云南大理古城牛背鹭与其竞争种的巢空间生态位分化动态研究

牛背鹭（Bubulcus ibis）作为入侵物种由非洲向美洲的扩散得到了广泛关注,然而牛背鹭与其竞争物种之间的巢空间生态位分化动态尚不明确。为了解牛背鹭与其他混群繁殖鹭类的巢空间生态位分化动态,2012、2016和2021年春夏季,对中国云南大理古城繁殖鹭类的群落结构和巢空间分布进行了调查。结果表明,2012和2016年中国云南大理古城繁殖鹭类群落的组成物种均为牛背鹭、夜鹭（Nycticorax nycticorax）和白鹭（Egretta garzetta）,其中夜鹭为优势鸟种;2021年繁殖群落增加了中白鹭（Ardea intermedia）,且牛背鹭变为优势鸟种。从2016年到2021年群落巢密度增加,其中牛背鹭的巢密度明显增加,夜鹭和白鹭巢密度均减少。对比2016和2021年牛背鹭、夜鹭和白鹭3种鹭的巢空间生态位宽度数值的变化,发现牛背鹭利用的巢空间生态位更泛化,而夜鹭和白鹭更特化;巢空间生态位重叠值变化表明,2021年牛背鹭对夜鹭、白鹭的巢址竞争比2016年的更激烈,而且2021年牛背鹭与夜鹭之间的巢址竞争比牛背鹭与白鹭之间的更激烈。研究表明,在2012、2016和2021年,在大理古城鹭类繁殖地中,牛背鹭在与比自身个体大的夜鹭的竞争中胜出,群落优势鸟种由夜鹭变为牛背鹭,繁殖鹭类的群落结构和生态位分化均发生了明显变化。     

配偶选择中“听众效应”及鸣唱对雌性灰文鸟行为的影响

配偶选择是性选择研究核心问题之一。雌性通过选择高质量的雄性配偶获得直接利益,如资源、营养和保护等,也可以通过获得高质量雄性提高后代的适合度。配偶选择研究对于研究性选择机制和进化均具有重要意义。目前,对配偶选择的研究主要集中在影响配偶选择的因素及雌性"听众效应"中雄性-雄性竞争方面。鸣唱对配偶选择的影响和雄性"听众效应"中雌性-雌性竞争的研究对于探索鸟类配偶选择中信号交流、调整的方式及选择策略均具有重要意义。以灰文鸟为对象,研究了雄性鸣唱对雌性配偶选择的影响及雄性"听众效应"对雌性灰文鸟同性竞争行为的影响进行了探讨。实验一利用双向选择装置,以配偶鸣唱(求偶鸣唱或非求偶鸣唱)和非配偶鸣唱(求偶鸣唱或非求偶鸣唱)对雌鸟进行刺激,观察雌鸟对两端鸣唱的偏爱状况。实验二主要观察雌鸟之间在无听众、听众为熟悉的雄性和听众为配偶条件下的竞争行为。结果表明,雌性灰文鸟大多偏爱配偶鸣唱,相对于配偶的非求偶鸣唱更偏爱非配偶的求偶鸣唱。求偶鸣唱比非求偶鸣唱更具有吸引力,求偶鸣唱更能刺激雌性灰文鸟配偶选择的积极性,这种积极要付出更多的时间和资源,但雌鸟可以通过选择更高质量的雄性配偶获益。在配偶雄性作为听众条件下雌鸟攻击行为最高,显著高于熟悉雄性为听众的条件下,并且两者都显著高于无听众条件下雌鸟的攻击行为。雌性灰文鸟会基于不同"听众"而对雌-雌竞争行为做出适当调整。上述研究结果对于深入理解鸟类的性选择行为机制具有重要帮助作用。     

河北唐海湿地四种鹭的种群动态和繁殖空间生态位

2004年8月—2005年7月对河北唐海湿地夜鹭(Nycticoraxnycticorax)、白鹭(Egtettagarzetta)、池鹭(Ardeolabacchus)、大白鹭(Casmerodiusalbus)的种群动态和繁殖行为进行了观察,并对巢群关系进行了研究。统计了4种鹭垂直和水平巢位的巢密度,计算了不同种鹭巢的生态位重叠、生态位宽度值。结果4种鹭在唐海数量最多月份为4—9月,最大量达到了近5800只。共有Ⅰ、Ⅱ两个巢区,迁来Ⅱ区时间较Ⅰ区晚半个月左右。除池鹭外,3种鹭之间均有争巢现象,后期趋于稳定。迫于密度压力和竞争,部分白鹭和池鹭取食范围较广。除大白鹭外,其他3种鹭同种间均有混交现象。在混巢区,夜鹭迁来最早,数量最大,为优势种,多数占据中心区的顶巢;大白鹭数量最少,亦占据中心区的顶巢;白鹭迁来较晚,占据中位巢;池鹭迁来最晚,数量较白鹭少,多数在边缘区单独筑巢,少数在中心区占下位巢。白鹭巢的垂直生态位最宽;夜鹭巢的水平生态位最宽;池鹭巢的综合空间生态位最宽。池鹭和夜鹭巢位的空间格局最为相似,池鹭和白鹭的生态位重叠较大。夜鹭的数量最多、大白鹭的个体最大,导致其处于优势;白鹭和池鹭数量少、个体小,导致其处于劣势。唐海湿地内丰富的食物和适宜的林带是鹭鸟密度较大的主要原因。此外,鹭类只筑巢在散布的、双行杨树林带均高为22m以上区域,是该地鹭类巢区的主要特点。     

四川南充太和鹭科鸟类群落空间生态位和种间关系

本文应用空间生态位理论,分析了四川南充太和白鹭自然保护区慈竹林内鹭类繁殖季节的群落结构,对影响鹭类混群繁殖时空分布的因素及各种群间的相互关系进行了探讨.结果 表明:南充太和白鹭自然保护区栖息有白鹭Egetta garzetta、夜鹭Nycticoraxny cticorax、牛背鹭Bubulcus ibis和池鹭Araeola bacchus 4种鹭类种群.4种鹭类具有明显的水平和垂直分布现象,白鹭、夜鹭的水平生态位宽度较大,在垂直生态位宽度上白鹭、夜鹭、牛背鹭都较大,池鹭的最小;生态位重叠值以白鹭-夜鹭间的最高,夜鹭-池鹭间的最小;4种鹭间的聚类分析结果普遍较高.     

河北唐海湿地四种鹭的种群动态和繁殖空间生态位

2004年8月—2005年7月对河北唐海湿地夜鹭(Nycticorax nycticorax)、白鹭(Egtetta garzetta)、池鹭(Ardeola bacchus)、大白鹭(Casmerodius albus)的种群动态和繁殖行为进行了观察，并对巢群关系进行了研究。统计了4种鹭垂直和水平巢位的巢密度，计算了不同种鹭巢的生态位重叠、生态位宽度值。结果：4种鹭在唐海数量最多月份为4—9月，最大量达到了近5 800只。共有Ⅰ、Ⅱ两个巢区，迁来Ⅱ区时间较Ⅰ区晚半个月左右。除池鹭外，3种鹭之间均有争巢现象，后期趋于稳定。迫于密度压力和竞争，部分白鹭和池鹭取食范围较广。除大白鹭外，其他3种鹭同种间均有混交现象。 在混巢区，夜鹭迁来最早，数量最大，为优势种，多数占据中心区的顶巢；大白鹭数量最少，亦占据中心区的顶巢；白鹭迁来较晚，占据中位巢；池鹭迁来最晚，数量较白鹭少，多数在边缘区单独筑巢，少数在中心区占下位巢。白鹭巢的垂直生态位最宽；夜鹭巢的水平生态位最宽；池鹭巢的综合空间生态位最宽。池鹭和夜鹭巢位的空间格局最为相似，池鹭和白鹭的生态位重叠较大。夜鹭的数量最多、大白鹭的个体最大，导致其处于优势；白鹭和池鹭数量少、个体小，导致其处于劣势。唐海湿地内丰富的食物和适宜的林带是鹭鸟密度较大的主要原因。此外，鹭类只筑巢在散布的、双行杨树林带均高为22 m以上区域，是该地鹭类巢区的主要特点。     

繁殖前期中国大鲵雄性成体的冲凉行为及其意义

为揭示和探讨中国大鲵(Andrias davidianus)繁殖前期的冲凉行为及其意义,在仿生态养殖环境条件下,采用定时定点观察法和全事件记录法,对雄性成鲵的冲凉行为过程及姿势进行了观察记录,并分析了冲凉行为与年龄、求偶行为、繁殖成功率之间的关系.繁殖前期雄性成鲵表现出冲凉行为,冲凉行为与求偶行为之间存在极显著的正相关,表现出求偶行为的6尾雄性成鲵有4尾成功参与了繁殖.冲凉行为可能促进了雄性成鲵精巢的发育,引发求偶行为,最终达到成功繁殖.     

笼养绿尾虹雉炫耀行为节律及天气因素对该行为的影响研究

求偶炫耀行为有助于鸟类吸引配偶,促进发情同步。目前,笼养绿尾虹雉面临的最大问题是自然繁殖率低,发情不同步导致卵不受精是一个重要因素。本文采用瞬时扫描记录法,对四川蜂桶寨国家级自然保护区笼养绿尾虹雉的求偶炫耀行为节律及天气因素对该行为的影响进行了研究。通过对4只雄性个体和5只雌性个体的观察发现,求偶炫耀仅由雄性来发起。3月底雄性开始出现求偶炫耀行为;4月求偶炫耀进入高峰阶段,并持续到5月初,5月中、下旬渐渐消失。在一天之中,07∶00—09∶00为求偶炫耀行为的高峰期。天气因素显著影响雄性求偶炫耀行为的发生频次,与晴天相比,阴天和雨天里求偶炫耀行为发生频次更高。建议在绿尾虹雉求偶炫耀期间,尽量减少人为干扰。同时适当创造阴湿环境,将笼舍的环境温湿度调控到一个适中的区域,为发情营造良好的条件,以促进绿尾虹雉自然交配行为发生。     

中国大鲵繁殖前期的冲凉行为及其意义

为揭示和探讨中国大鲵(Andrias davidianus)繁殖前期的冲凉行为及其意义,在仿生态养殖环境条件下,采用定时定点观察法和全事件记录法,对中国大鲵冲凉行为的过程及姿势进行了观察记录,进而研究了冲凉行为与年龄、求偶行为之间的关系。结果表明,雄性成鲵表现出冲凉行为,冲凉过程包括冲凉试探、姿势调整、冲凉和离开等4个阶段;冲凉姿势可分为头部冲凉、躯干冲凉、尾部冲凉、移动冲凉、环抱冲凉、贴壁冲凉和抬头冲凉等7种;雄性成鲵的冲凉行为与求偶行为之间存在极显著的正相关。本文认为,雄性成鲵可能通过冲凉行为来促进精巢的发育,进而通过求偶行为达到自然配对并成功繁殖、最终实现种族延续的目的。     

苏州地区夜鹭越冬生态调查

夜鹭是苏州地区的冬候鸟,自1982年起,每年于9月末陆续飞至著名园林虎丘山的竹林中越冬,11—12月汇成大群,在1500平方米面积内所聚集的夜鹭有1400—1500只,其中幼鹭的数量在种群内约占三分之一。夜鹭白天停歇于枝头竹梢,静伏而眠,入夜由首鹭率领飞至太湖沿岸,觅食鲤、鲫、鲌、蟹条、青鱼和棒花鱼等,日出前仍循原路返回栖息地。越冬后的夜鹭于3月开始分批北迁,至5月上旬全部飞离虎丘山。近年来不仅有延迟飞迁日期的趋势,且有少数个体留居越冬地进行繁殖的情况。     

夜鹭种群越冬生态学的研究

198 3- 12～ 1984- 0 5对聚集在上海西郊的 15 0 0只越冬夜鹭进行研究 ,又在 1998～ 1999年的相应月份进行了复查和研究。研究结果 :①夜鹭越冬种群在 12～ 1月达到高峰 ,数量为 (15 31± 2 75 )只 ;幼 /成比为 1 73∶1± 0 0 35。 3月中旬 ,夜鹭成鸟开始迁离越冬区 ,至 4月初绝大部分已迁飞 ;而幼鸟是在 4月中旬开始迁离本地。②光照强度是控制夜鹭活动的主要因子。夜鹭在黄昏 4 3～ 0 48lx时飞离栖息地 ,在黎明前 0 2lx时返回。随着夜长日短 ,夜鹭有提前集群飞离、延迟返回的倾向。③夜鹭在越冬数量高峰期的种群分布为均匀分布 ,在数量下降的迁徙期为集群分布 ,这与栖息地的环境容量和夜鹭集群方式有关 ;研究表明 ,夜鹭很可能以家族的形式将栖息点固定下来。④风是影响夜鹭栖息点分布的主要因素 ,其他气候因子影响不明显     

紫蓬山区三种鹭种群繁殖成效的研究

：作者１９９６年４～７月在紫蓬山区国家级森林公园,对白鹭、池鹭和夜鹭繁殖种群的数量和繁殖成效进行了研究。结果表明：三块样地中,夜鹭的种群平均密度最大,白鹭的种群平均密度最小;白鹭、池鹭和夜鹭的种群繁殖生产力分别为２３７４ｉｎｄ／ｈｍ２、１４４１ｉｎｄ／ｈｍ２和２０１２ｉｎｄ／ｈｍ２;繁殖成效分别为５２０％、５５１％和４５１％。繁殖成效与巢位高度有关,低位巢卵损失率高,高位巢雏丢失率高。     

BIOLOGY OF THE IMMIGRANT CATTLE EGRET ARDEOLA IBIS IN GUYANA, SOUTH AMERICA

The success of the immigrant Cattle Egret Ardeola ibis in Guyana appears to be due mainly to its breeding biology, combined with man's activities in clearing and draining land for stock and by his selective shioting.
Long.-established heronries are beine taken over bv the Cattle Egret. In Aurmst 1959 during the principal nesting season in the main rains 90% of the 1786 heron nests in the Botanic Gardens Georgetown, belonged to Cattle Egrets, the others to Little Blue Herons Hydranassa caerutea , Black-crowned Night Herons Nycticorac nycticorux , Snowy Egrets Egretta thula , Tricolour Herons Hydranassu tricolor , and Streaked Herons Butorides striatus . In the December rains the same year another 1700 Cattle Egret nests were in use here, but no indigenous herons were nesting. These were, however, joined in January by Black-crowned Night Herons, Snowy Egrets, Little Blue and Tricolour Herons.
In addition to having two peak nesting periods a year, instead of one as the indigenous herons generally have, the Cattle Egrets react faster to the onset of the rains and obtain the best nest-sites, and they are helped by the tendency of the indigenous herons to display more aggressively against their own species than against the intruder; also now that Cattle Egret numbers are high they can find mates very rapidly. Both indigenous herons and Cattle Egrets have one to three young per brood in Guyana, and the nesting period lasts about two months.
The peak nesting time varies from year to year with the advent of the rains. Nesting appears to be stimulated by, and its success related to, rainfall. A cycle of wet years in Guyana preceded the arrival of the Cattle Egrets in North America in 1952. In Guyana their dispersal inland was restricted, probably by the forest, until 1961.     

Patterns of Inheritance of Mating Signals in Sailfin and Shortfin Mollies (Poeciliidae: Poecilia: Mollienesia)

Divergence in mating signals is a primary factor leading to reproductive isolation, and thus, speciation. However, the genetic changes underlying such divergence are poorly understood, especially in vertebrates. We used two species of poeciliid fishes, Poecilia velifera and P. mexicana , to explore the link between genes and mating behaviors that has resulted in pre-mating reproductive isolation between these species. Using backcross hybrids created from the F1 male offspring of reciprocal interspecific crosses between a sailfin molly ( P. velifera ) and a shortfin molly ( P. mexicana ), we examined the effects of Y-linkage and autosomal contributions on the expression of two male mating behaviors: courtship displays and gonopodial thrusts. The F1 hybrid males displayed a strong influence of sire on courtship display rates, with F1 males sired by the sailfin species showing courtship display rates that were up to three times higher than the rates of displays performed by F1 males sired by the shortfin species. These results suggest a Y-linked genetic effect on the expression of courtship display behavior. Comparisons between backcross hybrid males with sailfin Y-chromosomes or shortfin Y-chromosomes suggested that the interaction of autosomal genes also influences the inheritance of courtship display rates. Sailfin autosomal genes significantly increased the probability of performing courtship displays for hybrid males, and increased display rate for males from the sailfin Y-chromosome line. Autosomal genes had less of an impact on gonopodial thrusting behavior, however, thrust rates did significantly decrease with an increasing proportion of sailfin autosomes in males from the shortfin Y-chromosome line. These results suggest that the inheritance of species differences in mating signals between shortfin and sailfin mollies involves both genes found on the Y-chromosome and autosomal gene influences on their expression.     

Visual fields in the Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax: nocturnality does not result in owl-like features

Compared with diurnally active species, the eyes of nocturnally active herons (Ardeidae) are relatively larger and more widely separated. These features are found in comparisons between the nocturnally foraging Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax and the diurnally active Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis. Casual viewing of the Black-crowned Night Heron gives the impression of a somewhat owl-like appearance, with an apparently wide degree of binocular overlap. Visual fields and eye movements were determined in two alert, restrained Black-crowned Night Herons with the use of an ophthalmoscopic technique. A wide degree of binocular overlap was not confirmed, and the Black-crowned Night Heron's visual field closely resembles those of diurnally foraging herons (Western Reef Heron Egretta gularis schistacea , Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides , Cattle Egret). The Black-crowned Night Heron's binocular field is vertically long and narrow (maximum width 22̀), with the bill placed approximately at the centre. Monocular and cyclopean field widths in the horizontal plane equal 171̀ and 320̀, respectively. Retinal binocular overlap can be abolished by eye movements. There is a blind sector (10–13̀ wide) at the margin of each eye's optical field, and this results in the functional retinal binocular field being much narrower than the optical binocular fields. It is these blind sectors which give rise to the appearance of a much wider binocular field. The visual field characteristics of this heron species may be best understood in relation to the foraging technique of capturing agile, evasive prey directly in the bill. The comparatively large size of the Black-crowned Night Herons' eyes may be associated with activity over a wide range of natural light levels but does not give rise to binocular fields larger than those of diurnal heron species.     

Female signals enhance the efficiency of mate assessment in satin bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus)

Recent evidence suggests that males adjust their sexually selecteddisplay traits in response to female behaviors during courtships.Little is known, however, about whether females signal to influencemale displays and whether females benefit from this interaction.Male courtship displays in the satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchusviolaceus) are highly intense and aggressive. Females may usethese displays as indicators of mating benefits, but these displaysoften startle females and disrupt courtship. Previous studieshave shown that successful males decrease female startling byadjusting their display intensity according to female crouchingbehaviors, suggesting that crouching behaviors function as signals.Here we address whether female crouching is a signal by usingobservations of natural courtship behaviors. In addition, weexamine why females differ in signaling and whether femalesbenefit from signaling. First, we find that female crouchingis related to the likelihood that females will be startled bymale displays, suggesting that crouching signals the degreeof display intensity that females will tolerate from a malewithout being startled. Second, we find that female tolerancefor intense display increases during successive courtships asfemales assess potential mates, and that female tolerance mayalso be affected by age and condition. Third, we find evidencethat females that reduce startling by signaling their intensitytolerance are more efficient in mate searching. These resultssuggest that females signal to influence how males display theirsexually selected traits, and by doing so, females may increasetheir benefits in mate choice.     

Patterns of inheritance of mating signals in interspecific hybrids between sailfin and shortfin mollies (Poeciliidae: Poecilia: Mollienesia)

Differences in male morphology and mating behaviors are thought to confer species sexual isolation between sailfin and shortfin species of mollies. This study used interspecific crosses between the sailfin molly, P. latipinna, and the shortfin molly, P. mexicana, to investigate patterns of inheritance of morphological traits and behavioral rates of three mating behaviors in F1 hybrid males. The two parental species showed clear species differences with respect to the length of the dorsal fin and dorsal fin ray number. First generation hybrid males were intermediate between the two parental species for dorsal fin length and fin ray number, suggesting autosomal control of this trait with little effect of dominance by genes from either parental species. Parental species showed clear species differences in their rates of courtship displays. Unlike the pattern for dorsal fin morphology, F1 hybrid males showed a clear distinction in display rates with respect to the direction of the interspecific cross. Male hybrids whose sires were P. latipinna had courtship display rates that were up to three times higher than the rates of displays performed by hybrid males whose fathers were P. mexicana. The distribution of phenotypes between the parental species and that of hybrid males sired by that parental species was nearly identical. Such a pattern suggests the influence of Y-linked genes on the inheritance of courtship display rates in mollies.     

Discrimination of conspecific individuals via cuticular pheromones by males of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Cuticular substances on the body surface of crickets serve as pheromones that elicit a variety of different behaviors in male crickets. Antennal contact between males and females resulted in courtship behavior, and that between two males resulted in aggressive displays. As a first step in elucidating how crickets recognize and discriminate individuals, behavioral responses of male individuals to cuticular substances of conspecific males or females were investigated. The behavioral responses of males to antennal or palpal stimulation with an isolated antenna from a male or a female were recorded. To both antennal and palpal stimulation with female antennae, the majority of males responded with courtship behavior; to stimulation with male antennae, males responded with aggressive displays. To gain insight into the chemical nature of the behaviorally relevant components, isolated antennae were washed in either n-hexane, acetone or ethanol before behavior assays. Washed antennae no longer elicited courtship or aggressive responses in males. Next, polypropylene fibers were smeared with substances from the body surface of females and used for antennal stimulation. This experiment showed that the quality and quantity of cuticular substances appear to be highly age-dependent. Significantly more males responded with courtship behavior to cuticular substances from younger females. Isolated males generally showed higher levels of aggression than males reared in groups. Grouped males also were more likely to display courtship behavior towards antennae from younger females, and aggressive behavior towards antennae from older females. These results suggest that male discrimination of mating partners depends on the nature of female cuticular substances.     

The function of male aggressive displays towards females in mountain gorillas

In groups ofGorilla g. beringei, male aggression towards females regularly takes the form of male display. This paper examines male display towards females in two Karisoke study groups (Group 5 and Group BM) in 1989, a period when none of the females were new immigrants. Results are based on 259 hr of focal observations and 121 hr ofad libitum observations on male behaviors towards females. The goal is to see if the data are compatible with four non-mutually exclusive hypotheses to explain male displays towards females: (1) demonstration of male fighting abilities to influence female long term residence decision; (2) decrease potential competitive inequities between females; (3) provision to females of an occasion to confirm their subordinance to a male; and (4) short term influence on mating. First, male-female proximity was tested against proportion of male displays, to rule out the possibility that males display towards females simply because they happen to be close by. There was no association between proximity and male display. Dominant males were responsible for a higher proportion of displays than subordinate males. This is consistent with the idea that males display to demonstrate their fighting abilities, or their qualities as protector, since dominant males are the ones offering long term protection against infanticide and predators. Females that were in a position to transfer did not receive a higher proportion of male display, however. Long term resident dominant females received a higher proportion of displays from the dominant males, which is consistent with the idea that males attempt to decrease potential competitive inequities between females. There was an association between female appeasement reactions and male displays, which suggests that males display to create occasions for the females to confirm their subordinance to them. Estrous females did not receive a higher proportion of male displays, and there was no association between male display and copulation, suggesting that male displays are not a form of courtship aggression aimed at influencing mating in the short term.     

Courtship Roles of Male and Female European Earwigs, Forficula auricularia L. (Dermaptera: Forficulidae), and Sexual Use of Forceps

Detailed observations of the courtship and mating of the European earwig Forficula auricularia revealed a complex of sexual behaviors for both males and females. A sequential analysis of the transition frequencies between male preceding-following behaviors showed that courtship is intricate and nonstereotyped. The significance of the male forceps was demonstrated by their use in early courtship with displays and later use as a tactile stimulus for the female. A study of males from which the forceps had been removed showed no mating by altered males. Male forcep length was bimodally distributed and positively allometric, while female forcep length was normally distributed. Males with longer forceps did not have a mating advantage. Receptive females were behaviorally active during courtship. The possible evolutionary development of the sexual dimorphism of the earwig is discussed.