Birds最新文献

{"title":"Prescribed Fire Effects on Hummingbird Taxonomic and Functional Diversity in Pine–Oak Forests in West-Central Mexico","authors":"German Miguel Quijano-Chacón, Sarahy Contreras‐Martínez, Verónica Carolina Rosas‐Espinoza, Oscar Gilberto Cárdenas Hernández, María Faviola Castillo-Navarro","doi":"10.3390/birds6020019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds6020019","url":null,"abstract":"Prescribed fires are a management strategy involving the controlled application of fire to achieve specific ecological objectives. In the pine–oak forests in west-central Mexico, we conducted an experimental low-severity prescribed fire to assess its effects on hummingbird diversity. We hypothesized that low-severity prescribed fire would enhance both taxonomic and functional diversity by modifying understory vegetation structure and increasing floral resource availability. To test this, we performed point count censuses in both low-severity prescribed fire and fire-suppressed sites where wildfire had been excluded for over 40 years. Taxonomic diversity was assessed using Hill numbers to estimate true diversity across different abundance weights, while functional diversity was evaluated through indices such as functional richness, functional evenness, and functional divergence. Our results indicated that low-severity prescribed fires did not affect overall hummingbird diversity as both low-severity prescribed fire sites and fire-suppressed sites exhibited comparable species richness. However, sites with low-severity prescribed fire and concave summits showed a significantly higher abundance of common and highly abundant species. Notably, species richness did not align with functional richness, as the fire-suppressed site exhibited the highest functional diversity. These findings suggest that hummingbird community structure is influenced by a combination of fire history, topography, vegetation structure, and floral resource availability. We recommend maintaining a heterogeneous forest matrix, incorporating patches with fire suppression, and areas subjected to prescribed fires of varying severity. This multifaceted approach enhances both taxonomic and functional biodiversity, promoting habitat heterogeneity and ensuring the persistence of diverse hummingbird assemblages in fire-prone ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"6 2","pages":"19-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/6/2/19/pdf?version=1744383203","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147889929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arthropod Foraging in a Temperate Mountain Hummingbird Ensemble","authors":"Omar Maya-García, Elisa Maya‐Elizarrarás, Carlos Lara, Jorge E. Schondube","doi":"10.3390/birds5040052","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5040052","url":null,"abstract":"Arthropods are hummingbirds’ principal source of nitrogen, fatty acids, and micronutrients. Despite the nutritional importance of arthropods for hummingbirds, our understanding of the factors influencing their consumption and their relative role as an energy source remains limited. Here, we aimed to describe the use of arthropods by a hummingbird ensemble in a seasonal temperate mountain ecosystem in West Mexico during one annual cycle. We compared arthropod capture attempt rates among six different humming species. Also, we investigated the impact of seasonal variation in food availability on the arthropod capture attempt rates of the White-eared Hummingbird (Basilinna leucotis), the sole species observed foraging for arthropods in all seasons. We found that hummingbirds ingested arthropods from different orders (Araneae, Hemiptera, Psocoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera), with arthropod capture attempt rates varying wildly among species. The arthropod capture attempt rates of the White-eared Hummingbird showed a significant positive correlation with arthropod availability, peaking during the warm-dry season when floral nectar was scarce and arthropod availability was high. Our data show that arthropod ingestion is crucial for some hummingbird species, mainly when nectar availability is limited or absent in the environment.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"5 4","pages":"774-797"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2673-6004/5/4/52/pdf?version=1733359500","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147888699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Prevalence and Haematological Assessments of Avian Malaria in Wild Raptors of Thailand","authors":"S. Subaneg, Ratiwan Sitdhibutr, Pornchai Pornpanom, P. Lertwatcharasarakul, Raveewan Ploypan, Aksarapak Kiewpong, Benya Chatkaewchai, Nithima To-adithep, Chaiyan Kasorndorkbua","doi":"10.3390/birds5030029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5030029","url":null,"abstract":"Raptors (Accipitriformes, Falconiformes and Strigiformes) are important for ecological niches as bioindicators and an apex predator; however, their global populations have continuously decreased due to human activities, habitat loss and contagious diseases. Avian malaria that may cause the negative impact on raptors’ health may also contribute to the declining of raptor populations. This study reported malaria’s molecular prevalence and genetic diversity in wild-caught and rehabilitated raptors in the Kasetsart University Raptor Rehabilitation Unit. In total, 109 raptors from 18 provinces of Thailand were classified into two groups, which included 78 diurnal raptors (DIRs) in Accipitriformes and 31 nocturnal raptors (NORs) in Strigiformes. Each ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) blood sample (0.5–1 mL) was tested through haematological analyses and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection to assess parasites’ health impacts. Amplicons of PCR positive samples were analysed for a nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic relationships. The overall prevalence of avian malaria was low at 3.67% (4/109) (95% CI: 1.44–9.06%), with a prevalence of 3.86% (3/78) (95% CI: 1.32–10.70%) in DIRs and 3.23% (1/31) (95% CI: 1.32–10.70%) in NORs. Most of the infected samples were from southern Thailand. This suggested that the raptors in humid habitats are more vulnerable to the malarial infection, which was likely associated with vector and parasite abundance. Clinical appearances and haematological examinations demonstrated that raptors could tolerate the infection and only became asymptomatic and subclinically infected. This study is the first report of the infection of avian malaria in Cinerous Vulture, Himalayan Vulture and Barred Eagle Owl in Thailand, providing baseline information in preparedness for the disease diagnostic and further study of avian malaria in some endangered raptor species.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"67 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141922580","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Effects of Disturbance Intensity on Tropical Forest Bird Communities and Vegetation Structure after Two Decades of Recovery","authors":"Alex Glass, Nico Arcilla","doi":"10.3390/birds5030026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5030026","url":null,"abstract":"As tropical forests are frequently impacted by human disturbance, forests in various stages of disturbance recovery are increasingly important for maintaining biodiversity. However, much remains unclear regarding the impacts of prior disturbance intensity on wildlife in regenerating forests. Here, we used mist net capture data to compare bird communities in three tropical forest habitats representing various disturbance intensities: undisturbed primary forest, selectively logged forest (low disturbance), and secondary forest regenerating on abandoned agricultural fields (high disturbance). We found that after a 19-year recovery period, low-disturbance sites contained similar bird communities to undisturbed sites. High-disturbance sites, however, had lower species richness and distinct bird communities, with fewer insectivores and more nectarivores than other sites. Structural equation models revealed that the impacts of disturbance intensity on bird communities were partially explained by changes in vegetation structure: ant-following insectivore abundance declined with disturbance intensity as ground cover vegetation increased, and nectarivore abundance increased with disturbance intensity as tree density decreased. Our results suggest that selectively logged forests can regain pre-disturbance bird diversity and vegetation structure within two decades, provided that they are protected from further disturbance and located near source species pools. Increasing tree density and decreasing ground-level vegetation in secondary forests may improve these areas as habitats for forest-interior birds.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"18 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141804199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DNA Prevalence of Eukaryotic Parasites with Zoonotic Potential in Urban-Associated Birds","authors":"X. Cabodevilla, Juan E. Malo, Daniel Aguirre de Cárcer, J. Zurdo, Rubén Chaboy-Cansado, Alberto Rastrojo, J. Traba","doi":"10.3390/birds5030025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5030025","url":null,"abstract":"Synanthropic birds might play an important role as reservoirs of many zoonotic endoparasites; however, little information is available on many parasites and their prevalence. Here, we use an approach based on targeted metagenomic detection through the use of DNA metabarcoding of faecal samples to screen for circulating parasites in alien parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus and Psittacula krameri) and urban landfill-feeding storks (Ciconia ciconia) and gulls (Larus fuscus). We focus especially on potentially zoonotic parasites, with the aim of better understanding the zoonotic risk that these birds’ faeces may pose. We detected a total of 23 genera of eukaryotic parasites: six fungi, three protists, five nematodes, two cestodes and seven trematodes. Among them, six stood out for their relevance to human health: Cryptococcus spp., Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. (fungi); Cryptosporidium spp. (a protist); and Ascaris spp. and Halicephalobus spp. (nematodes). In parakeets, we detected Cryptococcus spp. and Ascaris spp., the latter being detected in 10–20% of the samples. In the White Stork and the Lesser Black-backed Gull, we found a high prevalence of Aspergillus spp. (in 15% and 50% of the samples, respectively) and Candida spp. (in 63% and 82% of the samples, respectively), and the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in 10% of the samples. We detected Halicephalobus spp. in one gull sample (2%). Our results show that synanthropic birds may act as vectors and reservoirs of zoonotic parasites and their faeces could pose a risk to human health associated with the zoonotic parasites present in them. This should be taken into account when developing management plans for urban populations of these bird species.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141809003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Mountain Hikers’ Wildlife Value Orientations and Disturbance of Birds of Prey: A Case Study from Norway","authors":"Yosra Zouhar, Ø. Aas, Hilde Nikoline Hambro Dybsand","doi":"10.3390/birds5030024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5030024","url":null,"abstract":"Wildlife value orientations (WVOs) are useful for gaining knowledge about how humans’ relationship to nature, wildlife, and management differs between groups in society. Our study investigated the level of acceptance for the implementation of measures to avoid the disturbance of golden eagles among hikers with different WVOs. Our results indicated differences between WVO typologies regarding how they assessed the consequences of outdoor recreation on nature and wildlife, as well as measures to manage human traffic. These findings contributed to confirming our hypotheses that peoples’ WVOs have an impact on how people assess wildlife and the natural environment, and that WVOs affect the acceptance of management measures. This study concluded that identifying and studying visitors’ WVOs contributes to understanding the underlying dimensions that influence peoples’ attitudes and behavior. WVOs has not been studied in a Norwegian context previously, and this study contributes new knowledge that is useful for managing human–wildlife relations in more sustainable ways.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"116 15","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141811908","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Artificial Light at Night Increases Growth and Impairs Reproductive Success in Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) in a Duration Dose-Dependent Manner","authors":"Malek Itay, Abraham Haim","doi":"10.3390/birds5030023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5030023","url":null,"abstract":"Short-wavelength artificial light at night is increasingly being associated with health and ecological risks. The negative impact of this relatively new source of pollution has been studied intensively in wild birds but to a much lesser extent in captive conspecifics. Using an avian model, our objective was to evaluate the effects of short-wavelength (200 lux at 460 nm) lighting on the body mass and reproductive success of Budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) under captive conditions. Birds were maintained under a naturally increasing photoperiod from March to June, with one daily artificial light at night exposure of increasing duration (0, 30, 60, and 90 min) in the middle of the dark period. During the experiments, birds were monitored monthly for body mass, number of eggs laid, hatching success, and melatonin sulfate levels in droppings. Artificial light at night increased body mass and decreased melatonin sulfate levels as well as the number of eggs and hatching success in a duration dose-dependent manner. Our findings provide further evidence of the potential adverse impact of artificial light at night on captive birds and advocate the need for effective controlling measures for light pollution.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"54 19","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141654434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Worldwide Review of Snowy Owl Feeding Ecology: The Importance of Lemmings and Voles in a Changing Climate","authors":"D. Holt, Matthew D. Larson, M. Seidensticker, Stephen P. Hiro","doi":"10.3390/birds5030022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5030022","url":null,"abstract":"We compared Snowy Owl feeding ecology from 15 breeding season studies throughout Nearctic and Palearctic circumpolar regions. We used raw data and information theory to assess the owls’ feeding niche. Combined studies yielded 59,923 prey items, of which 59,585 were used for calculations. Overall, mean food niche breadth (FNB) was narrow: H′ = 1.95; R = 1.60, D = 0.526. In 10 of 15 studies, lemmings were > 71.8% of the owls’ diet. In four studies, Lemmus was > 90% of the diet, and in three studies Dicrostonyx was >90% of the diet. In three other studies, Lemmus represented 71.8%, 73.8%, and 84.0% of the diet. In one study, Lemmus and Dicrostonyx were about equal: 49.1% and 47.5%. In the four remaining studies, Microtus and Clethrionomys voles were important. In contrast, of 5888 winter prey items from seven North American studies, the mean FNB (H′ = 4.61) was twice that of 15 breeding season scores, FNB (H’ = 1.95). The Snowy Owl is primarily an obligate lemming predator for breeding. Changes to population ecology and distribution of lemmings due to climate change will have direct affects and effects on the Snowy Owls’ reproductive output. The conservation of Snowy Owls is the conservation of lemmings.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"114 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141666701","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nest Design and Breeding Success: Replicability of Methodologies and Research Findings in Secondary Hole Nesting Passerines","authors":"Marcel M. Lambrechts, D. C. Deeming","doi":"10.3390/birds5020019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5020019","url":null,"abstract":"More than 40 hypotheses predict associations between features of nest architecture and at least one measure of reproductive success. However, quantitative studies of reproductive consequences of nest characteristics remain scarce. In addition, most studies were conducted on model species of which nests can be easily monitored with artificial nest-boxes. Here, we review the replicability of research protocols and findings in model species, with many repeat studies focusing mainly on nest-size components, animal-derived nest material, or fresh greenery in model species of secondary hole-nesting birds: Blue Tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), Great Tits (Parus major), Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor), and Starlings (Sturnus spp.). The studies looked for correlations between nest traits and aspects of breeding performance that can be easily quantified in the field, such as clutch size, brood size at hatching or fledging, the percentage of eggs that hatch or fledge, or nestling characteristics assumed to reflect qualities associated with survival probabilities (e.g., morphometry, body condition, blood profiles). We discuss the consequences of poor replicability of research methodologies and provide explanations for why many of these studies reported poor associations between nest design and breeding success at different spatiotemporal scales. We also make suggestions for future research.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":"94 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141352719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bird Species Knowledge and Its Antecedents in US High School Students—A Case Study from Michigan","authors":"Robin Egger, Talia Härtel, Christoph Randler","doi":"10.3390/birds5020018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/birds5020018","url":null,"abstract":"Bird identification is a necessary skill for citizen science projects, and teaching and learning about species is essential to halt the decline in biodiversity. Here, we investigated bird species knowledge in a case study of Michigan high school students using an online survey. Participants were asked to identify 21 common species, covering a wide range of orders and families. On average, high school students achieved a correct identification score of 35%. The most well-known species were the American Robin, Blue Jay, Cardinal and Turkey Vulture. We found no difference between boys and girls, but identification scores declined with increasing age. Interest was an important predictor of identification knowledge, as were activities (field trips, outings) both in and out of class. Among species traits, high knowledge of a species was positively related to the number of eBird entries (as a proxy for year-round population size), body mass (heavier species were better known) and internet presence. We suggest expanding this study to other states, and we encourage educators and teachers to improve bird knowledge through birding field trips.","PeriodicalId":513172,"journal":{"name":"Birds","volume":" 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141374127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}