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33 results on '"González-Braojos, Sonia"'

13. Bacterial degradability of an intrafeather unmelanized ornament: A role for feather-degrading bacteria in sexual selection?

Author

Ruiz-De-Castañeda, Rafael, Burtt, E. H., González-Braojos, Sonia, and Moreno Klemming, Juan

Subjects
animal structures, Plumage ornament, Melanin, Pied flycatchers, food and beverages, White wing patch, Ficedula hypoleuca
Abstract

The impact of feather-degrading bacilli on feathers depends on the presence or absence of melanin. Invitro studies have demonstrated that unmelanized (white) feathers are more degradable by bacteria than melanized (dark) ones. However, no previous study has looked at the possible effect of feather-degrading bacilli on the occurrence of patterns of unmelanized patches on otherwise melanized feathers. The pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca Pallas, 1764 is a sexually dimorphic passerine with white wing bands consisting of unmelanized patches on dark flight feathers. These patches are considered to be a sexually selected trait in Ficedula flycatchers, especially in males, where the patches are more conspicuous (larger and possibly whiter) than in females. Using invitro tests of feather bacterial degradation, we compared the degradability of unmelanized and melanized areas of the same feather for 127 primaries collected from the same number of individuals in a population breeding in central Spain (58 males and 69 females). In addition, we also looked for sex differences in feather degradability. Based on honest signalling theory and on the fact that there is stronger sexual selection for males to signal feather quality than in females, we predicted that unmelanized areas should be more degradable by bacteria than melanized ones within the same feather, and that these unmelanized areas should also be more degradable in males than in females. We confirmed both predictions. Microstructural differences between cross-section dimensions of unmelanized and melanized barbs, but not differences in the density of barbs within unmelanized and melanized areas of feathers in males and females, could partly explain differences in degradability. This is the first study to show differences in bacterial degradability among markings on the same feather and among unmelanized feather patches between males and females as predicted by sexual selection theory., This study was funded by projects CGL2007-61251/BOS and CGL2010-19233-C03-02 to JM from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. SGB and RRC were supported by grants FPI-MEC and JAE-CSIC, respectively.

Published
2012

18. Assessing the Effects of Climate on Host-Parasite Interactions: A Comparative Study of European Birds and Their Parasites

Author

Møller, Anders Pape, primary, Merino, Santiago, additional, Soler, Juan José, additional, Antonov, Anton, additional, Badás, Elisa P., additional, Calero-Torralbo, Miguel A., additional, de Lope, Florentino, additional, Eeva, Tapio, additional, Figuerola, Jordi, additional, Flensted-Jensen, Einar, additional, Garamszegi, Laszlo Z., additional, González-Braojos, Sonia, additional, Gwinner, Helga, additional, Hanssen, Sveinn Are, additional, Heylen, Dieter, additional, Ilmonen, Petteri, additional, Klarborg, Kurt, additional, Korpimäki, Erkki, additional, Martínez, Javier, additional, Martínez-de la Puente, Josue, additional, Marzal, Alfonso, additional, Matthysen, Erik, additional, Matyjasiak, Piotr, additional, Molina-Morales, Mercedes, additional, Moreno, Juan, additional, Mousseau, Timothy A., additional, Nielsen, Jan Tøttrup, additional, Pap, Péter László, additional, Rivero-de Aguilar, Juan, additional, Shurulinkov, Peter, additional, Slagsvold, Tore, additional, Szép, Tibor, additional, Szöllősi, Eszter, additional, Török, Janos, additional, Vaclav, Radovan, additional, Valera, Francisco, additional, and Ziane, Nadia, additional

Published
2013
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22. A spring cold snap is followed by an extreme reproductive failure event in a mountain population of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca.

Author

Moreno, Juan, González-Braojos, Sonia, and Ruiz-de-Castañeda, Rafael

Abstract

CapsuleVery low and anomalous temperatures in early spring of 2010 were followed by the only massive reproductive failure event recorded in 24 years in a population of Pied FlycatchersFicedula hypoleucabreeding at 1200 m altitude in central Spain. AimTo estimate the effects of an extreme climatic event on reproductive success in a montane population of a long-distance migratory bird. MethodsWe compared nestling growth and mortality in nests of different brood sizes in the context of a brood manipulation experiment. ResultsTotal failure affected 36% of the broods and only 2.5 nestlings on average were raised to fledging age. Most mortality affected broods in the second week of nestling life. Fledglings attained very low values for mass and wing length compared with long-term averages. Subsequent local recruitment was the lowest for any cohort in 24 years. The typical date-dependent decrease in breeding success in the population was inverted. ConclusionBreeding success was markedly affected by a weather event happening one month before hatching and lasting only a few days. An increased frequency of extreme weather events as predicted by some climate change scenarios may dramatically affect insectivorous avian populations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Published
2015
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31. Is nestling growth affected by nest reuse and skin bacteria in Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca?

Author

GONZÁLEZ-BRAOJOS, Sonia, VELA, Ana I., RUIZ-DE-CASTAÑEDA, Rafael, BRIONES, Victor, CANTARERO, Alejandro, and MORENO, Juan

Abstract

The article discusses a study which examined the effect of nest reuse and skin bacteria on the growth of nestlings of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca. The authors observed that nestlings raised in reused nest-boxes were found to have higher loads of bacteria on their belly skin compared with those raised in new nests. They noted a lack of difference between nest types for nest materials and control inert objects. They concluded that nest bacterial communities affected wing length before fledging and may depress feather growth on nestlings.

Published
2012
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32. Sources of variation in enterococci and Enterobacteriaceae loads in nestlings of a hole-nesting passerine.

Author

González-Braojos, Sonia, Vela, Ana I., Ruiz-de-Castañeda, Rafael, Briones, Victor, and Moreno, Juan

Abstract

The article presents a study that examines the association of the common bacterial types such as enterococci and Enterobacteriaceae in the avian nestlings of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca in central Spain. It explores the method of the study that obtains faecal samples from 54 broods on day seven and 13 after hatching to detect and estimate bacterial abundance. It outlines the result of the study, which indicates the correlation of Enterobacteriaceae loads with the mean temperature on day seven, however, they have negative link on day 13. Moreover, it indicates that Enterobacteriaceae are more sensitive to seasonal changes and climatic variation that enterococci.

Published
2012

33. Plasma antioxidant capacity and oxidative damage in relation to male plumage ornamental traits in a montane Iberian Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca population.

Author

MORENO, Juan, VELANDO, Alberto, RUIZ-DE-CASTAÑEDA, Rafael, CANTARERO, Alejandro, GONZÁLEZ-BRAOJOS, Sonia, and REDONDO, Alberto

Abstract

The article presents a study on oxidative damage and plasma antioxidant capacity in relation to male plumage ornamental traits in a population of montane Iberian Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. The researchers performed the study in a montane deciduous oak forest at 1,200 meters elevation near Valsaín in central Spain. They also punctured a brachial vein at capture and collected blood in heparinized capillary tubes, which were stored in locked eppendorf tubes in an icebox until returning to the laboratory on the same day.

Published
2011
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