| 1. | Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2014 Apr 17. [Epub ahead of print]Contamination of organochlorine pesticides in water and sediments from a waterbird-inhabited lake, East Central China.Hu Y1, Yuan L, Qi S, Liu H, Xing X .Author information:1State Key Laboratory of Biogeology and Environmental Geology, Wuhan, 430074, People's Republic of China. Abstract
Seventeen
organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were investigated in the water and
sediments from a waterbird-inhabited lake (Yangchaihu Lake) to evaluate
their current pollution levels and potential risks. The concentrations
of total OCPs in water and sediments were 10.12-59.75 ng/l and
4.25-27.35 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs)
and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) were the most abundant OCPs,
while HCB and cyclodiene pesticides were detected with low levels.
Levels of ∑OCPs (sum of 17 OCPs) at sites highly influenced by
waterbirds were significantly higher than the sites with no significant
waterbird populations (one-way ANOVA, P < 0.05),
suggesting that bird activities were one reason for concentration
distribution of these pollutants. Compositional and source analyses of
OCPs in water and sediments indicated that there might be fresh
introduction of lindane and heptachlor. The partitions of most OCPs were
not in equilibrium between water and sediments. The results of an
ecological risk assessment showed that residue levels of DDTs in the
studied area might pose adverse effects on ecosystems.
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| PMID: 24740407 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
| 2. | PLoS One. 2014 Apr 16;9(4):e94437. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094437. eCollection 2014.Tracking Natal Dispersal in a Coastal Population of a Migratory Songbird Using Feather Stable Isotope (δ2H, δ34S) Tracers.Haché S1, Hobson KA2, Bayne EM1, Van Wilgenburg SL2, Villard MA3.Author information:1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. 2Environment Canada, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. 3Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada. Abstract
Adult
birds tend to show high fidelity to their breeding territory or
disperse over relatively short distances. Gene flow among avian
populations is thus expected to occur primarily through natal dispersal.
Although natal dispersal is a critical demographic process reflecting
the area over which population dynamics take place, low recapture rates
of birds breeding for the first time have limited our ability to
reliably estimate
dispersal rates and distances. Stable isotope approaches can elucidate
origins of unmarked birds and so we generated year- and age-specific δ2H
and δ34S feather isoscapes (ca. 180 000 km2) of coastal-breeding
Ovenbirds (Seiurus aurocapilla) and used bivariate probability density
functions to assign the likely natal areas of 35 males recruited as
first-year breeders into a population located in northwestern New
Brunswick, Canada. Most individuals (80-94% depending on the magnitude
of an age correction factor used; i.e. 28-33 out of 35) were classified
as residents (i.e. fledged within our study area) and estimated minimum
dispersal distances of immigrants were between 40 and 240 km. Even when
considering maximum dispersal distances, the likely origin of most
first-year breeders was<200 km from our study area. Our method
identified recruitment into our population from large
geographic areas with relatively few samples whereas previous
mark-recapture based methods have required orders of magnitude more
individuals to describe dispersal at such geographic scales. Natal
dispersal movements revealed here suggest the spatial scale over which
many population processes are taking place and we suggest that
conservation plans aiming to maintain populations of Ovenbirds and
ecologically-similar species should consider management units within 100
or at most 200 km of target breeding populations.
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| PMID: 24740314 [PubMed - in process] | |
| 3. | Nat Commun. 2014 Apr 16;5:3700. doi: 10.1038/ncomms4700.Shared developmental programme strongly constrains beak shape diversity in songbirds.Fritz JA1, Brancale J2, Tokita M2, Burns KJ3, Hawkins MB4, Abzhanov A4, Brenner MP5.Author information:11] School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [2]. 21] Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA [2]. 3Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182, USA. 4Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. 5School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. Abstract
The
striking diversity of bird beak shapes is an outcome of natural
selection, yet the relative importance of the limitations imposed by the
process of beak development on generating such variation is unclear.
Untangling these factors requires mapping developmental mechanisms over a
phylogeny far exceeding model systems studied thus far. We address this
issue with a comparative morphometric analysis of beak shape in a
diverse group of songbirds. Here we show that the dynamics of the
proliferative growth zone must follow restrictive rules to explain the
observed
variation, with beak diversity constrained to a three parameter family
of shapes, parameterized by length, depth and the degree of shear. We
experimentally verify these predictions by analysing cell proliferation
in the developing embryonic beaks of the zebra finch. Our findings
indicate that beak shape variability in many songbirds is strongly
constrained by shared properties of the developmental programme
controlling the growth zone.
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| PMID: 24739280 [PubMed - in process] | |
| 4. | Behav Res Methods. 2014 Apr 16. [Epub ahead of print]The ALDB box: Automatic testing of cognitive performance in groups of aviary-housed pigeons.Huber L1, Heise N, Zeman C, Palmers C.Author information:1Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, A-1210, Vienna, Austria, ludwig.huber@vetmeduni.ac.at. Abstract
The
combination of highly controlled experimental testing and the voluntary
participation of unrestrained animals has many advantages over
traditional, laboratory-based learning environments in terms of animal
welfare, learning speed, and resource economy. Such automatic learning
environments have recently been developed for primates (Fagot &
Bonté, 2010; Fagot & Paleressompoulle, 2009;) but, so far, has not
been achieved with highly mobile creatures such as birds. Here, we
present a novel testing environment for pigeons. Living together in
small groups in outside aviaries, they can freely choose to participate
in learning experiments by entering and leaving the automatic learning
box at any time. At the single-access entry, they are individualized
using radio frequency identification
technology and then trained or tested in a stress-free and
self-terminating manner. The voluntary nature of their participation
according to their individual biorhythm guarantees high motivation
levels and good learning and test performance. Around-the-clock access
allows for massed-trials training, which in baboons has been proven to
have facilitative effects on discrimination learning. The performance of
2 pigeons confirmed the advantages of the automatic learning device for
birds box. The latter is the result of a development process of several
years that required us to deal with and overcome a number of technical
challenges: (1) mechanically controlled access to the box, (2)
identification of the birds, (3) the release of a bird and, at the same
time, prevention of others from entering the box, and (4) reliable
functioning of the device despite long operation times and exposure to
high dust loads and low temperatures.
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| PMID: 24737096 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
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| 5. | PLoS One. 2014 Apr 15;9(4):e94994. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094994. eCollection 2014.Outbreak of avian malaria associated to multiple species of Plasmodium in magellanic penguins undergoing rehabilitation in southern Brazil.Vanstreels RE1, Kolesnikovas CK2, Sandri S2, Silveira P 3, Belo NO3, Ferreira Junior FC3, Epiphanio S4, Steindel M5, Braga EM3, Catão-Dias JL 1.Author information:1Laboratório de Patologia Comparada de Animais Selvagens, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 2Associação R3 Animal, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. 3Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. 4Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. 5Laboratório de Protozoologia, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Abstract
Avian malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by
Plasmodium spp. Avian plasmodia are recognized conservation-threatening
pathogens due to their potential to cause severe epizootics when
introduced to bird populations with which they did not co-evolve.
Penguins are considered particularly susceptible, as outbreaks in
captive populations will often lead to high morbidity and rapid
mortality. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate an
outbreak of avian malaria in 28 Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus
magellanicus) at a rehabilitation center during summer 2009 in
Florianópolis, Brazil. Hemosporidian infections were identified by
microscopic and molecular characterization in 64% (18/28) of the
penguins, including Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) tejerai, Plasmodium (Huffia)
elongatum, a Plasmodium (Haemamoeba) sp. lineage closely related to
Plasmodium cathemerium, and a
Haemoproteus (Parahaemoproteus) sp. lineage closely related to
Haemoproteus syrnii. P. tejerai played a predominant role in the studied
outbreak and was identified in 72% (13/18) of the
hemosporidian-infected penguins, and in 89% (8/9) of the penguins that
died, suggesting that this is a highly pathogenic parasite for penguins;
a detailed description of tissue meronts and lesions is provided. Mixed
infections were identified in three penguins, and involved P. elongatum
and either P. tejerai or P. (Haemamoeba) sp. that were compatible with
P. tejerai but could not be confirmed. In total, 32% (9/28) penguins
died over the course of 16 days despite oral treatment with chloroquine
followed by sulfadiazine-trimethoprim. Hemosporidian infections were
considered likely to have occurred during rehabilitation, probably from
mosquitoes infected while feeding on local native birds, whereas
penguin-mosquito-penguin transmission may have played a role in later
stages of the outbreak. Considering the seasonality of the infection,
rehabilitation centers would benefit from narrowing their efforts to
prevent avian malaria outbreaks to the penguins that are maintained
throughout summer.
|
| PMID: 24736326 [PubMed - in process] | |
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| 6. | Br Poult Sci. 2014 Apr 16. [Epub ahead of print]Effect of feeding diets based on coarse maize on productive performance, gizzard development and energy utilisation of laying hens.Singh Y1, Rama Rao SV, Ravindran V.Author information:1a Institute of Veterinary and Animal and Biomedical Sciences , Massey University , Palmerston North 4442 , New Zealand. Abstract
Abstract 1. A total of 2200 White Leghorn layers were used to study the
effect of feeding coarse maize on productive performance, gizzard
weight, apparent metabolisable energy (AME) and egg quality parameters.
2. The experiment was a completely randomised design with 5 treatments,
each being replicated 5 times (88 birds per replicate). Dietary
treatments included a control diet with 600 g/kg of ground maize (6 mm
sieve) and experimental diets with 150, 300, 450 or 600 g/kg coarse
maize (10 mm sieve) replacing (w/w) ground maize. Diets, in mash form,
were offered from 39 to 62 weeks of age. 3. Over the entire experimental
period, dietary treatments had no effect on any of the production
parameters, except on feed intake. A quadratic effect was observed for
feed intake where intake increased at 150 g/kg coarse maize inclusion.
At higher inclusion levels of coarse maize, feed intake was
similar to that of the control diet. But the differences in daily intake
between dietary treatments were only around 1 g/bird and may not be of
any biological significance. 4. Dietary treatments had no effect on
gizzard weight, AME or egg quality. 5. The results indicate that coarse
maize could completely replace maize in layer diets with no adverse
effect on egg production, egg quality and dietary energy utilisation. In
the current work, although the proportion of coarse particles (over 1
mm) increased with increasing inclusion levels of coarse maize, the
differences in the percentage of particles above 1 mm between the fine
control (0 g/kg coarse maize) and coarsest (600 g/kg coarse maize) diets
was only 15% and this may limit the value of the findings reported
herein.
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| PMID: 24735428 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
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| 7. | Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2014 Apr 14;369(1643):20130197. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0197. Print 2014.Modelling avian biodiversity using raw, unclassified satellite imagery.St-Louis V1, Pidgeon AM, Kuemmerle T, Sonnenschein R, Radeloff VC, Clayton MK, Locke BA, Bash D, Hostert P.Author information:1Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA. Abstract
Applications
of remote sensing for biodiversity
conservation typically rely on image classifications that do not capture
variability within coarse land cover classes. Here, we compare two
measures derived from unclassified remotely sensed data, a measure of
habitat heterogeneity and a measure of habitat composition, for
explaining bird species richness and the spatial distribution of 10
species in a semi-arid landscape of New Mexico. We surveyed bird
abundance from 1996 to 1998 at 42 plots located in the McGregor Range of
Fort Bliss Army Reserve. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index values
of two May 1997 Landsat scenes were the basis for among-pixel habitat
heterogeneity (image texture), and we used the raw imagery to decompose
each pixel into different habitat components (spectral mixture
analysis). We used model averaging to relate measures of avian
biodiversity to measures of image texture and spectral mixture analysis
fractions. Measures of habitat heterogeneity, particularly angular
second moment and standard deviation, provide higher explanatory power
for bird species richness and the abundance of most species than
measures of habitat composition. Using image texture, alone or in
combination with other classified imagery-based approaches, for
monitoring statuses and trends in biological diversity can greatly
improve conservation efforts and habitat management.
|
| PMID: 24733952 [PubMed - in process] | |
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| 8. | Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2014 Apr 14;369(1643):20130195. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0195. Print 2014.Environmental drivers of variability in the movement ecology of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) in North and South America.Dodge S1, Bohrer G, Bildstein K, Davidson SC, Weinzierl R, Bechard MJ, Barber D, Kays R, Brandes D, Han J, Wikelski M.Author information:1Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University, , 475 Hitchcock Hall, 2070 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Abstract
Variation
is key to the adaptability of species and their ability to survive
changes to the Earth's climate and habitats. Plasticity in movement
strategies allows a species to better track spatial dynamics of habitat
quality. We describe the mechanisms that shape the movement of a
long-distance migrant bird (turkey vulture, Cathartes aura) across two
continents using satellite tracking coupled with remote-sensing science.
Using nearly 10 years of data from 24 satellite-tracked vultures in
four distinct populations, we describe an enormous amount of variation
in their movement patterns. We related vulture movement to environmental
conditions and found important correlations explaining how far they need
to move to find food (indexed by the Normalized Difference Vegetation
Index) and how fast they can move based on the prevalence of thermals
and temperature. We conclude that the extensive variability in the
movement ecology of turkey vultures, facilitated by their energetically
efficient thermal soaring, suggests that this species is likely to do
well across periods of modest climate change. The large scale and sample
sizes needed for such analysis in a widespread migrant emphasizes the
need for integrated and collaborative efforts to obtain tracking data
and for policies, tools and open datasets to encourage such
collaborations and data sharing.
|
| PMID: 24733950 [PubMed - in process] | |
| |
| 9. | Environ Toxicol Chem. 2014 Apr 15. doi: 10.1002/etc.2609. [Epub ahead of print]Contaminant exposure of birds nesting in Green Bay, Wisconsin.Custer TW1, Dummer PM, Custer CM, Franson JC, Jones M .Author information:1US Geological Survey, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. Abstract
In
earlier studies, elevated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and
p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) concentrations were reported
in double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) eggs and tree
swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) eggs and nestlings collected from lower
Green Bay in 1994 and 1995 and black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax
nycticorax) eggs collected in 1991. Comparable samples collected in 2010
and 2011 indicated that concentrations of PCBs were 35%, 62%, 70%, and
88% lower than in the early 1990s in tree swallow eggs, tree swallow
nestlings, double-crested cormorant eggs, and black-crowned night-heron
eggs, respectively; concentrations of DDE were 47%, 43%, 51% and 80%
lower, respectively. These declines are consistent with
regional contaminant trends in other species. Concentrations of PCBs
were higher in herring gull (Larus argentatus) than black-crowned
night-heron eggs collected from Green Bay in 2010; PCB concentrations in
double-crested cormorant and tree swallow eggs were intermediate. The
estimated toxicity of the PCB mixture was equal or greater in eggs of
the insectivorous tree swallow than the three piscivorous bird species. A
multivariate analysis indicated that the percent composition of lower
numbered PCB congeners was greater in eggs of the insectivorous tree
swallow than in eggs of the three piscivorous species nesting in Green
Bay. Dioxin and furan concentrations and the toxicity of these chemicals
were also higher in tree swallows than these other waterbird species
nesting in Green Bay. Environ Toxicol Chem © 2014 SETAC.
© 2014 SETAC. |
| PMID: 24733712 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
| 10. | Glob Chang Biol. 2014 Apr 11. doi: 10.1111/gcb.12573. [Epub ahead of print]Patterns of climate-induced density shifts of species: poleward shifts faster in northern boreal birds than in southern birds.Virkkala R1, Lehikoinen A.Author information:1Finnish Environment Institute, Natural Environment Centre, Mechelininkatu 34 a, P.O. Box 140, Helsinki, FI-00251, Finland. Abstract
Climate
change has been shown to cause poleward range shifts of species. These
shifts are typically
demonstrated using presence-absence data, which can mask the potential
changes in the abundance of species. Moreover, changes in the mean
centre of weighted density of species are seldom examined, and
comparisons between these two methods are even rarer. Here, we studied
the change in the mean weighted latitude of density (MWLD) of 94 bird
species in Finland, northern Europe, using data covering a north-south
gradient of over 1000 km from the 1970s to the 2010s. The MWLD shifted
northward on average 1.26 km yr-1 , and this shift was
significantly stronger in northern species compared to southern species.
These shifts can be related to climate warming during the study period,
because the annual temperature had increased more in northern Finland
(by 1.7 °C) than in southern Finland (by 1.4 °C), although direct causal
links cannot be shown. Density shifts of species
distributed over the whole country did not differ from shifts in species
situated on the edge of the species range in southern and northern
species. This means that density shifts occur both in the core and on
the edge of species distribution. The species-specific comparison of
MWLD values with corresponding changes in the mean weighted latitude
using presence-absence atlas data (MWL) revealed that the MWLD moved
more slowly than the MWL in the atlas data in the southern species
examined, but more rapidly in the northern species. Our findings
highlight that population densities are also moving rapidly towards the
poles and the use of presence-absence data can mask the shift of
population densities. We encourage use of abundance data in studies
considering the effects of climate change on biodiversity.
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
| PMID: 24729475 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
| 11. | Environ Monit Assess. 2014 Apr 12. [Epub ahead of print]The distribution and extent of heavy metal accumulation in song sparrows along Arizona's upper Santa Cruz River.Lester MB1, van Riper C 3rd.Author information:1School of Natural Resources and the Environment, The University of Arizona, 1110 E. South Campus Dr., Room 123, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA, mlester126@gmail.com. Abstract
Heavy
metals are persistent environmental contaminants, and transport of
metals into the
environment poses a threat to ecosystems, as plants and wildlife are
susceptible to long-term exposure, bioaccumulation, and potential
toxicity. We investigated the distribution and cascading extent of heavy
metal accumulation in southwestern song sparrows (Melospiza melodia
fallax), a resident riparian bird species that occurs along the
US/Mexico border in Arizona's upper Santa Cruz River watershed. This
study had three goals: (1) quantify the degree of heavy metal
accumulation in sparrows and determine the distributional patterns among
study sites, (2) compare concentrations of metals found in this study
to those found in studies performed prior to a 2009 international
wastewater facility upgrade, and (3) assess the condition of song
sparrows among sites with differing potential levels of exposure. We
examined five study sites along with a reference site that reflect
different
potential sources of contamination. Body mass residuals and leukocyte
counts were used to assess sparrow condition. Birds at our study sites
typically had higher metal concentrations than birds at the reference
site. Copper, mercury, nickel, and selenium in song sparrows did exceed
background levels, although most metals were below background
concentrations determined from previous studies. Song sparrows generally
showed lower heavy metal concentrations compared to studies conducted
prior to the 2009 wastewater facility upgrade. We found no cascading
effects as a result of metal exposure.
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| PMID: 24729180 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
| |
| 12. | Ecotoxicology. 2014 Apr 12. [Epub ahead of print]Design, development and demonstration of an improved bird washing machine.Rajabi H1, Monsef H, Moghadami M, Zare M, Armandei A.Author information:1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ahrar Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Rasht, Iran, harajabi@hotmail.com. Abstract
Since
oil was first extracted, pollution of the seas and oceans or adjacent
coasts has been an obstacle for the oil industry and environmental
activists. The major concern is oil discharge into the water which may
lead to birds' affliction or death, besides putting marine life in
jeopardy. This paper presents the first description of the design and
implementation of a new bird washing machine that can be utilized for
cleaning of oil-coated birds with the minimum of stress. The machine is
equipped with a pneumatic system comprised of 19 moving nozzles which
evenly cover the bird's body and is designed to be used in contaminated
environments where a vast number of birds are
affected. Experimental trials show an improvement in operation
efficiency compared to other methods in a reduction in washing time,
energy consumption and a decrease in fatality rate of washed birds.
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| PMID: 24729024 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
| |
| 13. | Environ Int. 2014 Apr 8;68C:118-126. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.03.013. [Epub ahead of print]Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of emerging and classical flame retardants in bird eggs of 14 species from Doñana Natural Space and surrounding areas (South-western Spain).Barón E1, Máñez M2, Andreu AC2, Sergio F3, Hiraldo F3, Eljarrat E4, Barceló D5.Author information:1Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. 2Natural Processes Monitoring Team, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), c/Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092 Seville, Spain. 3Department of Applied Biology, Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain. 4Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: eeeqam@cid.csic.es. 5Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), H2O Building, Scientific and Technological Park of the University of Girona, Emili Grahit 101, 17003 Girona, Spain. Abstract
The
occurrence of classical (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs) and
emerging FRs (dechloranes, hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromoethyl
benzene (PBEB) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE)) in unborn eggs of
14 different species from Doñana
Natural Space and surrounding areas was studied. PBDEs, Dec-602, Dec-603
and DP were detected in all the species, whereas HBB, PBEB, DBDPE and
Dec-604 were not detected in any sample. ΣPBDE and ΣDechlorane levels
ranged from 1.40 to 90.7, and from 0.77 to 260ng/glw, respectively.
BDE-209 was the most abundant BDE congener in almost all the species,
whereas Dec-602 was the predominant among dechloranes. In general,
levels of PBDEs and dechloranes were similar and even higher for
dechloranes, probably indicating the increasing use of dechloranes as a
result of legal restrictions on PBDEs. In both cases, the most
contaminated specie was the white stork. Using stable isotope
characterization, differences among species and possible
biomagnification processes were also evaluated. PBDE levels increased as
the trophic position increased, showing biomagnification capacity. The
same behavior
was observed for Dec-602 and Dec-603; however, DP levels were not
linearly correlated with trophic level. These results show that more
attention should be given to emerging FRs such as dechloranes since they
show similar environmental behavior as PBDEs.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. |
| PMID: 24727066 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
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| 14. | Curr Biol. 2014 Apr 9. pii: S0960-9822(14)00270-X. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.011. [Epub ahead of print]Global Distribution and Conservation of Evolutionary Distinctness in Birds.Jetz W1, Thomas GH2, Joy JB3, Redding DW4, Hartmann K5, Mooers AO6.Author information:1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8106, USA; Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK. Electronic address: walter.jetz@yale.edu. 2Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK. 3Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06520-8106, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada. 4Centre for Biodiversity and Environment Research, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. 5Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 49, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia. 6Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada. Electronic address: amooers@sfu.ca. AbstractBACKGROUND:Integrated, efficient, and global prioritization approaches are necessary to manage the ongoing loss of species and their associated function. "Evolutionary distinctness" measures a species' contribution to the total evolutionary history of its clade and is expected to capture uniquely divergent genomes and functions. Here we demonstrate how such a metric identifies species and regions of particular value for safeguarding evolutionary diversity.RESULTS:Among the world's 9,993 recognized bird species, evolutionary distinctness is very heterogeneously distributed on the phylogenetic tree and varies little with range size or threat level. Species representing the most evolutionary history over the smallest area (those with greatest "evolutionary distinctness rarity") as well as some of the most imperiled distinct species are often concentrated outside the species-rich regions and countries, suggesting they may not be well captured by current conservation planning. We perform global cross-species and spatial analyses and generate minimum conservation sets to assess the benefits of the presented species-level metrics. We find that prioritizing imperiled species by their evolutionary distinctness and geographic rarity is a surprisingly effective and spatially economical way to maintain the total evolutionary information encompassing the world's birds. We identify potential conservation gaps in relation to the existing reserve network that in particular highlight islands as effective priority areas.CONCLUSIONS:The presented distinctness metrics are effective yet easily communicable and versatile tools to assist objective global conservation decision making. Given that most species will remain ecologically understudied, combining growing phylogenetic and spatial data may be an efficient way to retain vital aspects of biodiversity.Copyright © 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
| PMID: 24726155 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] | |
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| 15. | Front Zool. 2014 Apr 12;11(1):33. doi: 10.1186/1742-9994-11-33.New developmental evidence supports a homeotic frameshift of digit identity in the evolution of the bird wing.Salinas-Saavedra M, Gonzalez-Cabrera C, Ossa-Fuentes L, Botelho JF, Ruiz-Flores M, Vargas AO1.Author information:1Laboratorio de Ontogenia y Filogenia, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa, Santiago, Chile. thearchosaur@gmail.com. AbstractBACKGROUND:The homology of the digits in the bird wing is a high-profile controversy in developmental and evolutionary biology. The embryonic position of the digits cartilages with respect to the primary axis (ulnare and ulna) corresponds to 2, 3, 4, but comparative-evolutionary morphology supports 1, 2, 3. A homeotic frameshift of digit identity in evolution could explain how cells in embryonic positions 2, 3, 4 began developing morphologies 1, 2, 3. Another alternative is that no re-patterning of cell fates occurred, and the primary axis shifted its position by some other mechanism. In the wing, only the anterior digit lacks expression of HoxD10 and HoxD12, resembling digit 1 of other limbs, as predicted by 1, 2, 3. However, upon loss of digit 1 in evolution, the most anterior digit 2 could have lost their expression, deceitfully resembling a digit 1. To test this notion, we observed HoxD10 and HoxD12 in a limb where digit 2 is the most anterior digit: The rabbit foot. We also explored whether early inhibition of Shh signalling in the embryonic wing bud induces an experimental homeotic frameshift, or an experimental axis shift. We tested these hypotheses using DiI injections to study the fate of cells in these experimental wings.RESULTS:We found strong transcription of HoxD10 and HoxD12 was present in the most anterior digit 2 of the rabbit foot. Thus, we found no evidence to question the use of HoxD expression as support for 1, 2, 3. When Shh signalling in early wing buds is inhibited, our fate maps demonstrate that an experimental homeotic frameshift is induced.CONCLUSION:Along with comparative morphology, HoxD expression provides strong support for 1, 2, 3 identity of wing digits. As an explanation for the offset 2, 3, 4 embryological position, the homeotic frameshift hypothesis is consistent with known mechanisms of limb development, and further proven to be experimentally possible. In contrast, the underlying mechanisms and experimental plausibility of an axis shift remain unclear. |
| PMID: 24725625 [PubMed] | |
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