A survey and GIS-based estimate of the breeding population of Great Snipe Gallinago media in Central Norway

Capsule By using a GIS-model to identify suitable breeding habitats for Great Snipe in Central Norway, we estimated a total of 276 leks holding approximately 2700 males.

Aim To estimate the size of the Great Snipe population in central parts of the species remaining breeding areas in Western Europe.

Methods GIS-analysis identified an area of 528?km² as suitable habitat for Great Snipe in the total study area (22?000?km²). Complete surveys were made in 8% of these habitats by using a subset of 53 sampling areas.

Results A total of 28 Great Snipe leks were found within the sampling areas. Ten of these were found in previously known lek areas, while 18 leks were found in areas with no previous knowledge of leks. Extrapolating the lek density and the lek size found in the surveyed areas, resulted in a total estimate of 276 Great Snipe leks holding approximately 2700 lekking males. The leks were found on open fens along the forest edge and were mainly situated on base-rich bedrocks. Mean altitude of the leks was 570?m.

Conclusion The total population of Great Snipe in Norway was previously assumed to comprise 5000–15?000 lekking males or ‘pairs'. By extrapolating the densities of leks found in Central Norway to a national scale, we expect the true breeding population of Great Snipe to be approximately 13?500 males. Changes in the elevation of the tree limit and increased overgrowth, as a result of reduced grazing pressure and/or global warming, are possible threats that may reduce the availability of preferred Great Snipe habitats and increase population fragmentation.     

Primo contributo alla conoscenza di alcuni ifali demaziacei del Sahara algerino

Abstract

First contribution to the knowledge of some dematiaceous hyphomycetes of algerian Sahara.—Nine dematiaceous hyphomycetes, found in the algerian Sahara, near the Ouarglà Oasis, are here described. Three are reported as new species and two as new records for the desertic provenance.     

Habitat and diet variability of two coexisting tit species in central European forests

Capsule: Blue Tits and Great Tits occupied different habitats within forests in Central Europe but their nestlings shared a similar diet.

Aims: To quantify the differences in offspring diet and territory habitat between Great Tits Parus major and Eurasian Blue Tits Cyanistes caeruleus in two European forests, and to test whether the ecological niches of the two species overlap.

Methods: Research was conducted on Great Tits and Eurasian Blue Tits, breeding in nest boxes in two forests near Kraków, Poland, during years: 2009, 2011 and 2012. Nine days after hatching, food items were collected from offspring using neck-collars. Habitat parameters surrounding each nest box were quantified.

Results: Great Tit territories were in old Oak-Hornbeam forest, whereas Blue Tits often nested in mixed forest. There were no significant differences between the two bird species in the variation in their caterpillar diets for which both species were highly variable. Great Tits collected more caterpillars of Noctuidae per nest than did Blue Tits in 2009 and 2011 in Niepo?omice Forest; Blue Tits collected more Tortricidae in 2011 and more spiders every year. In Krzyszkowice Forest in 2012, tits fed their nestlings in different periods and did not differ in the proportion of caterpillars. Habitat affected diet differently in each species.

Conclusion: Although Great Tits and Blue Tits occupied different territories in each forest and year of research, the diets of both species’ nestlings contained similar species of invertebrates. The overlaps of the birds’ environmental needs are specific at a local scale.     

Bill morphology and biometrics of three sibling woodpecker species from sympatric populations

ABSTRACT

Capsule Different methods of comparing bill morphology between woodpecker species show different, but not contradictory results.

Aims Differences among similar, closely related species which co-occur are still highly debated. In such a scenario, species should diverge morphologically to reduce competition. We studied this phenomenon, in three closely related woodpecker species that co-occur in eastern Slovakia: Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major, Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus and White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos. The Great Spotted Woodpecker has the widest niche and lives sympatrically with both Syrian and White-backed Woodpeckers, while the distributions of the latter two species do not overlap because of their use of different habitats. We predicted that Great Spotted Woodpeckers should differ morphologically from both sympatric species: Syrian and White-backed Woodpeckers.

Methods Comparisons were made between species, based on dorsal and lateral views of maxilla using both geometric morphometric techniques and traditional measurements.

Results We confirmed our hypothesis, and found significant differences in bill shape between Great Spotted Woodpecker and both congeners. This is in contrast to the observed higher similarity of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Syrian Woodpecker in traditional body measurements. However, surprisingly, Syrian Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker do not differ significantly in bill shape.

Conclusions This work indicates that geometric morphometry appears to be a promising tool for the investigation of how interspecific competition influences the shape of the bill between co-occurring species.     

No brood parasitism by the Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius on the Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus

Capsule No case of parasitic interaction was found after 12 years of intensive monitoring of a marked population in Spain where both species are sympatric.

Aims To evaluate whether the Azure-winged Magpie is parasitized, and suggest possible causes that affect its relationship with the Great Spotted Cuckoo.

Methods Data from a long-term field study of marked individuals in a population of Azure-winged Magpie in Spain, were collected from about 60 nests per year over 12 years.

Results Although common in the area, no eggs or young of the Great Spotted Cuckoo were found in an Azure-winged Magpie nest.

Conclusion The Great Spotted Cuckoo does not appear to parasitize the Azure-winged Magpie, and we suggest that elevated predation rates on nests may be an important, overlooked factor potentially affecting the choice of host species by this brood parasite.     

Seasonal variation of circulating plasma carotenoids in Mediterranean Great Tit males Parus major

Capsule Mediterranean Great Tits showed a marked increase in levels of circulating carotenoids during moult and autumn.

Aims To study seasonal variation in plasma carotenoid content during a whole annual cycle for Great Tits Parus major inhabiting a Mediterranean woodland.

Methods We used a sample of 71 adult male Great Tits captured in NE Spain during a whole year. Data were organized into four seasons (winter, breeding, moult and autumn). We sampled blood to extract plasma. Carotenoid plasma concentrations were analysed by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results Lutein and zeaxanthin content varied seasonally, with a marked increase in levels during moult and autumn. Within the moulting period, levels increased gradually as the season progressed. This pattern differed significantly from that previously described in northern European populations, where high values appear mainly in the breeding season. Carotenoid concentrations (lutein: 1.2?±?0.25, zeaxanthin: 0.07?±?0.03?µg mL^?1) were also lower than in northern Europe.

Conclusion Mediterranean Great Tits show a very different pattern of circulating carotenoids and lower levels than northern European populations. The increasing pattern of carotenoid availability found within the moulting period raises the need to control for the effect of sampling date when analysing data on carotenoid concentrations at different times of year.     

Renato Perotti

Summary

The author studies two sets of sub-fossil woods belonging to the roman buildings of Ghirza (North Africa). The woods were not well preserved and two small to allow an easy identification. They belong undoubtly to the genus Acacia. The species probably are: Acacia raddiana Savi and Acacia scorpioides (L.) Chev. Both these species grow today in the Saharian desert and are cultivated in the North African Oasis.     

Nestbox orientation: a species-specific influence on occupation and breeding success in woodland passerines

Capsule Nestbox orientation has species-specific influences on nestbox occupation and breeding success for woodland passerines.

Aims To determine if nestbox orientation had an influence upon nestbox selection or breeding success for three co-occurring woodland passerines.

Methods We analysed 15 consecutive years of breeding data (1990–2004) from 295 nestboxes in the UK using circular statistical analyses to examine the influence of orientation upon nestbox occupation and breeding success for three species, Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus, Great Tit Parus major and Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca.

Results The three species used nestboxes of all orientations during the 15-year period. The frequency of nestbox occupation by Great Tits correlated with orientation (the mean number of nests in boxes oriented south-southwest was lower than the mean number of nests in boxes facing other directions). There was no such relationship for Blue Tits or Pied Flycatchers. Nestbox orientation influenced the breeding success of Pied Flycatcher (the mean number of young to fledge from boxes oriented south-southwest was lower than from boxes facing other directions). There was no such relationship for Blue or Great Tits.

Conclusion Nestbox orientation can be an important influence on occupation and breeding success, but this differed between species. Intriguingly, although the directionality reduced nestbox occupation (Great Tit) and breeding success (Pied Flycatcher) was the same (south-southwest), there was a disparity in the influence of orientation for Great Tit (orientation influenced the frequency of occupation but not success) and Pied Flycatcher (orientation did not influence occupation but did affect success). We discuss these disparities, considering the possible influences of mating strategy, breeding phenology, nestbox microclimate and offspring quality.     

Indexing winter gull numbers in Great Britain using data from the 1953 to 2004 Winter Gull Roost Surveys

Capsule Winter Gull Roost Survey data spanning 50 years were used to generate population indices.

Aims To evaluate how wintering numbers of five gull species have changed in Great Britain over the last five decades.

Methods Generalized linear models were used to relate gull numbers to habitat, site and year factors, and so derive species‐specific indices for nine regions of Great Britain. Regional models considered data from different timescales depending on coverage.

Results Patterns of change varied by species and region. All species showed increases in number over the period 1953 to 2004. In most regions, Black‐headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus numbers have declined since peaks between 1973 and 1993; Common Gulls Larus canus have also declined recently in some regions. Lesser Black‐backed Gull L. fuscus numbers have increased dramatically since 1953, whereas numbers of Herring Gull L. argentatus showed large declines between 1963 and 1983. Great Black‐backed Gull L. marinus numbers have increased in the west and the Midlands, but recently declined in eastern regions.

Conclusions Numbers of wintering gulls in Great Britain have shown rapid changes over the last five decades, reflecting changes in the sizes of breeding populations. These changes are likely to be associated with changes in human activities and resource availability.     

Diet of young Great Bustards Otis tarda in Spain: sexual and seasonal differences

Capsule Arthropods are the most important diet component of Great Bustards Otis tarda in the first months of life.

Aims To determine the diet composition of young Great Bustards in Spain.

Methods The diet was estimated by stomach content analysis (n?=?49).

Results Stomach contents' dry weight consisted of 33% arthropods, 30% green plant material and 23% seeds. Gastroliths were only found in summer and autumn. The diet composition changed significantly between seasons. In summer, diet consisted mainly of arthropods (50%), with green plant material being the main component in winter (56%). Volume of stomach contents and mean size of ingested arthropods were higher in males than in females. Diet composition did not differ between sexes. In summer, ground-dwelling and plant-visiting arthropods such as Mantidae, Tenebrionidae and caterpillars were the most abundant. In winter, weeds, legumes and cultivated seeds were more frequent than arthropods. Cereal plants were the least consumed in all seasons, although Barley and Wheat seeds played an important role during winter and autumn.

Conclusion The results highlight the importance of arthropods and weeds as a fundamental component of the diet of young Great Bustards. Because previous studies show that arthropods and weeds are usually more abundant in extensive farming, we recommend the implementation of agri-environmental measures in Great Bustard breeding areas.     

Intra-population variation in the diet of an avian top predator: generalist and specialist foraging in Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus

ABSTRACT

Capsule: Great Black-backed Gulls Larus marinus breeding on Skokholm, UK, fed predominantly on seabirds, rabbits, refuse, and marine prey, with the majority of pairs being dietary generalists, but with some specialist pairs.

Aims: To understand the significance of Great Black-backed Gulls as top predators on a small offshore island with internationally important numbers of breeding seabirds (Skokholm, UK) by quantifying their diet and to determine how this varies within the breeding season, to test for pair-level dietary specialization and to examine the consequences of dietary differences for reproductive performance.

Methods: Regurgitated pellets were collected and analysed from 26 breeding pairs on Skokholm during 2017 and related to breeding success.

Results: Analysis of 1035 pellets revealed that, overall, Great Black-backed Gulls fed on seabirds (48% – mostly Manx Shearwaters Puffinus puffinus), mammals (38% – mostly European Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus), anthropogenic waste (7%), and marine prey (7%). Diet varied among pairs with 18 (73%) generalist pairs and 7 (27%) specialist pairs (of which, 5 were bird specialists and 2 were mammal specialists). Diet also varied seasonally, but pair-level dietary diversity was repeatable through the breeding season. Dietary diversity did not covary with breeding success.

Conclusion: Great Black-backed Gulls are top predators on Skokholm. Variation in diet among pairs emphasizes that not all individuals contribute equally in terms of predation. Understanding the incidence of this variation has important ecological implications, particularly where apex predators may exert a strong top-down influence.     

Parental provisioning behaviour in Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca is well adjusted to local conditions in a mosaic of deciduous and coniferous habitat

Capsule Pied Flycatchers are better able than Great Tits to adjust their feeding behaviour to varying conditions in the same area.

Aims Great Tits breeding in a mosaic of deciduous and coniferous forests in the northern temperate region exhibit consistently lower breeding success in their preferred deciduous habitat than in coniferous habitat. This was explained by the unexpectedly poor nestling feeding conditions in deciduous forests of this region. We studied whether the same paradox applies to Pied Flycatchers that occupy the same habitats in the same area.

Methods Parental provisioning behaviour was studied using video‐recording and experimental manipulation. Caterpillar abundance and basic breeding parameters were measured in different habitat types.

Results Parental provisioning frequency and the proportion of caterpillars in nestling diet was lower, while food objects were on average larger, in coniferous compared with deciduous habitat. However, the total volume of caterpillars and adult Lepidoptera delivered to nestlings did not differ between habitats. In contrast to Great Tits, offspring body parameters in Pied Flycatchers did not differ between habitat types.

Conclusions These results demonstrate how the relative suitability of particular habitat types varies between species and is dependent upon geographical location.     

A rapid and economical sample pretreatment method using molecularly imprinted polymers for bioavailable content analyses of oxytetracycline in soils

Abstract

In order to analyze the bioavailable oxytetracycline (OTC) contents of soils, a new high-efficiency and economical pretreatment method was established using a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with high affinity and specific selectivity for OTC synthesized by bulk polymerization. For comparison, an Oasis HLB solid phase extraction (SPE) method was used to measure the total extractable OTC content of soils. The resulting OTC recoveries from the spiked soil solutions using the MIP method ranged from 80.78±.26% to 93.75?±?6.79%, with an average of 86.00?±?2.13%, and a relative standard deviation of 2.48% (n= 5), when OTC concentrations in spiked soil solutions varied from 0.5 to 100.0?μg L^?1. When OTC contents in spiked soils varied from 1.0 to 500.0?μg kg^?1 and soils were aged for three weeks, OTC recoveries from spiked soils with the Oasis HLB SPE method ranged from 78.16?±?3.72% to 96.67?±?1.62% (n= 3), while those with the MIP method ranged from 57.43?±?3.48% to 76.34?±?1.30% (n= 3). Analyses of OTC contents in five soil samples indicated that bioavailable OTC contents were only 1.35%–5.87% of the total soil OTC contents. Data from the new method were more valuable than the Oasis HLB SPE method on OTC pollution intensity assessment, potential ecological, and environmental risks evaluation.     

Relationship between Distinct African Cholera Epidemics Revealed via MLVA Haplotyping of 337 Vibrio cholerae Isolates

BackgroundSince cholera appeared in Africa during the 1970s, cases have been reported on the continent every year. In Sub-Saharan Africa, cholera outbreaks primarily cluster at certain hotspots including the African Great Lakes Region and West Africa.Conclusions/SignificanceTo effectively combat the disease, it is critical to understand the mechanisms of cholera emergence and diffusion in a region-specific manner. Overall, these findings demonstrate the relationship between distinct epidemics in West Africa and the African Great Lakes Region. This study also highlights the importance of monitoring and analyzing Vibrio cholerae isolates.     

Revised estimate of numbers of wintering Red-throated Divers Gavia stellata in Great Britain

Capsule An estimated 17 000 Red-throated Divers winter around Great Britain.

Aim To produce an up-to-date assessment of the numbers of Red-throated Divers wintering around Great Britain.

Methods A revised Great Britain (GB) wintering population estimate for Red-throated Divers was compiled using data primarily from systematic line transect surveys by aircraft over marine nearshore areas conducted during 2001–06, supplemented with county bird records and Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) counts, both from 1995 to 2005. Population estimates for each survey area around GB were calculated as the mean of either annual means (aerial surveys) or annual maxima (WeBS, county bird records) of all data collected within January and February of each year. These were summed to give a revised GB wintering population estimate.

Results A total of 17116 (13198–21034, 95% confidence interval) Red-throated Divers were estimated to winter around GB. Distribution was uneven. By far the greatest numbers were found off southeast and east Britain (59.3% of the total was between Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, and Dungeness, Kent), with large concentrations off the English south coast (10.9%), north Wales and Liverpool Bay (9.8%), and eastern Scotland (6.1%).

Conclusion This is a minimum plausible population estimate and the true population size may be larger. The new 1% of population threshold for statutory conservation work is 170 birds.     

Effect of trophic status of a deep-water lake on breeding Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus during a phase of recovery from eutrophication: a long-term study

Capsule: Trophic status of a deep-water lake was the main driver of changes in breeding population size of Great Crested Grebes Podiceps cristatus while reproductive success was also strongly affected by weather parameters.

Aims: To determine the effects of changes in nutrient status of a formerly highly-eutrophicated deep-water lake and other environmental parameters on a Great Crested Grebe population during a phase of re-oligotrophication.

Methods: Annual surveys were carried out on a natural lake in Switzerland over a period of 25 years to determine breeding population size and reproductive success. The effects of phosphorus content, other limnological parameters and weather variables were analysed with quasi-Poisson models.

Results: The breeding population increased from 80 pairs in 1992 to 417 pairs in 2001, after which numbers showed strong fluctuations. Total phosphorus content in the lake had a strong negative effect on breeding population size. A significant positive correlation was found with the national population index. Reproductive success fluctuated strongly but showed an overall decline. The model indicated positive effects on reproductive success of phosphorus and negative effects of the number of days with strong wind. Rapid water-level increases in early summer and water transparency in June led to higher proportions of late broods.

Conclusion: Phosphorus concentration was identified as the main driver affecting the breeding population of Great Crested Grebes during the phase of recovery of the lake from a highly-eutrophic state. Results indicate that mesotrophic to eutrophic conditions enabled a large population and high breeding success. Reproductive output was further negatively affected by strong wind during a critical breeding phase.     

What is Nummulites depressus Kenawy 1978? Evolution of Nummulites fabianii group in the Middle Eocene of Egypt

New species Nummulites vetustufabianiin. sp. is described from the El Hamra Formation, Gara El Hamra section Bahariya Oasis Western Desert. The biometrical measurements include maximum and minimum diameter of the successive radii and heights of whorls, length/height ratio, number of chambers and the marginal cord thickness of each whorl for the megalospheric generation as well as the diameter of proloculus were elaborated to differentiate between some allied granulated species such as Nummulites depressus, Nummulites decrouezae, Nummulites cuvillieri and N. vetustufabianiin. sp.Nummulites fabianii group has lateral distribution for the entire Tethys basin, hence such biometrical studies are needed to emphasise the polyphyletic nature of the group.     

Recent Gully Formation In Prairie Areas Of The Northern. Great Plains*

Abstract

Modern gully formation in the Great Plains and Southwestern United States has been attributed variously to overgrazing, farming, and climatic change. Pre-settlement prairie fires in the Northern Great Plains burned the protective vegetation so that gradients of drainageways were adjusted to more sediment than they receive today when wild fires are uncommon. Gully cutting may be an adjustment of the gradient to new conditions. Erosion caused by overgrazing today may not be different from that caused by wild grazing animals in the pre-settlement period.     

Car traffic along hedgerows affects breeding success of Great Tits Parus major

Capsule?In hedgerows near roads with fast and frequent traffic, the mortality of Great Tit Parus major broods was higher than in hedgerows with less traffic and hedgerows with no disturbance.