A Karyological Study of Some Corvine Birds (Corvidae, Aves)

Karyotypes were studied in the hooded and carrion crows, their naturally occurred hybrids, the jungle crow, the azure-winged magpie (2n= 80 in all aforementioned birds), and the magpie (2n= 82). Corvine birds of Primorskii Krai were karyotyped for the first time. In addition to the similarity in the diploid chromosome sets, corvine birds were shown to have a similar structure of karyotype: in all studied birds, 14 macrochromosomes (Mchs) classified into three groups according to their size were detected. By karyotype structure, birds belonging to the same genus are similar. Some intergeneric differences are due to a change in the position of centromeres of the largest and sex chromosomes. Karyotypes of interspecific hybrids of crows are remarkable for the presence of heteromorphic (t/st) chromosome pair 2 in some individuals, which apparently does not affect their fecundity. Using differential C-banding, the sex chromosome W in female magpies was identified. In addition, heteromorphism was detected in C-bands of homologs of Mch pair 4 in the hooded crow. In the jungle crow, the azure-winged magpie, and the magpie, bright QH-bands and numerous G-bands were detected on Mchs and on some microchromosomes only. Active Ag-NOR-bands were detected on one macrochromosome pair in the magpie. In all, the karyotype structure of corvine birds is comparable to the basic structural scheme of the karyotype in the order Passeriformes, which confirms the concept of conservatism of the avian karyotype.     

Karyological studies in four species of ardeid birds (Ardeldae,Ciconiiformes)

Karyotypic analyses of 4 species of birds: Ardeola grayii grayii, Bubulcus ibis coromandus, Egretta garzetta, Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax (Ardeidae, Ciconiiformes) reveal low diploid values (2n=60–68), absence of sharp bimodality and an unusually large W chromosome in A. g. grayii. N-banding studies in two species (B. i. coromandus and N. n. nycticorax) show 6–8 microchromosomes to contain NORs and the G-banded karyotype of A. g. grayil reveals the usual avian pattern.     

Karyological study of one charadriiform and two passerine Indian birds

The karyotypes of one charadriiform bird, Himantopus himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus) (Recurvirostridae) and two passerine birds, Chloropsis cochinchinensis jerdoni (Blyth) (Irenidae) and Melophus lathami (Gray) (Emberizidae), hithertho cytologically unknown have been studied. The diploid chromosome number (2n) is 82 ± in H. h. himantopus and 80 ± in both C. c. jerdoni and M. lathami. The Z and W chromosomes were identified except in H. h. himantopus. C-banding analysis in C. c. jerdoni shows almost the entire W chromosome and the short arm of the 5th chromosome to be completely heterochromatic. Possible karyological relationships among congeneric and confamilial species are discussed.     

Karyological study of four Japanese Myotis bats (Chiroptera,Mammalia)

Karyological investigations of four Japanese Myotis species were made based on Gand C-banding pattern analysis. It was revealed that the four species, M. nattereri, M. hosonoi, M. frater kaguyae and M. macrodactylus have all 2n=44 and their karyotypes are, excepting one chromosome pair, identical each other. The only difference in their karyotypes was found on the morphology of the chromosome no. 5. A minute acrocentric (A) was observed in M. nattereri, and a polymorphic (A) and an (M^h) which is a minute metacentric with totally heterochromatic arm was found in M. hosonoi. In M. f. kaguyae, pair no. 5 was a small submetacentric with a totally heterochromatic long arm (SM^h). Polymorphic (SM^h) and (M) which is a small metacentric derived from (SM^h) by a pericentric inversion was seen in M. macrodactylus. Such morphological differentiations of no. 5 were interpreted by assuming an increase of constitutive heterochromatin and also an inversion. The evolutionary pathway in the genus Myotis is assumed to be as follows: (A)(M^h)(SM^h)(M). This assumption was supported by the geographical evidence that the species with the (A) type no. 5 pair is widely distributed in the whole world but the others are restricted to Asia (M^h type) or only to Japan (SM^h and M types).     

Cooperative breeding in corvids (Passeriformes,Corvidae)

The family of corvids differs from most other passerines by the significant number of species (at least 33) in which the feeding of nestlings and fledglings involves not only parents, but also individuals from their already grown broods (one-year-old and older). A review of the currently known data on cooperative breeding (or helping behavior) in corvids is given. This paper discusses factors that can contribute to the manifestation of delayed dispersion of young birds and the appearance of their helping behavior. It emphasizes the importance of long-term social bonds between parent birds and their offspring in delayed dispersion. At the heart of such social relationships is the tolerance of adult birds to their offspring and prolonged care for the young birds. The appearance of irregular helpers near the nests may be a prerequisite for the emergence of the helping behavior in certain family groups and populations.     

Karyotypes of four passerine birds belonging to the families Turdidae,Mimidae, and Corvidae

The karyotypes of four passerine bird species are described: Robin (Turdus migratorius), family Turdidae; Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), family Mimidae; Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata), and Common Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), both family Corvidae. Diploid numbers and chromosome morphology of related species previously studied are compared with the results of the present study. Karyotypes of all the studied species have considerable similarities in the whole appearance and size grouping of the chromosomes within the karyotype, but detailed morphological analysis shows a clear difference between the karyotypes of the different species.     

Hearing and communication in birds: the cocktail-party-effect in intraspecific communication of Agapornis roseicollis (aves, psittacidae).

Lovebirds ($\text{Agapornis roseicollis}$) were able to detect recorded acoustic signals of their mates from background noise (vocalizations of birds of the same species); signal-to-noise ratio 13 dB.Signal detection and intelligibility at different levels is so far known to be based on two components: The preferential motivation of the signal recipient as a psycho-physical factor, and - in the case of voice recognition in background noise - the possession of two ears as the physical factor. Since this complex phenomenon, termed the cocktail-party-effect, has first been investigated in the acoustic behaviour of humans (1,2), ethologists have supposed that this effect also exists in the animal acoustic behaviour of Vertebrates (3,4,5) and probably Invertebrates (pers. comm.).     

On the phylogenetic relationship of Corvinae birds (Aves, Corvidae) from data of partial sequencing of cytochrome b gene mitochondrial DNA

To establish phylogenetic relationships within the corvine birds at the interspecific and intergeneric levels, the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene was analyzed. The NJ, UPGMA, and MP trees showed similar clustering. Relationships between the jungle crow, on the one hand, and the rook and Australian raven, on the other hand, were closer than between the jungle crow and the hooded and carrion crows. Mitochondrial genome of Australian raven displayed the closest similarity to the ancestral genome of the genus Corvus. Populations inhabiting the eastern part of the carrion crow C. corone orientations area were statistically significantly subdivided into three lineages. These data also confirmed the hypothesis on the location of the carrion crow ancestral lineage in the southeastern part of the area. In general, the transition and transversion substitution levels, their relationships, and distribution over codon positions were similar to that already reported for birds. Synonymous transitions in the third codon position were the prevailing substitution type. Using standard calibration scales, the time of divergence between species and genera within the corvine family was estimated to be 3.1-4 and 3.8-8.8 Myr, respectively. The divergence time between the examined corvine birds and birds of paradise constituted from 8 to 10 Myr.     

Karyological studies inCoris julis (Pisces,Labridae)

In the present investigation the diploid number 2n=48 (NF=58) has been determined for females, primary males, and secondary males ofCoris julis from the Gulf of Palermo. Differentiated sex chromosomes have not been observed in the population under study.     

Karyological studies of Japanese ants (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

The karyotypes of nine Japanese ants in three subfamilies (Ponerinae, Formicinae, and Myrmicinae) were successfully analysed by the improved squash technique. Three ponerine species had 2n=7 and n=4 (Ponera scabra), 2n=22 (Brachyponera sinensis), and 2n=28 and n=14 (Cryptopone sauteri). Four formicine species had 2n=18 and n=9 (Camponotus sp. and C. tokioensis), 2n=26 and n=13 (Camponotus japonicus), and 2n=30 and n=15 (Lasius niger). Two myrmicine species had 2n=18 and n=9 (Leptothorax congruus), and 2n=37, 38, 39, and n=17, 18, 19, 20 (Pheidole nodus). It was found that the variation of chromosome number observed in P. nodus was caused by Robertsonian type polymorphism.     

The restriction analysis of nDNA from the corvids (Passeriformes,aves)

• 1.1. The nDNA of carrion crow Corvus corone L., hooded crow C. cornix L., their hybrids, as well as magpie Pica pica L., were digested by the tetranucleotide recognizing restriction enzymes Sau3a, AluI, BspRI and then analysed using electrophoresis with microdensitometry.
• 2.2. The distribution patterns of restriction DNA fragments proved to be nuclease- and taxon specific.
• 3.3. The observed families of repeated sequences are characterized by different length (from 30 bp to 23 tbp), number of copies in genome (approximately 10³ and 10⁶) and supposedly different types of organization and evolutionary age.
• 4.4. The total DNA amount identified in the form of discrete fragments is 16 and 19–21% for magpie and crows, respectively.
• 5.5. The DNA restriction patterns of hybrid forms do not differ from the parental species.

     

Karyological differences among Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera)

Karyotypes obtained from spermatogonial metaphases of 20 tenebrionid species have been surveyed. The range of chromosome numbers is from 2n=16 to 2n=26, but only five species deviate from 2n=20, which is the modal and most primitive number of the family. Only the tribe Akidini shows a clear relationship between chromosome number (2n=16) and taxonomic group, while in the other species this relationship is not apparent. The mean total complement lengths in eleven species vary about twofold and the number of chromosome arms (NF) from 23 to 50. Some congeneric species ofTentyria, Hegeter andErodius displayed slight differences in the number of acrocentric chromosomes.Project number PB 87-0584-C02-01, Ministry of Education and Science, Spain     

Karyological investigations on seven weevil species (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

Karyological studies were carried out on seven Palaearctic weevils. The following chromosome numbers were found in individual species, i.e. Otiorhynchus niger (F.), Phyllobius viridearis (Laich.), Phyllobius scutellaris Redt., Phyllobius calcaratus (F.), Polydrusus cervinus (L.), and Brachyderes incanus (L.) 2n = 22, n Male = 10 + Xyp, in Lixus elegantulus (Boh.) 2n = 22, n Male = 21 + Xyp. The heterochromosomes of all the examined species form, in the first meiotic metaphase, a typical parachute bivalent.     

Karyological studies in Jaborosa (Solanaceae)

Sixteen species of Jaborosa (Solanaceae), including eight endemic to Argentina, were studied karyologically. The numbers n  = 12 and/or 2n  = 24 were found in all species, the majority of the cases being new reports. Mitotic chromosomes were small- to medium-sized, the average length varying from 2.95 to 4.93 µm. All species had one to three chromosome pairs with satellites. The karyotypes, obtained for 13 species, were slightly asymmetrical: A ₁ ranged from 0.228 to 0.483, A ₂ ranged from 0.095 to 0.182, and Paszko's asymmetry index ranged from 0.84 to 3.47. In all species, metacentric chromosomes were the most common, followed by submetacentrics, but subtelocentrics were rare. Morphological similarities and sectional arrangements were not reflected in either a principal components analysis plot or asymmetry index plot, but the species could be singled out by their karyotype formulae and the different karyotype parameters taken. In Jaborosa , a notably diversified genus, exo-morphological evolution has taken place, together with evident chromosome rearrangements, whose disposition is different and not as clear as in related genera.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 467–478.