,2018年冬季种群数量最高,约为2654（2230-3161）只（括号内为95%数量置信区间）,种群密度为3.921（3.293-4.668）只/km²。与2003年同季节的调查数据对比发现,保护区内岩羊的种群数量在15年间增长迅速,岩羊的种群密度累计增长了约53.17%,年平均增长3.54%。岩羊集群形式：混合群（88.03%,80.95%）为岩羊冬、春最主要的集群形式,且混合群的数量冬季多于春季,独羊出现的次数最低（1.99%,2.86%）,不同的集群类型在不同的季节的差异极显著（P<0.001）;岩羊平均群大小：春季为（13.439±12.085）只,冬季为（9.011±8.610）只,调查季节中集群大小多为1-10只,岩羊的不同季节的群大小差异极显著（P<0.001）。种群成体与幼体比在不同季节的变化范围为1.411-2.673,雌雄比在不同季节的变化范围为0.934-1.469,种群结构的季节性差异极显著（P<0.001）。集群类型、群大小及群组成的调查表明,不同季节间岩羊种群结构差异明显。     

北京市两栖爬行动物空间分布格局及影响因素

基于遥感和野外调查数据,研究北京市两栖爬行动物空间分布格局及其影响因素。结果显示,北京记录两栖爬行动物2纲3目10科17属22种,其中,保护物种15种,占物种总数的68.19%。物种分布整体呈现由西北向东南递减的空间特征,西北部山区丰富度和相对多度较大,门头沟和延庆物种丰富度最大(14种),占调查物种总数的66.67%,优势种为中国林蛙、黑斑侧褶蛙、中华蟾蜍和山地麻蜥;门头沟、怀柔、房山分布了全市71.54%的种群数量;200-500 m海拔段物种丰富度最高(18种),主要生境为森林灌丛;物种数在6种以上的网格有11个,包括大滩、怀九河、百花山、拒马河、密云水库等。总体来看,物种种类和数量相较之前呈现减少趋势,而土地用途转换具有重要影响。1980-2018年,建设用地表现出以东西城为核心向外围扩张的趋势,侵占的农田占生态系统总转换面积的42.85%;城六区和平原区的主要物种为黑斑侧褶蛙和中华蟾蜍,少有中国林蛙分布。进一步分析两栖动物1500 m的迁徙距离内,森林灌丛和农田为主要的生境类型,城市扩张侵占了部分农田;同时,污染物的排放引起水体水质下降,特别是北运河水系,造成两栖动物的繁殖率降低和栖息地破坏。目前,北京市各类保护地虽覆盖两栖爬行动物种类的90.91%和数量的60.45%,但在怀柔宝山镇白河上段、密云水库来水的潮河上段辛庄桥、平谷洳河大兴庄镇-峪口镇等地,仍然存在较大的保护空缺。对此,建议开展长期定位观测,构建生物多样性观测网络,并探索建立高强度土地利用下的生物多样性保护机制,从而实现生物资源可持续利用。     

Habitat distribution of the mallard in relation to vegetation structure,food, and population density

The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus) is a generalist feeder, breeding in a wide range of habitats, yet showing considerable between site differences in density. Variations in density and habitat use may result from inter- and intea-specific competition, habitat structure or food.We studied habitat selection of the mallard in four regions of Finland and Sweden. In each region, ten lakes were chosen ranging from oligotrophic to eutrophic. Habitat distribution of the mallard did not differ between regions despite variation in the density of the species and congenerics. Mallard density did not correlate with vegetation structure, but increased with food abundance and the number and density of congenerics although there were regional differences in mallard response.     

New distribution data and population structure of the European mudminnow Umbra krameri in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Seventy‐six individuals of the European mudminnow Umbra krameri from two recent populations from Serbia (Bakreni Batar and Lugomir) and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Gromi?elj) were analysed for habitat preferences and population structure. The population from Lugomir is a newly recorded population in Serbia. Besides this new record, it is noteworthy that all three studied locations are outside the currently known species distribution range limits.