Integrating stable isotopes,parasite, and ring‐reencounter data to quantify migratory connectivity—A case study with Barn Swallows breeding in Switzerland,Germany, Sweden,and Finland

Ecosystems around the world are connected by seasonal migration. The migrant animals themselves are influenced by migratory connectivity through effects on the individual and the population level. Measuring migratory connectivity is notoriously difficult due to the simple requirement of data conveying information about the nonbreeding distribution of many individuals from several breeding populations. Explicit integration of data derived from different methods increases the precision and the reliability of parameter estimates. We combine ring‐reencounter, stable isotope, and blood parasite data of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica in a single integrated model to estimate migratory connectivity for three large scale breeding populations across a latitudinal gradient from Central Europe to Scandinavia. To this end, we integrated a non‐Markovian multistate mark‐recovery model for the ring‐reencounter data with normal and binomial mixture models for the stable isotope and parasite data. The integration of different data sources within a mark‐recapture modeling framework enables the most precise quantification of migratory connectivity on the given broad spatial scale. The results show that northern‐breeding populations and Southern Africa as well as southern‐breeding populations and Western–Central Africa are more strongly connected through Barn Swallow migration than central European breeding populations with any of the African wintering areas. The nonbreeding distribution of Barn Swallows from central European breeding populations seems to be a mixture of those populations breeding further north and south, indicating a migratory divide.     

Sex‐specific patterns of fuelling and pre‐breeding body moult of Little Stints Calidris minuta in South Africa

The timing and duration of each stage of the life of a long‐distance migrant bird are constrained by time and resources. If the parental roles of males and females differ, the timing of other life stages, such as moult or pre‐migratory fuelling, may also differ between the sexes. Little is known about sexual differences for species with weak sexual dimorphism, but DNA‐sexing enables fresh insights. The Little Stint Calidris minuta is a monomorphic long‐distance migrant wader breeding in the Arctic tundra. Males compete for territories and perform elaborate aerial displays. Females produce two clutches a season. Each sex may be a bigamist and incubate one nest a season, each with a different partner. We expect that these differences in breeding behaviour entail different preparations for breeding by males and females, so we aimed to determine whether Little Stints showed any sex differences in their strategies for pre‐breeding moult and pre‐migratory fuelling at their non‐breeding grounds in South Africa. We used body moult records, wing length and body mass of 241 DNA‐sexed Little Stints that we caught and ringed between 27 January and 29 April in 2008–2018 at two neighbouring wetlands in North West Province, South Africa. For each individual we assessed the percentage of breeding plumage on its upperparts and took blood samples for DNA‐sexing. We calculated an adjusted Body Moult Index and an adjusted Wing Coverts Moult Index, then used the Underhill–Zucchini moult model to estimate the start dates and the rate of body moult in males and females. We estimated the changes in the sex ratio of the local population during their stay in South Africa, and also estimated the timing and rate of pre‐migratory fuelling and the potential flight ranges for males and females. The males started body moult on average on 7 February and the females on 12 February, but the sexes did not differ in their timing of wing covert moult, which started on average on 10 February. In January to mid‐February, males constituted c. 57% of the population, but their proportion declined afterwards, indicating an earlier departure than females. We estimated that both sexes began pre‐migratory fuelling on average on 15 March. The sexes did not differ in fuelling rate, but most females stayed at the non‐breeding site longer than the males, and thus accumulated more fuel and had longer potential flight ranges. These patterns of moult and fuelling suggest sex differences in preparations for breeding. We suggest that the males depart from South Africa earlier but with smaller fuel loads than the females to establish breeding territories before the females arrive. We conclude that for each sex the observed trade‐offs between fuelling and moult at the non‐breeding grounds are precursors to different migration strategies, which in turn are adaptations for their different roles in reproductive behaviour.     

Tunisian man‐made wetlands as alternative habitats for waterbirds and their role for conservation

The distribution of wintering waterbirds within some Tunisian artificial wetlands (AW) was studied during the 2004–2007 stable wintering periods. The survey has regarded 88 wetlands including 27 large dams, 25 hill dams and 36 hill lakes. We identified 42,840 individuals representing seven orders, eleven families, 37 species and six functional groups: dabbling ducks, grazing waterfowl, fish‐eaters, deep‐water foragers, shoreline foragers and waders. The population structure analysis showed an absolute dominance of the deep‐water foragers with approximately 82% of observed waterbirds. The total abundance survey showed a fluctuation of population sizes and richness, from thousands to few individuals and from 1 to 25 species, respectively. Analysis results showed that the species distribution is governed by several ecological factors and there was a significant correlation between species abundance and richness and some habitat variables such as area, depth, age, plant cover and hunting disturbance. Investigated AW revealed a significant carrying capacity and refuge serving for the conservation of numerous wintering and endangered waterbird species of high nature conservation value, the White‐headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala that has been observed with relatively high numbers representing more than 40% of the assessed Tunisian–Algerian population.     

Diurnal and annual rhythms in trees

Trees, perennial phanerophytes, display a rich variety of rhythmic phenomena. These are either due to exclusive environmental entrainment or due to the functioning of endogenous oscillators independent of the environment. Both types of rhythms are covered in this review. Purely environment controlled rhythms may be considered as a prelude to endogenous rhythms. Environment controlled rhythms discussed are (i) the diurnal rhythms of nyctinastic and heliotropic leaf movements and oscillatory phenomena of photosynthesis, such as the midday depression and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM), and (ii) the annual rhythms of annual growth ring formation, autumnal leaf senescence, over wintering mechanisms and flowering. Among the diurnal rhythms, nyctinastic movements and CAM are also free-running endogenous rhythms showing the operation of circadian clocks in trees. In leaf senescence, over wintering, and flowering control, photoperiod sensing is involved which suggests the participation of endogenous clocks. A question asked is if diurnal and annual rhythms are mechanistically correlated. Evidently, phenological phenomena based on photoperiodism (as dependent on measurement of night length) are co-ordinately regulated by the phytochrome system and the circadian clocks and many aspects of annual developments and over wintering are linked to photoperiodism. The existence in trees of circadian clock genes as known to be anchored in the genome of A. thaliana can be assessed by attempts of alignment with the sequenced genome of Populus or by isolating cDNA clones from trees to check them against the genome of A. thaliana. At extreme latitudes near the equator and north of the polar circle trees also display photoperiod-independent phenological phenomena. In the polar region, total irradiance of red and far red light could possibly be involved and the signalling pathway then involves phytochrome, and thus, may still be similar to that of photoperiodism. At the equator, total daily light irradiance received or sensing the dynamics of daily changes in solar irradiance are essential and it remains enigmatic whether signalling cascades are either attached to the circadian clocks in a still unknown way or totally independent of circadian clocks.     

人工条件下越冬扬子鳄的繁殖

2003年11月~2004年9月在安徽省扬子鳄繁殖研究中心,观察了人工养殖的成年扬子鳄(Alligatorsinensis)在饲养池和模拟自然生态环境的繁殖区中越冬后的繁殖行为。结果表明,在与扬子鳄自然洞穴的温度和水分条件相似但其他条件相差很大的人工环境中冬眠的扬子鳄具有繁殖能力。越冬后,这些鳄只能在具备其栖息地环境特点的场地成功繁殖,但不能在不具备这种环境特点的场地成功繁殖。本研究拓展了扬子鳄的人工繁殖技术,为扬子鳄人工繁殖场地的兴建提供参考资料。     

Central European Greylag Geese Anser anser show a shortening of migration distance and earlier spring arrival over 60 years

Global climate change can cause pronounced changes in species? migratory behaviour. Numerous recent studies have demonstrated climate‐driven changes in migration distance and spring arrival date in waterbirds, but detailed studies based on long‐term records of individual recapture or re‐sighting events are scarce. Using re‐sighting data from 430 marked individuals spanning a 60‐year period (winters 1956/1957 to 2015/2016), we assessed patterns in migration distance and spring arrival date, wintering‐site fidelity and survival in the increasing central European breeding population of Greylag Geese Anser anser. We demonstrate a long‐term decrease in migration distance, changes in the wintering range caused by winter partial short‐stopping, and the earlier arrival of geese on their breeding grounds. Greylag Geese marked on central Europe moulting grounds have not been recorded wintering in Spain since 1986 or in Tunisia and Algeria since 2004. The migration distance and spring arrival of geese indicated an effect of temperature at the breeding site and values of the NAO index. Greylag Geese migrate shorter distances and arrive earlier in milder winters. We suggest that shifts in the migratory behaviour of Central European Greylag Geese are individual temperature‐dependent decisions to take advantage of wintering grounds becoming more favourable closer to their breeding grounds, allowing birds to acquire breeding territories earlier.     

Migratory pathways,stopover zones and wintering destinations of Western European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus

Little is known about the wintering distribution of the European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus. We combined geolocator and GPS‐logger data from different sites in Western Europe to analyse migration routes and migration timing of this trans‐equatorial migrant. Nightjars followed a loop migration route during which they cross two ecological barriers, and converged near common stopover zones in Northern, Central and Western Africa, where they stayed for 2–3 weeks. Nightjars used the same stopover sites as several other European migrants, relying on small and discrete wintering areas within the Democratic Republic of Congo. This confirms the importance of these specific zones and highlights the vulnerability of Western European populations to habitat loss in their non‐breeding areas.     

杨小舟蛾越冬蛹的空间分布格局

通过对杨小舟Micromelalophatroglodyta(Graeser)越冬蛹在土壤中水平方向和垂直深度分布格局的调查、分析 ,认为杨小舟蛾越冬蛹在土壤中呈聚集型分布 ,分布的基本单位是个体群 ;该虫大部分集中在树冠投影下 ,距寄主主干半径 1 2 0～ 1 60cm地表的枯枝落叶和杂草层中。     

Two types of matter economy for the wintering of evergreen shrubs in regions of heavy snowfall

Plant adaptation to an environment subject to heavy snowfalls was investigated in four species of evergreen shrubs growing in a Fagus crenata forest in an area of Honshu on the Sea of Japan. These shrubs stored carbohydrates in some organs before the snowy season and were covered with snow for 4–5 months. Aucuba japonica var. borealis, Camellia rusticana, and Ilex crenata var. paludosa maintained a reserve of carbohydrates during the snowy season. In Daphniphyllum macropodum var. humile, the reserve of carbohydrates decreased during winter. The respiration rates in the first three species decreased from autumn to winter, whereas the decrease in D. macropodum was slight. It was found that the first three species could use reserve carbohydrates for the growth of new shoots after the thaw, whereas in the last species the growth of new shoots depends on high photosynthetic activity in late spring. Our findings suggest some types of matter economy in evergreen shrubs for wintering in an environment of heavy snow.     

北方寒旱区白菜型冬油菜的越冬安全性及经济效益和生态效益

为了进一步明确白菜型冬油菜在北方寒旱区的越冬安全性、扩大冬油菜的种植区域,本研究通过2008—2013年57点18个白菜型冬油菜品种的多点试验,统计分析不同生态区不同品种越冬率的变化情况.结果表明： 研究期间,北方旱寒区白菜型冬油菜的越冬率在70%～90%,且年份间、品种间变化不明显,稳定性高,经济效益显著.以甘肃天水为起点,含甘肃全部,西藏拉萨、林芝以南,青海民和以东,至新疆乌鲁木齐、拜城,阿勒泰、塔城以南,喀什以东;向东沿黄河一线到宁夏、内蒙古临河以南、陕北、山西祁县周边、河北大名、天津、北京、山东潍坊以北、辽宁葫芦岛南部、吉林延边南部等地为白菜型冬油菜安全越冬地区.陇油6号、陇油7号、陇油8号、陇油9号为安全越冬白菜型冬油菜品种.