Aims: To study the trophic ecology of Yellow-legged Gulls on an island surrounded by deep waters, to quantify the importance of terrestrial prey items and their availability, and to evaluate the relative importance of nutritional values of terrestrial and marine resources.
Methods: Diet was monitored for one year. We assessed the relative contribution of the main prey items and their macronutrients through the study of pellets and faeces.
Results: Terrestrial invertebrates were the most frequently consumed prey items (frequency of occurrence (FO) 67%), followed by marine fish (Osteichthyes FO 33%). Coleoptera and Orthoptera were the most consumed terrestrial invertebrates and provided a high nutritional value. The rate of consumption of terrestrial invertebrates varied in synchrony with the breeding season, being higher in spring, indicating their potential importance for reproduction.
Conclusion: It is unusual that terrestrial invertebrates constitute a large proportion of the diet of large gulls, but they seemed to cover their trophic energy requirements during the reproductive period. 相似文献
Aims: To explore which factors have more importance in determining the pre-fledging daily survival rates in a Yellow-legged Gull population from northern Iberia. Specifically, we tested for the effect of hatching date and order, body size and condition and meteorological conditions on pre-fledging survival.
Methods: Cormack–Jolly–Seber models with mixtures were used to model daily survival rates.
Results: Daily survival rates were mostly negatively affected by hatching date.
Conclusions: Hatching date was the most important factor affecting survival of chicks during the pre-fledging period in a Yellow-legged Gull colony from northern Iberia. 相似文献
Aims: To describe the growth rate of Yellow-legged Gull chicks and sex-associated variations, and obtain a discriminant function to sex them using morphological data.
Methods: Fifty-two Yellow-legged Gull chicks from a colony in northern Iberia were measured for body mass, head and bill length, tarsus length and three other bill-length associated variables, from the hatching date up to the age of 36 days. Birds were sexed using DNA analysis.
Results: Using logistic models, chick growth rates was observed to be similar between the sexes, while the asymptote was higher among males for the majority of the variables. Discriminant analyses showed that the variable head+bill was very reliable to predict the sex of >80% of chicks at an early developmental stage, and 100% of chicks if combined with tarsus length and two more bill-length associated variables at the age of 35 days.
Conclusions: This is the first study using a discriminant analysis to sex Yellow-legged Gull chicks, and also the first to describe the growth function for the species. The growth rate varied between sexes because males showed higher asymptote values within the growth function. 相似文献
Aims: To assess the potential contribution of large gulls breeding in a traditional colony to gull–human conflicts in cities.
Methods: Colour-ringed gulls from a nearby colony were counted in the study area throughout the 2014 breeding season. The average numbers observed daily per species and sex were compared between different breeding phases.
Results: Fluctuations in numbers of both species could be explained by breeding phase. Numbers of females of both species and male Lesser Black-backed Gulls dropped significantly during laying and incubation. Numbers peaked post-hatching, coinciding with increased engagement in nuisance events and more frequent displacements within the study area.
Conclusion: Large gulls from a traditional colony frequently visited the urban study area, especially when food demand for chick provisioning was high, suggesting that city visits are motivated by accessibility of urban food. The proportion of rooftop breeding gulls in this area is low. Therefore, measures to avoid nuisance should focus on reducing food availability rather than controlling gull breeding. 相似文献
Aim: To gain insight in the foraging ecology, habitat use and breeding performance of inland-breeding Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Methods: We received data from seven birds fitted with global positioning system (GPS) loggers. The colony was frequently visited to collect pellets and boluses and to monitor reproductive success, mortality and growth rate of chicks.
Results: The GPS data revealed that mainly terrestrial habitats were used, 98% of these GPS positions were within 25?km of the colony. Refuse dumps were the most preferred sites, but also agricultural fields and freshwater bodies were often visited. Only two of the 710 recorded trips were directed to the North Sea. The pellet and bolus analyses confirmed the GPS data: no marine food remains were found. Breeding success of birds in the enclosure was relatively high, with 90% of eggs hatched and 51% of chicks fledged (1.6 chicks/pair).
Conclusions: Relying on terrestrial food is feasible when sources are available in the vicinity of the colony. We conclude that Lesser Black-backed Gulls could theoretically shift towards inland breeding after a fishery discards ban. 相似文献
Objective: To evaluate circulatory apoptotic markers and oxidative stress in patients with PCOS.
Materials and methods: Forty-four women with PCOS, and 44 healthy women as controls were enrolled in the study. Oxidative stress parameters and caspases levels were measured in serum.
Results: The caspase 9 level was significantly lower and related with oxidant status in patients with PCOS, while the circulating levels of caspases 3 and 7 were statistically similar in both groups.
Discussion: This study is the first report demonstrating the circulating levels of apoptotic markers and their relationship with oxidant status in PCOS.
Conclusion: The circulating caspase 9 and oxidant status might contribute to apoptotic dysregulation in PCOS. 相似文献
Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) – a source of oxidative stress – and CML.
Materials and methods: About 1002 participants in the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) were studied.
Results: Women with SDB had significantly higher CML concentration compared with those without SDB (OR?=?1.63, 95%CI?=?1.03–2.58, p?=?0.04). The association was not significant among men.
Discussion: SDB was associated with CML concentration among elderly women but not men in the Cardiovascular Health Study.
Conclusion: Accumulation of CML may be an adverse health consequence of SDB 相似文献
Aims: To assess whether gull numbers and breeding success at Canna have been influenced by the amount of fish discarded in the area.
Methods: We examined data on gull breeding numbers, breeding success and diet studied at Canna from 1969 to 2014, and data on fish landings at the nearby port of Mallaig for 1985 to 2014. We examined correlations between gull and fishery data, and performed a detrended analysis of Herring Gull Larus argentatus numbers in relation to demersal fish catch (the latter as a proxy for discard volumes).
Results: Gulls fed extensively on discards. Gull breeding numbers declined at Canna, especially between 2000 and 2006, the decline being more pronounced than seen in national totals. Gull breeding numbers correlated with demersal landings, even after detrending for long-term decreases in both.
Conclusions: Correlation between detrended Herring Gull breeding numbers and detrended demersal fish landings provided strong evidence for a causal link between fishery discarding and gull breeding numbers. 相似文献
Objective: The objective of this study is to explored novel biomarkers for phospholipidosis using a metabolomic approach.
Method: NMR spectrometry and LC/MS/MS analyses were applied to urine and plasma of rats administrated cationic amphiphilic drugs.
Results: The phenylacetylglycine to hippuric acid ratio in plasma was increased in time and dose-dependent manners; and it was well correlated with histopathological observation.
Conclusion: The plasma phenylacetylglycine to hippuric acid ratio is a potential marker in monitoring drug-induced phospholipidosis. 相似文献
Objective: To evaluate the risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis by examining its linkage with polymorphisms of IL-6 and IL-10.
Materials and methods: Samples were obtained from 188 pneumonia-induced sepsis patients, 162 pneumonia patients and 200 healthy controls.
Results: Subjects with IL-10 -1082 AA genotypes and IL-6 -174?CC genotype had a higher risk of sepsis and increased mRNA levels.
Conclusion: The variants of IL-10 -1082 A allele and IL-6 -174 C allele contributed to an increased risk of pneumonia-induced sepsis. 相似文献
Objective: The aim of this paper is the discovery of new non-invasive biomarker for the monitoring of VHLD patients.
Materials and methods: We compared the urinary proteome of VHLD patients, ccRCC patients and healthy volunteers.
Results: Among all differentially expressed proteins, alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) and APOH (beta-2-glycoprotein-1) are strongly over-abundant only in the urine of VHLD patients with a history of ccRCC.
Discussion and conclusion: A1AT and APOH could be promising non-invasive biomarkers. 相似文献
Objectives: Few studies have compared the expression of inflammatory or adhesion molecules between coronary artery disease (CAD) versus CSX.
Materials and methods: Ninety-two CSX and 145 CAD subjects without known diabetes mellitus underwent coronary angiogram for angina.
Results: Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 (median, 507 versus 431?ng/ml, p?=?0.001) was significantly higher in the CAD group. In the binary regression, VCAM-1 was a significant differential factor for CAD versus CSX.
Discussion and conclusion: Adhesion molecules might be implicated in the differential expression of macro versus microvascular coronary disease.
Trial registration number: NCT01198730 at https://clinicaltrials.gov 相似文献
Objective: To evaluate the relationship between sCD40l and survival, CVE and mortality in HD patients on long-term follow-up.
Methods: We registered 46?HD patients’ baseline characteristics, mortality and CVE for 108 months.
Results: SCD40l correlated positively with C-reactive protein, was higher in survivors, but had no impact on survival and was not predictive for CVE or CV mortality.
Conclusion: The levels of sCD40l have no influence on survival or CVE and mortality in HD patients in a long-term follow-up. 相似文献
Objectives: We have examined the incremental value of Big-ET-1 in predicting total and CV mortality next to the well-established CV risk marker N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP).
Methods: Big-ET-1 and NT-proBNP were determined in 2829 participants referred for coronary angiography (follow-up 9.9 years).
Results: Big-ET-1 is an independent predictor of total, CV mortality and death due to CHF.
Discussion: The conjunct use of Big-ET-1 and NT-proBNP improves the risk stratification of patients with intermediate to high risk of CV death and CHF.
Conclusions: Big-ET-1improves risk stratification in patients referred for coronary angiography. 相似文献
Objective: To asses the association of Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (GNB3) (C825T) gene's polymorphism with T2DM.
Materials and methods: A case–control study including 400 North Indians was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction–Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach to analyze genetic polymorphism.
Results: No significant difference was observed in genotype and allele frequencies of GNB3 gene on comparing cases with controls.
Discussion: Our study is in agreement with studies on Polish, Japanese, Hispanic-American and Danish populations who observed no significant association between GNB3 (C825T) polymorphism and T2DM.
Conclusion: GNB3 (C825T) polymorphism is not associated with T2DM. 相似文献
Objectives: We investigated the association of serum YKL-40 levels with KD and established laboratory parameters for YKL-40 levels and other inflammatory markers.
Methods: YKL-40 levels and other inflammatory markers of 23 KD patients, 9 disease control patients and 11 age-matched healthy controls.
Results: YKL-40 concentration in the serum of KD patients significantly increased during the acute disease phase compared with those of disease controls and healthy controls.
Conclusions: Increased YKL-40 levels may provide a useful inflammatory marker for patients with KD. 相似文献
Objective: The study examined the early release kinetics of TnTuORF.
Materials and methods: We analyzed the time course of the release of cardiac troponins I and T and TnTuORF in patients (n?=?31) with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy undergoing transcoronary ablation of septal hypertrophy (TASH).
Results: Fifteen minutes after TASH, the levels of both troponins increased significantly (cTnT median: 18?ng/L versus 27?ng/L; cTnI median: 15?ng/L versus 25?ng/L). TnTuORF showed no variation.
Discussion: We observed a significantly greater increase in cTnI compared with cTnT.
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that troponin assays allow early detection of myocardial injury, whereas TnTuORF levels remain unchanged in this setting. 相似文献
Objective: To compare the reliability of urine lactate between controlled hydration and no hydration after maximal exercise.
Material and methods: Athletes performed swimming exercise four times: two followed by consumption of 1?L of water and two followed by no water intake. Blood and urine lactate was measured.
Results: The reliability of urine lactate was good and similar to that in blood only after controlled hydration. Blood and urine lactate were correlated under both hydration conditions.
Discussion and conclusion: Controlled hydration after exercise provides satisfactory reliability of urine lactate. 相似文献
Objective: To examine effects of nickel exposure on plasma oxidative and anti-oxidative biomarkers.
Materials and methods: Biomarker data were collected from 154 workers with various levels of nickel exposure and from 73 controls. Correlations between nickel exposure and oxidative and anti-oxidative biomarkers were determined using linear regression models.
Results: Workers with a exposure to high nickel levels had significantly lower levels of anti-oxidants (glutathione and catalase) than those with a lower exposure to nickel; however, only glutathione showed an independent association after multivariable adjustment.
Discussion and conclusion: Exposure to high levels of nickel may reduce serum anti-oxidative capacity. 相似文献