1,093 results on '"Sterna"'
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2. BREEDING REPORTS AND CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENDANGERED BLACK-BELLIED TERN STERNA ACUTICAUDA J.E. GRAY, 1831 (AVES: CHARADRIIFORMES: LARIDAE) IN ODISHA, EASTERN INDIA.
- Author
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Kar, Tuhinansu, Palei, Himanshu Shekhar, and Debata, Subrat
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STERNA ,BIRD breeding - Published
- 2018
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3. A new species of Epeorus (Caucasiron) (Ephemeroptera, Heptageniidae) from Azerbaijan and Iran
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Jindriska Bojkova, Ľuboš Hrivniak, Roman J. Godunko, Peter Manko, Pavel Sroka, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic, Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Hydrobiology, University of Łódź, Banacha 12/16, 90237 Łódź, Poland, Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, 61137 Brno, Czech Republic, and Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Prešov, 17. novembra 1, 08116 Prešov, Slovakia
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0106 biological sciences ,Caucasus ,Heptageniidae ,Insecta ,Asia ,Arthropoda ,Sterna ,010607 zoology ,Zoology ,mayflies ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Costal margin ,Heptagenioidea ,Epeorus ,taxonomy ,Caucasus, mayflies ,Systematics ,Biodiversity & Conservation ,medicine ,Animalia ,Ephemeroptera ,Invertebrata ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Larva ,biology ,fungi ,Hexapoda ,Seta ,molecular species delimitation ,biology.organism_classification ,Biota ,Europe ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,QL1-991 ,Habitat ,Heptaeniidae ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Taxonomy (biology) ,Research Article - Abstract
A new species, Epeorus (Caucasiron) hyrcanicussp. nov., is described based on larval morphology and molecular data (COI) containing sequences from all Caucasian Caucasiron species described to date. The species is distributed in the Hyrcanian forest of southeastern Azerbaijan and northwestern Iran. Based on our wide-range sampling, the new species is likely endemic to this area. The most pronounced larval morphological diagnostic characters are the coloration pattern of abdominal sterna (a pair of oblique stripes and stripe-like medio-lateral maculae) and terga (triangular medial maculae), poorly developed projection of the costal margin of gill plates III, presence of hair-like setae on the surface of abdominal terga, and relatively wide shape of gill plates VII (in natural position from ventral view). The diagnostic characters are compared to related species, and primary information to habitat is provided.
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- 2021
4. Two passeriform birds (Aves: Passeriformes) from the Middle Miocene of Austria
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Zbigniew M. Bochenski, Armin Elsler, Jürgen Kriwet, Johannes Happ, and Cathrin Pfaff
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Beak ,Extant taxon ,biology ,Sterna ,biology.animal ,Period (geology) ,Soft fruit ,Paleontology ,Zoology ,Sternum (arthropod anatomy) ,biology.organism_classification ,Passerine ,Invertebrate - Abstract
Two newly discovered specimens of passerine birds—an isolated sternum and an associated skeleton—from the upper Middle Miocene (ca. 12 Ma) are the oldest representatives of Passeriformes from Austria. Although the condition of the specimens prevents their accurate identification, they provide further clues on the morphological diversity of the avifauna during this period and fill gaps in the paleobiogeography of Miocene passerines. The associated skeleton represents a bird similar in size to the extant Sylvia atricapilla or Erithacus rubecula, and the delicate beak indicates that the bird fed mainly on small invertebrates and possibly also soft fruit. The isolated sternum belonged to a small thrush-sized bird and, considering the fragility of this skeletal element, is one of the best-preserved Miocene passerine sterna in the world.
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- 2021
5. Heterogeneity in individual quality in birds: overall patterns and insights from a study on common terns.
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Vedder, Oscar and Bouwhuis, Sandra
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COMMON tern , *BIRD reproduction , *ECOLOGICAL heterogeneity , *STERNA , *PARENT-offspring conflict in animals , *REPRODUCTION - Abstract
While life‐history theory predicts a tradeoff between reproduction and survival, positive covariance, indicative of heterogeneity in individual quality, is often reported among individuals from natural populations. We review longitudinal studies of wild bird populations that test the relationship between annual reproductive success and lifespan and find the majority to report a positive correlation, while none reports a negative correlation. Heterogeneity in individual quality in resource acquisition, masking resource‐based tradeoffs, therefore appears to be common in birds. Considering that there is little evidence for heritable variation in fitness, heterogeneity in individual quality among adults may be due to life‐long effects of developmental conditions. In a 20‐year case study on common terns
Sterna hirundo , we test for life‐long effects of cohort quality and within‐cohort nest quality, but find no significant effects on long‐term proxies of quality. Since other studies do find strong life‐long effects of developmental conditions, we suggest that the brood reduction strategy adopted by common terns, causing the majority of offspring to die rapidly after hatching, efficiently reduces variation in offspring quality at independence. As such, a brood reduction strategy may contribute to reduced heterogeneity in adult survival in stochastic environments, both suggested to be more common and adaptive in long‐lived species. Further study is required to assess heterogeneity in individual reproduction, especially in relation to environmental stochasticity and species’ life‐history strategies, in order to assess whether the relative strength of selection in early and late life may indeed affect the magnitude of heterogeneity in individual quality over life, and how this is mediated by parent–offspring conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2018
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6. Revision of the genus Afrosyleter Basilewsky, 1959 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Scaritinae: Clivinini) with description of three new species.
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BULIRSCH, Petr and MAGRINI, Paolo
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BEETLES ,GROUND beetles ,ANTENNAE (Biology) ,STERNA - Abstract
Six species of the genus Afrosyleter Basilewsky, 1959 were studied and redescribed, another three species have been described as new: A. szeli sp. nov. from Congo, A. angolensis sp. nov. from Angola and A. rossii sp. nov. from Sierra Leone. All species of the genus have been keyed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
7. Body mass during the spring migration period of two long-lived seabirds varies with capture date, age, sex, and natal origin
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André Degros, Emile Degros, Hugues Defourny, and David Monticelli
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0106 biological sciences ,biology ,Sterna ,Spring season ,Zoology ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,010605 ornithology ,Flyway ,Mass variation ,Hirundo ,Period (geology) ,Seasonal breeder ,Tern - Abstract
Inference studies from body mass during the non-breeding season are rare in seabirds due to methodological difficulties to sample individuals. Here, we used 12 years of data collected from 2000 to 2019 on about 6800 birds mist-netted at La Somone, Senegal along the East Atlantic Flyway to examine the role of intrinsic and environmental factors in explaining body mass variation in both Common Sterna hirundo and Roseate S. dougallii Terns. Most captured terns were subadults and adults aged three years and older, although ca. 22% of trapped Common Terns were immatures aged one–two years. Mean body mass values of Common and Roseate Terns were substantially lower than published values reported from European breeding sites. In both species, females were, on average, lighter than males, and in the Common Tern, immatures were also lighter than older individuals. Based on the subset of recoveries of birds initially marked at birth in Europe, we found significant differences in body mass according to natal origin in Common Terns but not in Roseate Terns. The variations reported for the former species were mainly attributed to size, with lighter and smaller individuals originating from the British Isles, intermediate individuals from western/central Europe, and heavier and larger birds from Fennoscandian countries. Capture date, used as a proxy measure of timing of migration, showed a strong covariation with body mass in both species. In fact, as the spring season progressed, mist-netted birds became progressively heavier, irrespective of age and natal origin. This suggests that earlier and lighter migrants may have opted for a more protracted migration duration involving more frequent and/or longer refueling periods. Conversely, late migrants needed greater body reserves to achieve the return journey to the colonies within a shorter period to arrive on time for the breeding season. Global climate phenomena such as the North Atlantic and Southern Oscillation indices did not explain inter-annual variations in body mass during the course of this study. Overall, our results suggest that, during the non-breeding season, body mass in these two long-distance migratory species is mainly shaped by intrinsic factors and inter-individual variation in migration strategy.
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- 2021
8. Mortality in Common (Sterna hirundo) and Sandwich (Thalasseus sandvicensis) Terns Associated with Bisgaard Taxon 40 Infection on Marco Island, Florida, USA
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Leanne J. Flewelling, P.J. Deitschel, Grazieli Maboni, Lisa A. Shender, Kevin D. Niedringhaus, Nicole M. Nemeth, Susan Sanchez, Joanna Fitzgerald, and Adam DiNuovo
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0303 health sciences ,General Veterinary ,biology ,040301 veterinary sciences ,Sterna ,Pasteurellaceae ,Wildlife ,Zoology ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,biology.organism_classification ,030308 mycology & parasitology ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,0403 veterinary science ,Charadriiformes ,03 medical and health sciences ,Brevetoxin ,Taxon ,Florida ,Hirundo ,Animals ,Thalasseus sandvicensis ,Pasteurellaceae Infections ,Tern - Abstract
Summary Widely distributed aquatic species such as terns are highly dependent on, and can serve as indicators of, the global health of marine and other aquatic environments. Documented mass mortality events in terns have been associated with anthropogenic, weather-related and, less commonly, infectious causes. This study describes a multispecies mortality event associated with brevetoxicosis and Bisgaard taxon 40-induced sepsis involving common (Sterna hirundo) and sandwich (Thalasseus sandvicensis) terns off the southwest coast of Florida, USA, in November and December 2018. During an approximately 6–8-week period, a large number of birds were found dead or displayed weakness, ataxia or other neurological signs. Many were admitted to a wildlife hospital for evaluation, but most died or were euthanized due to poor prognosis. Necropsy of 12 birds revealed minimal or non-specific gross lesions. Initial toxicology screening of tissues for brevetoxins revealed levels that could be consistent with brevetoxicosis. However, histology revealed multiorgan inflammation and necrosis associated with a gram-negative bacillus. A bacterium isolated on aerobic culture of liver and heart tissues was unidentifiable in the MALDI-TOF database. Subsequently, 16 S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the isolate shared 99.33% homology with Bisgaard taxon 40 from the Pasteurellaceae family. While the source of the bacterium and potential association with brevetoxin exposure are unclear, histopathology suggests that the bacterium was the proximate cause of clinical signs and mortality in all birds examined as well as the scale of the mortality event. This report highlights the need to conduct detailed investigations into wildlife mortality events and expands on the current, limited knowledge of the effects of novel Pasteurellaceae bacteria on avian health.
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- 2021
9. Estimation of sex based on the sterna of Sudanese adults using multidetector computed tomography: a comparison of discriminant function analysis and binary logistic regression
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Mustafa Elnour Bahar, Alaa Osman Koko, and Altayeb Abdalla Ahmed
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Adult ,Male ,Estimation ,Sternum ,biology ,Sterna ,Discriminant Analysis ,Sex Determination by Skeleton ,Logistic regression ,biology.organism_classification ,Sexual dimorphism ,Sex bias ,Logistic Models ,Discriminant function analysis ,Sex estimation ,Anthropology ,Multidetector Computed Tomography ,Statistics ,Multidetector computed tomography ,Forensic Anthropology ,Humans ,Female ,Mathematics - Abstract
Sex estimation is critical during forensic and anthropological investigations, and various techniques are used based on the presence of complete or fragmented human remains. This study evaluated sexual dimorphism in Sudanese sterna using multidetector computed tomography. This information was used to develop models for estimating sex, and to compare the accuracies of models based on discriminant function analysis (DFA) and binary logistic regression (BLR). The study included 126 Sudanese men and 144 Sudanese women who underwent computed tomography scans to create three-dimensional reconstructions. Six linear dimensions were measured on the manubrium and mesosternum. Men had larger mean values for most parameters, and nine parameters exhibited highly significant sexual dimorphism. The leave-one-out cross-validated sex estimation accuracies were 60.4-88.9% for DFA-based models and 60.4-89.3% for BLR-based models. The BLR-based models had noticeably better performances, with six parameters having sex estimation accuracies of >80% (vs. three parameters for DFA). The best BLR-based models incorporated the lengths and widths of the manubrium and mesosternum (accuracy: 89.3%, sex bias: 2.2%) and the combined manubrium and mesosternum lengths (accuracy: 85.6%, sex bias: 2.7%). Thus, computed tomography may be useful for measuring sternal dimensions and estimating sex among Sudanese subjects.
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- 2021
10. Encyonopsis indonesica sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae, Cymbellales), a new diatom from the ancient lake Matano (Sulawesi, Indonesia)
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Maxim Kulikovskiy, Anton Glushchenko, Dmitry A. Kapustin, and John Patrick Kociolek
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0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Sterna ,Ochrophyta ,Zoology ,Plant Science ,ancient lake ,01 natural sciences ,diatoms ,03 medical and health sciences ,taxonomy ,Cymbellales ,morphology ,Bacillariophyta ,Encyonopsis ,Plantae ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Chromista ,Bacillariophyceae ,biology ,Ancient lake ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Botany ,030108 mycology & parasitology ,biology.organism_classification ,Taxon ,Diatom ,Indonesia ,QK1-989 ,SEM ,Ultrastructure ,Taxonomy (biology) ,Amphora ,Research Article ,Cymbellaceae - Abstract
A new species, Encyonopsis indonesica, is described from the ancient lake Matano, Sulawesi island, Indonesia. The morphology of this species was studied by means of light and scanning electron microscopy. E. indonesica has a remarkable valve ultrastructure. The valve surface is ornamented with numerous longitudinal siliceous ribs and siliceous verrucae. Valve face delineated from the mantle by a thickened marginal ridge. Raised sterna border the raphe branches. Raphe is distinctly undulate with distal ends hooked strongly to the ventral side. The only similar species to E. indonesica is Amphora dissimilis described from New Caledonia. Comparison of both taxa is given and A. dissimilis is transferred to Encyonopsis. The taxonomic placement of both taxa is evaluated, and the phenomenon of external siliceous ornamentation is discussed.
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- 2021
11. Upwelling systems in the migration ecology of Roseate Terns (Sterna dougallii) breeding in northwest Europe
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Stephen F. Newton, Mark Bolton, Daniel Piec, David Kinchin-Smith, Paul Morrison, and Christopher P.F. Redfern
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Fishery ,Geography ,biology ,Sterna ,Ecology (disciplines) ,Upwelling ,Animal Science and Zoology ,biology.organism_classification ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Northwest europe - Published
- 2021
12. A UNIQUE DISORDER OF THE STERNUM : HONEYCOMB STERNA
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Santosh Kumar and Makardhaj Prasad
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biology ,Sterna ,business.industry ,Honeycomb (geometry) ,Medicine ,Anatomy ,Sternum (arthropod anatomy) ,musculoskeletal system ,biology.organism_classification ,business - Abstract
This article describes an uncommon example of a human sternal developmental anomaly in an anatomical specimen from the Department of Anatomy at Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Dhanbad. The non-fusion of lateral ossication centres in the sternebrae caused the uncommonly recognized developmental anomaly, which results in a honeycomb-like appearance of the mesosternum. Sternal deciencies are normally under diagnosed in the clinical literature due to the fact that many instances are asymptomatic. As a result, there is a gap in our modern understanding of the development and anatomical variations of the sternum. Although in the past, large-scale CT investigations have been conducted to explore the incidence of sternal developmental anomalies. A very rare work has been reported on sternal malformations. Most of the sternal abnormalities are clinically insignicant; a lack of awareness of these variants can lead to interpretation of radiological and pathological evidence. Hence, anatomical variants are asymptomatic which is vital in nature.
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- 2021
13. A Morphometric Study of Adult Human Sterna from the Galloway Osteological Collection
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Gerald Tumusiime, Gonzaga Gonza Kirum, and John Kukiriza
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Osteology ,Sterna ,Zoology ,General Medicine ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification - Abstract
Background: Morphometric knowledge of the sternum is of great significance in cardiac surgery as variations in sternal dimensions have been considered a risk factor for translocation of suture material during median sternotomy, leading to poor outcomes. Fatalities attributed to subnor- mal sternal thickness have also been reported during sternal biopsies. Fractures of the sternum secondary to chest injury or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation may also be influenced by sternal thickness. Elongated xiphoid process can be mistaken for an epigastric mass which can be painful on palpation. Morphometric studies of African sterna are rare. The objective is to the study sought to describe the morphometry of adult sterna from the Galloway bone collection, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. Subjects and Methods: This study employed a descriptive cross sectional design to collect and analyze quantitative data. Eighty five dry adult sterna (75 males and 10 females) were examined at the Department of Human Anatomy, Makerere University. Data analysis at univariate and bivariate levels were performed using SPSS version 21.0 statistical software. Results:A significant difference in the average length of the mesosternum was found between males at 94.6 mm (SD 11.2) and females at 82.2 mm (SD 15.2) (P=0.002). Two cases (9.5%) presented with elongated xiphoid process and one (1.2%) with subnormal mesosternal thickness. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of knowledge of the sternal morphometry in sex identification, physical examination, sternal puncture and other thoracic procedures, calling for increased awareness of the findings.
- Published
- 2020
14. Parasites of Common (Sterna hirundo) and Arctic (Sterna paradisaea) Terns (Charadriiformes, Laridae) in Karelia
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A. V. Artem’ev, Galina A. Yakovleva, and Daria I. Lebedeva
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0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Charadriiformes ,biology ,Sterna ,Fauna ,Zoology ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,Paradisaea ,Hirundo ,Tern ,Trematoda ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,Acanthocephala - Abstract
The fauna of parasites of Common (Sterna hirundo) and Arctic (Sterna paradisaea) terns obtained during the spring hunting period of 2013–2015 on the coast of Lake Ladoga has been studied. We found 15 species of parasites of various systematic groups: Cestoda (six species), Trematoda (four species), Nematoda (two species), Acanthocephala (two species), and Crustacea (one species). In the Common tern, 11 species of parasites have been registered, and in the Arctic tern, seven species. All parasites identified are typical and widespread helminths of fish-eating birds that are ubiquitous in the Palearctic. For the first time in the territory of Karelia, the species Reighardia sternae Diesing 1864 has been recorded.
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- 2020
15. Foraging Ecology Differentiates Life Stages and Mercury Exposure in Common Terns ( Sterna hirundo )
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Annie Bracey, Joel C. Hoffman, Sumner W. Matteson, Frederick C Strand, Matthew A Etterson, Gerald J. Niemi, and Francesca J. Cuthbert
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Male ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Sterna ,Geography, Planning and Development ,Population ,Foraging ,chemistry.chemical_element ,010501 environmental sciences ,01 natural sciences ,Article ,Charadriiformes ,Hirundo ,Seasonal breeder ,Animals ,education ,Incubation ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,General Environmental Science ,education.field_of_study ,biology ,Ecology ,Mercury ,General Medicine ,Feathers ,biology.organism_classification ,Mercury (element) ,chemistry ,Feather ,visual_art ,North America ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Female ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Some populations of common terns (Sterna hirundo) breeding at inland lakes in North America are declining, including the Laurentian Great Lakes. Terns nesting at inland colonies forage in freshwater during the breeding season and primarily in coastal marine environments during the nonbreeding season. As piscivores, they are susceptible to dietary Hg exposure. To characterize patterns of Hg exposure in this population, we 1) quantified within and among season differences in total mercury (THg) concentrations (μg/g) in blood and feathers at 2 Lake Superior breeding colonies, and 2) documented spatial and temporal variation in exposure by studying adult foraging ecology using geospatial tracking devices and stable isotopes. We used general linear models to assess the relationship between isotopic composition and THg concentrations in bird tissues relative to sex, age, colony location, and season. The THg concentrations were lowest in winter-grown feathers (geometric mean [95% confidence limits]): 1.32 (1.09-1.59) μg/g dw (n = 60), higher at the more industrially influenced colony (chick feathers: 4.95 [4.62-5.37] μg/g dw [n = 20]), and increased with a riverine-based diet. During the breeding season, Hg exposure varied along a gradient from lake to river, with adult females having lower blood THg concentrations than males (females: 0.83 [0.67-1.03]) μg/g ww (n = 7); males: 1.15 (0.92-1.45) μg/g ww (n = 5). Stable isotope values suggested adults obtained 42 ± 12% (n = 12) of their diet from the river during incubation, which was validated with tracking data. During chick-rearing, chicks obtained 68 ± 19% (n = 44) of their diet from the river. Our results indicate colony location, foraging behavior, and season influenced Hg exposure for these Lake Superior colonies and underscores the importance of local contamination with respect to exposure. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:398-410. © 2020 SETAC.
- Published
- 2020
16. Sterna hirundo Linnaeus 1758
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Boano, Giovanni, Belemsobgo, Urbain, Silvano, Fabrizio, Hema, Emmanuel M., Belemsobgo, Aristide, Dimobe, Kangbéni, and Pavia, Marco
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Charadriiformes ,Sterna ,Sterna hirundo ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Laridae ,Chordata ,Aves ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758 LITERATURE. — Balanca et al. (2007). STATUS. — Excluded. REMARK. — This and the following two species are common resident and/or visitor along western African coast. Reported only for Arly and Pendjari National Parks (Balanca et al. 2007), but not further considered as present in Burkina Faso., Published as part of Boano, Giovanni, Belemsobgo, Urbain, Silvano, Fabrizio, Hema, Emmanuel M., Belemsobgo, Aristide, Dimobe, Kangbéni & Pavia, Marco, 2022, An annotated checklist of the birds of Burkina Faso, pp. 27-107 in Zoosystema 44 (2) on page 54, DOI: 10.5252/zoosystema2022v44a2, http://zenodo.org/record/5999691, {"references":["BALANCA G., CORNELIS D. & WILSON R. 2007. - Les oiseaux du complexe WAP. ECOPAS. Cirad, Montpellier."]}
- Published
- 2022
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17. When morphology is not reflected by molecular phylogeny: the case of three 'orange-billed terns' Thalasseus maximus, Thalasseus bergii and Thalasseus bengalensis (Charadriiformes: Laridae).
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COLLINSON, J. MARTIN, DUFOUR, PAUL, HAMZA, ABDULMAULA A., LAWRIE, YVONNE, ELLIOTT, MICHAEL, BARLOW, CLIVE, and CROCHET, PIERRE-ANDRÉ
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TERNS , *BIRD morphology , *MOLECULAR phylogeny , *BIRDS , *GENETICS , *BIRD breeding - Abstract
In order to elucidate genetic structure within the royal tern Thalasseus maximus, genetic analyses and phylogenetic reconstructions were performed on royal terns Thalasseus maximus albididorsalis from the West African breeding population and compared with sequences from American populations Thalasseus maximus maximus. The analysis shows that royal tern as currently defined is a paraphyletic species: West African royal tern is genetically distinct from American breeding populations of the nominate subspecies and forms part of a genetic cluster with lesser crested terns Thalasseus bengalensis (of all subspecies) and greater crested terns Thalasseus bergii. This represents the first published analysis of the genetic relationship between the two subspecies of royal terns, suggests that the West African population should be treated as a distinct species, and provides support to previous studies suggesting that morphological and genetic similarities are poorly correlated in the genus Thalasseus. Conservation and taxonomic implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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18. Molecular Phylogeny of Acerentomidae (Protura), with Description of Acerentuloides bernardi sp. nov. from North America.
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Shrubovych, Julia, Star, Josef, and D'Haese, Cyrille A.
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INSECT setae , *INSECT anatomy , *STERNA , *SETAE , *ANIMAL species - Abstract
The closely related genera Acerentulus Berlese, 1908 and Acerentuloides Ewing, 1921 are represented in the USA by only 3 species: Acerentulus confinis (Berlese, 1908), Acerentulus christensoni (Ewing, 1940), and Acerentuloides americanus (Ewing, 1924). Study of proturan material from North America yielded a new species belonging to Acerentuloides. The new species is characterized by the absence of seta sd4 on the head, presence of a minute apical median seta on abdominal legs II and III, unique shape of maxillary gland with distal row of clustered globules, presence of setae modified as short, thickened sensilla (sd5 on head, β1 and δ4 on foretarsus, setae P4 on metanotum and A2 on thoracic sterna, and accessory setae on tergites and sternites I-VI), absence of seta P1a on abdominal tergites I-VI, foretarsal sensillum b longer than c, and presence of psl pores only on tergite VI. Molecular sequences for several Acerentomidae, including A. confinis, were used to develop hypotheses about species relationships within Acerentomidae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2017
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19. Convergent morphological responses to loss of flight in rails (Aves: Rallidae)
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Steve A. Trewick, Gillian C. Gibb, and Julien Gaspar
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0106 biological sciences ,Sterna ,island ecology ,Morphology (biology) ,Biology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,03 medical and health sciences ,Phylogenetics ,lcsh:QH540-549.5 ,evolution ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,030304 developmental biology ,Nature and Landscape Conservation ,Original Research ,flightlessness ,0303 health sciences ,Ecology ,Phylogenetic tree ,morphological convergence ,Rallidae ,biology.organism_classification ,Taxon ,Order (biology) ,Evolutionary biology ,birds ,lcsh:Ecology ,Adaptation ,Island ecology - Abstract
The physiological demands of flight exert strong selection pressure on avian morphology and so it is to be expected that the evolutionary loss of flight capacity would involve profound changes in traits. Here, we investigate morphological consequences of flightlessness in a bird family where the condition has evolved repeatedly. The Rallidae include more than 130 recognized species of which over 30 are flightless. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic data were used here to compare species with and without the ability to fly in order to determine major phenotypic effects of the transition from flighted to flightless. We find statistical support for similar morphological response among unrelated flightless lineages, characterized by a shift in energy allocation from the forelimbs to the hindlimbs. Indeed, flightless birds exhibit smaller sterna and wings than flighted taxa in the same family along with wider pelves and more robust femora. Phylogenetic signal tests demonstrate that those differences are independent of phylogeny and instead demonstrate convergent morphological adaptation associated with a walking ecology. We found too that morphological variation was greater among flightless rails than flighted ones, suggesting that relaxation of physiological demands during the transition to flightlessness frees morphological traits to evolve in response to more varied ecological opportunities., This study investigated the consequences of the evolution of flightlessness in birds from the Rallidae family. The results show similar morphological responses within the flightless species with a shift in energy allocation from the forelimbs to the hindlimbs. By testing the phylogenetic signal, this research proves that the differences between flightless and flighted birds are not an effect of the phylogeny but reflect a morphological convergent adaptation to the loss of flight.
- Published
- 2020
20. Effect of GPS tagging on behaviour and marine distribution of breeding Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea
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Stephen Dodd, Rachel Claire Taylor, Katharine M. Bowgen, Richard Berridge, Ian Johnstone, Martin R. Perrow, Mark Bolton, and Adam Seward
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Utilization distribution ,Sterna ,Foraging ,Zoology ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,Arctic ,Nest ,biology.animal ,Assisted GPS ,Paradisaea ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Seabird ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
Tracking tags have been used to map the distributions of a wide variety of avian species, but few studies have examined whether the use of these devices has impacts on the study animals that may bias the spatial data obtained. As Global Positioning System (GPS) tags small enough for deployment on terns (family: Laridae) have only recently become available, until now tracking of this group has been conducted by following unmanipulated individuals by boat, which offers a means of comparing distributions obtained from GPS‐tracking. We compared the utilization distributions (UDs) of breeding Arctic Terns Sterna paradisaea obtained by GPS‐tracking 10 individuals over 2 weeks, with UDs derived from contemporaneous visual boat tracks from 81 individuals. The 50% and 95% UDs of both methods had high similarity scores, indicating good agreement in the density distributions derived from the two methods. The footprints of the UDs of tagged birds were ~ 75–80% larger, which may reflect an effect of tagging on foraging range or the occasional inability to follow by boat individuals which roamed further from the colony. We also compared the nest attendance and chick provisioning rates of adults that were (1) fitted with a GPS tag and leg‐flag, (2) handled and marked with a leg‐flag but not tagged and (3) fitted with a leg‐flag in a previous year but unhandled in the year of the study. There was some evidence that birds fitted with both a GPS tag and leg‐flag spent slightly less time at the nest compared with unhandled birds and those fitted with a leg‐flag only. Both treatments where birds were fitted with a leg‐flag in the year of the study had similarly lower provisioning rates to those of unhandled control birds > 48 h after handling, suggesting that negative effects on provisioning are due to capture and handling or leg‐flag attachment rather than to GPS tag attachment/loading per se. Overall brood‐provisioning rate was compensated for by the increased effort by the unhandled partner. Our study suggests that despite slight effects of GPS‐tagging on behaviour, the estimates of marine density distribution obtained were very similar to those of unmanipulated birds.
- Published
- 2020
21. Responses of nesting Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) to disturbance by humans
- Author
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Tereza Hromádková, Václav Pavel, Petr Veselý, and Michaela Syrová
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,education.field_of_study ,Disturbance (geology) ,biology ,Sterna ,Hatching ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Population ,Zoology ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Nest ,Arctic ,Paradisaea ,Threatened species ,General Agricultural and Biological Sciences ,education - Abstract
Nesting birds often respond to human disturbance as to a predatory act. In the case of the high Arctic, the disturbance of incubating birds may bring further complications due to egg cooling. In addition, it is assumed that birds in the high Arctic are not shy and do not respond to human presence fearfully. We tested how quickly the Arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) nesting in two colonies in Svalbard return to the nest after human disturbance. One colony was situated inside a town where the terns were regularly harassed by human presence. The second colony was on a glacial foreland where breeding terns have limited experience with humans. We found that terns without frequent experience with humans returned to the nest about 5 min after disturbance, while urban terns habituated to human presence returned within a few tens of seconds. The urban terns in this way likely solve the risk of spending too much time off the nest, which could lead under the conditions of the high Arctic to the stopping of embryogenesis. Terns from a remote colony do not show lower hatching success of their eggs than the urban ones, however, incubation and the whole population of terns could be threatened when there is more frequent disturbance by researchers or tourists.
- Published
- 2020
22. Changes in organ size and nutrient reserves of arctic terns (Sterna paradisaea) breeding near a High Arctic polynya
- Author
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Julia E. Baak, Mark L. Mallory, and Jennifer F. Provencher
- Subjects
010506 paleontology ,Charadriiformes ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Sterna ,01 natural sciences ,Nutrient ,Paradisaea ,biology.animal ,lcsh:QH540-549.5 ,arctic ,gizzard ,14. Life underwater ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,lcsh:Environmental sciences ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Earth-Surface Processes ,lcsh:GE1-350 ,Global and Planetary Change ,charadriiformes ,biology ,Ecology ,Circumpolar star ,biology.organism_classification ,lipid reserves ,Arctic ,lcsh:Ecology ,Tern ,Seabird ,protein ,geographic locations - Abstract
The arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a ubiquitous migratory seabird of the High Arctic, currently thought to be in decline in most of the circumpolar world, but surprisingly little is known of its biology at high latitudes. We studied organ size and nutrient reserves of arctic terns breeding beside a High Arctic polynya in Nunavut, Canada, from their arrival at the colony into the chick-rearing period. Both males and females had a decrease in gizzard size through breeding, with gizzard mass during chick-rearing 39 percent lower than on arrival at the breeding grounds. Through the duration of the breeding season, heart, liver, and small intestine showed little change, but females had higher fat and protein stores than males. Terns from this colony likely have increasing fat levels and high body condition due to proximity to a highly productive polynya, where terns appear to gain more energy than they expend during foraging trips. This suggests that though terns at this colony may be near the northern limit of their range, local conditions have a strong impact on organ and nutrient reserve dynamics of these arctic seabirds.
- Published
- 2020
23. A new oligolectic bee species of the genus Rhophitulus Ducke (Hymenoptera, Andrenidae) from South Brazil
- Author
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Samuel Siriani-Oliveira, Kelli S. Ramos, and Clemens Schlindwein
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Sterna ,010607 zoology ,Zoology ,Hymenoptera ,medicine.disease_cause ,01 natural sciences ,Loasaceae ,Pollen ,Protandrenini ,medicine ,Nectar ,Taxonomy ,Cloud forest ,biology ,Blumenbachia ,Andrenidae ,South America ,biology.organism_classification ,010602 entomology ,QL1-991 ,Insect Science ,Taxonomy (biology) - Abstract
The genus Rhophitulus Ducke, 1907 is a large and complex group of bees of the tribe Protandrenini comprising small, slender, mostly black ground-nesting species that are restricted to South America. We describe a new species of Rhophitulus from Parque Nacional Sao Joaquim, Urubici, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Rophitulus ater sp. nov. is distinctive and easily distinguished from other species of the genus by a unique combination of morphological characters in both sexes, but especially by the following: dull black body, coarsely and densely punctate integument, basal area of metapostnotum depressed and areolate rugose, posterior margin of hind tibia and pygidial fimbria of female with blackish pilosity, and characters of the male genitalia with hidden sterna. The new species is closely associated with Blumenbachia catharinensis (Loasaceae), which is restricted to cloud forest of the southeastern rim of Serra Geral. Flowers of B. catharinensis are pollen and nectar resources and mating sites for the new species.
- Published
- 2020
24. Roseate Terns Sterna dougallii on the southeast coast of South Africa: information on moult and migratory status
- Author
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Maëlle Connan, Anthony J. Tree, and PA Whittington
- Subjects
biology ,Sterna ,Endangered species ,Algoa Bay, coastal seabird, feathers, plumage characteristics, ringing data, stable isotopes ,biology.organism_classification ,Fishery ,Geography ,Feather ,visual_art ,biology.animal ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,Tern ,Seabird ,Moulting ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
Determining the migratory status of seabird populations is crucial for addressing conservation concerns. The Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii is considered endangered in South Africa in view of its small breeding population and the threats to eggs and chicks. Earlier works based on capture-recapture data suggest that this population adopts a partial migratory strategy. Updated capture-recapture data were combined with new data on moult and stable isotopes of scapular feathers to determine whether subpopulations could be identified in the South African breeding population. Moult data on 404 individuals failed to identify subpopulations, but two groups were identifiable with the stable isotopes: one group of four individuals exhibiting low carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios and a second group (comprising the remaining 152 individuals) with significantly higher ratios. The isotope data suggest that birds from the two groups moulted in different areas. Comparisons with published studies showed that the 152 individuals had likely moulted their scapulars in South African waters, but the moulting area for the remaining four individuals could not be ascertained due to the absence of detailed isoscapes in the southern part of the Mozambique Channel. Further work investigating the genetic differentiation between South African and Madagascan Roseate Terns may bring new insight into the migratory behaviour of the South African population. Sternes de Dougall Sterna dougallii sur la côte sud-est de l’Afrique du Sud: informations sur la mue et le statut de migrationDéterminer le statut de migration des populations d’oiseaux marins est crucial pour les problèmes de conservation. La Sterne de Dougall Sterna dougallii figure sur la liste des espèces en voie de disparition en Afrique du Sud, compte tenu de sa petite population reproductrice et des menaces pesant sur ses pontes et ses poussins. Des travaux antérieurs basés sur des données de capture-recapture suggèrent que cette population adopte une stratégie de migration partielle. Des données de capture-recapture actualisées ont été combinées avec des données d’isotopes stables et de mue pour déterminer si des sous-populations pouvaient être identifiées dans la population reproductrice sud-africaine. Les données de mue recueillies sur 404 individus n’ont pas permis d’identifier de sous-populations, mais deux groupes étaient identifiables avec les isotopes stables: un groupe de quatre individus présentant des ratios d’isotopes stables à faible teneur en carbone et en azote et un second groupe comprenant les 152 individus présentant des ratios beaucoup plus élevés. Les données isotopiques suggèrent que les oiseaux des deux groupes ont mué dans des zones différentes. Une comparaison avec de précédentes études publiées a montré que les 152 individus avaient probablement mué leurs scapulaires dans les eaux sud-africaines. La zone de mue des quatre individus restants n’a pas pu être déterminée en raison de l’absence d’empreintes isotopiques «isoscapes» détaillées dans le sud du chenal du Mozambique. Des travaux ultérieurs, notamment la différenciation génétique entre les sternes de Dougall sud-africaines et malgaches, pourraient apporter de nouvelles informations sur le comportement migratoire de la population sud-africaine. Keywords: Algoa Bay, coastal seabird, feathers, plumage characteristics, ringing data, stable isotopes
- Published
- 2019
25. Dynamics of Common Sterna hirundo and Little Tern Sternula albifrons populations along the Sava River in North-western Croatia between 2002 and 2019
- Author
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Luka Jurinović, Tomica Rubinić, Davor Krnjeta, Miloš Martinović, and Jelena Kralj
- Subjects
common tern sterna hirundo ,education.field_of_study ,threats ,biology ,Gravel pit ,Sterna ,Little tern ,Flooding (psychology) ,Population ,little tern sternula albifrons ,natura 2000 site ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,sava river ,Fishery ,monitoring ,Common Tern Sterna hirundo ,Little Tern Sternula albifrons ,Sava River ,Natura 2000 site ,Geography ,QL1-991 ,Hirundo ,Tern ,Natura 2000 ,education ,Zoology - Abstract
Between 2002 and 2019, monitoring of Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Little Tern Sternula albifrons along the Sava River near Zagreb, Croatia was conducted. Natura 2000 site “Sava kod Hrušćice” was designated to protect colony at river islands, with estimated population sizes of 100–150 pairs of Common and 20 pairs of the Little Tern. Flooding of the colony caused breeding failure in several years. Common Terns moved to breed on islands in gravel pits with a total population around 150 pairs, while Little Tern did not breed after 2010. In the last few years, terns have not bred at Hrušćica and the only colony inside the Natura 2000 site is situated on a breeding platform at Siromaja gravel pit. Channelling of rivers and hydropower plants are the main threats, changing natural dynamics of water level and causing reduction of gravel sediment in rivers.
- Published
- 2019
26. Morphometry of inland Common Terns Sterna hirundo in Croatia and Slovenia
- Author
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Davorin Tome, Ida Svetličić, Jelena Kralj, Miloš Martinović, Ana Galov, and Luka Jurinović
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,biology ,Sterna ,Ecology (disciplines) ,Zoology ,Morphometry ,Sterna hirundo ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,010605 ornithology ,Geography ,QL1-991 ,sexual dimorphism ,head and bill lengths ,Hirundo - Abstract
Morphometric data on Common Terns breeding in Croatia and Slovenia are presented herewith for the first time. 130 breeding adult Common Terns Sterna hirundo were measured between 2016 and 2019 along the Sava and Drava Rivers. Sex was determined for 53 birds: 22 males and 31 females. Significant sexual differences were found for head and bill length, length of bill to skull, and bill depth. Croatian and Slovenian terns had slightly shorter wings and tails compared to birds from the Netherlands, Germany and England and were lighter than birds from Germany and Italy. Head, bill and tarsus lengths were similar to those in north European populations. Contrary to results from Scotland, in our studied population, birds with head and bill lengths >79.0 mm could not be sexed as males reliably.
- Published
- 2019
27. 37 years of Common Tern Sterna hirundo breeding at Sečovlje Salina
- Author
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Iztok Škornik
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,Mediterranean climate ,education.field_of_study ,biology ,Sterna ,Fledge ,Population ,sečovlje saltpans ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Predation ,Fishery ,03 medical and health sciences ,030104 developmental biology ,Nest ,QL1-991 ,breeding ,Hirundo ,Tern ,education ,common tern ,Zoology - Abstract
Years ago, the Common Tern Sterna hirundo was known to nest in Slovenia along larger watercourses. Today it only breeds locally in artificially built nesting areas. On the seashore, its nesting was confirmed for the first time in 1983, when 9 pairs bred in the Sečovlje Saltpans. In the same year, we started mapping the breeders in the Sečovlje Saltpans, which has continued till this very day. Since 2010, we have been systematically collecting data on the number of fledged birds. In 1991, the number of breeding pairs increased, which coincides with the increase in other parts of the Mediterranean. Since 1991, the size of the breeding population has been quite stable, ranging from 30 to 70 pairs. The Common Tern’s breeding success in the Sečovlje Saltpans is poor, mainly due to precipitation (40% of all unsuccessful nests) and predation (35%). Long, dry periods without rainfall have a positive effect on the hatching and fledging success. Appropriate water management, artificial islands and access to nesting sites control can prevent the disturbance caused by visitors and, in part, predators such as foxes and martens. At the Sečovlje Saltpans, the Common Tern’s survival depends entirely on the active management. The expected climate change, with increasing sea level rise and consequently more frequent flooding of low-lying areas, further aggravates its existence and survival in the Sečovlje Saltpans.
- Published
- 2019
28. Breeding population dynamics of Common Tern Sterna hirundo and associated gull species with overview of conservation management in continental Slovenia
- Author
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Damijan Denac and Luka Božič
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,common tern sterna hirundo ,Floodplain ,Sterna ,Population ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,010605 ornithology ,Nest ,Hirundo ,continental slovenia ,breeding population ,education ,Mediterranean gull ,education.field_of_study ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,biology ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,conservation management ,Fishery ,Geography ,Habitat ,QL1-991 ,Tern ,Zoology - Abstract
An overview of the long-term (1980–2019) population development of colonial Laridae species in continental part of Slovenia, their nest sites at anthropogenic water bodies, and various conservation measures with special focus on Common Tern Sterna hirundo along the Slovenian/border part of the Drava River is given. Breeding of these species occurs only on the westernmost fringes of the Pannonian plain, on lowland floodplains of the main rivers of the Danube Basin. Altogether, breeding of Common Tern and Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus was recorded at 11 and 10 sites, respectively. Lake Ptuj is the single site with mixed-species colony residing there in all years of the study period, while at Ormož (two sites) it was established during the early 1990s in the Slovenian territory but moved completely to the Croatian side by the second half of the 2010s. At all other sites, a suitable breeding habitat became available or was provided by management in just a few years, or created only recently. The percentage of Common Tern national population breeding in continental Slovenia was usually well above 50% throughout the 1980s and 1990s (52–136 pairs), while in the last 16 years (77–258 pairs) it ranged between 40.8% and 69.0%. Breeding of Black-headed Gull remains largely limited to continental Slovenia. Overall, continental populations of both species in the last few years have been substantially higher compared to the most of the study period. Long-term trends were estimated as a moderate increase for Common Tern and a strong increase for Black-headed Gull. Since 2006, the Mediterranean Gull L. melanocephalus has been a regular breeder at Lake Ptuj (up to 28 pairs), the only such site in Slovenia. Three general types of conservation measures implemented at different nesting locations are described in detail: (1) measures to create/increase the total surface of breeding habitat – the construction of new breeding structures, such as artificial islands and nesting rafts, (2) measures to maintain and enhance breeding habitat through recurring management activities, and (3) measures aimed to increase chick/nest survival and improve breeding success.
- Published
- 2019
29. Terns (Sterninae) in the collection of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History
- Author
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Urška Kačar and Al Vrezec
- Subjects
laridae ,biology ,Sterna ,General Medicine ,Black tern ,museum collection ,biology.organism_classification ,Archaeology ,inventory ,Natural history ,Geography ,QL1-991 ,bird collectors ,Hirundo ,Period (geology) ,history ,catalogue ,Tern ,Ornithology ,Zoology - Abstract
The catalogue presents the data on all specimens of terns (Sterninae) that have been inventoried into the ornithological collection of the Slovenian Museum of Natural History (PMS). The catalogue includes data on preserved as well as lost specimens. The data have been collected from all inventory books at hand in the Slovenian Museum of Natural History. By the end of 2019, 66 different specimens of eight tern species have been recorded in the ornithological collection, of which 56 specimens are still preserved. Most specimens were collected in the 1940–1970 period. The largest number of specimens concerns the Black Tern Chlidonias niger and Common Tern Sterna hirundo. Among the collected terns, the specimens found in Slovenia predominate. Five specimens originate from other countries, specifically Eritrea, Oman, Serbia and Croatia.
- Published
- 2019
30. Sterna hirundo Linnaeus 1758
- Author
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Gonza �� Lez-Acun, Daniel A. and Palma, Ricardo L.
- Subjects
Charadriiformes ,Sterna ,Sterna hirundo ,Animalia ,Biodiversity ,Laridae ,Chordata ,Aves ,Taxonomy - Abstract
Sterna hirundo Linnaeus, 1758 Common tern���Gaviot��n boreal Quadraceps sellatus sellatus (Burmeister, 1838) Saemundssonia (Saemundssonia) sternae (Linnaeus, 1758), Published as part of Gonza �� Lez-Acun, Daniel A. & Palma, Ricardo L., 2021, An annotated catalogue of bird lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from Chile, pp. 1-151 in Zootaxa 5077 (1) on page 125, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5077.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/5766642, {"references":["Linnaeus, C. (1758) Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tenth Edition. Vol. 1. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae, iv + 824 pp. https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 542","Burmeister, H. (1838) Mallophaga. In: Handbuch der Entomologie, Berlin: Enslin, 2 (1), 418 - 443."]}
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Breeding Waterbird Populations Have Declined in South San Francisco Bay: An Assessment Over Two Decades
- Author
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Nils Warnock, C. Alex Hartman, Max Tarjan, Carley Rose Schacter, Rachel Tertes, Joshua T. Ackerman, Cheryl Strong, Yiwei Wang, and Mark P. Herzog
- Subjects
education.field_of_study ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Stilt ,biology ,Himantopus mexicanus ,Sterna ,Population ,Aquatic Science ,biology.organism_classification ,Fishery ,Avocet ,Salt marsh ,Tern ,education ,Bay ,Water Science and Technology - Abstract
Author(s): Hartman, C. Alex; Ackerman, Joshua T.; Schacter, Carley R.; Herzog, Mark P.; Tarjan, L. Max; Wang, Yiwei; Strong, Cheryl; Tertes, Rachel; Warnock, Nils | Abstract: In south San Francisco Bay, former salt ponds now managed as wildlife habitat support large populations of breeding waterbirds. In 2006, the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project began the process of converting 50% to 90% of these managed pond habitats into tidal marsh. We compared American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) and Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) abundance in south San Francisco Bay before (2001) and after approximately 1,300 ha of managed ponds were breached to tidal action to begin tidal marsh restoration (2019). Over the 18-year period, American Avocet abundance declined 13.5% (2,765 in 2001 vs. 2,391 in 2019), and Black-necked Stilt abundance declined 30.0% (1,184 in 2001 vs. 828 in 2019). Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) abundance was 2,675 birds in 2019. In 2019, managed ponds accounted for only 25.8% of suitable habitats, yet contained 53.9%, 38.6%, and 65.6% American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and Forster’s Tern observations, respectively. Conversely, tidal marsh and tidal mudflats accounted for 42.9% of suitable habitats, yet contained only 18.4%, 10.3%, and 19.8% of American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, and Forster’s Tern observations, respectively. Using a separate nest-monitoring data set, we found that nest abundance in south San Francisco Bay declined for all three species from 2005–2019. Average annual nest abundance during 2017–2019 declined 53%, 71%, and 36%, for American Avocets, Back-necked Stilts, and Forster’s Terns, respectively, compared to 2005–2007. Loss of island nesting habitat as a result of tidal marsh conversion and an increasing population of predatory California Gulls (Larus californicus) are two potential causes of these declines. All three species established nesting colonies on newly constructed islands within remaining managed ponds; however, these new colonies did not make up for the steep declines observed at other historical nesting sites. For future wetland restoration, retaining more managed ponds that contain islands suitable for nesting may help to limit further declines in breeding waterbird populations.n
- Published
- 2021
32. Metapopulation connectivity retains genetic diversity following a historical bottleneck in a federally endangered seabird
- Author
-
Patricia Szczys and Jacob Dayton
- Subjects
Genetic diversity ,Ecology ,Sterna ,Endangered species ,Metapopulation ,Biology ,biology.organism_classification ,Effective population size ,biology.animal ,Genetic variation ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Seabird ,Tern ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
Despite intensive management since the 1970s, recovery of the endangered northwestern Atlantic population of the Roseate Tern (Sterna dougallii dougallii) has not offset low productivity from a female-biased sex ratio, low adult survival, and habitat constriction. Now, >90% of individuals breed at three sites within 200 km from Long Island, NY, to Buzzards Bay, MA (warm-water subregion). To characterize the impact of historical bottlenecks, metapopulation structure, and demographic fluctuations on genetic variation, Roseate Terns from the warm-water (1870s, 1970s, 1997, 2016) and cold-water (Nova Scotia, Canada; 2018) subregions were genotyped at 8–16 microsatellites and 2–3 mitochondrial regions. Diversity declined in the warm-water subregion from the 1870s (expected heterozygosity [HE] = 0.44, allelic richness [AR] = 2.86) and 1970s (HE = 0.53, AR = 3.25) to 1997 (HE = 0.38, AR = 2.58). Genetic signatures of bottlenecks persisted in 1997 (P =
- Published
- 2021
33. The pattern of duck sternal ossification and the changes of histological structure and gene expression therein
- Author
-
Jiwen Wang, Xiang Gan, Shenqiang Hu, Hehe Liu, Kang Wu, Qingyuan Ouyang, Jiwei Hu, Qifan Wu, Yushi Wang, Rongping Zhang, Liang Li, and Chunchun Han
- Subjects
Male ,Sternum ,animal structures ,duck ,sternal ossification ,Sterna ,Biology ,SF1-1100 ,03 medical and health sciences ,phenotypic trait ,Osteogenesis ,Gene expression ,medicine ,Animals ,Endochondral ossification ,030304 developmental biology ,Sternal injury ,0303 health sciences ,Sternum body ,Ossification ,histological staining ,PHYSIOLOGY AND REPRODUCTION ,0402 animal and dairy science ,Direct observation ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Medicine ,Anatomy ,biology.organism_classification ,040201 dairy & animal science ,Animal culture ,Ducks ,gene expression ,Female ,Animal Science and Zoology ,medicine.symptom ,Keel (bird anatomy) ,Chickens - Abstract
As the largest single bone, avian sterna are very different from those of mammals in terms of morphology and functions. Moreover, years of artificial selection in poultry led to incomplete sternal ossification at slaughter age, which may cause diseases, sternal injury, and restriction to breast muscle growth. However, in living birds, studies have rarely described the ossification pattern and underlying mechanisms of the sterna. Here, we examined the pattern (timeline, ossification centers, ossification directions, weekly changes of different parts, quantified differences in ossification degree among sexes and parts) and developmental changes (histological structure, gene expression) of postnatal duck sternal ossification. Direct observation and alcian blue and alizarin red staining of whole sterna samples revealed that, duck sterna mainly ossified during 5 to 9 wk old with five ossification centers. These centers and their ossification directions were different from and more complex than the previously studied birds. The weekly changes of sterna and the quantitative analysis of ossification-related traits showed that ossifications in the three parts of duck sterna (sternum body, keel, posterolateral processes) were mutually independent in space and time, meanwhile, the male duck sterna were more late-maturing than the female. The results of hematoxylin-eosin, alcian blue, and toluidine blue stainings and the expression levels of COL2A1, COL10A1, COL1A2, and CTSK together supported that, duck sternal ossification was highly similar to typical endochondral ossification. Furthermore, continuously high expression of MMP13 and SPARC and their significant (P < 0.05) co-expression with COL2A1, COL10A1, COL1A2, and CTSK suggested the importance of MMP13 and SPARC in duck sternal ossification. Taken together, our results may be helpful for the understanding of avian sternal ossification and the improvement of the performance and welfare of poultry from a new perspective.
- Published
- 2021
34. Ecology of tern flight in relation to wind, topography and aerodynamic theory.
- Author
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Hedenström, Anders and Åkesson, Susanne
- Subjects
- *
BIRD flight , *BIRD migration , *WINDS , *TOPOGRAPHY , *AERODYNAMICS - Abstract
Flight is an economical mode of locomotion, because it is both fast and relatively cheap per unit of distance, enabling birds to migrate long distances and obtain food over large areas. The power required to fly follows a U-shaped function in relation to airspeed, from which context dependent 'optimal' flight speeds can be derived. Crosswinds will displace birds away from their intended track unless they make compensatory adjustments of heading and airspeed. We report on flight track measurements in five geometrically similar tern species ranging one magnitude in body mass, from both migration and the breeding season at the island of Öland in the Baltic Sea. When leaving the southern point of Öland, migrating Arctic and common terns made a 60° shift in track direction, probably guided by a distant landmark. Terns adjusted both airspeed and heading in relation to tail and side wind, where coastlines facilitated compensation. Airspeed also depended on ecological context (searching versus not searching for food), and it increased with flock size. Species-specific maximum range speed agreed with predicted speeds from a new aerodynamic theory. Our study shows that the selection of airspeed is a behavioural trait that depended on a complex blend of internal and external factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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35. Assessing the trophic niche of South American Terns integrating conventional and isotopic methods.
- Author
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Gatto, Alejandro J. and Yorio, Pablo
- Subjects
- *
STERNA , *ECOLOGICAL niche , *ENGRAULIS anchoita , *FISH schooling , *MARINE invertebrates - Abstract
Conventional dietary studies combined with stable isotope analysis allowed the characterisation of the trophic niche of South American Terns (Sterna hirundinacea) breeding in Argentina. Direct observation of prey deliveries during mate- and chick-provisioning showed that the diet of South American Terns comprised at least 18 prey items, mainly pelagic schooling fish with smaller proportions of marine invertebrates. Argentine Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) was the main fish prey. Adults delivered a higher proportion of fish and smaller prey to their chicks than to their mates. Analysis of stable isotope ratios in blood samples, using Bayesian stable isotope mixing models, indicated that adult Terns used a higher proportion of marine invertebrates for self-feeding than for mate- or chick-provisioning. Analyses of stable isotopes ratios in blood samples from chicks were consistent with the determination of diet from direct observation, and indicated differences from adults in both the proportion of different prey in the diet and trophic niche. In addition, isotopic niche analysis showed that chicks had a significantly higher trophic position compared with self-feeding adults during both mate-provisioning and chick stages. The results highlight the importance of combining stable isotope and conventional methods to adequately assess the food requirements of a population during the breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
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36. Antennal sensilla analyses as useful tools in the revision of the sweat-bee subgenus Corynura (Callistochlora) Michener (Hymenoptera: Halictidae).
- Author
-
González-Vaquero, Rocío A. and Galvani, Gerónimo L.
- Subjects
HYMENOPTERA ,HALICTIDAE ,STERNA ,POLLINATION ,PLANT fertilization - Abstract
Although many studies have analyzed the physiology of the antennal sensilla, only a few have used them for systematics. If the abundance and distribution of the different types of sensilla are constant within species, these characters may be used as additional tools in wild bee systematics, especially for the identification of cryptic species. To assess this, we studied the antennal sensilla of the subgenus Corynura ( Callistochlora ) Michener, which comprises species frequently collected in Chile and the Argentinean Patagonia. Although the species of C. ( Callistochlora ) play an important role in the pollination of wild and cultivated plants, there are no useful keys to identify them. Here we provide a comparative study of antennal sensilla, as well as a detailed morphological revision of the species, including characters of the genital capsule and the hidden sterna. The sensilla have been important in the resolution of the subgenus, especially in the delimitation of male species. Three valid species are recognized: Corynura aureoviridis Friese, revalidated name, C. chloris Spinola and C. prothysteres Vachal. The male of C. aureoviridis and the female of C. prothysteres are described for the first time. Lectotypes are designated for four names. Synonyms, notes on variation within species, images, distributional data and a key to the species are provided. The study of the antennal sensilla as a potential tool in wild bee systematics is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Forster's Tern ( Sterna forsteri) Breeding Inland Near Mexico City, Mexico.
- Author
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Angel, Salvador Gómez del, Palacios, Eduardo, and Medrano, Atahualpa Eduardo De Sucre
- Subjects
FORSTER'S tern ,STERNA ,ANIMAL breeding research ,WATER birds - Abstract
Forster's Terns ( Sterna forsteri) breed mainly in central Canada and the north-central USA, and along both coasts of North America. In Mexico, only five nesting colonies were known prior to this study and all are coastal, three from Baja California, one from Colima on the Pacific coast, and one from Tamaulipas on the Gulf of Mexico. In 2014, a new inland colony was found at the Lake of Texcoco, east of Mexico City, Mexico. Eight nests that were located on small islets 400 m away from shore were monitored from April to June 2014. Almost 90% of the eggs ( n = 16) were lost by flooding, and only two chicks hatched. One chick died and the other survived to fledging, and at 25 days old it dispersed more than 3 km from the colony. This nesting colony at the Lake of Texcoco represents a new breeding site of Forster's Tern in Mexico, the first breeding record in an interior wetland of Mexico, and a southward expansion of the known breeding range for this species. These observations reinforce the importance of the Lake of Texcoco for breeding waterbirds in the Valley of Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Pair bonds during the annual cycle of a long-distance migrant, the Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
- Author
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Christopher P.F. Redfern
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Partner association ,biology ,Sterna ,Ecology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Foraging ,Pair-bond ,Arctic Tern ,biology.organism_classification ,Annual cycle ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Pair bond ,The arctic ,Geography ,QL1-991 ,Arctic ,Paradisaea ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Tern ,Zoology ,Migration ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics - Abstract
Background The extent to which pairs remain together during the annual cycle is a key question in the behavioural ecology of migratory birds. While a few species migrate and winter as family units, for most the extent to which breeding partners associate in the non-breeding season is unknown. The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) has one of the longest migrations of any species, and the aim of this study was to establish whether or not partners remain together after breeding. Methods Leg-mounted geolocators were fitted to breeding pairs of Arctic Terns nesting on the Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK. The devices were recovered for analysis the following year. Results Analysis of data for the six pairs which returned the following year showed that partners departed from the colony at different times after breeding and migrated independently to different Antarctic regions. Partners also departed from the Antarctic and turned to the breeding colony independently. One third of the pairs divorced on return. Conclusions For long-distance migrants reliant on unpredictable foraging opportunities, it may not be viable to remain as pairs away from the breeding colony. Synchrony in arrival times at the breeding colony may maximise the chance of retaining a familiar partner, but could be affected by environmental factors in wintering areas or along migration routes.
- Published
- 2021
39. How fitness consequences of early-life conditions vary with age in a long-lived seabird: A Bayesian multivariate analysis of age-specific reproductive values
- Author
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Sandra Bouwhuis, Oscar Vedder, Ido Pen, Verhulst lab, Komdeur lab, and Pen group
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0106 biological sciences ,Sterna ,Offspring ,sibling competition ,lifetime reproductive success ,hatching asynchrony ,Biology ,antagonistic pleiotropy ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Charadriiformes ,Seasonal breeder ,Animals ,Longitudinal Studies ,Sibling ,offspring conflict ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Selection (genetic algorithm) ,hatching order ,Reproductive success ,Reproduction ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Fledge ,Age Factors ,parent‐ ,Bayes Theorem ,biology.organism_classification ,ageing ,Multivariate Analysis ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Parent–offspring conflict ,parental effects ,Demography - Abstract
Evolutionary theory suggests that individuals can benefit from deferring the fitness cost of developing under poor conditions to later in life. Although empirical evidence for delayed fitness costs of poor developmental conditions is abundant, individuals that die prematurely have not often been incorporated when estimating fitness, such that age-specific fitness costs, and therefore the relative importance of delayed fitness costs are actually unknown.We developed a Bayesian statistical framework to estimate age-specific reproductive values in relation to developmental conditions. We applied it to data obtained from a long-term longitudinal study of common terns Sterna hirundo, using sibling rank to describe variation in developmental conditions. Common terns have a maximum of three chicks, and later hatching chicks acquire less food, grow more slowly and have a lower fledging probability than their earlier hatched siblings.We estimated fitness costs in adulthood to constitute c. 45% and 70% of the total fitness costs of hatching third and second, respectively, compared to hatching first. This was due to third-ranked hatchlings experiencing especially high pre-fledging mortality, while second-ranked hatchlings had lower reproductive success in adulthood. Both groups had slightly lower adult survival. There was, however, no evidence for sibling rank-specific rates of senescence.We additionally found years with low fledgling production to be associated with particularly strong pre-fledging selection on sibling rank, and with increased adult survival to the next breeding season. This suggests that adults reduce parental allocation to reproduction in poor years, which disproportionately impacts low-ranked offspring.Interpreting these results, we suggest that selection at the level of the individual offspring for delaying fitness costs is counteracted by selection for parental reduction in brood size when resources are limiting.
- Published
- 2021
40. New genus and new species of Pentatomidae from Borneo (Hemiptera: Heteroptera)
- Author
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David A. Rider, Marcos Roca-Cusachs, and Sunghoon Jung
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Insecta ,Arthropoda ,biology ,Phylogenetic tree ,Sterna ,Heteroptera ,Zoology ,Biodiversity ,Pentatomidae ,biology.organism_classification ,Hemiptera ,Genus ,Borneo ,Animalia ,Animals ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Taxonomy (biology) ,Structure comparison ,Animal Distribution ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Phylogeny ,Taxonomy - Abstract
A new genus, Graziasternum gen. nov., with two new species, Graziasternum graziae sp. nov. and Graziasternum joceliae sp. nov. are described. According to external thoracic and genital structures, this new genus is considered to be the closest extant relative known to the genus Placosternum Amyot & Serville. Discussion of its possible phylogenetic position based on structure comparison, with the discussion on the importance of the characteristics of the thoracic sterna, the genital structures with other genera or groups of genera that share similar structures is given. Additionally, the two new species are keyed and illustrated.
- Published
- 2021
41. A new species of Cosmoclopius Stål, 1866 from Argentina (Hemiptera, Reduviidae)
- Author
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María Cecilia Melo and Pablo Sebastian Varela
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Male ,Insecta ,Arthropoda ,Sterna ,Harpactorinae ,Argentina ,Hemiptera ,Species Specificity ,Apex (mollusc) ,Genus ,Animalia ,Animals ,Genitalia ,Reduviidae ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Taxonomy ,biology ,Pigmentation ,Biodiversity ,Anatomy ,biology.organism_classification ,Spine (zoology) ,Cosmoclopius ,Female ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Animal Distribution - Abstract
A new species of Cosmoclopius Stål, 1866, C. joceliae sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected in northern Argentina. This new species is recognized by the vertical and truncate median process of pygophore, and the short-recurved spine on the apex of the dorsal phallothecal sclerite; and other features such as the dorsally black head, pronotum, and femora, and the thoracic sterna black with median pale markings; some females show lighter posterior pronotal lobe and femora with more conspicuous dark and pale bands. Digital images of the adult male and female and male genitalia are provided, as well as a comparison with the species of the genus are given.
- Published
- 2021
42. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seabird eggs in Ireland
- Author
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Andrew Power, Denis Crowley, Simon Berrow, Sinéad Murphy, Evin McGovern, Stephen Newton, Philip White, Ian O'Connor, Brendan McHugh, Aaron McKeown, Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, Galway, Ireland, Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland, and BirdWatch Ireland, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, Ireland
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Sterna ,Zoology ,010501 environmental sciences ,Aquatic Science ,Oceanography ,01 natural sciences ,Birds ,Charadriiformes ,food ,PAHs ,Marine and Freshwater Research Centre ,Paradisaea ,biology.animal ,Uria aalge ,Hirundo ,Animals ,Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Trophic level ,Terns ,biology ,food.dish ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Seabird eggs ,biology.organism_classification ,Pollution ,Gannets ,Environmental science ,Tern ,Seabird ,Ireland ,Guillemots ,Northern gannet ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
Seabird eggs are considered a favourable matrix for monitoring marine pollutants and are widely used as higher trophic level indicators. Concentrations of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ15PAH) were determined in the eggs of four piscivorous seabirds in Ireland from multiple colonies for the first time, Common Guillemot Uria aalge, Northern Gannet Morus bassanus, Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Arctic Tern S. paradisaea. PAH concentrations were generally lower than levels detected in eggs from other seabird studies and considerably lower than concentrations associated with no adverse effect in the eggs of domestic avian species. This study indicates potential site and species differences in PAH concentrations. Baseline data of PAHs in a range of seabird species from this study may provide an important reference point should a major pollution event occur in European waters, such as an oil spill.
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- 2021
43. Immunocompetent birds choose larger breeding colonies
- Author
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Karolina Rudnicka, Piotr Minias, Peter O. Dunn, Radosław Włodarczyk, Joanna Drzewińska-Chańko, and Adrian Gajewski
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0106 biological sciences ,Genetic diversity ,biology ,Sterna ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,Zoology ,Phenotypic trait ,biology.organism_classification ,Major histocompatibility complex ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Birds ,Charadriiformes ,Dominance (ethology) ,Hirundo ,biology.protein ,Animals ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Tern ,Social Behavior ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Sociality ,Ecosystem - Abstract
Optimal size of social groups may vary between individuals, depending on their phenotypic traits, such as dominance status, age or personality. Larger social groups often enhance transmission rates of pathogens and should be avoided by individuals with poor immune defences. In contrast, more immunocompetent individuals are expected to take advantage of larger group sizes (e.g. better protection, information transfer) with smaller extra costs from pathogen or parasite pressure. Here, we hypothesized that immunocompetence may be a key determinant of group size choice and tested this hypothesis in a colonial waterbird, the common tern Sterna hirundo. We used a unique experimental framework, where formation of breeding colonies of different sizes was induced under uniform environmental conditions. For this purpose, different-size patches of attractive nesting substrate (artificial floating rafts) were provided at a single site with limited availability of natural nesting habitat. Colony size was identified as the only significant predictor of both innate (natural antibody-mediated complement activation) and adaptive (immunoglobulin concentrations) immunological traits in the common terns, as more immunocompetent birds settled in larger experimental colonies. In contrast, we found no significant associations between colony size and genetic diversity of key pathogen-recognition receptors, toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) or genome-wide heterozygosity. We conclude that settlement decisions may be flexible within individuals and, thus, are likely to be primarily determined by the current immunological status, rather than fixed immunogenetic traits. Our study sheds new light on the complex interface between immunity and sociality in animals.
- Published
- 2021
44. Promoting Change in Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Nest Site Selection to Minimize Construction Related Disturbance
- Author
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Jennifer L. Wall, William Schultz, Jeffery D. Sullivan, Carl R. Callahan, Diann J. Prosser, and Peter C. McGowan
- Subjects
Disturbance (geology) ,biology ,Sterna ,Ecology ,Hirundo ,Nest site ,Tern ,biology.organism_classification ,Selection (genetic algorithm) ,Nature and Landscape Conservation - Published
- 2019
45. Hypotheses and tracking results about the longest migration: The case of the arctic tern
- Author
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Patrik Olofsson, Roine Strandberg, Johanna Grönroos, Johan Bäckman, and Thomas Alerstam
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arctic tern ,population segregation ,0106 biological sciences ,global migration ,Sterna ,Bird migration ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,03 medical and health sciences ,lcsh:QH540-549.5 ,Flyway ,Sea ice ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Original Research ,030304 developmental biology ,Nature and Landscape Conservation ,Ekologi ,0303 health sciences ,geography ,geography.geographical_feature_category ,Ecology ,biology ,Global wind patterns ,Pelagic zone ,biology.organism_classification ,Oceanography ,Arctic ,Antarctica ,lcsh:Ecology ,Tern ,bird migration - Abstract
The arctic tern Sterna paradisaea completes the longest known annual return migration on Earth, traveling between breeding sites in the northern arctic and temperate regions and survival/molt areas in the Antarctic pack‐ice zone. Salomonsen (1967, Biologiske Meddelelser, Copenhagen Danske Videnskabernes Selskab, 24, 1) put forward a hypothetical comprehensive interpretation of this global migration pattern, suggesting food distribution, wind patterns, sea ice distribution, and molt habits as key ecological and evolutionary determinants. We used light‐level geolocators to record 12 annual journeys by eight individuals of arctic terns breeding in the Baltic Sea. Migration cycles were evaluated in light of Salomonsen's hypotheses and compared with results from geolocator studies of arctic tern populations from Greenland, Netherlands, and Alaska. The Baltic terns completed a 50,000 km annual migration circuit, exploiting ocean regions of high productivity in the North Atlantic, Benguela Current, and the Indian Ocean between southern Africa and Australia (sometimes including the Tasman Sea). They arrived about 1 November in the Antarctic zone at far easterly longitudes (in one case even at the Ross Sea) subsequently moving westward across 120–220 degrees of longitude toward the Weddell Sea region. They departed from here in mid‐March on a fast spring migration up the Atlantic Ocean. The geolocator data revealed unexpected segregation in time and space between tern populations in the same flyway. Terns from the Baltic and Netherlands traveled earlier and to significantly more easterly longitudes in the Indian Ocean and Antarctic zone than terns from Greenland. We suggest an adaptive explanation for this pattern. The global migration system of the arctic tern offers an extraordinary possibility to understand adaptive values and constraints in complex pelagic life cycles, as determined by environmental conditions (marine productivity, wind patterns, low‐pressure trajectories, pack‐ice distribution), inherent factors (flight performance, molt, flocking), and effects of predation/piracy and competition.
- Published
- 2019
46. No detectable effect of light-level geolocators on the behaviour and fitness of a long-distance migratory seabird
- Author
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Nathalie Kürten, Oscar Vedder, Jacob González-Solís, Sandra Bouwhuis, and Heiko Schmaljohann
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0106 biological sciences ,biology ,Phenology ,Sterna ,Zoology ,biology.organism_classification ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,010605 ornithology ,Light level ,biology.animal ,Hirundo ,Seabird ,Tern - Abstract
Light-level geolocators are increasingly popular devices for tracking migratory birds. However, to ensure that data on migratory behaviour represent natural behaviour that is not affected by potentially harmful effects of carrying such a device, their effects on behaviour and fitness should be assessed. A review of studies that tested for effects of tarsus-mounted light-level geolocators on seabirds showed that results are equivocal and often difficult to interpret due to the inclusion of only few traits and/or the lack of a proper experimental design. We therefore experimentally tested whether tarsus-mounted light-level geolocators affected a long-distance migratory seabird, the Common Tern Sterna hirundo. Using a well-matched treatment and control group, including both males and females, we tested whether light-level geolocators, deployed in the second half of incubation, affected the subsequent share of incubation, provisioning rate, reproductive performance, phenology or survival of tagged birds or their partners. In the year of deployment, we found no evidence for the behaviour of tagged birds or their partners to be affected by the geolocators. Moreover, we found no effect on their reproductive performance and departure date from the breeding colony. Finally, neither local survival to the next season, nor arrival date to the breeding colony in that season differed between tagged birds or their partners and control birds. These results suggest that a year of carrying a light-level geolocator attached to the tarsus has negligible effects on Common Terns and that such a device can be used to study their migratory behaviour without causing problems or introducing bias.
- Published
- 2019
47. Intraspecific variability in isotopic composition of a monomorphic seabird, the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo), at wintering grounds
- Author
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Enrique Alberto Madrid, Rocío Mariano-Jelicich, and Paola Lamacchia
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Sterna ,Foraging ,sexual segregation ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Intraspecific competition ,feeding ecology ,Ciencias Biológicas ,biology.animal ,Hirundo ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Stable isotopes ,Nature and Landscape Conservation ,biology ,Ecology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,non-breeding period ,Zoología, Ornitología, Entomología, Etología ,Population ecology ,isotopic niche ,biology.organism_classification ,Animal Science and Zoology ,Tern ,Seabird ,Ornithology ,terns ,CIENCIAS NATURALES Y EXACTAS - Abstract
Understanding sex differences in foraging behaviour has important implications for breeding biology and population ecology. This requires the evaluation of segregation throughout the annual cycle, including the non-breeding period. We studied the diet and foraging strategies of the Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) at an intraspecific level by sampling birds during two consecutive non-breeding periods in Punta Rasa, Buenos Aires Province, Argentina. Blood samples were taken for sex determination and carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. No isotopic difference was observed between years, but higher isotopic values occurred during late non-breeding period. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic values were similar between sexes; however, differences were observed in standard ellipse analyses, considered to represent isotopic niches. Even though the Bayesian ellipse areas overlapped, females showed wider isotopic niches throughout the non-breeding period. This could be related to different feeding strategies, foraging areas or migratory stopover sites at either intraspecific or individual levels. Diet contributions of different prey categories estimated through mixing model analyses suggested a higher contribution of estuarine fish than of marine pelagic species. These results highlight the importance of stable isotope analyses as a complementary methodology to traditional diet studies, particularly during the non-breeding period. Fil: Lamacchia, Paola. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Madrid, Enrique Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biología. Laboratorio de Vertebrados; Argentina Fil: Mariano y Jelicich, Rocío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina
- Published
- 2019
48. Colony size affects nestling immune function: a cross-fostering experiment in a colonial waterbird
- Author
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Kamila Gach, Radosław Włodarczyk, Piotr Minias, and Tomasz Janiszewski
- Subjects
0106 biological sciences ,Sterna ,Physiological Ecology–Original Research ,Zoology ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,Birds ,Charadriiformes ,Immune system ,Hirundo ,Common tern ,Cross-fostering ,Animals ,Immune response ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Sociality ,Phytohaemagglutinin ,Social stress ,biology ,Ecology ,010604 marine biology & hydrobiology ,biology.organism_classification ,biology.protein ,Tern ,Coloniality - Abstract
Elevated transmission rate of pathogens and parasites is considered one of the major costs of sociality in birds. However, greater risk of infection in colonial birds might be compensated by specific immune adaptations. Here, we predicted that nestlings raised in larger colonies should invest more in their immune function. To test this hypothesis, we manipulated colony size and conduced cross-fostering experiment in a colonial waterbird, the common tern Sterna hirundo. Establishment of different size colonies under uniform environmental conditions was induced by providing large and small patches of attractive nesting area for terns (floating rafts). Then, pairs of clutches were swapped between large and small tern colonies, and skin-swelling response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was assessed for nestlings from experimental and control broods. Contrary to our expectations, we found a negative effect of foster colony size on nestling PHA response (nestlings raised in the larger colony had lower PHA response). In addition, nestling PHA response correlated negatively with heterophil/lymphocyte ratio used as a measure of physiological stress. This suggested that low PHA response of nestlings raised in the larger colony could be mediated by an elevated level of social stress. We suggest that depression of immune function via social stress may constitute a strong selective pressure against large colony size in the common tern, and possibly in other colonial species. We also recommend that this largely overlooked cost of sociality should be considered in the further studies on the evolution and ecology of avian coloniality. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00442-019-04402-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
- Published
- 2019
49. Contrasting heterozygosity-fitness correlations across life in a long-lived seabird
- Author
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Michael Wink, Oscar Vedder, Peter H. Becker, Coraline Bichet, Sandra Bouwhuis, Hedwig Sauer-Gürth, and Verhulst lab
- Subjects
Male ,0106 biological sciences ,0301 basic medicine ,life history ,INBREEDING DEPRESSION ,Heterozygote ,Genotype ,Sterna ,Outbreeding depression ,GENETIC-BASIS ,010603 evolutionary biology ,01 natural sciences ,microsatellites ,COMMON TERN POPULATION ,Loss of heterozygosity ,Charadriiformes ,03 medical and health sciences ,SEXUAL-DIMORPHISM ,Germany ,Genetics ,Hirundo ,Inbreeding depression ,Animals ,heterozygosity ,REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE ,common tern ,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics ,Genetic diversity ,biology ,Sterna hirundo ,Fledge ,OUTBREEDING DEPRESSION ,MICROSATELLITE MARKERS ,MULTILOCUS HETEROZYGOSITY ,LOCAL RECRUITMENT ,biology.organism_classification ,fitness ,Genetics, Population ,030104 developmental biology ,Female ,Genetic Fitness ,North Sea ,Tern ,INDIVIDUAL QUALITY ,Microsatellite Repeats ,Demography - Abstract
Selection is a central force underlying evolutionary change and can vary in strength and direction, for example across time and space. The fitness consequences of individual genetic diversity have often been investigated by testing for multilocus heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs), but few studies have been able to assess HFCs across life stages and in both sexes. Here, we test for HFCs using a 26-year longitudinal individual-based data set from a large population of a long-lived seabird (the common tern, Sterna hirundo), where 7,974 chicks and breeders of known age were genotyped at 15 microsatellite loci and sampled for life-history traits over the complete life cycle. Heterozygosity was not correlated with fledging or post-fledging prospecting probabilities, but was positively correlated with recruitment probability. For breeders, annual survival was not correlated with heterozygosity, but annual fledgling production was negatively correlated with heterozygosity in males and highest in intermediately heterozygous females. The contrasting HFCs among life stages and sexes indicate differential selective processes and emphasize the importance of assessing fitness consequences of traits over complete life histories.
- Published
- 2019
50. Assessment of Pb and Cd contaminations in the urban waterway sediments of the Nen River (Qiqihar section), Northeastern China, and transfer along the food chain
- Author
-
Zhongyan Gao, Wang Zhiliang, Jinming Luo, and Yongjie Wang
- Subjects
China ,Geologic Sediments ,Food Chain ,Range (biology) ,Sterna ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Corvus frugilegus ,010501 environmental sciences ,Risk Assessment ,01 natural sciences ,Birds ,Food chain ,Rivers ,Dry weight ,Metals, Heavy ,biology.animal ,Hirundo ,Animals ,Environmental Chemistry ,Ecotoxicology ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Ecology ,biology ,Urbanization ,General Medicine ,biology.organism_classification ,Pollution ,Lead ,Environmental chemistry ,Bioaccumulation ,Environmental science ,Water Pollutants, Chemical ,Cadmium ,Environmental Monitoring - Abstract
The increasing anthropogenic inputs of Pb and Cd into China’s Nen River (Qiqihar section) owing to rapid urbanization in the past 50 years may pose ecological risks to the river’s aquatic system. To confirm this hypothesis, we determined the Pb and Cd concentrations in the sediments of the Nen River flowing across Qiqihar City by comparing the control group (samplings in the Nen River branch bypassing the city) and bioaccumulation along the food chain. We found significantly higher Pb concentrations in the sediments than in the control group (39.21 mg kg−1 dry weight [dw] vs. 22.44 mg kg−1 dw; p
- Published
- 2019
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