The karyotype of the osprey,Pandion haliaetus (Aves: Falconiformes)

The karyotype of the osprey consists of 74 chromosomes. There are no large macrochromosomes and no typical microchromosomes. Autosome No. 2 has a prominent secondary constriction in the long arm. The Z chromosome is similar in size and shape to the largest autosome, the W is a small metacentric. Among the Falconiformes, the osprey karyotype mainly resembles the karyotypes of some accipitrid species. However, certain characteristic features of the karyotype, a unique secondary constriction chromosome and absence of microchromosomes, speak in favour of maintaining the osprey in a family of its own, Pandionidae.     

Social Learning in the Caracara Chimango,Milvago chimango (Aves: Falconiformes): an Age Comparison

Milvago chimango is a gregarious raptor showing great ecological plasticity. Their ability to explore new resources has allowed them to survive in areas with increasing human modification. In this study, we evaluated the social learning ability in wild‐caught individuals of M. chimango. In particular, we tested whether an ‘observer’ individual could improve the acquisition of a novel behaviour by watching a ‘demonstrator,’ and we examined the effects of age of both observers and demonstrators on social learning. We measured the ability of 18 observers to open an opaque Plexiglas box containing food, and we compared their performance to that of 10 control birds who did not watch a demonstrator solve the task. Prior to watching a demonstrator, only two of the observers and two of the control birds were able to open the box. After watching a demonstrator, 67% of observers were able to open the box, outperforming control birds in speed and success. Juvenile observers were more successful and faster than adults at contacting and opening the box. The age of the demonstrator did not influence the observers’ likelihood of success. These results showed that M. chimango are able to learn a box‐opening task with a hidden food reward by observing the behaviour of a conspecific and that this behaviour persisted over several days. Social learning ability in M. chimango might allow certain behavioural patterns, such as those related to novel resource acquisition in modified environments, to be socially transmitted among individuals in a population.     

Villi and the phyly of Wetmore's order Piciformes (Aves)

The occurrence of villi (outgrowths, projections) on the bases of the basalmost downy barbulcs of breast-feathers is documented with scanning electron microscopy. The presence of these structures is thought to constitute a synapomorphic character for Passeriformes, Trochilidac, Capitonidac, Indicatoridae, Ramphastidae, and Picidae, which once more casts suspicion on the monophylv of Wetmore's order Piciformes.     

Villi and the phyly of Wetmore's order Piciformes (Aves)

The occurrence of villi (outgrowths, projections) on the bases of the basalmost downy barbulcs of breast-feathers is documented with scanning electron microscopy. The presence of these structures is thought to constitute a synapomorphic character for Passeriformes, Trochilidac, Capitonidac, Indicatoridae, Ramphastidae, and Picidae, which once more casts suspicion on the monophylv of Wetmore's order Piciformes.     

Cytotaxonomic study on two putative hybrids in the genusDuchesnea (Rosaceae)

The karyotypes and chromosome associations at meiosis in two types of natural hybrids, 7x and 8x, betweenDuchesnea chrysantha (2x) andD. indica (12x) were investigated. The 7x hybrid had a haploid chromosome set from each parent plant, whereas the 8x hybrid was considered to have a full set ofD. chrysantha and half a set ofD. indica. In the two hybrids, the chromosomes ofD. chrysantha andD. indica conjugated only slightly at meiosis. It is probable that no common genome set between the diploidD. chrysantha and the dodecaploidD. indica exists. The present evidence indicates thatD. chrysantha andD. indica should be considered to be distinct species, although they have sometimes been treated as a single species.     

Tail myology and flight behaviour: Differences between caracaras,falcons and forest falcons (Aves,Falconiformes)

Caracaras, falcons and forest falcons, which are representative of the three subfamilies of the family Falconidae, have different flight behaviour. Since, during flight, the tail works in coordination with the wings, the tail muscles could be indicative of the type of flight behaviour. The aim of this work was to describe in detail the little-known tail muscles of the Falconidae and to explore their possible association with this different behaviour, by using the muscle mass as an indicator. To this end, the tail muscles of 18 specimens representing the three subfamilies of Falconidae were dissected, weighed and their percentage to the body mass calculated. The possible differences in tail muscle mass between Falconinae and Polyborinae were explored with a Bayesian statistical approach. In all species, the muscles depressor caudae and levator caudae had the highest mass values (0.028%–0.329% and 0.120%–0.274%, respectively), in accordance with the key movements performed during flight, that is, the tail depression and elevation. The total muscle masses of Falconinae and those of Polyborinae were significantly different (p < 0.05). This difference can be related with the different flight behaviour of falcons and caracaras, that is, fast and erratic flight, respectively.     

Cytotaxonomic study of genusHymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae) in Xishuangbanna, Southwestern China

The gametic chromosome numbers of sevenHymenasplenium (Aspleniaceae) species from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Prov., China, were investigated. All the examined individuals ofH. obscurum, H. cheilosorum andH. latipinnum were sexual diploids with n=39 chromosomes. Intraspecific cytological variation was found inH. excisum, which has a sexual diploid (n=39) and a tetraploid (n=78). Only a triploid apogamous cytotype (n=ca.117) was found inH. laterepens. Hymenasplenium apogamum showed the most complicated intraspecific variation and included a sexual diploid (n=39), a sexual tetraploid (n=78) and an apogamous triploid (n=ca.117). This work reports for the first time the sexual diploids ofH. cheilosorum andH. apogamum, which are only apogamous elsewhere in east Asia, Himalayas and Indochina. These results may indicate that this area is one of the diversity centers ofHymenasplenium. Most of the above species have chromosome numbers based on x=39. In contrast,H. costarisorum contains a sexual diploid (n=36) and a sexual tetraploid (n=72), indicating that its basic number is x=36.     

Multilocus perspectives on the monophyly and phylogeny of the order Charadriiformes (Aves)

Background  

The phylogeny of shorebirds (Aves: Charadriiformes) and their putative sister groups was reconstructed using approximately 5 kilobases of data from three nuclear loci and two mitochondrial genes, and compared to that based on two other nuclear loci.     

Status and ecology of the Bonelli's Eagle,Aquila fasciatus,in the Pentadaktylos Mountain Range,Cyprus (Aves: Falconiformes)

The Bonelli's Eagle is endangered in Europe, and the Cyprus population is estimated to be the 4^th largest in Europe. During 2011 and 2012, ten active nests were confirmed in Pentadactylos Mountains with 8 additional sites meriting further investigation. Observations suggest a varied opportunistic diet largely based on Black Rat (Rattus rattus). Lowland wetland sites are confirmed as important foraging grounds. Bonelli's Eagle is under a variety of anthropogenic threats in Pentadactylos Mountains most significantly hunting and poisoning, evidence for which are discussed.     

Complete mitochondrial genome of the peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus (Aves, Falconiformes, Falconidae): genetic differences between the two individuals

The peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus (Aves, Falconiformes, Falconidae) is one of the most common and widespread raptor species in the world. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome of F. peregrinus from Korea, which is one of the breeding ranges, was sequenced and characterized in detail.     

Cytotaxonomic observations in tropical Vaccinieae (Ericaceae)

Chromosome numbers are reported for 36 accessions representing 31 species from nine genera of the tribe Vaccinieae, family Ericaceae. The plants are tropical and come from Southeast Asia and Central and South America. The taxonomy of the tribe is outlined in these regions. Genera are often poorly defined and taxa were chosen to reflect the range of variation of the Vaccinieae. Most Southeast Asian Vaccinium species were diploid (2 n = 24) as were those of Agapetes subgenus Agapetes (apart from the Himalayan A. flava ), Agapetes scortechinii and Costera endertii. All other accessions were found to be polyploid. The correlation between polyploidy, geographical distribution and the possession of an 'anatomical complex' of the leaf and stem in Vaccinieae of New Guinea and the neotropics is discussed.     

Cytotaxonomic observations in tropical Vaccinieae (Ericaceae)

Chromosome numbers are reported for 36 accessions representing 31 species from nine genera of the tribe Vaccinieae, family Ericaceae. The plants are tropical and come from Southeast Asia and Central and South America. The taxonomy of the tribe is outlined in these regions. Genera are often poorly defined and taxa were chosen to reflect the range of variation of the Vaccinieae. Most Southeast Asian Vaccinium species were diploid (2n= 24) as were those of Agapetes subgenus Agapetes (apart from the Himalayan A. flava), Agapetes scortechinii and Costera endertii. All other accessions were found to be polyploid. The correlation between polyploidy, geographical distribution and the possession of an ‘anatomical complex’ of the leaf and stem in Vaccinieae of New Guinea and the neotropics is discussed.     

Nest-site selection and its impact on breeding success of the Lesser Kestrel,Falco naumanni,in the North of Iran (Aves: Falconiformes)

The Lesser Kestrel (Falco naumanni) is a small migratory falcon which nests coloni- ally on inland cliffs and ruined buildings. Bandar Turkman city holds one of the most important breeding colonies in Iran. It nests in holes in roofs, walls or on ledges of buildings throughout of the city. We tried to find out whether there is a relationship between nest-site selection and breeding success. Although height from the ground is the most important factor in nest-site selection by F. naumanni, height from the floor and distance to the nearest neighbour are other main factors which affect breeding success. This could be the result of accessibility by human and natural predators such as domestic cats which threaten nests. The number of possible nest-sites in the study area is limited as many old, ruined buildings are being replaced by new construc- tions; this colonially breeding bird species therefore suffers from a lack of highly suitable nest-sites and this directly affect breeding success.     

Population size and breeding success of the Cinereous Vulture,Aegypius monachus,in a newly found breeding area in western Anatolia (Aves: Falconiformes)

A total of 123 nests of the Cinereous Vulture, Aegypius monachus, was found in three different nesting areas in Middle Sakarya Region, Western Turkey, during three years. The number of breeding pairs was 32 in 2010, 46 in 2011 and 42 in 2012. This is the largest Cinereous Vulture colony in Turkey and the most important breeding area in the western part of its distribution outside Spain. Breeding success was 0.78 fledgling per occupied nest in 2010, 0.73 in 2011 and 0.54 in 2012. The most unsuccessful breeding occurred mostly between May and July, when recreational activities and various economic human activities increased in the area.