主席致辞:国际鸟类学的三个世纪

科学需要国际交流 ,国际会议也许是国际交流和认识其他同行的最好方法。然而 ,国际科学会议起步较晚 ,于 1884年举办的第一届国际鸟类学大会即是最早的国际科学会议之一。召开那次国际会议的起因是探讨鸟类生物学中一个超越国界的自然现象 ,即鸟类的迁徙。许多鸟类每年一次的南北迁移运动是鸟类生物学中最具魅力的问题之一 ,但 19世纪的人们对鸟类的迁徙了解甚少。在多国组成的欧洲 ,如果研究鸟类迁徙则必须进行国际合作。RudolfBlasius和GustavvonHayek制定了一个欧洲多国合作研究鸟类迁徙的宏伟计划 ,并得到了匈牙利 -奥地利王储的支持。与此同时 ,二人发表了一项公告 :于 1884年 4月在维也纳召开第一届世界鸟类学大会 ,会议主题是鸟类迁徙。会议制定了详细的收集和出版鸟类迁徙资料的方案。在 19世纪 90年代 ,由于大量的数据没有分析 ,因而这项计划被迫终止。第二届世界鸟类学大会于 1891年在布达佩斯举行。会议的主题仍然是鸟类迁徙 ,但增加了鸟类生物学中其它方面的议题 ,包括对R .B .Sharpe鸟类分类系统的总结。第三届世界鸟类学大会于 190 0年在巴黎举行 ,会议内容涉及到鸟类学研究的各个领域 ,随后 ,世界鸟类学大会于 190 5年在伦敦举行 ,于 1910年在柏林举行。在第一次世界大战前夕 ,于 1915年     

鸟类学研究:过去二十年的回顾和对中国未来发展的建议

为了解中国鸟类学研究的状况和发展趋势,我们利用在线文献数据库(Web of Science)检索了1991-2010年间发表的与鸟类有关的文献,对中国和其他国家的鸟类学研究论文、研究领域、研究机构等进行了分析和比较。结果发现,中国鸟类学研究发展很快,专业研究人员数量在1991-2010年间增长了近四倍,在国际上发表的研究论文的数量近几年年均增长25%;论文数量占世界的比例已经由1991-2000年的0.46%上升到了2001-2010年期间的1.53%,世界排名由第27位上升至第16位,并且研究领域更加多元化,论文水平不断提高。在鸟类系统发育与演化、合作繁殖和婚配、禽流感、巢寄生等领域的许多成果开始在国际相关领域的高水平刊物上发表,在古鸟类以及雉类和鹤类等濒危鸟类的保护研究方面位居世界前列。但从整体而言,中国鸟类学研究与世界上一些发达国家相比还有很大差距。为此我们对中国鸟类学未来的发展提出了一些建议,包括需要更加关注鸟类的生活史对策、气候变化和城市化对鸟类的影响、鸟类迁徙、濒危物种保护生物学等领域的研究,进一步加强国际交流与合作,规范鸟类研究及数据保存和处理的方法,采取更有效措施加大对青年研究人员的支持力度等。     

Birds and zoonoses

Birds may harbour many organisms, some of which can be transmitted to humans (zoonoses) and domestic livestock. Certain zoonoses are of considerable importance and their control may necessitate changes in management of bird populations. If problems relating to zoonoses are to be effectively tackled there is a need for closer collaboration between ornithologists and those concerned with public health, more research on avian diseases and the collation of relevant data.     

The Evolution of Avian Senescence Patterns: Implications for Understanding Primary Aging Processes

SYNOPSIS. The long life spans of birds relative to those ofmammals are intriguing to biogerontologists, particularly inlight of birds' high body temperatures, high blood glucose levels,and high metabolic rates—all of which should theoreticallyincrease their biochemical liability for rapid aging. The comparativelongevity of birds and other flying homeotherms is consistentwith evolutionary senescence theory, which posits that specieswith low mortality rates from predation or accident will bereleased from selection for rapid maturity and early reproduction,and will exhibit retarded aging. Comparative analyses of avianlife history parameters to date, although not as extensive asthose for mammals, broadly support an association between lowmortality rates, slow reproduction, and long lifespan. The diversityof bird life histories suggests the importance of developinga diversity of avian models for studies of aging mechanisms,both proximate and ultimate, and for using wild as well as domesticrepresentatives. Birds studied in the laboratory thus far showmany of the same manifestations of aging as mammals, includinghumans, and many ornithologists are beginning to document actuarialevidence consistent with aging in their study populations. Weencourage greater communication and collaboration among comparativegerontologists and ornithologists, in the hope that the studyof aging in birds will lead to an integrated understanding ofphysiological aging processes well grounded in an evolutionaryparadigm.     

Avian navigation and geographic positioning

Site fidelity to breeding and wintering grounds, and even stopover sites, suggests that passerines are capable of accurate navigation during their annual migrations. Geolocator‐based studies are beginning to demonstrate precise population‐specific migratory routes and even some interannual consistency in individual routes. Displacement studies of birds have shown that at least adult birds are capable of goal‐oriented movements, likely involving some type of map or geographic position system. In contrast, juveniles on their first migration use a clock‐and‐compass orientation strategy, with limited knowledge about locations along their migratory routes. Positioning information could come from a variety of cues including visual, olfactory, acoustic, and geomagnetic sources. How information from these systems is integrated and used for avian navigation has yet to be fully articulated. In this review, we (1) define geographic positioning and distinguish the types of navigational strategies that birds could use for orientation, (2) describe sensory cues available to birds for geographic positioning, (3) review the evidence for geographic positioning in birds and methods used to collect that evidence, and (4) discuss ways ornithologists, particularly field ornithologists, can contribute to and advance our knowledge of the navigational abilities of birds. Few studies of avian orientation and navigation mechanisms have been conducted in the Western Hemisphere. To fully understand migratory systems in the Western Hemisphere and develop better conservation policies, information about the orientation and navigation mechanisms used by specific species needs to be integrated with other aspects of their migration ecology and biology.     

Characterization of c-lil, a chicken cellular sequence associated with a stock of B77 avian sarcoma virus.

Using biochemical methods, we have shown that a new specific sequence, v-lil, is associated with a given stock of B77 avian sarcoma virus (clone 9). We prepared a DNA complementary to v-lil sequences, using substractive hybridizations, and investigated the properties of this sequence. v-lil has a genetic complexity of ca. 2,000 nucleotides and is not present in various stocks of avian sarcoma virus, avian leukosis virus, or defective leukemia virus. v-lil is not associated with B77 avian sarcoma virus isolated from the original tumor and thus has been acquired by in vitro passage of the virus on chicken embryo fibroblasts. A search for the origin of the v-lil sequence among the DNAs of different avian species has shown that a similar sequence, c-lil, is present in normal chicken DNA (1 to 2 copies per haploid genome). c-lil is not highly conserved but is present in the DNA of all chickens from the genus Gallus. The c-lil sequence is transcribed at a low level (1 to 3 copies per cell) in normal chicken embryo fibroblasts. The biological function, if any, of v-lil or its cellular equivalent has yet to be determined.     

The macrosystematics of mammals according to energy metabolism criteria]

Criteria of evolutionary progress and complexity of organization have been proposed on the basis of the data on energetic metabolism. These criteria can serve as a basis of macrosystematics of mammals at the level of orders. The orders with the known data on energetic metabolism have been ranged.     

H5N1禽流感病毒环介导等温扩增快速检测方法的建立

目的：建立H5N1禽流感病毒环介导等温扩增（LAMP）快速检测方法。方法：从GenBank中获得H5N1禽流感病毒血凝素（HA）基因序列,应用DNAStar软件MegAlign程序分析其序列,利用PrimerExplorerV3软件在序列保守区域设计LAMP引物,即外引物、内引物和环引物,同时以所克隆的阳性质粒为模板,对试验中的几个重要参数进行优化。结果：LAMP检测方法对H5N1禽流感病毒的灵敏度达到4～6个拷贝,其引物对于H1、H9亚型禽流感病毒和新城疫病毒无非特异性扩增,表现出良好的H5亚型特异性。结论：建立的H5N1禽流感病毒环介导等温扩增快速检测方法灵敏度高、特异性强、重复性好,为快速检测禽流感病毒提供了新方法和新思路。     

稳定同位素分析在鸟类食性及营养级结构中的应用

稳定同位素分析(stable isotope analysis,SIA)自20世纪70年代末引入鸟类生态学领域以来,在研究鸟类食性和营养级结构方面展现了强大的发展潜力和广泛的应用前景。总结了该技术在鸟类食源组成和营养级结构方面研究的前期准备、实验流程、数据分析和研究进展等,重点阐述了其在鸟类保护与管理方面的应用。鉴于稳定同位素在生物体内存在分馏现象,从鸟类不同组织和部位对营养级富集因子、转化周期、同位素印记的差异,提出了完善该方法的建议和应用前景。     

Collecting,processing, and storing avian blood: a review

ABSTRACT With recent advances in molecular techniques, collecting blood from birds has become a common practice among field ornithologists. There are a variety of techniques for collecting blood samples and numerous caveats for how samples should be processed, depending on the research question being asked. Currently, few resources are available for individuals learning how to collect blood from birds or needing more information about how to process blood samples. Here, I describe commonly used methods for collecting, processing, and storing blood for particular research objectives, and provide answers to frequently asked questions about blood collection. The information provided is intended primarily for investigators working with passerines, but many techniques and suggestions are applicable to other avian taxa.     

雾网在森林鸟类群落研究中的应用

雾网应用于森林鸟类群落生态学研究已有20多年的历史,用雾网研究森林中行动隐蔽、少鸣唱、没有领域的鸟类,特别是森林林下鸟类十分有效．该方法不受研究者经验的影响,可以对不同地区、不同群落进行比较研究．国外学者认为雾网是研究森林鸟类群落必不可少的研究工具．文中着重介绍了雾网的优缺点及其在森林鸟类群落研究中的应用,以期推动我国相关学科的研究．     

Synthesis and Selection: Wynne-Edwards' Challenge to David Lack

David Lack of Oxford Universityand V.C. Wynne-Edwards of Aberdeen Universitywere renowned ornithologists with contrastingviews of the modern synthesis which deeplyinfluenced their interpretation and explanationof bird behavior. In the 1950's and 60's Lackbecame the chief advocate of neo-Darwinism withrespect to avian ecology, while Wynne-Edwardsdeveloped his theory of group selection. Lack's position was consistent with thedeveloping focus on individual leveladaptation, which was a core concept of themodern synthesis. Alternatively, Wynne-Edwardsviewed the emphasis on populations as the mostimportant development provided by the modernsynthesis. In this paper, I present thedevelopment of these two positions and tracetheir roots in the literature of the synthesis.Through an analysis of Lack's 1966 critique ofWynne-Edwards I conclude that Wynne-Edwardswas, in many ways, justified in his pursuit ofgroup level explanations.     

Handling ‘immunocompetence’ in ecological studies: do we operate with confused terms?

‘Immunocompetence’ is a term used in avian immunological ecology to refer to the ability of an individual to overcome potential parasite infections. However, there are multiple ecological definitions of this term currently used and all of them are rather liberal in immunological terms. This prevents much of the potential intellectual interchange between avian ecologists and immunologists, which decelerates the development of immunological ecology as a scientific discipline. We therefore highlight that the term should be handled with care. In any individual host‐parasite interrelationship the demands on host immunity are distinct and thus also the measurements of immunity in any particular case should be aimed differently. Although ornithologists often aspire to obtain a single variable for immunity in their research, due to the enormous diversity of parasites possessing the ability to infect the host, there is no single value for anti‐parasite resistance, i.e. no overall ‘immunocompetence’ per se exists. We propose to use more rigorous terminology, consistent with the one used in classical immunology. The term ‘immunocompetence’ (defined as the ability to produce anti‐parasite or anti‐antigen immune response) should be used as 0/1 character. The magnitude of a particular immune response (i.e. a continuous quantitative trait) should be referred to as ‘immune responsiveness’. Most importantly, both terms should always be used only with respect to a certain parasite taxon or antigen studied as otherwise they lose their explanatory value.     

Cognitive ornithology: the evolution of avian intelligence

Comparative psychologists interested in the evolution of intelligence have focused their attention on social primates, whereas birds tend to be used as models of associative learning. However, corvids and parrots, which have forebrains relatively the same size as apes, live in complex social groups and have a long developmental period before becoming independent, have demonstrated ape-like intelligence. Although, ornithologists have documented thousands of hours observing birds in their natural habitat, they have focused their attention on avian behaviour and ecology, rather than intelligence. This review discusses recent studies of avian cognition contrasting two different approaches; the anthropocentric approach and the adaptive specialization approach. It is argued that the most productive method is to combine the two approaches. This is discussed with respects to recent investigations of two supposedly unique aspects of human cognition; episodic memory and theory of mind. In reviewing the evidence for avian intelligence, corvids and parrots appear to be cognitively superior to other birds and in many cases even apes. This suggests that complex cognition has evolved in species with very different brains through a process of convergent evolution rather than shared ancestry, although the notion that birds and mammals may share common neural connectivity patterns is discussed.     

Molecular evolution of the avian growth hormone gene and comparison with its mammalian counterpart

The molecular evolution of all available avian growth hormone (GH) gene sequences was investigated using both maximum-likelihood and parsimony methods, and the patterns compared to those found in mammals. In contrast to the rapid bursts of evolution observed for mammalian GH, the evolutionary rate of the avian GH mature peptide appears to have been more constant. However several positively selected sites were identified at functionally important positions in the avian signal peptide by the site-specific likelihood method. This implies that sequence variation in the avian GH signal peptide may be adaptive, although more conservative parsimony methods failed to confirm this. Nevertheless, the differing patterns of avian and mammalian GH signal peptide molecular evolution are consistent with the apparently differing roles of GH in controlling growth in these taxonomic groups and support the hypothesis that signal peptide sequence variation may in fact be the basis for increased functional complexity.     

Phylogenetics of modern birds in the era of genomics

In the 14 years since the first higher-level bird phylogenies based on DNA sequence data, avian phylogenetics has witnessed the advent and maturation of the genomics era, the completion of the chicken genome and a suite of technologies that promise to add considerably to the agenda of avian phylogenetics. In this review, we summarize current approaches and data characteristics of recent higher-level bird studies and suggest a number of as yet untested molecular and analytical approaches for the unfolding tree of life for birds. A variety of comparative genomics strategies, including adoption of objective quality scores for sequence data, analysis of contiguous DNA sequences provided by large-insert genomic libraries, and the systematic use of retroposon insertions and other rare genomic changes all promise an integrated phylogenetics that is solidly grounded in genome evolution. The avian genome is an excellent testing ground for such approaches because of the more balanced representation of single-copy and repetitive DNA regions than in mammals. Although comparative genomics has a number of obvious uses in avian phylogenetics, its application to large numbers of taxa poses a number of methodological and infrastructural challenges, and can be greatly facilitated by a 'community genomics' approach in which the modest sequencing throughputs of single PI laboratories are pooled to produce larger, complementary datasets. Although the polymerase chain reaction era of avian phylogenetics is far from complete, the comparative genomics era-with its ability to vastly increase the number and type of molecular characters and to provide a genomic context for these characters-will usher in a host of new perspectives and opportunities for integrating genome evolution and avian phylogenetics.     

中国柳莺属鸟类分类研究进展

柳莺属(Phylloscopus)是广泛分布于旧大陆地区的小型食虫鸟类,目前全世界已知66种,其中约50种见于亚洲。该属鸟类外部形态十分相近且同域分布种数较多,历来是鸟类分类学中的研究难点及热点。2003年贾陈喜等介绍了20世纪90年代以来发表的分布于我国的柳莺属鸟类新种及相关分类学变动,涉及3个新描述种和9个由亚种提升的种,共计30种26亚种。2003年以来关于柳莺属鸟类的分类学研究取得了许多新的成果,同时我国境内也发现了一些新的分布记录。综合最新的文献及分布资料,整理得知我国现有柳莺属鸟类41种31亚种,与2003年的状况相比已有较大的变化。主要表现在:新描述种方面,德国学者Martens等2008年描述了黄腹柳莺(P.affinis)种组中的一新种———华西柳莺(P.occisinensis);2010年瑞典学者Alstrm等报道在越南和老挝地区新发现的灰岩柳莺(P.calciatilis)已被证实在我国有分布;亚种提升为种方面,如日本柳莺(P.xanthodryas)自极北柳莺(P.borealis)中独立,冠纹柳莺(P.claudiae)和西南冠纹柳莺(P.reguloides)分开等;分类地位再评议方面,如灰头鹟莺(Seicercusxanthoschistos)实为灰头柳莺(P.xanthoschistos)等;新分布纪录方面,如欧柳莺(P.trochilus)在内蒙古达里诺尔湖地区发现确切记录等。现今对柳莺属鸟类分类学方面的研究已明显呈现出传统形态学、分子遗传学、声谱分析及野外鸣声回放实验等新老技术手段相整合,多方面多角度地阐述问题的局面。中国是世界柳莺属鸟种分布最多的国家(其中有9种仅在或主要于我国境内繁殖),但我国鸟类学者关于该属鸟类的研究工作并不多见。柳莺属鸟类在分类学和进化生物学等领域具有重要的研究价值,我国鸟类学工作者应当引起足够的重视和关注。