鄱阳湖都昌候鸟自然保护区丰水期和枯水期鸟类多样性

2009年12月和2010年5月,利用样线法和同步调查法对江西省鄱阳湖都昌候鸟自然保护区的鸟类开展了调查,分析了丰水期和枯水期鸟类群落结构的特征及其差异.野外调查共记录到鸟类14目43科169种.丰水期鸟类有36科96种,枯水期鸟类36科135种.其中,国家重点保护鸟类17种.结合保护区日常监测到白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)、灰鹤(G.grus)、白头鹤(G.monacha)和白枕鹤(G.vipio)的分布记录,该保护区鸟类累计达173种.保护区枯水期鸟类以雀形目、鹆形目和雁形目为主,分别占枯水期鸟类种类总数的47.4％、13.3％和9.6％;丰水期鸟类以雀形目、鸻形目和鹳形目为主,分别占鸟类种类总数的58.3％、8.3％和10.4％.枯水期和丰水期鸟类物种组成存在明显的季节性变换.枯水期农田生境鸟类多样性最高,其次是草洲、沼泽和水体,泥滩生境鸟类多样性最低;丰水期农田和水体生境鸟类多样性基本相同.都昌候鸟自然保护区枯水期的优势种为八哥(Acridotheres cristatellus)、白头鹎(Pycnonotus sinensis)、灰椋鸟(Sturnus cineraceus)、麻雀(Passer montanus)和山斑鸠(Streptopelia orientalis),丰水期为白鹭(Egretta garzetta)和八哥.     

The figs of winter: Seasonal importance of fruiting fig trees (Ficus: Moraceae) for urban birds

Birds and figs are conspicuous members of the tropical and subtropical ecosystems. Because they are easily observed and very speciose, their relationships have been well studied in many areas, and the figs are considered a keystone resource for many bird species which are efficient fig seed dispersers. Taiwan has a relatively high endemism rate for many taxa (17% of bird species) but because of its high human population density, most lowland habitats are heavily developed, of which much of it covered by dense urban habitation. To establish the importance of urban figs for birds, we focused our surveys mostly on three common urban fig species (Ficus caulocarpa, F. microcarpa and F. subpisocarpa). We observed trees with ripening figs from July 2013 to December 2016 in order to determine the composition of the fig-consuming bird community. In addition, we added all the information available in the scientific literature and birdwatchers' observations which we could find. In total, we observed 42 bird species consuming 18 fig species. The bird diversity in urban areas was non-negligible even during winter. Therefore, there are two reasons why figs are important for Taiwan's bird avifauna: in cities, the tree diversity is generally low so that figs provide a stable food resource; and since figs are fruiting all year-round, they are one of the few reliable resources available during winter when many migrant birds overwinter in Taiwan. Already crucial for many species in tropical and subtropical forests, fig trees may also be essential for urban birds in tropical and subtropical regions.     

Does Rearing Laying Hens in Aviaries Adversely Affect Long-Term Welfare following Transfer to Furnished Cages?

This study tests the hypothesis that hens that are reared in aviaries but produce in furnished cages experience poorer welfare in production than hens reared in caged systems. This hypothesis is based on the suggestion that the spatial restriction associated with the transfer from aviaries to cages results in frustration or stress for the aviary reared birds. To assess the difference in welfare between aviary and cage reared hens in production, non-beak trimmed white leghorn birds from both rearing backgrounds were filmed at a commercial farm that used furnished cage housing. The videos were taken at 19 and 21 weeks of age, following the birds'' transition to the production environment at 16 weeks. Videos were analysed in terms of the performance of aversion-related behaviour in undisturbed birds, comfort behaviour in undisturbed birds, and alert behaviour directed to a novel object in the home cage. A decrease in the performance of the former behaviour and increase in the performance of the latter two behaviours indicates improved welfare. The results showed that aviary reared birds performed more alert behaviour near to the object than did cage reared birds at 19 but not at 21 weeks of age (P = 0.03). Blood glucose concentrations did not differ between the treatments (P>0.10). There was a significant difference in mortality between treatments (P = 0.000), with more death in aviary reared birds (5.52%) compared to cage birds (2.48%). The higher mortality of aviary-reared birds indicates a negative effect of aviary rearing on bird welfare, whereas the higher duration of alert behavior suggests a positive effect of aviary rearing.     

Mosquito diversity (Diptera: Culicidae) and medical importance,in a bird sanctuary inside the flooded forest of Prek Toal,Cambodia

Wild birds have been identified as reservoirs of many pathogens transmissible to humans through bird-biting mosquitoes. Understanding the diversity of vector fauna in bird-conservation areas, is a cornerstone to later develop early detection systems and reduce the risk of emerging disease incidence. Prek Toal is a bird Sanctuary in the Tonle-Sap area in Cambodia hosting the largest migratory bird colony of southeast Asia. The Culicidae fauna was investigated during both dry and rainy seasons. In total, 8,224 mosquitoes from 6 genera and 25 species were collected. The two most represented genera were Anopheles (8 species) and Culex (11 species), while the dominant species was Culex vishnui (58.8%). During the rainy season, 1.6 fold more mosquitoes were caught and the number of species doubled. One of the most notable feature is the absence of any Aedinii mosquito which could be attributed to the low human density around the area, and the large populations of migratory birds. A total of 13 species from 3 genera are reported to be of medical importance. 6 medically-important species were collected in all 3 sites, and are known to bite both wild birds and humans: An. barbirostris, An. campestris, Cx. bitaeniorhynchus, Cx. vishnui, Ma. indiana and Ma. uniformis. One of the most important feature is the over-abundance of Culex vishnui, largely dominant in Prek Toal throughout the seasons and the sites, and being present everywhere in Cambodia. This finding stresses its potentiality to act as bridge vectors in the case of new disease emergence.     

安徽沿淮湖泊湿地水鸟资源调查

2008年6月至2009年5月,采用路线调查法和定点观察法对安徽沿淮的东西湖、瓦埠湖、龙子湖、沱湖和女山湖5个湖泊湿地的水鸟资源进行了调查,共记录湿地水鸟61种,隶属于7目13科.按居留型可分为冬候鸟32种(占52.46%),夏候鸟14种(占22.95%),留鸟2种(占3.28%),旅鸟13种(占21.31%);按生态...     

Patterns and dynamics of rest-phase hypothermia in wild and captive blue tits during winter

We evaluated biotic and abiotic predictors of rest-phase hypothermia in wintering blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) and also assessed how food availability influences nightly thermoregulation. On any given night, captive blue tits (with unrestricted access to food) remained largely homeothermic, whereas free-ranging birds decreased their body temperature (T _b) by about 5°C. This was not an effect of increased stress in the aviary as we found no difference in circulating corticosterone between groups. Nocturnal T _b in free-ranging birds varied with ambient temperature, date and time. Conversely, T _b in captive birds could not be explained by climatic or temporal factors, but differed slightly between the sexes. We argue that the degree of hypothermia is controlled predominantly by birds’ ability to obtain sufficient energy reserves during the day. However, environmental factors became increasingly important for thermoregulation when resources were limited. Moreover, as birds did not enter hypothermia in captivity when food was abundant, we suggest that this strategy has associated costs and hence is avoided whenever resource levels permit.     

Test of a digestion optimization model: effect of variable-reward feeding schedules on digestive performance of a migratory bird

Birds on migration often alternate between feeding and nonfeeding periods, in part because food resources may be patchily distributed and in part because birds on migration may adopt a risk-prone foraging strategy characterized by selection of variable rather than constant food rewards. Optimal digestion models predict that increases in intermeal interval like those encountered by some migratory birds should result in longer retention time of digesta and higher digestive efficiency if birds are maximizing their rate of energy intake. We tested these predictions by comparing residence time of digesta and extraction efficiency of lipid for captive yellow-rumped warblers (Dendroica coronata) feeding adlibitum and when we added intervals of time when the birds received no food. We increased the likelihood that the warblers were maximizing their rate of energy intake by increasing light levels during spring to induce hyperphagia (treatment birds (16L:8D light: dark cycle) ate 2.13 ± 0.14 g dry food day⁻¹ (n = 8) while control birds (10L:14D) ate 1.25 ± 0.03 g dry food day⁻¹ (n = 6)). Treatment birds offered food only every other 2–3 h ate 50% more during the 4-h test period than when they were always feeding adlibitum. Despite these differences in food intake, extraction efficiency of glycerol trioleate remained high and constant (93%), and mouth-to-anus total mean retention time (TMRT) did not change (overall mean: 54.8 ± 6.0 min). Residence time of lipid in the stomach increased whereas residence time of lipid in the intestine decreased when birds fed only every other 2–3 h compared to when birds always fed ad libitum. None of the results were consistent with the predictions of the optimal digestion model unless we assume that birds were minimizing their feeding time rather than maximizing their rate of energy gain. Furthermore, the ability of yellow-rumped warblers to maintain high extraction efficiency with no change in TMRT suggests some spare digestive capacity when food intake increases by as much as 50%. Received: 14 June 1997 / Accepted: 20 November 1997     

广东担杆岛鸟类多样性的季节变化

摘要：2008年5月至2009年11月,采用固定样点法对广东省珠海市担杆岛的鸟类进行了调查。共记录到鸟类74种,其中留鸟29种、候鸟45种。雨季记录到鸟类45种,旱季记录到鸟类48种。雨季与旱季每个样点平均记录到的鸟类种数分别为3.5种(n--80)和3.7种(n=69),差异不显著(Z=-0.86,P=0.39);鸟...     

广西猫儿山地区鸟类组成及垂直分布格局

猫儿山是华南地区的最高峰,为了了解其鸟类随着海拔高度变化的规律,利用网捕法和样线法对猫儿山地区的鸟类组成及分布格局进行了研究。结果表明,猫儿山地区共有鸟类268种,隶属于16目51科,其中留鸟130种,夏候鸟51种,冬候鸟15种,旅鸟72种。依据不同海拔的典型植被类型把猫儿山地区分成7类生境,其中低海拔的农田生境鸟类多样性最丰富,有156种。随着海拔的升高,猫儿山鸟类种数逐渐减少,G-F指数也表现相似的规律。猫儿山鸟类在区系组成上主要以东洋界鸟类为主,在181种繁殖鸟中,东洋界鸟类有149种,古北界鸟类有15种,其余为广布种。随着海拔的升高,东洋界的鸟类所占的比例逐渐降低,而古北界的鸟类所占的比例逐渐升高。猫儿山鸟类组成的垂直分布格局的形成是多种因素共同作用的结果。     

Richness and Density of Birds in Timber <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nothofagus pumilio</Emphasis> Forests and their Unproductive Associated Environments

Research on forest management impact focuses mainly on timber stands, and leaves out the unproductive forest environments. These stands are spatially mixed with timber forests. The objective was to evaluate richness and density of birds in timber Nothofagus pumilio forests and their unproductive associated environments, and discuss forest management implications. These stands showed significant differences in their forest structure, which generate a great variety of ecological environments. A total of 1881 individuals belonging to 30 bird species were observed during the sampling, in spring and summer seasons. These species were mainly migratory and insectivores, Passeriforms being the most important group. From 12 to 17 birds/ha were found, which varied with the forest environments and seasons. Timber stands of Nothofagus pumilio support a low number of bird species. Most of them are opportunistic and a few prefer these woods over other forested or afforested areas. Low bird density and richness characterize these austral forests, which share their diversity with a high variety of ecosystems along Patagonia. Timber N. pumilio forests has a marginal value for bird species conservation, considering its richness, density and the percentage of this forest in the total forested landscape of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina).     

The influence of mistletoes on birds in an agricultural landscape of central Mexico

Mistletoes are hemiparasitic flowering plants that function as keystone resources in forests and woodlands of temperate regions, where a positive relationship between mistletoe density and avian species richness has been observed. Mistletoes have been less studied in tropical regions and the relationship between birds and mistletoes has seldom been explored in tropical agricultural systems. Therefore, we studied the presence of infected trees and infection prevalence (i.e., number of parasitized trees/total number of trees) by Psittacanthus (Loranthaceae) mistletoes in 23 hedgerows located in an agricultural landscape of central Mexico during the dry and rainy seasons, and investigated the relationship between bird species richness and abundance and the abundance of mistletoes. We found a mean of 74 mistletoe plants per 100-m transect of only one species, Psittacanthus calyculatus. Thirty-one percent of the trees surveyed were infected and tree species differed in infection prevalence, mesquite (Prosopis laevigata) being the most infected species with 86% of the surveyed trees infected. For both seasons, we found a positive and significant association between bird species richness and number of mistletoe plants. The same pattern was observed for total bird abundance. Many resident and Neotropical migratory birds were observed foraging on mistletoes. Our results show that mistletoes are important in promoting a higher bird species richness and abundance in tropical agricultural landscapes.     

Attacks by predators on artificial cryptic and aposematic insect larvae

Colour and colour patterns seem to be especially important visual warning signals for predators, which might have innate or learned ability to avoid aposematic prey. To test the importance of larval colour pattern of the aposematic ladybird Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), an invasive alien species in Europe, we presented the plasticine models of aposematic larvae to wild and naïve birds. We studied the attacks on aposematic larvae of various patterns and colours in nature and in an outdoor aviary. The larvae were cryptic (green), aposematic (resembling those of the H. axyridis larvae), and semi-aposematic (i.e., black but missing the typical orange patches of H. axyridis larvae). We detected attacks on 71 larvae out of 450 (i.e., 2.6% daily predation). Twenty-nine attacks were made by birds, 37 by arthropods, and five by gastropods. Wild birds attacked green and black larvae significantly more often than aposematic larvae. Colour did not have an effect on attacks by arthropods. The experiment with naïve birds was conducted in an outdoor aviary, where naïve great tits, Parus major L., were offered the same artificial larvae as in the first experiment. In total, 57 of 90 exposed larvae were attacked by birds (i.e., 28% daily predation), and green larvae were attacked significantly more than the aposematic larvae (but not more than black larvae). Our results imply that aposematic larvae of H. axyridis are more than 12× less likely to be predated by birds than green larvae in nature. The aposematic pattern represented a more effective signal than the semi-aposematic signal. The ability to reject aposematic prey seemed to be innate in our birds.     

Do Shade-Grown Coffee Plantations Pose a Disease Risk for Wild Birds?

Shade-grown coffee plantations are often promoted as a conservation strategy for wild birds. However, these agro-ecosystems are actively managed for food production, which may alter bird behaviors or interactions that could change bird health, compared to natural forest. To examine whether there is a difference between the health parameters of wild birds inhabiting shade-grown coffee plantations and natural forest, we evaluated birds in Costa Rica for (1) their general body condition, (2) antibodies to pathogens, (paramyxovirus and Mycoplasma spp.), and (3) the prevalence and diversity of endo-, ecto-, and hemoparasites. We measured exposure to Mycoplasma spp. and paramyxovirus because these are pathogens that could have been introduced with domestic poultry, one mechanism by which these landscapes could be detrimental to wild birds. We captured 1,561 birds representing 75 species. Although seasonal factors influenced body condition, we did not find bird general body condition to be different. A total of 556 birds of 31 species were tested for antibodies against paramyxovirus-1. Of these, five birds tested positive, four of which were from shade coffee. Out of 461 other tests for pathogens (for antibodies and nucleotide detection), none were positive. Pterolichus obtusus, the feather mite of chickens, was found on 15 birds representing two species and all were from shade-coffee plantations. Larvated eggs of Syngamus trachea, a nematode typically associated with chickens, were found in four birds captured in shade coffee and one captured in forest. For hemoparasites, a total of 1,121 blood smears from 68 bird species were examined, and only one species showed a higher prevalence of infection in shade coffee. Our results indicate that shade-coffee plantations do not pose a significant health risk to forest birds, but at least two groups of pathogens may deserve further attention: Haemoproteus spp. and the diversity and identity of endoparasites.     

Pink flower preference in sunbirds does not translate into plant fitness differences in a polymorphic Erica species

Bird-pollinated plants typically have reddish flowers, but it is not clear whether this trait can be attributed to selection by birds. Here we experimentally test for the first time the foraging behaviour of sunbirds in relation to flower colour, using the Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea (Nectariniidae) and the colour dimorphic Erica perspicua (Ericaceae). Pink and white flower morphotypes co-flower in intermixed populations and have similar nectar volumes and concentrations. Using floral arrays in a field aviary, we found that sunbirds preferred pink flowers; 95 % of their first choices were to pink inflorescences and they visited and probed more pink inflorescences and flowers, respectively. We also tested for flower constancy (the tendency to move between same colour rather than different colour morphotypes), but found no evidence for this in the sequence of their foraging choices, indicating that this mechanism did not maintain flower colour differences in sympatry. There was evidence for optimal foraging: 80 % of moves were to adjacent inflorescences. Unexpectedly, the preference for pink flowers observed in the aviary did not translate into a female fitness advantage for this morphotype in the field, since no difference is found in natural pollination rate, fruit or seed set. This may be because the minimization of flight distances between plants is the primary factor in sunbird foraging choices, overriding their colour preference. Antagonistic nectar robbers did not act as a selective force on the polymorphism, since nectar-robbing rates were equal between white and pink morphotypes in the field.     

Aspects of risk-aversion in foraging white-crowned sparrows

Two series of aviary experiments with white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) are reported. The first series attempts to mimic foraging choices between microhabitats. The second series examines foraging choices made within a single artificial patch, a design intended to resemble dietary selection. In all experiments subjects chose between a constant food reward and a variable reward, the mean of which equalled the constant reward. Each experiment allowed the bird to feed at an overall rate greater than that minimally required for daily energy balance. In both series of experiments, the birds usually preferred the constant reward. Results of the first series do not differ significantly from previously reported preferences of dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis), birds weighing 10 g less than the white-crowned sparrows.     

Development of the navigational map in homing pigeons: effects of flight experience on orientation performance

Experiments have shown that pigeons, Columba livia, are able to develop navigational abilities even if reared and kept confined in an aviary, provided that they are exposed to the natural winds. In contrast, pigeons reared in a wind-screened aviary do not learn to navigate. Pigeons kept confined in a screened aviary when young do not learn to navigate even if, once they become adult, the screens are removed and the birds are exposed to natural winds for a period sufficiently long for map learning. In all of these experiments, pigeons were kept confined until the day of test release. In the present study we found that pigeons reared in a wind-screened aviary developed navigational abilities if, once adult, they were allowed to perform spontaneous flights around the loft. Nevertheless, their navigational performance never reached the level of controls.Copyright 2003 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.      

Ticks collected from migratory birds,including a new record of Haemaphysalis formosensis,on Jeju Island,Korea

Migratory birds may disperse parasites across ecological barriers, and recent climate change may alter the pattern of ectoparasite dispersal via changed patterns of bird migration. In order to document the parasitization of migratory birds by Ixodidae ticks on Jeju Island in Korea, we examined 934 migratory birds comprising 75 species for ticks from 2010 to 2012. In total, 313 ticks were collected from 74 migratory birds across 17 avian species and identified based on morphological keys. These ticks represented six species: Haemaphysalis flava, H. formosensis, H. longicornis, H. concinna, Ixodes turdus and I. nipponensis. Of particular note was the presence of H. formosensis, a species not previously reported to have been found in Korea, and H. concinna, which had not been previously reported on Jeju Island. The dominant tick species found were H. flava (226 ticks, 72.2 %) and I. turdus (54 ticks, 17.3 %), and ground-dwelling thrushes such as Pale thrushes (Turdus pallidus; 39 birds, 52.7 %) were the most important hosts. Although H. longicornis is the most abundant and prevalent terrestrial tick on Jeju Island, the species accounted for only 3.8 % of the total ticks collected in this study, suggesting that ticks on migratory birds may differ from the local tick fauna and that exotic ticks may be introduced via migratory birds. Therefore, long-term programs for tick and tick-borne disease surveillance are recommended to understand the role of migratory animals in the introduction of exotic species and associated pathogens and in life cycles of ticks at different stages in this region.     

Effects of agri-environmental schemes on farmland birds: do food availability measurements improve patterns obtained from simple habitat models?

Studies evaluating agri‐environmental schemes (AES) usually focus on responses of single species or functional groups. Analyses are generally based on simple habitat measurements but ignore food availability and other important factors. This can limit our understanding of the ultimate causes determining the reactions of birds to AES. We investigated these issues in detail and throughout the main seasons of a bird's annual cycle (mating, postfledging and wintering) in a dry cereal farmland in a Special Protection Area for farmland birds in central Spain. First, we modeled four bird response parameters (abundance, species richness, diversity and “Species of European Conservation Concern” [SPEC]‐score), using detailed food availability and vegetation structure measurements (food models). Second, we fitted new models, built using only substrate composition variables (habitat models). Whereas habitat models revealed that both, fields included and not included in the AES benefited birds, food models went a step further and included seed and arthropod biomass as important predictors, respectively, in winter and during the postfledging season. The validation process showed that food models were on average 13% better (up to 20% in some variables) in predicting bird responses. However, the cost of obtaining data for food models was five times higher than for habitat models. This novel approach highlighted the importance of food availability‐related causal processes involved in bird responses to AES, which remained undetected when using conventional substrate composition assessment models. Despite their higher costs, measurements of food availability add important details to interpret the reactions of the bird community to AES interventions and thus facilitate evaluating the real efficiency of AES programs.     

Spring diet of common eiders (Somateria mollissima) in Breiðafjörður, West Iceland, indicates non-bivalve preferences

Breiðafjörður is an important molting, breeding, and wintering area for about 25 % of the Icelandic common eider (Somateria mollissima) population. However, feeding habits of eiders in this area have not been investigated until now. Prey selection was analyzed from 192 stomach samples (esophagus and proventriculus) collected in spring 2007–2010. Thirty-five prey species were identified; the highest percentage occurrences were of gastropods (79 %), chitons (polyplacophorans) (58 %), crustaceans (43 %), bivalves (26 %), and echinoderms (8 %). The most common food species was the mottled red chiton Tonicella marmorea (58 %), followed by the common whelk Buccinum undatum (40 %), the spider crab Hyas arenarius (39 %), and the chink shell Lacuna vincta (35 %). The majority of the food items was of small size and consumed in high quantity. The chitons and mussels were of similar average sizes (11.7 and 13.4 mm, respectively), which might suggest that prey size could be as important as species in food selection. There were some inter-annual differences in dominant prey classes between years. For example T. marmorea was found in 60–70 % of birds in the years 2007 and 2009 but only in 30 % of the birds in the other years investigated. Diets of males and females were equally diverse and similar when all months and years were pooled. Prey selection was highly variable but most individuals focused on few or a single species in the hours prior to collection. Results indicate that the most common prey species for common eiders is a chiton and not blue mussels as reported elsewhere.