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We combined data from two independent Danish citizen science time‐series to describe changes in (1) abundance and (2) distribution of 12 wintering populations of geese and swans and tested the hypothesis that increases in national abundance since 2003 correlated with an expansion into formerly unoccupied winter farmland habitat. Five populations showed significant increases in national abundance, two declined and the remainder showed no significant trend over the same period; nine populations (including the five nationally increasing and two nationally declining) showed significantly positive correlations between annual abundance and distribution range size, including one stable population and one showing only local expansion. These results support our prediction that the five key increasing goose and swan populations benefiting from farmland exploitation are showing the greatest correlation between changes in abundance and wintering range in Denmark. This implies that continued growth in abundance in these populations will lead to continued expansion in their ranges, which will not only increase the potential for agricultural conflict with increasing abundance, but importantly also the geographical extent of such conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the lowering of the water level in the Caspian Sea in 2020-2024 on the main wintering places of the Anatidae family included in the Red Book (2023) on the south-western coast of the Caspian Sea was studied. 10 migratory-wintering species from the Anatidae family on the south-western coast of the Caspian Sea have been included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan (Branta ruficollis, Anser erythropus, Cygnus olor, Cygnus bewickii, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Aythya ferina, Aythya nyroca, Clangula hyemalis, Melanitta fusca, Oxyura leucocephala). A sedentary population of one of these species, Aythya, also inhabits the area. These wintering species migrate from Northern and Central Europe, Russia and Northern Kazakhstan. The lowering of the water level on the southwestern coast of the Caspian Sea has led to a decrease in the area of the main wintering places of these birds and has led to a change in their trophic and biotope relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shorter duration of ice‐free conditions at successively northern latitudes increasingly constrains large‐bodied waterbirds from completing their reproductive cycle before freeze‐up, affecting their migration and breeding schedules. We compared migration timing and duration of stay in summering areas between 127 tracked East Asian Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus breeding at high latitude (HLP, 67°N, Japan wintering) and mid‐latitude (MLP, 48°N, China wintering) based on tracking and remote‐sensing data. Adult breeding site arrival dates were positively correlated with latitude. HLP adults arrived just before 50% snow melt, and summered for 142 days (the duration of the ice‐free period there), just over the c.130 days required to hatch and raise cygnets to fledging. MLP adults arrived 3 weeks after 50% snow melt, and summered for c.209 days (c.80% of the total ice‐free period of 267 days), laying eggs c.33 days after arrival. These results suggest that HLP breeders were more likely to invest stored nutrients and energy brought from winter quarters and/or on migration to enable rapid egg‐laying post‐arrival at the breeding grounds (a more 'capital' breeding strategy). By contrast, MLP females appear able to obtain most, if not all, of their energetic and nutritional reproductive needs exogenously post‐arrival at breeding areas (a more 'income' breeding strategy). HLP individuals left the breeding grounds before MLP, but all departed before freeze‐up. Migration duration did not differ between the two groups, so differential summer residency times affected duration on wintering areas. We recommend follow‐up investigations of the relative degree of capital/income investment among birds from both groups and their effects on their respective demographics, population dynamics and growth rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018-2024, the effect of the lowering of the water level in the Caspian Sea on the wintering behavior of the migratory-wintering species from the order of Anseriformes included in the 3rd edition of the Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2023) was studied in the Gizilaghaj Bay which is one of the largest wintering places of the birds in Eurasia. 10 migratory-wintering species (Branta ruficollis, Anser erythropus, Cygnus olor, Cygnus bewickii, Marmaronetta angustirostris, Aythya ferina, Aythya nyroca, Clangula hyemalis, Melanitta fusca, Oxyura leucocephala) from the Anseriformes order were included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. 9 of them are the migratory-wintering species. Only Aythya nyroca has a migratory-wintering population as well as a sedentary one. The migratory-wintering species included in the Red Book come to the research area from the Northern European countries, Russia and the North of Kazakhstan. The lowering of the water level in the Caspian Sea caused a change in the wintering behavior of the migratory-wintering species in the Gizilaghaj Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aimed to detect the existence of barley-specific Nikita and Sukkula retrotransposons in domestic geese samples and to evaluate the evolutionary relationships between these and other transposons belonging to the family Anatidae. Inter-retrotransposon-amplified polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (IRAP-PCR) method was performed for these retrotransposons movements in three diverse domestic goose populations (Chinese × Embden crossbred, Turkish White, and Turkish Multicolor). Polymorphism ratios were between 0 and 33% in all samples for Nikita and 0–73% in all samples for Sukkula. In addition, intrapopulation genetic polymorphism rates were also 0–15% in Chinese × Embden crossbred, 0–25% in Turkish White, 0–25% in Turkish Multicolor for Nikita; while 0–27% in Chinese × Embden, and 0–50% in Turkish Multicolor for Sukkula. There was no polymorphism for Sukkula among Turkish White samples. Moreover, the neighbour-joining method was used for phylogenetic tree construction using 38 sequences of different ducks, geese, and swans. In silico analyses supported the transitions of retrotransposons in the family Anatidae. It is concluded that transposon mobility among the phylogenetically distant species may lead to understanding evolutionary relationships. This report is one of the first studies investigating retrotransposon movements in domestic geese, revealing a new perspective on the goose genome regarding mobile genetic elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The warming climate is giving migratory birds new opportunities to extend their breeding ranges. These expansions may have a significant impact on other local bird communities. Here, we investigate the nest site selection of Mute Swan Cygnus olor, and the expanding Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus. The study aims to assess the differences in habitat use by these two swan species in a lowland anthropogenic landscape. It examines the number of breeding pairs and the surface areas of nesting zones in different habitat types. The field procedures involved the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to survey and locate nests, with geotagged photographs taken to map nest locations. Our results show that Mute Swans primarily occupy oxbows, while Whooper Swans predominantly nest in pond complexes. Moreover, GLM models indicate that Mute Swans tend to choose open areas within a radius of 200 m around the nests, whereas Whooper Swans avoid built-up areas, often choosing forested sites within a radius of 500 m of their nests. These findings suggest that the expansion of the Whooper Swan population has led to changes in the breeding behaviour and habitat use of sympatric Mute Swan populations. The territorial behaviour and aggression of Whooper Swan may be driving Mute Swan away from fishpond habitats. We conclude that interactions between the two swan species are dynamic and have not yet stabilized, so this is an issue that needs to be closely monitored. Understanding these dynamics is essential for the effective conservation and management of wetland habitats in the face of ongoing climate change and shifting breeding ranges of birds. Species range shifts: climate change causes shifts in bird breeding ranges, impacting species interactions. The expanding Whooper Swan's competition with Mute Swan exemplifies this process. Selection of new habitat types: as it expands, the Whooper Swan competes with the Mute Swan for attractive breeding habitat. Differences in habitat choice: Whooper Swan most frequently chooses fishponds surrounded by forests, whereas Mute Swan nests within more open area, closer to human settlements, frequently on oxbows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of a migratory bird species' movements and winter fidelity provides insights to various population and genetic parameters that may support conservation efforts. Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) were reintroduced into the Nebraska Sandhills beginning in the 1960s but knowledge of the ecology of these birds is limited. We examined the winter movements, home range, and fidelity of swans in the Nebraska Sandhills, 2014–2020. We captured and fitted solar-powered GPS transmitters via neck collars to swans during the summer molting period. We used movement patterns and weather data to define timing of transitions from breeding and post-breeding areas to wintering areas. The research findings showed that only one swan made a long-distance movement out of Nebraska during the winter. Mean distance (±SD) moved from breeding or post-breeding areas to their initial wintering complex was 53.4 (±52.7) km. Swans spent most (77.2%) of their time on one wintering complex and 75% of their time at one wintering site. Swans used an average of 2.7 different wintering complexes and moved among complexes 6.4 (±3.6) times. Swans in our sample used an average of 1.5 wintering sites within complexes and moved 3.1 (±3.6) times among wintering sites. Swan fidelity (proportion returning) to wintering complexes was 0.72 and to wintering sites was 0.69. Return rate to their primary wintering complex and site was 100%. Fidelity rates to wintering complexes of swans with cygnets at time of capture and those without were 0.79 and 0.55, respectively. Swan movements in the Nebraska Sandhills indicate that they are willing to move among areas but tend to show fidelity to wintering areas. Changes in wintering habitat may alter patterns of fidelity, but swans may be able to adapt and move to alternative areas. Rivers, creeks, and other areas are important to wintering swans breeding in the Nebraska Sandhills and contribute to the sustainable conservation of swans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immature black swans are hardly identified by morphological characteristics. However, concise sex identification at the stage of initial growth is very important to conserve and increase their population. Here, sex of black swans was identified by using CHD genes from DNA of eggshell membranes and feathers. DNA sample was extracted using a phenol : chloroform : isoamyl alcohol (PCIA) method. Following PCR and electrophoresis, two bands were observed for females, while only one band was detected for males. It was worthy of note that two experiment results of eggshell membrane and feathers were exactly same and that accounted for possibility to identify sex in the immature, even at the first day of hatching. According to sequencing of CHD genes, the length of CHD-Z was 443 bp, while the length of CHD-W was 362 bp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat selection has been a central focus of animal ecology, with research primarily concentrating on habitat choice, utilization, and evaluation. However, studies confined to a single scale often fail to reveal the habitat selection needs of animals fully and accurately. This paper investigates the wintering whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) in Manas National Wetland Park, Xinjiang, using satellite tracking to determine their locations. The Maximum Entropy model (MaxEnt) was applied to explore the multi-scales habitat selection needs of Manas National Wetland Park's wintering whooper swans across nighttime, daytime, and landscape scales. This study showed that the habitat selection of the wintering whooper swans varied in different scales. At the landscape scale, wintering whooper swans prefer habitats with average winter precipitations of 6.9 mm and average temperatures of −6 °C, including water bodies and wetlands, indicating that climate (precipitation and temperature) and land type (wetlands and water bodies) influence their winter habitat selection. During daytime, whooper swans prefer areas close to wetlands, water bodies, and bare land, with a more dispersed distribution of water bodies. For nighttime, they tend to choose areas within the wetland park where human disturbance is minimal and safety is higher. This study can provide scientific basis and data support for habitat conservation and management of wintering waterbirds like whooper swans, recommending targeted conservation measures to effectively manage and protect the wintering grounds of whooper swans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the problem of chemical pollution and the need for innovative and exponential approaches to address it. It highlights the interconnectedness of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, and emphasizes the importance of finding solutions to each issue. The authors propose two approaches: the concept of "Green Swans," which refers to desirable solutions that are resilient and regenerative, and application-oriented approaches to scientific roadmapping, which focus on generating solution strategies and tools for decision-making. The article concludes by calling on environmental scientists to contribute to the development and operationalization of Green Swan ideas to counter chemical pollution. [Extracted from the article]

Examination of museum collections revealed the presence of two species of Gastrotaenia Wolffhügel, 1938 (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae) in Australian anatid birds. Gastrotaenia dogieli (Ginetsinskaya, 1944) was found in the gizzard of the following species of Australian ducks from New South Wales: Anas castanea (Eyton), Anas rhynchotis Latham, Anas gracilis Buller, Aythya australis (Eyton), Chenonetta jubata (Latham) and Malacorhynchus membranaceus (Latham). Gastrotaenia cf. paracygni Czapliński & Ryžikov, 1966 was found in the proventriculus of black swans (Cygnus atratus (Latham)) from New South Wales and Victoria. The two species are reported for the first time from Australia. Specimens of Gastrotaenia without scoleces, and therefore not identifiable to species, were present in Anas superciliosa Gmelin and Biziura lobata (Shaw). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many aquatic and semiaquatic mammal, amphibian and fish species, environmental DNA (eDNA) methods are employed to detect species distribution and to monitor their presence, but eDNA is much less employed for avian species. Here, we developed primers for the detection of true geese and swan species using eDNA and optimised a PCR protocol for eDNA. We selected taiga bean goose (Anser fabalis fabalis) as our focal (sub)species and sampled water from lakes, from which the presence of taiga bean goose was visually confirmed. To test, if taiga bean goose DNA could be detected among DNA of other goose species, we similarly sampled eDNA from a zoo pond housing several Anatidae species. We were able to detect taiga bean goose DNA in all but one of the tested lakes, including the zoo pond. The primers developed are not species‐specific, but rather specific to the genus Anser, due to the close relatedness of Anser species, which prevented the development of species‐specific primers and the use of, for example, quantitative PCR. We also developed eDNA primers for Branta species and Cygnus species and tested these primers using the same samples. Canada goose (B. canadensis) and barnacle goose (B. leucopsis) DNA were only detected in the zoo pond (in which they were present), as the sampled natural lakes fall outside the range of these species. We detected whooper swan (C. cygnus) DNA in three lakes and the zoo pond (in which the species was present). The eDNA method presented here provides a potential means to monitor elusive goose species and to study the co‐occurrence of large waterfowl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This discussion piece between Elaine Swan and Sukhmani Khorana contextualises Khorana's new book in her research trajectories in refugee and media studies, and also unpacks new directions in exploring social movements and how they intersect with the study of emotions and practices of anti-racism. Swan and Khorana share many similar interests in food and intercultural studies, and in critiques of organisational equity and diversity – this interview, therefore draws on their mutual areas of expertise to demonstrate what decentring whiteness could look like in material and mediated practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife tourism is one of the strongest-performing sectors in the global tourism market. While tourists' preferences for and affection towards animals are a cornerstone of the industry, a better understanding of how experiences, including animal–tourist encounters and visitation frequency, influence visitors' animal preferences is required. Through a comparison of preferences among first-time and repeat visitors of four species (giant panda "Ailuropoda melanoleuca", red panda "Ailurus fulgens", peafowl "Pavo cristatus", and swan "Cygnus"), both before and after animal encounters at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (Panda Base), the results show that different species elicit varied and, at times, contrasting tourist preferences. As a result, animal preferences in wildlife tourism can vary based on different stages of visitation. Highlighting this dynamic relationship between animal preferences and visitation experiences is further elucidated through consumer learning theory and lively capital. The outcomes of this study contribute to a deeper grasp of human–animal interactions and have broader implications for the development of conservation programs in captive wildlife venues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During October 2022-March 2023, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus caused outbreaks in South Korea, including 174 cases in wild birds. To understand the origin and role of wild birds in the evolution and spread of HPAI viruses, we sequenced 113 HPAI isolates from wild birds and performed phylogenetic analysis. We identified 16 different genotypes, indicating extensive genetic reassortment with viruses in wild birds. Phylodynamic analysis showed that the viruses were most likely introduced to the southern Gyeonggi-do/northern Chungcheongnamdo area through whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) and spread southward. Cross-species transmission occurred between various wild bird species, including waterfowl and raptors, resulting in the persistence of HPAI in wild bird populations and further geographic spread as these birds migrated throughout South Korea. Enhanced genomic surveillance was an integral part of the HPAI outbreak response, aiding in timely understanding of the origin, evolution, and spread of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing recognition of the threat posed to wildlife by pollutants. Waterbirds are robust bioindicators of ecosystem health, and metal toxicity is a threat to these species in waterways worldwide. Urban waterbirds are likely to be at the highest risk of heavy metal exposure, but this issue has not been widely explored in Australia. Our aim was to estimate contemporary heavy metal exposure in a sedentary urban waterbird population: black swans (Cygnus atratus) inhabiting an inner-city wetland in one of Australia's largest cities, Melbourne. To investigate the physiological implications of legacy heavy metal exposure in these birds, we quantified blood biochemistry profiles and examined their relationships with metal concentrations in feathers. We caught 15 swans in 2021 and took feather samples to measure the concentration of eight heavy metals (chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg)), and blood samples to measure the concentration of 13 plasma analytes. Multivariate regression analysis revealed few associations between heavy metals and biochemistry markers, and no differences between sexes or age classes. This study presents a baseline dataset of these contaminants and blood biochemical profiles of swans at this wetland that can be used for future monitoring and is an important step toward a better understanding of the threat posed by heavy metals to Australian urban waterbirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IN RECENT DECADES, interest has grown in how increasing populations of herbivorous geese and swans (Anseriformes: Anatidae: Anserinae) affect macrophyte communities in wetlands, especially because many waterbodies are simultaneously subjected to stressors like eutrophication and biodiversity declines. Here, we review the literature on methods applied in grazing experiments that have been conducted in aquatic ecosystems. We also investigate and how different macrophyte characteristics may respond to waterfowl herbivory. Results indicate that both research methodology and responses of macrophytes differ widely among studies. While most experimental studies on grazing pressure employ a 'paired plot design' with exclosures and open control plots, the structure, size, and placement of plots vary among studies. Commonly sampled macrophyte variables are biomass (of either above- or below-ground plant parts), density, height, plant cover, and community composition. The literature provides support that geese and swans significantly affect several of these variables, but the outcome depends on additional factors, e.g. waterfowl density, water depth, and timing (within or between seasons/years). Because of the persisting conservation threats to aquatic ecosystems, more knowledge is needed about potential direct and indirect consequences of waterfowl herbivory in these environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goose and swan populations have increased concurrently with environmental degradation of wetlands, such as eutrophication, vegetation losses, and decrease in biodiversity. An important question is whether geese and swans contribute to such changes or if they instead benefit from them. We collected data from 37 wetlands in southern Sweden April − July 2021 to study relationships between geese, swans and other waterbird guilds, macrophytes, invertebrates, as well as physical and water chemistry variables. Neither goose nor swan abundance was negatively correlated with other trophic levels (abundance, richness, or cover). On the contrary, goose or swan abundances were positively related to abundances of surface and benthic feeding waterbirds, cover of specific macrophytes, and to invertebrate richness and abundance. Moreover, invertebrates (number of taxa or abundance) were positively associated with abundance of several waterbird guilds and total phosphorous with surface feeders, whereas water colour was positively (surface feeders) or negatively (benthic feeders) related. We conclude that waterbirds are more abundant in productive wetlands and that geese and swans do not show clear deleterious effects on other trophic levels included in this study. However, patterns may be masked at the species level, which should be addressed in further studies, complemented with experimental studies of grazing impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charismatic species are often reported by the media, providing information for detecting population status and public perception. To identify the number and distribution of free-living Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), a charismatic alien species in Chinese mainland and to detect the public and the media attitudes to the species, we analyzed the reports and emotional tendency from media coverage in 2000-2022 using manual reading, crawler extraction and latent Dirichlet allocation. A total of 6654 Black Swans were reported at 711 sites, including 147 individuals at 30 nature reserves. Successful breeding was reported at one-fourth of the total sites, including five nature reserves. The proportion of positive emotional tendency to Black Swans was overwhelming in the reports and was higher than that to alien species in general, suggesting that the public and the media are unaware of the risk of biological invasion. Effective management of invasive species requires the media clarifies the invasion risk of charismatic alien species. Promoting the unity between the harmfulness of abstract concept of alien species and the charisma of a specific alien species among the public help effective management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wastewater treatment plant at Bolivar in South Australia contains three groups of ponds which provide different managed habitats. Ponds 1, 2 and 3 contain a constant level of water of >1 metre in depth throughout the year, whereas in Ponds 4, 5 and 6 the water level is reduced each year with the result that the ponds become largely dry for several weeks from late summer. The third group of eight ponds, the sludge lagoons, are anaerobic and each year two or three of these ponds gradually dry out. In this study, we compared the abundance of the various species of waterbirds on these three groups of ponds throughout the period from September 2021 until December 2023. We found major differences in abundance of birds between the three groups. Most of the waders, together with Black Swan Cygnus atratus, Hardhead Aythya australis and Eurasian Coot Fulica atra, were largely present on Ponds 4-6, whereas Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis, dabbling ducks, and three species of cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) tended to be more abundant on Ponds 1-3, with the sludge lagoons generally having mainly Grey Teal Anas gracilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much from George and W.B. Yeats's channelling sessions left little or no trace in A Vision yet provided important material for the poet. The Daimon, an antagonist spiritual counterpart, though unclear in A Vision, was a vital concept to Yeats, and could be symbolised in bird or animal form; similarly, the dove and swan that appear in the annunciations to Mary and Leda embody the daimonic on a macrocosmic scale. Another daimonic beast at both individual and world level is the unicorn; one related to the new religious age is the sphinx, which embodies a complex conjunction of ideas, including the reawakening of ancient ways of thought. The Daimon brings crisis to human life, and the daimonic beasts are associated with crisis in world history, the irruption of the irrational divine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tundra of the East Asian Arctic is inhabited by at least three flyway populations of the tundra swan: the East Asian continental migratory flyway population of C. c. bewickii; the western Pacific flyway population of C. c. bewickii, and the western (American) flyway population of C. c. columbianus. The main objective of the present paper is to assess population trends by comparing information on the historical bird aerial survey in 1993–1995 (the only one conducted in the tundra of northeastern Asia) with the data of our aerial survey held in 2020–2021. Another aim was to estimate the proportion of breeding birds in different flyway populations. The size of the zone of intergradation of C. c. bewickii and C. c. columbianus in Chukotka and the level of hybridization have so far remained poorly studied; this issue requires clarification. The aerial survey data for 2020–2021 were processed using the QuantumGIS 9.16.5 software. The system included the following layers: a vector layer of the world map; routes of aerial surveys for 2020 and 2021; and polygons of counts for 1993–1995. The system made it possible to calculate the length of the survey. Estimates for each region were calculated for the extrapolation area given in the historical survey. Between 1993–1995 and 2020–2021, an increase in the numbers of all three flyway populations of the tundra swan was revealed on the breeding grounds. The East Asian continental flyway population increased 3.86 times versus 3.05 times for the West Pacific flyway population (while the documented growth of this population was 2.1 times, according to mid-winter counts over the same period). The Western (American) flyway population grew 2.5 times. We believe that the northern border of the summer range of the tundra swan has significantly shifted to the north, following the summer climate change and the northward shift of the subarctic tundra zone. Registration of nests and broods in areas where only nonbreeding birds were recorded during the historical survey is additional evidence of a northward displacement of the range. The Kym"yneiveem River (about 175.6° W) borders the areas of dominance of C. c. bewickii and C. c. columbianus. A switch in dominance has been triggered, as there is no zone where both subspecies would occur in equal proportions. The overlapping area of both subspecies extends for 600 km along the Arctic coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an exemplary model for examining molecular mechanisms responsible for extreme phenotypic variations, plumage color has garnered significant interest. The Cygnus genus features two species, Cygnus olor and Cygnus atratus, that exhibit striking disparities in plumage color. However, the molecular foundation for this differentiation has remained elusive. Herein, we present two high-quality genomes for C. olor and C. atratus, procured using the Illumina and Nanopore technologies. The assembled genome of C. olor was 1.12 Gb in size with a contig N50 of 26.82 Mb, while its counterpart was 1.13 Gb in size with a contig N50 of 21.91 Mb. A comparative analysis unveiled three genes (TYR, SLC45A2, and SLC7A11) with structural variants in the melanogenic pathway. Notably, we also identified a novel gene, PWWP domain containing 2A (PWWP2A), that is related to plumage color, for the first time. Using targeted gene modification analysis, we demonstrated the potential genetic effect of the PWWP2A variant on pigment gene expression and melanin production. Finally, our findings offer insight into the intricate pattern of pigmentation and the role of polygenes in birds. Furthermore, these two high-quality genome references provide a comprehensive resource and perspective for comparative functional and genetic studies of evolution within the Cygnus genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review of: Revolutionary Spirit: A Post-Punk Exorcism: The Teardrop Explodes, Care, The Wild Swans, and Beyond, Paul Simpson (2023) London: Jawbone, 296 pp., ISBN 978-1-91103-683-8, p/bk, £16.95 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the promotion of "One Health," the health of animals and their impact on the environment have become major concerns recently. Widely distributed in China, the whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) and black swans (Cygnus atratus) are not only important to the ecological environment, but they may also potentially influence public health security. The metagenomic approach was adopted to uncover the impacts of the gut microbiota of swans on host and public health. Results: In this study, the intestinal microbiome and resistome of migratory whooper swans and captive-bred black swans were identified. The results revealed similar gut microbes and functional compositions in whooper and black swans. Interestingly, different bacteria and probiotics were enriched by overwintering whooper swans. We also found that Acinetobacter and Escherichia were significantly enriched in early wintering period swans and that clinically important pathogens were more abundant in black swans. Whooper swans and black swans are potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and novel ARGs, and the abundance of novel ARGs in whooper swans was significantly higher than that in black swans. Metagenomic assembly–based host tracking revealed that most ARG-carrying contigs originated from Proteobacteria (mainly Gammaproteobacteria). Conclusions: The results revealed spatiotemporal changes in microbiome and resistome in swans, providing a reference for safeguarding public health security and preventing animal epidemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Shorter average lifespans for minoritized populations are hypothesized to stem from 'weathering' or accelerated health declines among minoritized individuals due to systemic marginalization. However, evidence is mixed on whether racial/ethnic differences exist in reproductive ageing, potentially due to selection biases in cohort studies that may systematically exclude 'weathered' participants. This study examines racial/ethnic disparities in the age of menopause after accounting for differential selection 'into' (left truncation) and 'out of' (right censoring) a cohort of midlife women. Methods Using data from the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) cross-sectional screener (N  = 15 695) and accompanying ∼20-year longitudinal cohort (N  = 3302) (1995–2016), we adjusted for potential selection bias using inverse probability weighting (left truncation) to account for socio-demographic/health differences between the screening and cohort study, and multiple imputation (right censoring) to estimate racial/ethnic differences in age at menopause (natural and surgical). Results Unadjusted for selection, no Black/White differences in menopausal timing [hazard ratio (HR)=0.98 (0.86, 1.11)] were observed. After adjustment, Black women had an earlier natural [HR = 1.13 (1.00, 1.26)] and surgical [HR= 3.21 (2.80, 3.62)] menopause than White women with natural menopause—corresponding to a 1.2-year Black/White difference in menopause timing overall. Conclusions Failure to account for multiple forms of selection bias masked racial/ethnic disparities in the timing of menopause in SWAN. Results suggest that there may be racial differences in age at menopause and that selection particularly affected the estimated menopausal age for women who experienced earlier menopause. Cohorts should consider incorporating methods to account for all selection biases, including left truncation, as they impact our understanding of health in 'weathered' populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swan is a special type of rare bird, and some species belong to national sencondary key protected wild animals. Due to their strong ornamental value, they are bred by major zoos in China. We have a wealth of practical experience in swan breeding management and epidemic prevention and control. Through induction, summary and references of relevant literature, detailed explanations on the swan breeding environment, breeding management, and epidemic prevention and control in three aspects were provided, which providered references for professionals in the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gastrointestinal microbiota, a complex ecosystem, is involved in the physiological activities of hosts and the development of diseases. Birds occupy a critical ecological niche in the ecosystem, performing a variety of ecological functions and possessing a complex gut microbiota composition. However, the gut microbiota of wild and captive birds has received less attention in the same region. We profiled the fecal gut microbiome of wild wintering whooper swans (Cygnus Cygnus; Cyg group, n = 25), captive black swans (Cygnus Atratus; Atr group, n = 20), and mute swans (Cygnus Olor; Olor group, n = 30) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing to reveal differences in the gut microbial ecology. The results revealed that the three species of swans differed significantly in terms of the alpha and beta diversity of their gut microbiota, as measured by ACE, Chao1, Simpson and Shannon indices, principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and non-metricmulti-dimensional scaling (NMDS) respectively. Based on the results of the linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) and random forest analysis, we found that there were substantial differences in the relative abundance of Gottschalkia, Trichococcus, Enterococcus, and Kurthia among the three groups. Furthermore, an advantageous pattern of interactions between microorganisms was shown by the association network analysis. Among these, Gottschalkia had the higher area under curve (AUC), which was 0.939 (CI = 0.879–0.999), indicating that it might be used as a biomarker to distinguish between wild and captive black swans. Additionally, PICRUSt2 predictions indicated significant differences in gut microbiota functions between wild and captive trumpeter swans, with the gut microbiota functions of Cyg group focusing on carbohydrate metabolism, membrane transport, cofactor, and vitamin metabolism pathways, the Atr group on lipid metabolism, and the Olor group on cell motility, amino acid metabolism, and replication and repair pathways. These findings showed that the gut microbiota of wild and captive swans differed, which is beneficial to understand the gut microecology of swans and to improve regional wildlife conservation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThis article probes into W. B. Yeats’s 1917 poem “The Wild Swans at Coole” to illumine how sorrow becomes an ineluctable trait of human experience. In the poem, a fictitious visitor to Coole Park articulates his feelings on descrying fifty-nine wild swans on the lake on an autumn evening. He finds the spectacle of the effervescent creatures amidst the beauty of nature pretty delightful. Concurrently, however, the same spectacle makes him dejected. Considering the French thinker Jean-Paul Sartre’s theory of matter and consciousness, this article will convey how, in essence, the visitor’s anguish is twofold, and how it is the consequence of his act of relating the spectacle of the swans to external factors. The article will also reveal how the visitor’s sorrow points to that of humanity in general. The conclusion will be drawn by assessing whether an escape from the twofold anguish of the visitor is possible.

This research was carried out in north-eastern Poland, where Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus is a sparse breeder. Whooper Swan is timid and exhibits a tendency to hide in emergent vegetation. A drone was used to improve the effectiveness of research into its breeding success and offspring productivity. The breeding density of Whooper Swan in the study area in 2022 was 10 pairs/100 km2. The number of breeding birds detected at the beginning of the breeding season did not differ according to the method used (drone vs ground). The breeding productivity of the sample of swans studied (N = 36) was 2.19 cygnets per breeding pair using the ground method, but 3.71 per pair with the drone, a significant difference (p-value of the Wilcoxon test = 0.0148). The traditional method showed that 50% of the pairs had bred successfully, whereas with the drone this figure was 79%. The birds either did not react to the drone's presence or else moved slowly away. The drone study of Whooper Swan breeding productivity was considerably faster (9 min per site vs 1–2 h ground survey), more precise, and less invasive for the birds than a traditional ground survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience theory has taken center stage in tackling the challenge of wetland recovery on a fast‐changing planet. Because of waterbirds' enormous dependence on wetlands, their numbers have long been used as surrogates for wetland recovery over time. However, immigration of individuals can mask actual recoveries at a given wetland. One alternative to expanding the knowledge of wetland recovery is the use of physiological parameters from aquatic organism populations. We explored the variations in the physiological parameters of black‐necked swan (BNS) before, during, and after a 16‐year period of a pollution‐induced disturbance that originated in a pulp‐mill wastewater discharge. This disturbance triggered the precipitation of iron (Fe) in the water column of the Río Cruces Wetland in southern Chile, one of the main sites for the global population of BNS Cygnus melancoryphus. We compared our recent (2019) original data (body mass index [BMI], hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, blood enzymes, and metabolites) with available datasets from the site obtained before the pollution‐induced disturbance (2003) and immediately after the disturbance (2004). Results indicate that, 16 years after the pollution‐induced disturbance, some important parameters of animal physiology did not return to their pre‐disturbance state. For instance, BMI, triglycerides, and glucose were significantly higher in 2019 than in 2004, right after the disturbance. By contrast, the hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower in 2019 than in 2003 and 2004, and uric acid was 42% higher in 2019 than in 2004. Our results demonstrate that, despite higher BNS numbers with larger body weights present in 2019, the Río Cruces wetland has only partially recovered. We suggest that the impact of megadrought and wetland disappearance far from the site results in high rate of swan immigration, casting uncertainty about using the number of swans alone as honest indicators of wetland recovery after a pollution disturbance. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:663–675. © 2023 SETAC Key Points: Sixteen years after a pollution disturbance, the number of black‐necked swans (BNS) is greater, with higher body weights but with poorer blood parameters, casting uncertainty about the use of bird abundance alone as an honest indicator of wetland recovery.Black‐necked swan body mass index, triglycerides, and glucose were higher than normal after the perturbation; by contrast, hemoglobin concentration was significantly lower and uric acid was 42% higher, and all these findings can be related to oxidative stress.Despite higher food availability, hematological and biochemical parameters suggest long‐term reduction in BNS general health status; thus, the effects of wetland concentrations of iron need to be investigated because Fe overload exerts oxidative stress and alters Fe cellular homeodynamics.Long‐term impacts of pollution on waterbird body condition, physiology, and fitness should better be used as input for wetland recovery assessment, considering broader temporal and geographical scales to track wetland resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article focuses on the symbolic meanings of birds in selected verse of two distinguished 20th century English language poets--William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) and Edward Thomas (1878-1917). There have been hardly any critical attempts to compare their creative output, despite Thomas's reviews of Yeats's works which prove a strong impact of Yeats's style and sensibility on Thomas's mind. Here, a comparative analysis is offered of bird symbolism in "The Wild Swans at Coole" (1917) by W.B. Yeats and "The Unknown Bird" (1915) by Edward Thomas, where both poets use birds as symbols of the creative process. In their reliance on symbols, they draw heavily on Romantic dialectic to resolve the inner conflict in consciousness and bridge the gap between the poetic self and the natural world. Also, the article is intended to show the impact of Romantic sensibility on the poets' original styles, which confronts tradition with modernity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the relationship between Cygnus spp. population trends and land-use changes and artificial development activities in the Nakdonggang Estuary for the necessity of management to the buffer area outside the protected area boundary in Korea. Analysis of the 15-year population change revealed a sharp decline in the Cygnus columbianus population in the winter, which could be attributed to the Nakdonggang Estuary becoming unfeasible as their wintering site. In contrast, there was no sharp decline in the Cygnus cygnus population, although a moderate decline was identified. Over the past 30 years, farmland activities decreased by approximately 10% in the areas adjacent to the protected area resulting from the expansion of the urbanized area. The rate of decrease in the water body area was high, attributed to urban development through reclamation. The correlation analysis between the area (ha) of paddy fields and the monthly (Nov.–Feb.) population of C. columbianus indicated that the populations in December (R2 = 0.768) and January (R2 = 0.743) were more correlated with the change in paddy field areas than those in the early winter (November: R2 = 0.457) and at the end of winter (February: R2 = 0.582). In the case of C. cygnus, the population tended to increase with increases in the areas of paddy fields, but the statistical explanatory power was low. We identified a distinct difference in that C. columbianus was more sensitive to urbanization than C. cygnus in the Nakdonggang Estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the state-of-the-art third generation spectral wave models WAVEWATCH III and SWAN have been used to predict waves for the Barcelona Bay (Spain) and for the south shoreline of the Mediterranean Sea (Algerian coast). We used two different nesting strategies in order to reach the local scale, the one-way and two-way nesting systems down method for the period from January to March 2017. The wave models were forced by the hourly wind data from the CFSR (CFSv2) global atmospheric model and by the hourly current from the hydrodynamic model NEMO during the simulation period. The high-resolution wave parameters (mainly significant wave height (SWH)) were compared to in situ buoy and altimeter data. At shallow water, results suggest that WW3 and SWAN nested grids describe variability of wave parameters, mainly the SWH, with good accuracy. With regional data remotely sensed along track altimeter, results showed that SWH at the WW3 nested grid is in good agreement with SARAL and Jason-2 data. Both nesting systems can be used as a platform to provide accurate, high-resolution coastal forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interspecific competition is an important mechanism of ecological community construction, which potentially contributes to resource differentiation and promotes the coexistence of sympatric species. Determining the food composition and resource differentiation of the whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) and tundra swans (C. columbianus), can facilitate efforts to protect them. In this study, fecal microscopic analysis was conducted to analyze the feeding habits of whooper swans and tundra swans migrating to the Baotou Yellow River Wetland from February to May 2020; their food niche width and overlap were calculated, and the following results were obtained. The whooper swan's diet consisted of nine species from four families of plants, mainly corn (Zea mays), reed (Phragmites australis), and halophytes (Suaeda glauca). The diet of the tundra swan comprised eleven species from five families of plants, mainly corn, quinoa (Chenopodium album) and millet (Panicum miliaceum). The food niche widths of the whooper swan and tundra swan in the Yellow River Wetland in Baotou were 2.75 and 5.18, respectively. There were five main species of food plants in total, and the index of niche overlap was 0.65. The food diversity of the tundra swan was greater than that of the whooper swan, indicating that the Yellow River wetland provides relatively diverse food resources for the tundra swans and whooper swans, thereby reducing competition and facilitating coexistence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study i dentifies four Eimeria spp. recorded from fecal samples of migratory whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) in Sanmenxia Swan Lake National Urban Wetland Park in Sanmenxia city in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, China. Eimeria hermani, Eimeria nocens, Eimeria stigmosa, and Eimeria magnalabia were compatible in all characteristic features with their respective original descriptions. In addition to the preliminary morphological identification, this study provides a preliminary genotypic identification of these four Eimeria spp. via sequencing of the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, and COI gene loci that are suitable for the genotypic differentiation of these coccidia. This is the first report of molecular data for the four Eimeria spp. in migratory whooper swans. Finally, this study discusses the environmental risks of these coccidia for migratory whooper swans in Sanmenxia Swan Lake National Urban Wetland Park. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article revisits the swan love-messenger in Marie de France's Milun —a topic of much critical attention— to posit a new analogue and consider its implications. While scholars have widely praised the uniqueness of Marie's swan, they have overlooked a similar cygnine envoy in the fourteenth- or fifteenth-century Welsh poem Yr Alarch ("The Swan") and generally ignored the broader Welsh llatai ("love-messenger") tradition. Since Marie frequently claims to have drawn on Breton tales for her Lais , we will explore the possibility that she might have adopted her love-messenger from Brittonic sources that reach their pinnacle with Dafydd ap Gwilym. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing displacement of theory and other forms of wide-ranging knowledge of social phenomena by empirical research methods in economics is widely noted by economists and historians of economic knowledge. Less attention has been devoted, however, to understand the materialization of such changes in the scientific practices. This article studies the recent transformations in the epistemological practices at CEDE, a research center in Colombia. I use a machine learning technique called Topic Modeling, interviews to CEDE researchers, and exegesis of papers to characterize a shift in the production of knowledge in microeconometrics at CEDE during the years 2000 and 2018. I explain this shift by characterizing two sets of epistemological practices that implies a recent tendency to disdain research that cannot make a "strong" causal inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to examine the colonial concerns depicted in the futuristic Australian fictions Terra Nullius and The Swan Book. The Swan Book, a 2013 Australian novel by Alexis Wright, digs deeply into subjects like climate catastrophes and the repressive condition of the natives in a future Australia. Claire G. Coleman's fantasy novel Terra Nullius, on the other hand, presents a futuristic Australia in which many colonial themes are subtly and implicitly depicted. This research article aims to emphasize the aftermath effects of colonization and to put together how they are thinking about Australia's problems in the future by analyzing the two novels of these indigenous authors using important psychoanalytic theories. This study also highlights the impact of magic realism in these texts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]