Do migrants influence the foraging behaviour of the insectivorous Cyprus Wheatear,Oenanthe cypriaca,at a stopover site? (Aves: Passeriformes)

During their staging at stopover sites, migrants may compete with resident species over food resources (“resource competition hypothesis”), or migrants feed on surplus that is not utilised by the residents. Here, I studied foraging behaviour of the Cyprus Wheatear, Oenanthe cypriaca, a ubiquitous and common species with a broad niche range, on Cyprus, which is an important stopover site during intercontinental spring migration. During adverse weather conditions, perch height and aerial sallying were lower and perch/pounce activity was higher. Average perch height and sallying increased over the season, while perch-pounce foraging decreased. There was no influence of clock time. Bivariate correlations suggested an influence of migrants on perch height but not on other variables. Using a series of regression analyses with sex, time of day, date, weather conditions and number of migrants as independent variables revealed no influence of the number of migrants on the foraging behaviour of the Cyprus Wheatear. This suggests that the abundance of migrants does not lead to a change in the behaviour of the Cyprus Wheatear.     

Two new species of Brueelia Kéler, 1936 (Ischnocera, Philopteridae) parasitic on Neotropical trogons (Aves, Trogoniformes)

Two new species of Brueelia are described and illustrated. These new species and their type hosts are: Brueelia sueta ex Pharomachrus pavoninus (Spix, 1824), the Pavonine Quetzal and Brueelia cicchinoi ex Trogon viridis Linnaeus, the White-tailed Trogon. Both new species differ from the only Brueelia described on Trogon mexicanus by many morphological features, including those present in the male genitalia and female vulvar margin. Partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene for these two new species differ from one another by 13.6% uncorrected p-distance. Whereas Brueelia cicchinoi is only 0.3% divergent from previously published COI sequences identified as Brueelia sp. from the Mexican Trogon melanocephalus Gould, 1936 and Trogon massena Gould, 1938. We also found Brueelia cicchinoi on Trogon melanurus, Trogon collaris and Pharomachrus pavoninus. Thus Brueelia cicchinoi is found on multiple trogoniform hosts across an extremely large geographic distribution and has one of the largest number of host associations among Brueelia species.     

Does the colonization of new biogeographic regions influence the diversification and accumulation of clade richness among the Corvides (Aves: Passeriformes)?

Regional variation in clade richness can be vast, reflecting differences in the dynamics of historical dispersal and diversification among lineages. Although it has been proposed that dispersal into new biogeographic regions may facilitate diversification, to date there has been limited assessment of the importance of this process in the generation, and maintenance, of broad‐scale biodiversity gradients. To address this issue, we analytically derive biogeographic regions for a global radiation of passerine birds (the Corvides, c. 790 species) that are highly variable in the geographic and taxonomic distribution of species. Subsequently, we determine rates of historical dispersal between regions, the dynamics of diversification following regional colonization, and spatial variation in the distribution of species that differ in their rates of lineage diversification. The results of these analyses reveal spatiotemporal differences in the build‐up of lineages across regions. The number of regions occupied and the rate of transition between regions both predict family richness well, indicating that the accumulation of high clade richness is associated with repeated expansion into new geographic areas. However, only the largest family (the Corvidae) had significantly heightened rates of both speciation and regional transition, implying that repeated regional colonization is not a general mechanism promoting lineage diversification among the Corvides.     

Tinamutrema canoae n. gen. et n. sp. (Trematoda: Digenea: Strigeiformes: Brachylaimidae) in Crypturellus cinnamomeus (Aves, Passeriformes, Tinamidae) from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

We propose Tinamutrema as a new genus for Brachylaima centrodes (Braun, 1901) Dollfus, 1935 and for T. canoae, as a new species inhabiting tinamus in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Specimens from Costa Rica resemble B. centrodes in having an elongate body, pretesticular genital pore and terminal genitalia, intercecal uterine loops occupying all available space between the anterior testis and the intestinal bifurcation, an oral sucker width:pharynx width ratio of approximately 1:0.55, an oral sucker:ventral sucker width ratio of approximately 1:1, and vitelline follicles extending into the forebody closer to the pharynx than to the anterior margin of the ventral sucker and by living in the cloaca. They differ from B. centrodes in having vitelline follicles that do not extend as far anteriorly as those in B. centrodes, which extend anteriorly to the level of the anteriormost extent of the cecal "shoulders," dense tegumental spination as opposed to sparse or no spination, relatively smaller cirrus with fewer spines, longer and more sinous pars prostatica, and forebody averaging 36% of total body length (TBL) as opposed to 42% TBL. Both species differ from other members of the Brachylaimidae in possessing a spinose cirrus and a cirrus sac containing both the cirrus and the pars prostatica. Preliminary phylogenetic assessment suggests that these traits are plesiomorphic, and thus the species are basal to the rest of the Brachylaimidae, whose diagnosis we emend accordingly.     

Présence de Tyto balearica (Aves,Strigiformes) dans des gisements continentaux du Pliocène de France et d'Espagne

Tyto balearica was described as an endemic insularform of Barn Owl from the Balearics. New remains referable to this species have been found in continental localities from Spain and Southern France, older than or contemporaneous with the Balearic sites. The great size of this species, comparatively to the recent European Barn Owl, Tyto alba, can be related to a diet including mainly large size rodents, larger than the preys which constitute the food of the recent European form. However the existence of a connection between the size of the Owl species studied and the high abundance of prey remains observed in every site is not excluded.     

Description of the type-series of Palaeocryptonyx donnezani Depéret, 1892 (Aves: Phasianidae) with the selection of a lectotype

We have re-examined the original type-series of Palaeocryptonyx donnezani Depéret, 1892 housed in the Laboratoire de Géologie de Lyon, Université Claude-Bernard Lyon 1 (France), and have selected a lectotype and paralectotypes. P. donnezani is the type species of the extinct genus Palaeocryptonyx, known from six species from different European Neogene and Pleistocene fossil localities. The species have been compared with different medium-sized Phasianidae species on the basis of our own study and data from the literature. The systematic position of P. donnezani has been questioned, because it has been misplaced in the extant genera Alectoris and Coturnix, but our analysis confirms its validity and its attribution to a separate genus; hence we also confirm the validity of the genus Palaeocryptonyx.     

Whallwachsia illuminata n. gen., n. sp. (Trematoda: Digenea: Plagiorchiformes: Prosthogonimidae) in the steely-vented hummingbird Amazilia saucerrottei (Aves: Apodiformes: Trochilidae) and the yellow-olive flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens (Aves: Passeriformes: Tyraninidae) from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Guanacaste, Costa Rica

A new species of digenean found in the intestines of the steely-vented hummingbird Amazilia saucerrottei and the yellow-olive flycatcher Tolmomyias sulphurescens from the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, resembles members of the Prosthogonimidae in having a highly lobate ovary; an elongate cirrus sac containing the cirrus, pars prostatica, and internal seminal vesicle; no external seminal vesicle; 2 fields of extracecal vitelline follicles restricted to the area between the intestinal bifurcation and testes; and uterine loops occupying all available space in the hind body. The new species differs from all other members of the family in having genital pores opening laterally to the cecum, immediately anterior to the acetabular level, and markedly oblique rather than symmetrical testes. Consequently, we propose the new genus Whallwachsia for the species. Preliminary phylogenetic assessment suggests that the species is the sister group of all other prosthogonimids.     

Tengmalm’s Owl (Aegolius funereus) (Strigidae,Aves) in the North Caucasus

Biology Bulletin - Abstract—Tengmalm’s Owl (Aegolius funereus caucasicus But.) inhabits dark coniferous, pine, and deciduous forests in the mountains of the North Caucasus in the range...     

New anhingid (Aves,Suliformes) from the middle Miocene of Río Negro province,Patagonia, Argentina

During the Miocene in South America, the family Anhingidae constitutes one of the most conspicuous faunal elements. However, the anhingid record from Patagonia is still sparse. The aim of the present contribution is to describe a new species of Macranhinga coming from Colloncuran levels (early middle Miocene) in Río Negro province, north-central Patagonia (Argentina). The new species is represented by an incomplete proximal end of a tarsometatarsus, distal end of a tibiotarsus, and distal end of a humerus. The phylogenetic relationships of the new species within Macranhinga remains unresolved. South American Neogene anhingids share a number of features that suggest they may belong to a monophyletic clade within this family. Anhingid records from the Miocene of Patagonia indicate that the diversity of this family was far more diverse (at least 4 different species) than currently understood, and was possible comparable to that shown by Miocene beds of Mesopotamian in Argentina and Acre in Brazil.

http://www.zoobang.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:3FC228E8-4E2C-4DFD-AB91-79F32269CA98     

Principaux effets neurotropes et psychotropes des méthylxanthines (caféine, théophylline, théobromine, paraxanthine)

Caffeine, the main alkaloid in coffee, corresponds to the 1-3-7 trimethylxanthine. Its concentration is lower in tea and chocolate, where it is associated with theophylline, 1-3 dimethylxanthine, in tea and with theobromine, 3-7 dimethylxanthine, in chocolate. Paraxanthine, 1-7dimethylxanthine, for its part, is produced by the hepatic metabolism of caffeine operated by a cytochrome of 1A2 type. The effects of these methylxanthines on awaking, anxiety, neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, mood, schizophrenia and nociception are briefly considered. This review is concluded by indicating that these effects of methylxanthines may be modified by various associated substances, such as polyphenols displaying antioxydant properties.     

Behavioral Ecology of Elliot’s Laughingthrush (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Trochalopteron</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Garrulax</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">elliotii</Emphasis>, Timaliidae,Aves): 2. Vocal Repertoire

Our work is the first study on the vocal repertoire of one of the babbler species, Elliot’s laughingthrush. Field studies were carried out in Hupingshan Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, China. There are three types of signals in the repertoire: songs, calls (chattering), and duets. Songs and calls are used by both males and females. The song consists of a quiet introduction (short note) and a louder main part (two or three tonal notes). There are up to four song variants in the repertoire of a given pair. All songs can be classified into three types. Types I and II represent songs with the main part consisting of three notes, while type III consists of two notes. Types I and II differ from each other in certain features of the frequency modulation shape of the first two notes. All song types can be used during the spontaneous vocalization of a single bird. However, their usage in other contexts differs. Songs of types I and II are more often uttered during vocal interactions of neighbor males. Songs of type III appear to be characteristic of male–female duets. Chattering (calls) is a continuous series of broadband notes. There are several (two to five) note variants in each series. Chattering can be used both during a male–female interaction and as an alarm call. We found an inverse correlation between (1) the duration of pauses between notes, and (2) the number of note variants (“repertoire size”) in a series. Both parameters probably reflect the internal state of an individual at a given moment.     

Mammals of "La Sepultura" Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, México

A species list was elaborated for La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico. Line transects and direct observations were made. national and international databases were consulted, and animal traces were registered. Animals were captured during the period May 1994 - December 1999. A total of 848 specimen (248 furs and skulls), 32 tracks in plaster, and 9 osseous fragments were collected. A total of 98 species, 70 genera, 29 families, and 10 orders compose the species list. Of these species 87.7% belong to the orders Chiroptera, Rodentia and Carnivora and 21 species were classified according to some kind of legal protection. These data represent a solid and actualized database useful for designing management and conservation plans for this Biosphere Reserve.     

Niche segregation in high-altitude Himalayan chats (Aves,Turdidae): does morphology match ecology?

We investigated patterns of habitat segregation and morphological differentiation in syntopic, closely related turdid birds of the alpine zone of the Central Himalayas. Discriminant function analysis of 19 habitat structure parameters and comparisons of additional habitat features revealed that the species were distributed along gradients of vegetation height and vegetation density. In addition, non-vegetational structural habitat features, like microrelief variability or the presence of rocks and boulders, had strong discriminating power. In terms of habitat preferences the species of the guild investigated formed three subsets: shrubbery species (Erithacus pectoralis, E. chrysaeus and Hodgsonius phoenicuroides), species preferring open areas with higher surface roughness (Phoenicurus frontalis, Chaimarrornis leucocephalus) and the high-altitude species Grandala coelicolor. Using discriminant function analysis of 20 characters, morphology was analysed in relation to microhabitat utilization and foraging behaviour. Species inhabiting patches of shrubby thickets and foraging mainly by pedal movements (E. pectoralis, E. chrysaeus and H. phoenicuroides) have in common short rounded wings with high wing loading and strong legs and feet. Species preferably foraging by aerial hawking or perch and pounce techniques in more open areas (P. frontalis, C. chaimarrornis, and to some extent E. cyanurus) have longer wings, shorter tarsi and long rictal bristles. Grandala proved to be well adpated for long-distance flights at high altitudes (long, pointed wings) and for pedal foraging. Overall our results fit the basic assumption of ecomorphological theory that morphological distance reflects ecological distance. The ordination of each species in morphological space closely matched its distribution in ecological space (microhabitat, foraging strategies). Striking associations of morphology with ecology were not only evident for single traits but were also found in multidimensional comparisons: between-species Euclidian distances in ecology calculated from 19 habitat properties were in most cases equivalent to morphological distances calculated from 20 traits. In addition, in one of the two study areas species locations in the plane spanned by DFA axes of habitat use mirrored their positions in the morphological multivariate space. The observed distributions of the species in ecological and morphological space are interpreted as being mainly attributable to individualistic responses to the specific constraints of the alpine environment.