鸟类的扩散行为研究进展

扩散是生物个体之间相互远离的单线性运动,是生物的基本特征之一,对种群的分布、动态及遗传结构等方面均有重要影响.扩散有出生扩散和繁殖扩散等主要形式.动物发生扩散的主要原因包括:避免近亲繁殖、减少竞争、改变繁殖地点等.近年来,扩散已经成为鸟类学研究的前沿领域.评述了鸟类扩散行为的性别差异、体质对于扩散的影响,阐述了扩散的基本过程及栖息地选择、长距离扩散等内容,同时介绍了环志标记、无线电遥测、分子生物学等研究鸟类扩散的主要方法.展望了鸟类扩散研究的发展趋势,认为新技术和新方法的应用将成为扩散生态学家关注的重要问题,未来研究将更加重视对鸟类扩散理论问题的探讨,而对鸟类扩散行为的研究成果也会更广泛地应用于濒危物种及其栖息地的保护工作中.     

Research progress in avian dispersal behavior

Dispersal, defined as a linear spreading move-ment of individuals away from others of the population is a fundamental characteristic of organisms in nature. Dispersal is a central concept in ecological, behavioral and evolutionary studies, driven by different forces such as avoidance of inbreeding depression, density-dependent competition and the need to change breeding locations. By effective dispersal, organisms can enlarge their geo-graphic range and adjust the dynamic, sex ratio and gen-etic compositions of a population. Birds are one of the groups that are studied intensively by human beings. Due to their diurnal habits, diverse life history strategies and complex movement, birds are also ideal models for the study of dispersal behaviors. Certain topics of avian dispersal including sex-biased, asymmetric dispersal caused by differences in body conditions, dispersal pro-cesses, habitat selection and long distance dispersal are discussed here. Bird-ringing or marking, radio-telemetry and genetic markers are useful tools widely applied in dispersal studies. There are three major challenges regard-ing theoretical study and methodology research of dis-persal: (1) improvement in research methodology is needed, (2) more in-depth theoretical research is neces-sary, and (3) application of theoretical research into the conservation efforts for threatened birds and the manage-ment of their habitats should be carried out immediately.     

Reproductive consequences of natal dispersal in a highly philopatric seabird

Natal and breeding dispersal have a major impact on gene flowand population structure. We examined the consequences of nataldispersal on the reproductive success (proportion of pairs rearingchicks) of colonial-breeding Thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia).Reproductive success increased with distance dispersed for thefirst and second breeding attempt. The increase in breedingsuccess leveled off at natal dispersal distances above 7 m.Our results were consistent with the idea that the relationshipbetween dispersal and reproductive success is caused by siteavailability and mate choice as birds willing to disperse fartherhad a greater choice of potential sites and mates. This hypothesiswas supported by the fact that birds dispersing farther weremore likely to pair with an experienced breeder, which increasesthe likelihood of breeding success for young breeders. Explanationsfor increasing breeding success with increased dispersal basedon inbreeding effects were unlikely because most breeding failureswere caused by egg loss rather than infertility or nestlingdeath. However, we could not explain why >50% of birds returnwithin 3 m of the natal site, despite having an up to 50% lowerreproductive success than birds dispersing 7 m or more.     

Persistent maternal effects on juvenile survival in North American red squirrels

Maternal effects can have lasting fitness consequences for offspring, but these effects are often difficult to disentangle from associated responses in offspring traits. We studied persistent maternal effects on offspring survival in North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) by manipulating maternal nutrition without altering the post-emergent nutritional environment experienced by offspring. This was accomplished by providing supplemental food to reproductive females over winter and during reproduction, but removing the supplemental food from the system prior to juvenile emergence. We then monitored juvenile dispersal, settlement and survival from birth to 1 year of age. Juveniles from supplemented mothers experienced persistent and magnifying survival advantages over juveniles from control mothers long after supplemental food was removed. These maternal effects on survival persisted, despite no observable effect on traits normally associated with high offspring quality, such as body size, dispersal distance or territory quality. However, supplemented mothers did provide their juveniles an early start by breeding an average of 18 days earlier than control mothers, which may explain the persistent survival advantages their juveniles experienced.     

Families in space: relatedness in the Barents Sea population of polar bears (Ursus maritimus)

The kin structure and dispersal pattern of polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ) of the Barents Sea was investigated during the spring mating season using two complementary approaches. First, individual genotypes based on the analyses of 27 microsatellite loci of 583 polar bears were related to field information gathered from 1146 bears in order to reconstruct the animals' pedigrees and to infer geographical distances between adult bears of different relatedness categories. According to the data, the median natal dispersal distance of the male animals was 52 km while that of the females was 93 km. Second, the relatedness of pairs of adult bears was estimated and correlated to the geographical distance between them. The female dyads had a much stronger kin structure than the male dyads. The 'pedigree approach' revealed a male kin structure which could not be detected using the 'relatedness approach'. This suggests that, on a broader scale, effective dispersal is slightly male biased. Despite fidelity to natal areas, male-mediated gene flow may nevertheless prevent genetic differentiation. Males might occasionally shift their home range which could therefore lead to a male-biased breeding dispersal. Our results showed that a nonterritorial species such as the polar bear that has a high dispersal potential, lives in a highly unstable environment and migrates seasonally is still able to exhibit a distinct kin structure during the mating season.     

雕鸮（Bubo bubo）和长耳鸮（Asio otus）体内金属元素含量的测定

采用ICP-AES电感耦合等离子光谱仪对来源于北京地区的长耳鸮(Asio otus)和雕鸮(Bubo bubo)体内的金属元素Cr,Pb,Co,Cd,Ni和Mn含量进行了检测.长耳鸮各组织中的重金属含量,仅Cd(p=0.000)在不同组织中有显著性差异,雕鸮各组织中Cr(p=0.002),Ni(p=0.000),Co(p=0.009),Cd(p=0.010), Mn(p=0.002)在不同组织中有显著性差异.Cr在长耳鸮的肾脏中含量最高,而在雕鸮各组织中则是在脑中的含量最高.Cd的含量在各种金属中是最少的,而Mn的含量最高.两种鸮类中,Ni在长耳鸮胸羽中的含量高于其他组织,而在雕鸮体内则是在脑中的含量高于其他组织.Co在长耳鸮的肾脏中含量最高,雕鸮的脑中含量最高,肾脏次之.并且实验还发现无论是长耳鸮还是雕鸮,背羽都是检测重金属的最佳选择.     

Investigating patterns and processes of demographic variation: environmental correlates of pre-breeding survival in red-billed choughs Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax

1. Quantifying the pattern of temporal and spatial variation in demography, and identifying the factors that cause this variation, are essential steps towards understanding the structure and dynamics of any population. 2. One critical but understudied demographic rate is pre-breeding survival. We used long-term colour-ringing data to quantify temporal (among-year) and spatial (among-nest site) variation in pre-breeding survival in red-billed choughs (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) inhabiting Islay, Scotland, and identified environmental correlates of this variation. 3. Random-effects capture-mark-recapture models demonstrated substantial temporal and spatial process variance in first-year survival; survival from fledging to age 1 year varied markedly among choughs fledged in different years and fledged from different nest sites. Spatial variance exceeded temporal variance across choughs fledged from well-studied nest sites. 4. The best-supported models of temporal variation suggested that first-year survival was higher in years following high tipulid larvae abundance and when weather conditions favoured increased invertebrate productivity and/or availability to foraging choughs. These variables explained up to 80% of estimated temporal process variance. 5. The best-supported models of spatial variation suggested that first-year survival was higher in choughs fledged from nest sites that were further from exposed coasts and closer to flocking areas, and surrounded by better habitat and higher chough density. These variables explained up to 40% of estimated spatial process variance. 6. Importantly, spatio-temporal models indicated interactive effects of weather, tipulid abundance, local habitat and local chough density on first-year survival, suggesting that detrimental effects of poor weather and low tipulid abundance may be reduced in choughs fledged from nest sites surrounded by better foraging habitat and lower chough density. 7. These analyses demonstrate substantial temporal and small-scale spatial variation in pre-breeding survival, a key demographic rate, and indicate that this variation may reflect interactive effects of weather, prey abundance, habitat and geography. These patterns illustrate the value of holistic models of demographic variation, and indicate environmental factors that may limit the growth rate of Islay's protected chough population.     

Age-dependent inbreeding risk and offspring fitness costs in female black grouse

Dispersal is an important mechanism used to avoid inbreeding. However, dispersal may only be effective for part of an individual's lifespan since, post-dispersal individuals that breed over multiple reproductive events may risk mating with kin of the philopatric sex as they age. We tested this hypothesis in black grouse Tetrao tetrix, and show that yearling females never mated with close relatives whereas older females did. However, matings were not with direct kin suggesting that short-distance dispersal to sites containing kin and subsequent overlap of reproductive lifespans between males and females were causing this pattern. Chick mass was lower when kinship was high, suggesting important fitness costs associated with inbred matings. This study shows that increased inbreeding risk might be a widespread yet rarely considered cost of ageing.