Heavy Metals in Organs and Tissues of the European Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus): Dependence on Living Conditions

The distribution of Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Ni in the organs and tissues (kidneys, liver, lungs, brain, heart, muscles, and feathers) of the European black vulture (Aegypius monachus) was studied. It was shown that heavy metals were not responsible for the mass mortality of these birds in southern Primorye in the winter of 2001–2002. The level of pollution with heavy metals of the range of European black vultures wintering in this region (northern China and western Mongolia) may be regarded as insignificant.     

Breeding Distributions of North American Bird Species Moving North as a Result of Climate Change

Abstract:  Geographic changes in species distributions toward traditionally cooler climes is one hypothesized indicator of recent global climate change. We examined distribution data on 56 bird species. If global warming is affecting species distributions across the temperate northern hemisphere, these data should show the same northward range expansions of birds that have been reported for Great Britain. Because a northward shift of distributions might be due to multidirectional range expansions for multiple species, we also examined the possibility that birds with northern distributions may be expanding their ranges southward. There was no southward expansion of birds with a northern distribution, indicating that there is no evidence of overall range expansion of insectivorous and granivorous birds in North America. As predicted, the northern limit of birds with a southern distribution showed a significant shift northward (2.35 km/year). This northward shift is similar to that observed in previous work conducted in Great Britain: the widespread nature of this shift in species distributions over two distinct geographical regions and its coincidence with a period of global warming suggests a connection with global climate change.     

Establishment Success across Convergent Mediterranean Ecosystems: an Analysis of Bird Introductions

Abstract:  Concern over the impact of invaders on biodiversity and on the functioning of ecosystems has generated a rising tide of comparative analyses aiming to unveil the factors that shape the success of introduced species across different regions. One limitation of these studies is that they often compare geographically rather than ecologically defined regions. We propose an approach that can help address this limitation: comparison of invasions across convergent ecosystems that share similar climates. We compared avian invasions in five convergent mediterranean climate systems around the globe. Based on a database of 180 introductions representing 121 avian species, we found that the proportion of bird species successfully established was high in all mediterranean systems (more than 40% for all five regions). Species differed in their likelihood to become established, although success was not higher for those originating from mediterranean systems than for those from nonmediterranean regions. Controlling for this taxonomic effect with generalized linear mixed models, species introduced into mediterranean islands did not show higher establishment success than those introduced to the mainland. Susceptibility to avian invaders, however, differed substantially among the different mediterranean regions. The probability that a species will become established was highest in the Mediterranean Basin and lowest in mediterranean Australia and the South African Cape. Our results suggest that many of the birds recently introduced into mediterranean systems, and especially into the Mediterranean Basin, have a high potential to establish self-sustaining populations. This finding has important implications for conservation in these biologically diverse hotspots.     

Estimation of the Relationship between Environment Heterogeneity and Distribution of Birds in Western Siberia

The results of censuses of 335 bird species and estimation of environmental factors in 1163 habitats located in undeveloped areas of the Western Siberian Plain were analyzed. The data for analysis were obtained from the databank of the Laboratory of Zoological Monitoring of the Institute of Animal Ecology and Systematics (Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences). The material was collected in the first half of summer (between May 16 and July 15) in 1936–1938 and 1959–1999 (mostly beginning from 1967). A learning sample (863 variants) was used to approximate the abundance of each species with respect to each factor (including calculation by the principal-component method), and the approximation was integrated with respect to all these factors. The approximation coefficients were used to make a prognosis of species abundance based on the values of environmental factors in the control sample (300 variants). For the 50 most prevalent species, accounting for more than 80% of total bird abundance, the values of explained variances of approximation and prognosis averaged 53.5 (r = 0.73) and 47% (r = 0.68), respectively.     

重庆三峡库区鸟类生物多样性研究

通过1996－1997年的调查,记录三峡工程重庆库区鸟类293种,分属17目45科,159属,比文献记录新增加33种,其中重庆市鸟类新记录9种。鸟类区系成分以东洋界为主体。国家重点保护动物29种,Ⅰ类2种,Ⅱ类27种;除红腹锦鸡种群数量较多外,其余都较稀少。从分布上看,库区东段的种类和数量比西段多;海拔1200m以上物种丰富;1200m以下为强度农耕区,种类较为贫乏,主要是一些与人为活动相关的种类。表1参9     

An individual-oriented model for ecological risk assessment of wading birds

The contribution of certain contaminants to reproductive failure in many avian species has been an ongoing concern. Appropriate quantitative techniques have focused either on the individual organisms by providing explicit bioaccumulation dynamics or on whole ecosystems by looking at the fate of the contaminant but fail to make the necessary link via population dynamics of interacting individuals. We used the individual-oriented approach in an effort to quantify effects of chronic contaminant exposure on individual birds. This was made possible by the use of an object-oriented model, where individual birds are interacting objects, and their actions are implemented by passing to them appropriate messages. Using this modeling approach a breeding colony of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) is simulated as an assemblage of interacting individuals whose daily actions (foraging, growth, feeding of the young) are simultaneously followed over short time intervals for a nesting season. Spatial distribution of the contaminants in prey resources is used on a cell by cell basis and their effects on certain behavior characteristics of adult birds (e.g. foraging efficiency, effects on flying efficiency, parental care) are taken into account. Results showed that sublethal effects could have a considerable effect on colony success. Appropriate selection of endpoints for risk assessment yields a variety of scenarios for colony success.     

Long-Term Effects of Group-Selection Timber Harvesting on Abundance of Forest Birds

Abstract:  Relatively few studies have examined the ecological effects of group-selection timber harvesting, and nearly all have been short-term and have lacked experimental manipulations that allow pre- and posttreatment comparisons. We have been documenting the effects of a group-selection timber harvest on bird abundance in a Maine forest for 24 years (preharvest, 1983–1987; postharvest, 1988–2006). Here we characterized the trends in bird abundance over the first 20 years of the study in the managed and control halves of the 40-ha study area. Species responses to the group-selection harvest were idiosyncratic, but in general the mature-forest bird community was retained and species dependent on early successional habitat temporarily (≤8 years) benefited. The Eastern Wood-Pewee ( Contopus virens ) , Winter Wren ( Troglodytes troglodytes ) , Pine Warbler ( Dendroica pinus ) , and White-throated Sparrow ( Zonotrichia albicollis ) increased in abundance in the managed half of the study area following timber harvest, whereas the Veery ( Catharus fuscescens ) decreased. The Black-and-White Warbler ( Mniotilta varia ) , Nashville Warbler ( Vermivora ruficapilla ) , and Common Yellowthroat ( Geothlypis trichas ) responded positively to harvesting, as indicated by decreases in abundance in the control area and more protracted declines or stable abundances in the managed area. This study constitutes the longest experimental investigation to date of the effects of a group-selection harvest on birds and thus provides important information on the strength, direction, and duration of temporal changes in bird populations following forest management.     

机场建设对鸟类的影响及机鸟相撞防范措施

机鸟相撞,轻则鸟死机伤,重则机毁人亡,一直是困扰着各国航空飞行安全的重大问题。根据近几年在机场类建设项目环境影响评价中的工作经验,本文就机场鸟类保护与机场建设及避免机鸟相撞问题做一探讨,认为机场鸟类保护与避免机鸟相撞首先在机场建设时要认真做好区域鸟类资源调查,避开候鸟迁徙通道,掌握鸟类活动规律,在机场营运期应积极采取生态措施、工程措施及有效的管理等措施避免鸟类对飞机的威胁,确保飞行安全。