Condor最新文献

{"title":"African sunbirds predominantly pollinate plants useful to humans","authors":"W. Newmark, V. Mkongewa, Debra L Amundsen, Chad Welch","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz070","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz070","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Birds provide multiple ecological services that benefit humans including pollination. In Africa, sunbirds are the dominant vertebrate pollinator. Here we present a species-level assessment for African sunbirds of the number and relative frequency of their food plants that have useful properties to humans. We conducted this analysis by compiling and integrating known sunbird food plants with useful tropical plant and tropical cultivated plant databases. Across Africa, 68% of the 329 genera and 44% of the 468 species of sunbirds′ known food plants are used by humans for medicine, food, building materials, or other uses. Yet most genera and species of useful plants are visited by a small number of sunbird species. The median number of sunbird species that visit a useful genus and species of plant is two and one, respectively. Of the 409 genera and 308 species of useful plants that are sunbird pollinated across one or more of the six predominant habitats for sunbirds, 67% of genera and 71% of species are pollinated by sunbird species that are forest or woodland dependent. Additionally, 58% of all genera and 83% of all species of useful plants pollinated by sunbirds are non-cultivated. In Africa, non-cultivated sunbird-pollinated useful plants are almost entirely collected, used, and traded locally rather than regionally or internationally. Our results indicate that African sunbirds provide important ecological services as pollinators that benefit humans, and these services are provided largely at a local scale. Given the decline of invertebrate and vertebrate pollinators both globally and in Africa, sunbirds are important to the long-term conservation of many useful plants in Africa and hence human well-being.","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duz070","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41797256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mountain Plover habitat selection and nest survival in relation to weather variability and spatial attributes of black-tailed prairie dog disturbance","authors":"Courtney J. Duchardt, Jeffrey L. Beck, D. Augustine","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz059","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz059","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Habitat loss and altered disturbance regimes have led to declines in many species of grassland and sagebrush birds, including the imperiled Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus). In certain parts of their range Mountain Plovers rely almost exclusively on black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies as nesting habitat. Previous studies have examined Mountain Plover nest and brood survival on prairie dog colonies, but little is known about how colony size and shape influence these vital rates or patterns of habitat selection. We examined how (1) adult habitat utilization, (2) nest-site selection, and (3) nest success responded to a suite of local- and site-level variables on large prairie dog colony complexes in northeastern Wyoming. Abundance of adult Mountain Plovers was highest on points within older, “medium”-sized (100–500 ha) colonies with high cover of annual forbs and bare ground (5.8 birds km–2), but lower on extremely large (>2,000 ha) colonies (2.1 birds km–2). Nest sites were characterized by high proportions of annual forbs and bare ground and low cactus cover and vegetation height. Nest survival was higher for older nests, and nests with lower cactus cover, and decreased with increasing temperatures. Uncertainty was high for models of daily nest survival, potentially because of 2 competing sources of nest failure: nest depredation and nest abandonment or inviability of eggs. Drivers of these 2 sources of nest failure differed, with inclement weather and higher temperatures associated with nest abandonment or egg inviability. We highlight how prairie dogs alter vegetation structure and bare ground heterogeneously across the landscape, and how this in turn influences bird abundance and nest distribution at different temporal and spatial scales. Furthermore, our work reveals how partitioning the causes of nest failure during nest survival analyses enhances understanding of survival rate covariates.","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duz059","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49279182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Population Ecology and Conservation of Charadrius Plovers","authors":"T. Székely","doi":"10.1093/condor/duaa010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duaa010","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duaa010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46041718","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Feather mercury increases with feeding at higher trophic levels in two species of migrant raptors, Merlin (<i>Falco columbarius</i>) and Sharp-shinned Hawk (<i>Accipiter striatus</i>).","authors":"Edward R Keyel, Matthew A Etterson, Gerald J Niemi, David C Evers, Christopher R DeSorbo, Joel C Hoffman, John W Nichols, Yang Li, Frank Nicoletti","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz069","DOIUrl":"10.1093/condor/duz069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mercury (Hg) is a toxic heavy metal that, when methylated to form methylmercury (MeHg), bioaccumulates in exposed animals and biomagnifies through food webs. The purpose of this study was to assess Hg concentrations in raptors migrating through the upper midwestern USA. From 2009 to 2012, 966 raptors of 11 species were captured at Hawk Ridge, Duluth, Minnesota, USA. Breast feathers were sampled to determine the concentration of total Hg. Mean Hg concentrations ranged from 0.11 to 3.46 μg g^-1 fresh weight across species and were generally higher in raptors that feed on birds in comparison with those that feed on mammals. To evaluate the effect of dietary sources on Hg biomagnification, carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios were measured in feathers of the 2 species with the highest Hg concentrations, Merlin (<i>Falco columbarius</i>) and Sharp-shinned Hawk (<i>Accipiter striatus</i>). Measured δ ¹³C values were similar in both species and indicated a primarily terrestrial-derived diet, whereas δ ¹⁵N values suggested that individual Merlin and Sharp-shinned Hawk feeding at higher trophic levels accumulated higher concentrations of Hg. The risk to birds associated with measured levels of feather Hg was evaluated by calculating blood-equivalent values using an established algorithm. Predicted blood values were then compared to heuristic risk categories synthesized across avian orders. This analysis suggested that while some Merlin and Sharp-shinned Hawk were at moderate risk to adverse effects of MeHg, most of the sampled birds were at negligible or low risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2020-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11363152/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44125970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pinniped predation of birds: A cause for conservation concern?","authors":"George J. F. Swan, Eduardo A. Silva‐Rodríguez, L. Osman, E. Jaramillo","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz068","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Recovering predators can create challenges for conservation objectives when they prey on vulnerable species. Although largely uncommon, pinniped predation of birds presents one such challenge. Here, we describe the novel characteristics of this predator–prey interaction, its impact on bird populations, and possible mitigation responses. We do so both broadly, synthesizing the wider literature, and specifically, in reference to ongoing South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens) predation of Black-necked Swans (Cygnus melancoryphus) we are currently observing in southern Chile. Our review of the literature suggests that in most cases bird predation by pinnipeds is only exhibited by a small proportion of the population, spreads socially between individuals, can be temporally severe, and may rapidly threaten the viability of bird populations. We discuss feasibility and efficacy of potential mitigation measures highlighting that, as foraging specializations can be socially transmitted, any such actions need to be time conscious as bird-killing behaviors may be increasingly difficult to remove. The contrasting population trends of pinnipeds and seabirds suggests that pinniped predation of vulnerable waterbirds is going to be an increasingly common conservation challenge in the future.","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duz068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46296781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) fledglings use crop habitat more frequently in relation to its availability than pasture and other habitat types","authors":"Chloe K. Boynton, N. Mahony, T. Williams","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz067","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz067","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Populations of birds that forage on aerial insects have been declining across North America for several decades, but the main causes of and reasons for geographical variation in these declines remains unclear. We examined the habitat use and survival of post-fledging Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, using VHF radio telemetry. We predicted that fledgling Barn Swallows hatched in higher-quality natal habitat (pasture) would fledge at higher quality, stay closest to the nest, disproportionately use higher-quality habitat during the post-fledge stage, and have higher survival rates in the region. Contrary to our predictions, we found that natal habitat (crop, pasture, or non-agriculture) had no effect on fledgling quality or movement distance. Barn Swallow fledglings used crop habitat more frequently in relation to its availability than other habitat types, including pasture. Barn Swallows had low post-fledging survival rates (0.44; 95% CI: 0.35–0.57), which could negatively influence the population trend of the species in this region. While natal habitat had only minor effects, crop habitat appears to be important for fledgling Barn Swallows and, therefore, a decline in this habitat type could have further negative implications for an already declining species.","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duz067","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42418758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Birds of Indiana","authors":"K. Islam","doi":"10.1093/condor/duaa001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duaa001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duaa001","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49447911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reproductive success of the threatened San Clemente Bell's Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli clementeae) in recovering habitats is similar to success in historical habitat","authors":"Susan T. Meiman, Emma E. Deleon, A. Bridges","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz071","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz071","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The San Clemente Bell′s Sparrow (Artemisiospiza belli clementeae) is a federally threatened subspecies endemic to San Clemente Island, California. Previous research suggested dependence on boxthorn (Lycium californicum) as breeding habitat and nesting substrate; however, this conclusion was based on data collected when introduced feral ungulates had severely degraded the soil and vegetation cover. Since removal of the ungulates, native vegetation has gradually increased and the San Clemente Bell′s Sparrows have expanded into areas where habitat had been unsuitable. To explore how Bell′s Sparrows use these areas, we examined reproductive metrics associated with habitat covariates gathered at 214 nest sites used by Bell′s Sparrows from 2014 to 2016. We found that nest success in boxthorn habitat, previously considered an essential habitat for Bell′s Sparrow nesting, was similar to success in alternative habitat types. Our findings contradict previous conclusions that Bell′s Sparrows were boxthorn-dependent. We believe this previously documented relationship was likely due to the lack of available alternative nesting habitat following years of feral ungulate degradation, and Bell′s Sparrows now reproduce in multiple habitat types and throughout most of San Clemente Island. Furthermore, our findings illustrate the importance of long-term monitoring and corresponding adaptive management when monitoring species in changing and recovering landscapes.","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duz071","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45541081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low renesting propensity and reproductive success make renesting unproductive for the threatened Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)","authors":"Rose J. Swift, Michael J. Anteau, Megan M. Ring, Dustin L. Toy, M. Sherfy","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz066","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Upon reproductive failure, many bird species make a secondary attempt at nesting (hereafter, ″renesting”). Renesting may be an effective strategy to maximize current and lifetime reproductive success, but individuals face uncertainty in the probability of success because reproductive attempts initiated later in the breeding season often have reduced nest, pre-fledging, and post-fledging brood survival. We evaluated renesting propensity, renesting intervals, and renest reproductive success of Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) by following 1,922 nests and 1,785 unique breeding adults from 2014 to 2016 in the Northern Great Plains of the United States. The apparent renesting rate for individuals was 25% for reproductive attempts that failed in the nest stage (egg laying and incubation) and only 1.2% for reproductive attempts when broods were lost. Renesting propensity declined if reproductive attempts failed during the brood-rearing stage, nests were depredated, reproductive failure occurred later in the breeding season, or individuals had previously renested that year. Additionally, plovers that nested on reservoirs were less likely to renest compared to other habitats. Renesting intervals declined when individuals had not already renested, were after-second-year adults without known prior breeding experience, and moved short distances between nest attempts. Renesting intervals also decreased if the attempt failed later in the season. Overall, reproductive success and daily nest survival were lower for renests than first nests throughout the breeding season. Furthermore, renests on reservoirs had reduced apparent reproductive success and daily nest survival unless the predicted amount of habitat on reservoirs increased within the breeding season. Our results provide important demographic measures for this threatened species and suggest that predation- and water-management strategies that maximize success of early nests would be more likely to increase productivity. Altogether, renesting appears to be an unproductive reproductive strategy to replace lost reproductive attempts for Piping Plovers breeding in the Northern Great Plains.","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duz066","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43851923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat transformation and climate change: Implications for the distribution, population status, and colony extinction of Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) in southern Africa","authors":"R. Colyn, C. L. Henderson, R. Altwegg, H. Smit-Robinson","doi":"10.1093/condor/duz064","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/duz064","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Habitat transformation and loss is one of the greatest threats currently facing avian species. The cumulative impact of climate change on habitat loss is projected to produce disproportionate risk for endemic high-altitude species. The Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) is an endemic high-altitude species found throughout highland grassland habitats in South Africa and Lesotho. The historical distribution has contracted notably and causal factors remain ambiguous. Furthermore, the historical population (1950–1970) was believed to be stable, but recent local surveys suggest colony declines and the current global population status remains largely unquantified. We assessed the current distribution and population status of the species through predictive modeling and trends in historical and recent colony counts across the species' range. We examined climate and habitat change as potential causal factors contributing to the historical contraction in distribution, and projected the potential impact of future climate change predicted by global circulation models. Our study confirms that Southern Bald Ibis are of conservation concern. The loss of grasslands to expanding woody vegetation through bush encroachment was the most detrimental habitat transformation type associated with decreased colony growth and colony collapse. We recommend maintaining a minimum threshold of 50% or greater intact grassland habitat surrounding colonies to reduce colony extinction risk and promote colony persistence.","PeriodicalId":50624,"journal":{"name":"Condor","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2020-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://sci-hub-pdf.com/10.1093/condor/duz064","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44173473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}