Optical properties of the uropygial gland secretion: no evidence for UV cosmetics in birds

Ultraviolet (UV) reflectance of the plumage is common in birds and plays an important role in sexual signalling. Recently, it has been proposed that birds are able to modify plumage UV reflectance by the application of uropygial gland secretion. Based on a survey of the optical properties of this secretion from 51 species belonging to 12 avian orders, we show that two main types of uropygial secretions exist, one predominantly found in passerines and one in non-passerines, both reducing relative UV reflectance of a white background (Teflon™ tape). We quantified how each type of secretion (exemplified by blue tit and mallard) affected feather UV reflectance. Both secretions reduced overall brightness and relative UV reflectance of white mallard feathers but hardly affected the reflectance of UV/blue blue tit crown feathers. According to models of avian colour vision, changes in reflectance due to application of the secretion were at or below the discrimination threshold of most birds. We conclude that the uropygial secretion is unlikely to play a major role in modifying plumage UV reflectance. However, the optical properties of the uropygial secretion may have been selected to interfere as little as possible with visual signaling through plumage reflectance. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Multiple UV reflectance peaks in the iridescent neck feathers of pigeons

Recent studies of colorful plumage signals in birds have been aided by the finding that birds can see ultraviolet (UV) light and thus may communicate using colors invisible to humans. Some of the pioneering and more pivotal work on avian color vision was performed with domestic pigeons (Columba livia), yet surprisingly there have been few detailed reports of the UV-reflecting properties of pigeon feathers. Here, I use UV-VIS fiber-optic spectrometry to document the full-spectrum reflectance characteristics of iridescent purple and green neck plumage in pigeons. Neck feathers that appear purple to the human eye exhibit four reflectance peaks—two in the UV and one in the blue and red regions—and thus exhibit a UV-purple hue. Neck feathers that appear green to the human eye are characterized by five spectral peaks: two in the UV (UVA and UVB), a predominant green peak, and secondary violet and red peaks, conferring a UV-purple-green color. Such elaborate UV coloration suggests that birds may use an even more complex and hidden UV signaling system than previously thought.     

Visual fields in Flamingos: chick-feeding versus filter-feeding

In birds, the position and extent of the region of binocular vision appears to be determined by feeding ecology. Of prime importance is the degree to which vision is used for the precise control of bill position when pecking or lunging at prey. In birds that do not require such precision (probe and filter-feeders), the bill falls outside the binocular field, which extends above and behind the head, thus providing comprehensive visual coverage. Flamingos Phoenicopteridae are highly specialised filter-feeders. They employ a unique technique that does not require accurate bill positioning in which the inverted head is placed between the feet. Feeding flamingos often walk forwards with the head pointing “backwards”. Here we show that in Lesser Flamingos Phoeniconaias minor visual fields are in fact the same as those of birds that feed by precision pecking and that feeding flamingos are blind in the direction of their walking. We suggest that this is due to the requirement for accurate bill placement when flamingos feed their chicks with “crop-milk”, and possibly when building their nest. We propose that chick-feeding may be the ultimate determinant of visual field topography in birds, not feeding ecology.     

Color polymorphism in a land snail Cepaea nemoralis (Pulmonata: Helicidae) as viewed by potential avian predators

Avian predation is one of the most probable factors maintaining polymorphism of shell coloration in Cepaea nemoralis. This assumption is justified by the fact that birds frequently forage on snails and their prey choice varies with morph coloration. However, in all preceding studies, the conspicuousness of morphs was determined only by using human vision which is significantly different from birds’ visual perception. In this study, we assessed how birds perceive colors of four Cepaea nemoralis morphs using physiological models of avian color vision. We calculated combined chromatic and achromatic contrast between shells and three habitat background types as a measure of shell conspicuousness. The degree of background color matching in Cepaea nemoralis depended on both shell morph and habitat type. On average, banded morphs were more conspicuous than unbanded morphs. Morphs were the most cryptic against dry vegetation and the most conspicuous on bare ground. We also found a significant interaction between habitat type and color morph. The relative conspicuousness of shell morphs depended on habitat and was the most variable against green vegetation. Our study provides the first insight into how potential avian predators view Cepaea nemoralis morphs. The results are discussed in light of multiple hypotheses explaining selective predation on Cepaea nemoralis morphs.     

越冬候鸟对鄱阳湖水文过程的响应

鄱阳湖是东亚地区主要的候鸟越冬地,平均每年约有105 种、34 万多只候鸟在此越冬。鄱阳湖独特的水文过程及五河入湖三角洲众多的碟形湖是形成鄱阳湖湿地生态系统特征和越冬候鸟栖息地的重要条件。论文根据每年的候鸟监测资料和鄱阳湖水位过程记录,通过分析各类候鸟越冬的取食对象和夜宿环境,采用定量与定性分析相结合的方法,研究了鄱阳湖水位对候鸟越冬的影响因素,揭示了越冬候鸟对鄱阳湖水文过程的响应规律。结果表明:①鄱阳湖处于平水年时,对候鸟越冬最为有利,候鸟数量最多;②鄱阳湖丰水期处于高水位时,食物缺乏,对候鸟越冬不利,影响最大的是雁、鸭、鹤和天鹅类候鸟,候鸟数量较少;③鄱阳湖枯水期处于高水位时,对鹳类、天鹅和鸻鹬类候鸟取食造成一定困难,有可能使候鸟数量减少;④鄱阳湖枯水期水位较低时,如果科学管理碟形湖的水位,对候鸟越冬不会产生明显的不利影响,但主湖区水位太低,对候鸟越冬不利。     

Bird pollination of Canary Island endemic plants

The Canary Islands are home to a guild of endemic, threatened bird-pollinated plants. Previous work has suggested that these plants evolved floral traits as adaptations to pollination by flower specialist sunbirds, but subsequently, they appear to have co-opted generalist passerine birds as sub-optimal pollinators. To test this idea, we carried out a quantitative study of the pollination biology of three of the bird-pollinated plants, Canarina canariensis (Campanulaceae), Isoplexis canariensis (Veronicaceae) and Lotus berthelotii (Fabaceae), on the island of Tenerife. Using colour vision models, we predicted the detectability of flowers to bird and bee pollinators. We measured pollinator visitation rates, nectar standing crops as well as seed-set and pollen removal and deposition. These data showed that the plants are effectively pollinated by non-flower specialist passerine birds that only occasionally visit flowers. The large nectar standing crops and extended flower longevities (>10 days) of Canarina and Isoplexis suggests that they have evolved a bird pollination system that effectively exploits these low frequency non-specialist pollen vectors and is in no way sub-optimal. Seed set in two of the three species was high and was significantly reduced or zero in flowers where pollinator access was restricted. In L. berthelotii, however, no fruit set was observed, probably because the plants were self-incompatible horticultural clones of a single genet. We also show that, while all three species are easily detectable for birds, the orange Canarina and the red Lotus (but less so the yellow-orange Isoplexis) should be difficult to detect for insect pollinators without specialised red receptors, such as bumblebees. Contrary to expectations if we accept that the flowers are primarily adapted to sunbird pollination, the chiffchaff (Phylloscopus canariensis) was an effective pollinator of these species.     

Avian-like attributes of a virtual brain model of the oviraptorid theropod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Conchoraptor gracilis</Emphasis>

An almost complete adult endoneurocranium of Conchoraptor gracilis Barsbold 1986 (Oviraptoridae; ZPAL MgD-I/95), discovered at the Hermiin Tsav locality (the Upper Cretaceous) in Mongolia, is analyzed. A virtual model of the endoneurocranial cavity was derived from CT scans and represents the most complete maniraptoran endocast to date. It displays reduced olfactory bulbs, large cerebral hemispheres in contact with the expanded cerebellum, an epiphysial projection, optic lobes displaced latero-ventrally, presumptive cerebellar folia, enlarged cerebellar auricles, and a deep medulla oblongata with a prominent ventral flexure. Contrary to Archaeopteryx, the shortened olfactory tract and cerebellum overtopping cerebral hemispheres of Conchoraptor resemble conditions in modern birds. Calculating brain mass relative to body mass indicates that Conchoraptor falls within the range of extant birds, whereas Archaeopteryx occupies a marginal position. Most of the endoneurocranial attributes, however, have a less birdlike appearance in Conchoraptor than do corresponding structures in Archaeopteryx and modern birds in which 1) postero-laterally expanded hemispheral domains broadly overlap the optic lobes, 2) the epiphysis projects to the posterior cerebrum, 3) lateral extension of the optic lobes substantially decreases a brain length-to-width ratio, 4) optic lobe and anterior hindbrain are superposed in lateral view, and 5) cerebellar and midbrain compartments are in distinct superposition. The endoneurocranial characteristics of Conchoraptor, taken together, suggest that the animal had a keen sense of vision, balance, and coordination. The data presented in this study do not allow an unambiguous assessment whether the avian-like endoneurocranial characteristics of the flightless Conchoraptor evolved convergently to those of avian theropods, or indicate a derivation of oviraptorosaurs from volant ancestors.     

辽宁滨海(环渤海)湿地鸟类多样性调查与研究

本研究于2019－2020年对辽宁滨海（环渤海）湿地开展了春迁徙季、秋迁徙季、繁殖季和越冬季的鸟类多样性调查,共监测到鸟类150种,隶属于16目38科,其中,留鸟25种,夏侯鸟26种,冬侯鸟26种,旅鸟73种;国家一级保护鸟类11种,国家二级保护鸟类20种。调查显示:调查区内鸟类多样性的季节差异明显,春、秋迁徙季,鸟类种类与数量明显高于其他两季,越冬季鸟类的种类数量均最少,丰富度指数、均匀度指数、多样性指数和优势度指数均最低。空间分布显示,盘锦地区鸟类种类和数量均最多,达到78种,473084只;营口地区调查到的鸟类种类最少,为55种;锦州地区鸟类数量最少,只有57723只。从鸟类多样性对比来看,盘锦地区最高,大连地区最低,各地鸟类群落组成的空间差异较为明显,在一定程度上受到该地区鸟类生境种类数量及面积大小的影响。辽宁滨海（环渤海）湿地作为东亚—澳大利西亚候鸟迁徙带上的关键区域,当前正面临气候变化、人类围垦干扰造成的鸟类栖息地减少等不利情况,建议通过扩大保护范围、实施修复和管理对策措施、强化宣传等手段保护鸟类多样性及其栖息生境,巩固渤海综合治理攻坚战的治理成效。     

水位对鄱阳湖湿地越冬候鸟生境景观格局的影响研究

鄱阳湖湿地是国际重要湿地之一,是世界上最富有生物多样性的生态系统之一,也是东亚地区最大的水禽越冬地。论文根据多年越冬候鸟野外调查资料,在分析主要越冬候鸟习性和生境偏好的基础上,通过对具有不同水位的鄱阳湖湿地卫星遥感影像进行生境类型分类,利用景观指数定量分析不同水位下鄱阳湖湿地越冬候鸟的生境类型和空间分布结构,得到以下结论：①鄱阳湖主要越冬候鸟以退水后形成的浅碟形子湖范围内的浅水、草滩和软泥为主要取食、休憩和栖息场所;②水位是影响鄱阳湖湿地越冬候鸟生境的主要因素,随水位的增加,越冬候鸟生境范围萎缩,同时越冬候鸟生境的组成结构也不同;③随水位的增加,越冬候鸟生境景观的破碎度增加,连通性和多样性降低,因此,秋冬季维持较高水位不利于越冬候鸟的保护。     

Osteological evidence for sister group relationship between pseudo-toothed birds (Aves: Odontopterygiformes) and waterfowls (Anseriformes)

The phylogenetic affinities of the extinct pseudo-toothed birds have remained controversial. Some authors noted that they resemble both pelicans and allies (Pelecaniformes) and tube-nosed birds (Procellariiformes), but assigned them to a distinct taxon, the Odontopterygiformes. In most recent studies, the pseudo-toothed birds are referred to the family Pelagornithidae inside the Pelecaniformes. Here, I perform a cladistic analysis with five taxa of the pseudo-toothed birds including two undescribed new species from the Early Tertiary of Morocco. The present hypothesis strongly supports a sister group relationship of pseudo-toothed birds (Odontopterygiformes) and waterfowls (Anseriformes). The Odontoanserae (Odontopterygiformes plus Anseriformes) are the sister group of Neoaves. The placement of the landfowls (Galliformes) as the sister taxon of all other neognathous birds does not support the consensus view that the Galloanserae (Galliformes plus Anseriformes) are monophyletic. Electronic supplementary material  Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at . Communicated by G. Mayr     

城市绿地结构与鸟类栖息生境的营造

城市化对城市鸟类多样性产生了诸多不利影响。城市绿地结构是鸟类栖息生境选择的重要因素之一。在分析公园面积、连通性、岛屿化等影响城市鸟类多样性的城市绿地结构特征基础上,提出通过优化绿地结构营造鸟类栖息生境的原则,探讨了保护城市自然保留地、建设环城绿化带、构建河岸带与道路绿色廊道、复层植物群落配置、特殊空间绿化等途径作为鸟类生境营造的方法。     

Loft features reveal the functioning of the young pigeon’s navigational system

It is thought that young homing pigeons are able to use information acquired en route for their initial homeward orientation. However, the cues involved and mechanisms utilised are under discussion. Blocking light-dependent route-specific information during the first leg of an outward journey detour, together with analysis of pigeons that were raised under different loft conditions, allowed us to correctly evaluate the functioning of this mechanism and, more generally, the navigational map of birds. Pigeons from the same stock were raised and kept in two different lofts. The birds in the experimental groups were transported to the release sites via detours, and light-dependent information was denied during the first half of the outward journey (no compass information was available). Control birds were transported by the most direct route and had access to all available information. In general, the results showed that the low-loft birds preferred to use magnetic compass cues, whereas the high-loft birds preferred to use navigational map cues to collect information of the first part of the outward journey. The impairments observed in the homing performances of the experimental groups highlight the reliability of information collected inside the map area. Relevant to an understanding of the route-reversal mechanism was the evidence that this mechanism is able to function in the absence of compass information (birds raised in a wind-exposed loft show a detour effect). In systems where directional information could be provided by multiple sources, processing and extracting accurate course trajectories through a common mechanism may prove more efficient and reliable.     

UV/H_2O_2工艺降解微囊藻毒素-LR

采用UV/H2O2联合工艺,研究了光强、初始浓度、H2O2投加量、pH及阴离子对微囊藻毒素-LR (MC-LR)去除率的影响.结果表明,单独H2O2对MC-LR基本无去除效果;单独UV工艺可以一定程度上降解MC-LR;而UV/H2O2联合工艺由于发生协同作用明显提高降解效率.试验发现,随着光强的增大,MC-LR的去除率不断提高;随着MC-LR初始浓度的增大,其去除率不断降低;随着H2O2投加量的增大,降解速率常数逐渐增大,当H2O2投加量由1 mmol/L增大到3 mmol/L时,降解速率常数由0.0844上升到0.1664;当pH为3.13时,在相同条件下MC-LR的去除效果最好;阴离子的投加不利于MC-LR的降解,其中CO2-3、NO-3影响最大.     

滨海湿地退化区鸟类刨坑觅食行为促进植被的恢复

鸟类是滨海湿地生态系统中非常重要的组成部分,也是能够通过自身行为影响非生物环境以及生物过程的生态系统工程师。了解鸟类在滨海湿地生态系统中的生态系统工程效应,对于开展滨海湿地的生态修复具有重要作用。通过野外调查研究由灰鹤（Grus grus）和斑嘴鸭（Anas poecilorhyncha）主导的滨海鸟类的刨坑觅食行为对植被退化区的地形以及土壤环境理化指标的影响,进而促进盐地碱蓬（Suaeda salsa）植被的恢复。结果表明：鸟类在植被退化区的刨坑觅食行为改变了退化区的微地形及土壤环境,使得土壤硬度和土壤盐度显著降低,而土壤含水率和土壤碳氮营养指标则显著高于未经鸟类影响的退化平坦区域;另外,鸟类活动改善的凹坑微地形环境能够显著提高盐地碱蓬的种子保留量、幼苗定植量和成株存活量,有效促进盐地碱蓬在植被退化区域的恢复。通过鸟类改变微地形进而促进植被恢复的启发,提出可以尝试人为模拟改造退化区的微地形环境,以通过人为干预的方式促进滨海湿地退化区的植被恢复,对滨海湿地的生态修复具有重要指导意义。     

The origin and early evolution of birds: discoveries,disputes, and perspectives from fossil evidence

The study of the origin and early evolution of birds has never produced as much excitement and public attention as in the past decade. Well preserved and abundant new fossils of birds and dinosaurs have provided unprecedented new evidence on the dinosaurian origin of birds, the arboreal origin of avian flight, and the origin of feathers prior to flapping flight. The Mesozoic avian assemblage mainly comprises two major lineages: the prevalent extinct group Enantiornithes, and the Ornithurae, which gave rise to all modern birds, as well as several more basal taxa. Cretaceous birds radiated into various paleoecological niches that included fish- and seed-eating. Significant size and morphological differences and variation in flight capabilities, ranging from gliding to powerful flight among early birds, highlight the diversification of birds in the Early Cretaceous. There is little evidence, however, to support a Mesozoic origin of modern avian groups. Controversy and debate, nevertheless, surround many of these findings, and more details are needed to give a better appreciation of the significance of these new discoveries.     

Host intra-clutch variation,cuckoo egg matching and egg rejection by great reed warblers

Prevailing theory predicts that lower levels of intra-clutch variation in host eggs facilitate the detection of brood parasitism. We assessed egg matching using both human vision and UV-VIS spectrophotometry and then followed the nest fate of great reed warblers naturally parasitised by European cuckoos. Rejection was predicted by the following three variables: matching between cuckoo and host eggs on the main chromatic variable defined by principal components analysis of the egg spectra (which has a strong loading in the UV); the number of host eggs in the nest; and human estimates of intra-clutch variation. The first variable is not correlated to human estimates of matching, which do not predict rejection. In line with another recent study, rejection rates were predicted by higher levels of intra-clutch variation in the host eggs, suggesting that higher rather than lower levels of intra-clutch variation can facilitate the discrimination of cuckoo eggs by hosts. We suggest that the importance of intra-clutch variation is context dependent, with intra-clutch variation being important when there is good matching between the host and the cuckoo eggs. Our results also suggest that both spectrometric and human visual assessments of egg matching and intra-clutch variation are prudent: the former provide the best method of estimating reflectance variation, whereas the latter include some assessment of patterns of maculation.     

Possible postcranial pneumaticity in the last common ancestor of birds and crocodilians: evidence from Erythrosuchus and other Mesozoic archosaurs

Birds and crocodilians (extant archosaurs) have differing, distinctive morphologies. Birds have respiratory airsacs with diverticula that pneumatize the postcranial skeleton, a feature absent in crocodilians. Bony correlates of pneumatic sinuses are known in the vertebrae of some non-avian dinosaurs and in pterosaurs - taxa more closely related to birds than crocodilians. This and the apparent absence of pneumatic postcranial bones in fossil archosaurs more closely related to crocodilians than to birds, has been interpreted as evidence that postcranial pneumaticity is a derived character of birds and their nearest fossil relatives. The presence of apparent osteological correlates of postcranial pneumaticity is here reported in some non-crown-group archosaurs, and some of the fossil taxa more closely related to crocodilians than to birds. This suggests that the last common ancestor of birds and crocodilians might have had a pneumatized postcranium, and that the absence of this feature in crocodilians might be derived.     

三峡工程对库区鸟类资源的影响评价

经1984—1986年的研究,在掌握三峡库区鸟类资源现状及特点的基础上对国内已建水库鸟类的变动情况进行考察,了解影响鸟类的各种因素,研究这些生态因子对鸟类群落的影响,采用统计学方法量化三峡工程对鸟类资源的影响程度,作出定性、定量的预断评价。 研究结果表明,兴建三峡水库必将引起适应原有生态环境的鸟类群落在组成、生态分布等方面的变化,一方面使珍稀鸟类、经济鸟类受到破坏,使已趋贫乏的森林鸟类更加贫乏;另一方面水禽资源将会增长。但总的影响是弊大于利。建坝150m和180m对不同群落的影响各异。高坝对森林和农田鸟类不利影响值均大于低坝30％;对水域鸟类的有利影响值,高坝为低坝的两倍。     

The oldest known tracks of web-footed birds from the Lower Cretaceous of South Korea

 We describe the oldest tracks of web-footed birds from the Early Cretaceous in South Korea. The tracks are characterized by a wide divarication angle and a long reversed hallux. The web is semipalmate and restricted to the proximal portion of the three forward digits. The tracks from the Early Cretaceous in South Korea are smaller than those of the Late Cretaceous, therefore confirming the trend of size increasing in the early evolution of birds as shown by skeletal fossils. The discovery of web-footed tracks with abundant non-web-footed tracks indicates that there was a considerable diversification of shore birds as early as the Early Cretaceous. Received: 4 November 1999 / Accepted in revised form: 28 February 2000     

紫外线消毒中的光复活作用

近年来,紫外线消毒技术在水处理中得到了越来越广泛的应用,它主要是利用短波紫外对微生物的伤害作用,通过在DNA中形成环丁烷嘧啶二聚体,阻碍基因的正常复制,从而导致细菌失活.但是细菌体内的光裂解酶在远紫外光和可见光作用下能够使失活的细菌重新获得活性,这就是光复活作用.低压消毒设备处理后大肠杆菌表现出了一定的光复活能力,但中压消毒设备能够有效的抑制其光复活作用;而噬肺军团菌在低压和中压设备处理后都表现出了很强的光复活能力.在应用紫外线消毒技术时光复活作用的影响不容忽视.