Neighborhood effects in bird distributions,Navarre, Spain

This study examines the role of neighborhood effects in the spatial distributions of selected bird species in Navarre, Spain. We employed a geographic information system (GIS) to organize the data on bird distributions and relevant environmental variables and to analyze their spatial patterns. Three bird species were selected for analysis: the European honey-buzzard (Pernis apivorus), the Eurasian hobby (Falco subbuteo), and the European pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca). Selected environmental variables of the study area were digitized to create a comprehensive data base and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the significance of each variable in the spatial distribution. The spatial patterns of bird distributions were used to extract topological relationships and to identify neighborhood effects. Although all the selected species illustrate a pattern of positive spatial autocorrelation in their distributions, the significance of neighborhood effects varies from species to species. Among the selected species, neighborhood effects are most evident in the distribution of the European pied flycatcher and are significant for the Eurasian hobby. The distribution of the European honey-buzzard is not much affected by neighborhood effects. The results suggest that examination of neighborhood effects is a prerequisite for modeling bird distributions.     

Cooperatively breeding superb fairy-wrens show no facultative manipulation of offspring sex ratio despite plausible benefits

We report a long-term study of offspring sex ratios in the cooperatively breeding superb fairy-wren Malurus cyaneus. Detailed study of this species had revealed a suite of potentially strong selection pressures on the sex ratio. First, females gain substantial fitness benefits from the presence of helpers; so females without male helpers would benefit from any strategy that increased the probability of recruiting help, such as overproduction of sons (local resource enhancement hypothesis), but large numbers of helper males compete among themselves, favouring the production of daughters (local resource competition). Second, daughters fledged early in the season have far greater chances of recruitment to the breeding population than late-fledged daughters, so mothers would benefit from production of daughters early in the breeding season (early bird hypothesis). Third, extra-group mate choice imposes strong sexual selection on males, suggesting that females mating with attractive sires could benefit from investing in sons (sexual selection hypothesis). However, the predictions from these and other sex ratio hypotheses were rejected. The only convincing evidence for manipulation of the sex ratio was a slight bias towards sons (11 sons to 10 daughters) that occurred regardless of context. This result does not support current theory.     

Effects of Wind Energy Development on Nesting Ecology of Greater Prairie‐Chickens in Fragmented Grasslands

Wind energy is targeted to meet 20% of U.S. energy needs by 2030, but new sites for development of renewable energy may overlap with important habitats of declining populations of grassland birds. Greater Prairie‐Chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) are an obligate grassland bird species predicted to respond negatively to energy development. We used a modified before–after control–impact design to test for impacts of a wind energy development on the reproductive ecology of prairie‐chickens in a 5‐year study. We located 59 and 185 nests before and after development, respectively, of a 201 MW wind energy facility in Greater Prairie‐Chicken nesting habitat and assessed nest site selection and nest survival relative to proximity to wind energy infrastructure and habitat conditions. Proximity to turbines did not negatively affect nest site selection (β = 0.03, 95% CI = ?1.2–1.3) or nest survival (β = ?0.3, 95% CI = ?0.6–0.1). Instead, nest site selection and survival were strongly related to vegetative cover and other local conditions determined by management for cattle production. Integration of our project results with previous reports of behavioral avoidance of oil and gas facilities by other species of prairie grouse suggests new avenues for research to mitigate impacts of energy development. Efectos del Desarrollo de la Energía Eólica sobre la Ecología de Anidación de Gallinas de la Gran Pradera en Pastizales Fragmentados     

崇明岛小白鹭鸟卵中有机磷阻燃剂污染特征

鸟卵可用于环境质量的生物监测.从崇明岛东部若干林地采集小白鹭(Egretta garzetta)卵样品10个,用液相色谱-串联质谱联用仪(LC-MS/MS)测定了样品中10种常见有机磷阻燃剂(OPFRs)的含量,分析了其分布特征和来源.结果表明,除三辛基磷酸酯(TEHP)和三氯乙基磷酸酯(TCEP)外,其余8种OPFRs在小白鹭卵中均有检出,OPFRs的总含量为49.5～142.8 ng·g~(-1)(以湿重计,下同),均值为78.6 ng·g~(-1);其中,三丁基磷酸酯(TNBP)、三异丁基磷酸酯(TIBP)和三邻甲苯磷酸酯(TMPP)含量较为丰富,分别为(26.3±10.1)、(20.9±9.44)和(19.0±15.6) ng·g~(-1).不同鸟卵中OPFRs的赋存特征差异较大,主要受其环境含量水平、生物积累和放大能力及代谢能力的影响.崇明小白鹭卵样品中存在具有胚胎发育毒性的TMPP、三(1-氯-2-丙基)磷酸酯(TCIPP)、三丁氧基乙基磷酸酯(TBOEP)等,可能对其繁殖具有潜在影响,值得关注.     

鸟类对持久性有机污染物的定向传输作用研究进展

传统意义上认为,持久性有机污染物（POPs）的传输途径主要有两种形式,一种是通过挥发之后进入大气,然后通过长距离大气传输、蚱蜢效应、高山冷凝效应等方式进行传输;另一种是进入水体中,通过水流的搬运作用传输,从而进入湖泊、河流生态系统,甚至可以通过洋流的长距离输送到达北极等高纬地区．另外,海鸟、候鸟和留鸟可以对POPs进行...     

Tamarix and Diorhabda Leaf Beetle Interactions: Implications for Tamarix Water Use and Riparian Habitat

Tamarix leaf beetles (Diorhabda carinulata) have been widely released on western United States rivers to control introduced shrubs in the genus Tamarix, with the goals of saving water through removal of an assumed high water‐use plant, and of improving habitat value by removing a competitor of native riparian trees. We review recent studies addressing three questions: (1) to what extent are Tamarix weakened or killed by recurrent cycles of defoliation; (2) can significant water salvage be expected from defoliation; and (3) what are the effects of defoliation on riparian ecology, particularly on avian habit? Defoliation has been patchy at many sites, and shrubs at some sites recover each year even after multiple years of defoliation. Tamarix evapotranspiration (ET) is much lower than originally assumed in estimates of potential water savings, and are the same or lower than possible replacement plants. There is concern that the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailli extimus) will be negatively affected by defoliation because the birds build nests early in the season when Tamarix is still green, but are still on their nests during the period of summer defoliation. Affected river systems will require continued monitoring and development of adaptive management practices to maintain or enhance riparian habitat values. Multiplatform remote sensing methods are playing an essential role in monitoring defoliation and rates of ET on affected river systems.     

有机氯农药在东方白鹳组织里的浓度

对越冬迁徙期间中途停留在天津北大港的野生鸟类-东方白鹳（Ciconia boyciana）体内肌肉、肝脏、心脏、胃和脾中∑OCPs浓度进行了检测.各组织中检出的∑OCPs平均浓度（浓度范围,以脂重计）在心脏中最高,为955.30ng/g（88.65～4102.577ng/g）,次之为肝脏,平均浓度为465.55ng/g（37.96～1476.17ng/g）,再次之为胃、脾和肌肉,浓度分别为251.64ng/g（102.88～354.61ng/g）、176.5ng/g（158.72～194.50ng/g）和143.96ng/g（10.90～800.51ng/g）.在肝脏和心脏中∑DDTs和浓度高于∑HCHs,在其它组织中则相反.与其它研究相比,本研究所检测鸟体内有机氯浓度较低,表明这批东方白鹳并尚未受到环境中OCPs的严重污染.     

我国鸟类监测的现状、问题与对策

鸟类是开展生物多样性监测的重要指示类群.对鸟类的长期、系统监测工作在欧美已经有百余年历史,且野鸟多样性指数已经成为欧美一些国家开展生物多样性监测工作的官方指标.通过对国内鸟类监测现状的分析,结合监测对象、指标、抽样策略和监测方法等监测工作中应重点关注的几个方面,提出了我国鸟类监测存在的问题,并结合国情提出了下一步开展鸟类监测工作的对策与建议.建议我国有关部门尽快制定鸟类监测技术规程和标准,统一数据收集和分析平台,逐步构建政府引导,科研院所、高等院校、自然保护区、观鸟协会和志愿者等多方参与的鸟类监测网络.     

广东珠海市鹤洲湿地鸟类多样性的动态变化

2010年12月、2011年1月、2月、3月、5月和8月,利用样带法对珠海市鹤洲湿地鸟类物种多样性进行研究,利用Shannon-Wiener指数分析了生境类型的鸟类群落种数、数量、物种多样性、均匀性指数等特征。结果表明,共记录到96种,隶属12目31科66属。鸟类多样性指数(H')进行了计算,12月3.6956,1月3.7685;2月3.6551;3月3.4703;5月3.2437和8月3.1941。该湿地鸟类多样性动态表现出明显的季节性。     

Characteristics of Important Stopover Locations for Migrating Birds: Remote Sensing with Radar in the Great Lakes Basin

Abstract:  A preliminary stage in developing comprehensive conservation plans involves identifying areas used by the organisms of interest. The areas used by migratory land birds during temporal breaks in migration (stopover periods) have received relatively little research and conservation attention. Methodologies for identifying stopover sites across large geographic areas have been, until recently, unavailable. Advances in weather-radar technology now allow for evaluation of bird migration patterns at large spatial scales. We analyzed radar data (WSR-88D) recorded during spring migration in 2000 and 2001 at 6 sites in the Great Lakes basin (U.S.A.). Our goal was to link areas of high migrant activity with the land-cover types and landscape contexts corresponding to those areas. To characterize the landscapes surrounding stopover locations, we integrated radar and land-cover data within a geographic information system. We compared landscape metrics within 5 km of areas that consistently hosted large numbers of migrants with landscapes surrounding randomly selected areas that were used by relatively few birds during migration. Concentration areas were characterized by 1.2 times more forest cover and 9.3 times more water cover than areas with little migrant activity. We detected a strong negative relationship between activity of migratory birds and agricultural land uses. Examination of individual migration events confirmed the importance of fragments of forested habitat in highly altered landscapes and highlighted large concentrations of birds departing from near-shore terrestrial areas in the Great Lakes basin. We conclude that conservation efforts can be more effectively targeted through intensive analysis of radar imagery.