Brooding is a major breeding investment of parental birds during the early nestling stage, and has important effects on the development and survival of nestlings. Investigating brooding behavior can help to understand...Brooding is a major breeding investment of parental birds during the early nestling stage, and has important effects on the development and survival of nestlings. Investigating brooding behavior can help to understand avian breeding investment strategies. From January to June in 2013 and 2014, we studied the brooding behaviors of long-tailed tits （Aegithalos caudatus glaucogularis） in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, Henan Province, China. We analyzed the relationships between parental diurnal brooding duration and nestling age, brood size, temperature, relative breeding season, time of day and nestling frequencies during brooding duration. Results showed that female and male long-tailed tit parents had different breeding investment strategies during the early nestling stage. Female parents bore most of the brooding investment, while male parents performed most of the nestling feedings. In addition, helpers were not found to brood nestlings at the two cooperative breeding nests. Parental brooding duration was significantly associated with the food delivered to nestlings （F=86.10, dr=l, 193.94, P〈0.001）, and was longer when the nestlings received more food. We found that parental brooding duration declined significantly as nestlings aged （F=5.99, dr=-1, 50.13, P=0.018）. When nestlings were six days old, daytime parental brooding almost ceased, implying that long- tailed tit nestlings might be able to maintain their own body temperature by this age. In addition, brooding duration was affected by both brood size （F=12.74, dr=-1,32.08, P=0.001） and temperature （F=5.83, df=-l, 39.59, P=-0.021）, with it being shorter in larger broods and when ambient temperature was higher.展开更多
In this study,we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge(Arborophila rufipectus)at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve,Sichuan Province,China.Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nes...In this study,we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge(Arborophila rufipectus)at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve,Sichuan Province,China.Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night.This behavior lasted 6.7±4.3 nights(range=1–15;n=13)after the chicks hatched.At this stage,the hens became very vigilant to predators and human disturbance.If disturbed,they often abandoned the nests immediately and no longer returned thereafter.The ambient temperature at night during the early brooding period of Sichuan Partridge at our study site was^12.4°C.Our findings suggest that hen Sichuan Partridges may make trade-offs between nest predation risks versus the thermoregulatory needs of their young.展开更多
The key techniques of artificial incubation and brooding of Bonasa bonasia during breeding technology promotion was summed up in the paper.Electric incubation and dielectric incubation,electric brooding and dielectric...The key techniques of artificial incubation and brooding of Bonasa bonasia during breeding technology promotion was summed up in the paper.Electric incubation and dielectric incubation,electric brooding and dielectric brooding were compared with each other.The results showed that the effect of dielectric inoculation was poor,and there were no significant difference between electric brooding and dielectric brooding.展开更多
Urban areas differ from natural habitats in several environmental features that influence the characteristics of animals living there.For example,birds often start breeding seasonally earlier and fledge fewer offsprin...Urban areas differ from natural habitats in several environmental features that influence the characteristics of animals living there.For example,birds often start breeding seasonally earlier and fledge fewer offspring per brood in cities than in natural habitats.However,longer breeding seasons in cities may increase the frequency of double-brooding in urban compared with nonurban populations,thus potentially increasing urban birds’annual reproductive output and resulting in lower habitat difference in reproductive success than estimated by studies focusing on first clutches only.In this study,we investigated 2 urban and 2 forests great tit Parus major populations from 2013 to 2019.We compared the probability of double-brooding and the total number of annually fledged chicks per female between urban and forest habitats,while controlling for the effects of potentially confounding variables.There was a trend for a higher probability of double-brooding in urban(44%of females)than in forest populations(36%),although this was not consistent between the 2 urban sites.Females produced significantly fewer fledglings annually in the cities than in the forest sites,and this difference was present both within single-and double-brooded females.Furthermore,double-brooded urban females produced a similar number of fledglings per season as single-brooded forest females.These results indicate that double-brooding increases the reproductive success of female great tits in both habitats,but urban females cannot effectively compensate in this way for their lower reproductive output per brood.However,other mechanisms like increased post-fledging survival can mitigate habitat differences in reproductive success.展开更多
Dear Editor,Coral reefs sustain high biodiversity and have been referred to as the rainforests of the ocean.However,anthropogenic stressors have led to a global decline of coral reefs,partly due to the increasing scal...Dear Editor,Coral reefs sustain high biodiversity and have been referred to as the rainforests of the ocean.However,anthropogenic stressors have led to a global decline of coral reefs,partly due to the increasing scale,frequency,and intensity of coral bleaching events driven by global warming(Henley et al.,2024;Hughes et al.,2018).展开更多
The brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbird(Molothrus ater)has one of the shortest incubation periods of any bird.Brown-headed cowbird eggs,and those of other avian brood parasites,tend to be more spherical due to their ...The brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbird(Molothrus ater)has one of the shortest incubation periods of any bird.Brown-headed cowbird eggs,and those of other avian brood parasites,tend to be more spherical due to their greater relative width.The traditional explanation for this egg shape is that it,combined with the thicker eggshells,resists host puncture-ejection.However,very few North American hosts of the brownheaded cowbird actually engage in puncture-ejection and therefore wider eggs may instead provide greater contact with a host’s brood patch during incubation,especially in large host nests.We tested whether greater egg width increased mean temperature and reduced temperature variation in brown-headed cowbirds by inserting temperature probes into brown-headed cowbird and house sparrow(Passer domesticus)eggs and placing them into red-winged blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)nests.House sparrow eggs are similar in appearance and in length to cowbird eggs,but are not as wide.We found no signifcant relationship between brown-headed cowbird egg width and mean incubation temperature.However,brown-headed cowbird eggs experienced less temperature variation than house sparrow eggs,and within brown-headed cowbird eggs,more spherical eggs experienced less temperature variation when accounting for differences in width.These results suggest that brownheaded cowbirds may have short incubation periods in part because their eggs exhibit less temperature variation over the course of incubation.The brown-headed cowbird’s egg shape may contribute to its accelerated embryonic development rate relative to host eggs of similar size,which explains its ability to hatch in a variety of host nests.展开更多
With the ongoing acceleration of global urbanization, an increasingly larger proportion of natural habitats are being transformed and utilized by humans. Urbanization has a substantial impact on animal populations, ex...With the ongoing acceleration of global urbanization, an increasingly larger proportion of natural habitats are being transformed and utilized by humans. Urbanization has a substantial impact on animal populations, exposing them to greater risks, but also presenting new opportunities and resources. Although the effects of urbanization and brood parasitism on the population dynamics and behavior of host birds have received considerable attention, there has been comparatively little research on how urbanization might affect the risk of brood parasitism on host birds. From April to August in 2023 and 2024, we investigated the risk of brood parasitism on Azure-winged Magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) breeding in the urban center, outskirt, and rural areas of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The results revealed significant differences in the risk of brood parasitism among Azure-winged Magpies in the three regions, with the proportion of magpies parasitized by the Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) being found to be significantly lower in the city center (0%) than that in outskirt (3.8%) and rural (11.4%) areas. Our results are consistent with the idea that cities can act as refuges that reduce the risk of brood parasitism experienced by host Azure-winged Magpies. Accordingly, breeding in cities enables Azure-winged Magpies to escape brood parasitism by the Asian Koel.展开更多
Avian brood parasitism is a unique reproductive behavior in which parasitic birds depend on other species to incubate their eggs and raise their offspring.In China,there are 20 species of cuckoos in the family Cuculid...Avian brood parasitism is a unique reproductive behavior in which parasitic birds depend on other species to incubate their eggs and raise their offspring.In China,there are 20 species of cuckoos in the family Cuculidae,order Cuculiformes,of which 17 species are parasitic cuckoos.This makes China one of the countries with the largest number of parasitic cuckoo species worldwide.Understanding the host utilization of cuckoos provides fundamental data for studying the coevolution of cuckoos with their hosts.We collected information on cuckoo hosts from the literature,photographs provided by birdwatchers,and online short video platforms,combined these data with our field observations,and summarized the parasitic cuckoos and their host species in China.A total of 1155 parasitism events were counted,involving 12 parasitic cuckoo species and 87 bird host species.These hosts belonged to 26 families,among which Muscicapidae was the most diverse with 19 species,accounting for 21.8%of the total hosts,followed by the families Phylloscopidae and Leiothrichidae with 8 species each,accounting for 9.2%of the total hosts recorded.The Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)had the largest number of host taxa with 38 species,accounting for 43.7%of the total host species.This study adds 14 host species that have not been reported in China.However,for five species,the Jacobin Cuckoo(Clamator jacobinus),Banded Bay Cuckoo(Cacomantis sonneratii),Violet Cuckoo(Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus),Common Hawkcuckoo(Hierococcyx varius),and Whistling Hawk-cuckoo(Hierococcyx nisicolor),information regarding host utilization is still lacking.展开更多
Alarm calls in bird vocalizations serve as acoustic signals announcing danger.Owing to the convergent evolution of alarm calls,some bird species can beneft from eavesdropping on certain parameters of alarm calls of ot...Alarm calls in bird vocalizations serve as acoustic signals announcing danger.Owing to the convergent evolution of alarm calls,some bird species can beneft from eavesdropping on certain parameters of alarm calls of other species.Vocal mimicry,displayed by many bird species,aids defense against predators and may help brood parasites during parasitism.In the coevolutionary dynamics between brood parasites,such as the common cuckoo(Cuculus canorus),and their hosts,female cuckoo vocalizations can induce hosts to leave the nest,increasing the probability of successful parasitism and reducing the risk of host attacks.Such cuckoo calls were thought to mimic those of the sparrowhawk.However,owing to their similarity to alarm calls,we propose a new hypothesis:Female cuckoos cheat their hosts by mimicking the parameters of the host alarm call.In this study,we tested this new hypothesis and the sparrowhawk mimicry hypothesis simultaneously by manipulating the syllable rate in male and female common cuckoo vocalizations and playing them in front of the host Oriental reed warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)for examination.The results indicate that similar to a normal female cuckoo call,a female call with a reduced syllable rate prompted the hosts to leave their nests more frequently and rapidly than male cuckoo calls.Additionally,the male cuckoo calls with increased syllable rate did not prompt the host to leave their nests more frequently or quickly compared with the male cuckoo calls with a normal syllable rate.Our results further confrm that female common cuckoos mimic the vocalizations of Eurasian sparrowhawks(Accipiter nisus),reveal the function mechanisms underlying such mimicry,and support the theory of imperfect mimicry.展开更多
For songbirds,the post-fledging period is critical for development and survival,as young must learn to get food,practice flying,and identify predators to become independent from their parents and disperse or migrate.O...For songbirds,the post-fledging period is critical for development and survival,as young must learn to get food,practice flying,and identify predators to become independent from their parents and disperse or migrate.Obligate avian brood parasites,like cuckoos and cowbirds,lay eggs in nests of other bird species that provide parental care until the parasite’s young become independent.The information on the post-fledging period in songbirds is limited due to the difficulty in following and observing fledglings and it is even scarcer for brood parasites.We studied the behavior,survival,and age of independence of Shiny Cowbird(Molothrus bonariensis)fledglings raised by 2 hosts that differ markedly in body size:the House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)and the Chalk-Browed Mockingbird(Mimus saturninus).We radio-tracked individuals from a few days before they left the nest until they disappeared from the natal territory.We found:(1)chicks left the nest when they were 11-15 days of age and the age of fledgling did not differ between the 2 host species,(2)after leaving the nest,they spent most of the time perched in a hidden place without begging but as they grew,the proportion of time perched without begging decreased and begging in hidden and exposed places increased,(3)we observed approaches between adult parasitic females and young in host territories,(4)young abandoned the host territory and joined conspecific flocks when they were 35-39 days of age,and(5)the estimated post-fledging survival was between 12.5%and 20.8%.展开更多
Individuals may gather information about environmental conditions when deciding where to breed in order to maximize their lifetime fitness.They can obtain social information by observing conspecifics and heterospecifi...Individuals may gather information about environmental conditions when deciding where to breed in order to maximize their lifetime fitness.They can obtain social information by observing conspecifics and heterospecifics with similar ecological needs.Many studies have shown that birds can rely on social information to select their nest sites.The location of active nests and the reproductive success of conspecifics and heterospecifics can provide accurate predictions about the quality of the breeding habitat.Some short-lived species can facultatively reproduce two and/or more times within a breeding season.However,few studies have focused on how multiplebrooding individuals select nest sites for their second breeding attempts.In this study,we use long-term data to test whether the Japanese Tit(Parus minor)can use social information from conspecifics and/or heterospecifics(the Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea,the Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia)to select a nest site for the second breeding attempt.Our results showed that the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt tended to be surrounded by more breeding conspecific nests,successful first nests of conspecifics,and fewer failed first nests of conspecifics than the nest boxes that remained unoccupied(the control group).However,the numbers of breeding heterospecific nests,successful heterospecific nests,and failed heterospecific nests did not differ between the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt and the unoccupied nest boxes.Furthermore,the tits with local successful breeding experience tended to choose areas with more successful first nests of conspecifics than those without successful breeding experience.Thus,we suggest that conspecifics'but not heterospecifics'social information within the same breeding season is the major factor influencing the nest site selection of Japanese Tits during second breeding attempts.展开更多
Many birds develop brood patches on their ventral apterium under hormonal regulation to effectively transmit body heat to eggs during incubation.The developed patch has several characteristics,including de-feathering,...Many birds develop brood patches on their ventral apterium under hormonal regulation to effectively transmit body heat to eggs during incubation.The developed patch has several characteristics,including de-feathering,vascularization,and edema.However,little is known about whether avian brood parasites that do not incubate their eggs exhibit brood patch development during the breeding season.In this study,we measured the size of the ventral apterium in 114 Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus)captured in the field throughout the breeding season and examined the appearance of the ventral apterium to confirm the development of brood patches.We also examined whether morphological traits and various factors correlated with the size of the ventral apterium(sternal apterium and abdominal apterium)and how it changed during the breeding season.We found no clear signs of brood patch development in Common Cuckoos captured throughout the breeding season,indicating that they likely did not develop brood patches on the ventral apterium during this period.We also found that ventral apterium size was positively correlated with wing length and body weight.In addition,Common Cuckoos with newly growing feathers on the boundary of the ventral apterium with pteryla were frequently observed as seasons progressed to the end.In conclusion,Common Cuckoos exhibit neither brood patch development nor the vestigial characteristics of ancestral brood patches,except for the growth of feathers on boundary the ventral apterium.Further studies examining brood patches across different groups of avian brood parasites are valuable for enhancing our understanding of the developmental and physiological adaptations of avian brood parasites.展开更多
Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus)dependent on parental care for post-hatching demonstrate an intriguing ability to modify their begging vocalizations to ensure maximum care and resources from their interspecific foster ...Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus)dependent on parental care for post-hatching demonstrate an intriguing ability to modify their begging vocalizations to ensure maximum care and resources from their interspecific foster parents.Here,we compared begging calls of the Common Cuckoo nestlings fed by four host species,the Grey Bushchat(Saxicola ferreus),Siberian Stonechat(Saxicola maurus),Daurian Redstart(Phoenicurus auroreus),and Oriental Magpie-robin(Copsychus saularis).Results showed that begging calls of the stonechat-,redstart-,and robin-cuckoo resemble those of host species'nestlings in various aspects like low frequency,high frequency,frequency bandwidth and peak frequency,while the bushchat-cuckoo chicks'begging calls were only comparable to their host species in terms of how long they lasted and their peak frequency.In addition,cuckoo nestlings raised in different host nests displayed significant variations in their begging calls in low and peak frequency.This study suggests that cuckoo nestlings do not mimic host species nestlings'begging calls throughout the nestling period,but may tune their begging calls according to host species,while begging calls vary with cuckoo and host species nestlings'ages.Future research should study the parents'reactions to these calls in different host species for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying such adaptations.展开更多
The shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis parasitizes many species with different life-history traits and has a detrimental effect on the survival of the progeny of the hosts.In response,hosts have developed numerous an...The shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis parasitizes many species with different life-history traits and has a detrimental effect on the survival of the progeny of the hosts.In response,hosts have developed numerous antiparasitic defenses.Here,we examined the effects of brood parasitism by shiny cowbird on the clutch and brood sizes(83 nests)in a small host,the black-backed water tyrant Fluvicola albiventer.We also studied whether the death of parasite nestlings was related to the care of the foster parents and whether the host had any antiparasitic defense against the shiny cowbird.Our results indicate that brood parasitism significantly decreased the host hatching and fledging successes.The majority of nest failures(57%)were caused by brood parasitism.Shiny cowbird parasitism occurred in 52%of nests and the intensity of parasitism was 1.23±0.53 eggs per parasitized nest.Of the total host eggs,54%were damaged.During the incubation stage,20 nests(47%)were abandoned because of egg punctures by shiny cowbirds females.Only two parasitic fledglings were recorded,while the remaining nestlings either died from starvation(n=12)or predation(n=3).Foster parents abandoned parasitic nestlings between 5 and 10 days old.Our findings demonstrate that the shiny cowbird has very low rates of fledging success when parasitizing black-backed water tyrant.Also,parasitism had a high reproductive cost in the black-backed water tyrant because a very low proportion(7%)of the parasitized nests(n=43)were successful.展开更多
Juveniles of interspecific avian brood parasites need to locate and recognize conspecifics to continue their life cycle after being reared by individuals of another species.However,little is known about the recognitio...Juveniles of interspecific avian brood parasites need to locate and recognize conspecifics to continue their life cycle after being reared by individuals of another species.However,little is known about the recognition mechanisms and cues involved in this critical stage of their lives.It has been proposed that adult parasites could show some kind of parental behavior by actively searching and interacting with conspecific young,which in turn could serve the juveniles to learn and/or reinforce the learning of conspecific characteristics.Since acoustic communication is one of the main channels used by birds,if such form of parental behavior by adult avian brood parasites does exist,adult cowbirds should recognize and respond positively to vocalizations of conspecific juveniles.We experimentally tested whether adult shiny Molothrus bonariensis and screaming M.rufoaxillaris cowbirds respond positively towards acoustic signals of conspecific juveniles using two playback experiments,one conducted in semi-captivity and the other in the field.In both cases,we presented 3 types of playbacks to adults of both cowbird species:vocalizations of shiny cowbird juveniles,vocalizations of screaming cowbird juveniles,and white noise as a control.In the experiment in semi-captivity,no significant differences were found between treatments.In the field experiment,no conspecifics approached the playback area,but hosts of the species whose playback was played were attracted to the loudspeaker.In conclusion,our results do not support the predictions we tested from the parental behavior hypothesis and indicate that adult shiny and screaming cowbirds do not respond positively to acoustic signals of conspecific juveniles,at least not to the type of signals used in our experiments.展开更多
In the co-evolutionary system of avian brood parasitism,egg recognition and rejection are common and generally act as effective anti-parasitic adaptations by hosts.Accordingly,most studies have examined the role of pa...In the co-evolutionary system of avian brood parasitism,egg recognition and rejection are common and generally act as effective anti-parasitic adaptations by hosts.Accordingly,most studies have examined the role of parasite egg colors and markings in detection cues in hosts;however,studies focusing on the effects of egg size and quantity are relatively scarce and have mostly concentrated on the hosts of parasitic cowbirds.Here,we studied the egg recognition behaviors of a potential host of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)—the Green-backed Tit(Parus monticolus),to determine:(1)whether the host uses the sizes of parasite eggs and/or the quantity contrast between parasite and host eggs as cues for recognition,(2)whether the host employs the template or discordant recognition mechanism for egg recognition,and(3)whether the size and quantity of parasite eggs affect the egg rejection modes of the hosts.The results indicate that Green-backed Tits did not use parasite egg size as a primary cue for egg recognition.We hypothesized that both visual and tactile detection might be involved in egg recognition by Green-backed Tits and suggest further studies after controlling for nest light conditions.Differences in egg quantity between parasites and hosts were not used as cues for egg recognition because the hosts employed the template mechanism rather than discordance to recognize parasite eggs.However,both the relative sizes and quantity of parasite and host eggs significantly affected the rejection modes of parasite eggs,and larger or more parasite eggs triggered higher probabilities of nest desertion in hosts.展开更多
The Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)is one of the most commonly used hosts for the parasitic Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).However,as hosts that feed unrelated parasitic nestlings may suffer extra repro...The Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)is one of the most commonly used hosts for the parasitic Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).However,as hosts that feed unrelated parasitic nestlings may suffer extra reproductive costs,they may be less willing to care for nestlings that have prolonged nestling periods.To test this hypothesis,the duration of feeding by Oriental Reed Warblers under natural conditions for their own nestlings was compared with the duration of feeding under natural conditions for Common Cuckoo nestlings and for artificially prolonged cuckoo nestlings.The results showed that Oriental Reed Warblers did not starve,drive away,or desert any of the nestlings in the experiment,and neither parent was left alone.Our experimental study indicates that both Oriental Reed Warbler parents were willing to care for nestlings with a prolonged nestling period(up to 30 days,twice the average duration time that the Oriental Reed Warblers fed their own chicks in natural conditions).However,further experiments and observations are required in other host bird species to examine whether both parents or one of the parents may exhibit the behavior of abandoning nestlings with a prolonged nestling period.展开更多
In this exposé we provide the first review of host use by brood parasitic cuckoos in a multiple-cuckoo system in China, based on our own long-term field data and a compilation of observations obtained from the li...In this exposé we provide the first review of host use by brood parasitic cuckoos in a multiple-cuckoo system in China, based on our own long-term field data and a compilation of observations obtained from the literature. In total, we found that 11 species of cuckoos utilized altogether 55 host species. These hosts belong to 15 families, in which Sylviidae, Turdidae and Timaliidae account for 22.6%, 20.8% and 17.0% of parasitism records, respectively. The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) had the widest range of host species, accounting for 45.5% of the total number of parasitized species (25 in 10 families) of all parasitism records and is the most frequent brood parasite in the country. Cuckoo species differed in their egg coloration and the extent of egg polymorphism with most of them, e.g. the Common Cuckoo, the Lesser Cuckoo (C. poliocephalus) and the Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) laying well mimetic eggs with respect to their hosts based on human being’s visual observations, while others such as the Large Hawk-cuckoo (C. sparverioides), the Himalayan Cuckoo (C. saturatus) and the Asian Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx maculatus) usually laid non-mimetic eggs. The use of cuckoo hosts and egg color variation in China are compared with those in other parts of their ranges in Asia.展开更多
Genetic variations of three species from primary parent （OI Q,SIS Q,Kona Bay Q） and their first filial generation （OI Z,SIS Z,Kona Bay Z） of Litopenaeus vannamei were detected using microsatellite marker technique...Genetic variations of three species from primary parent （OI Q,SIS Q,Kona Bay Q） and their first filial generation （OI Z,SIS Z,Kona Bay Z） of Litopenaeus vannamei were detected using microsatellite marker technique.The amplified products of genomic DNA with 8 microsatellite makers indicated that 8 loci presents polymorphism,the number of total alleles were 28 in 6 species;the number of allele of every loci was 2 to 6;mean allele number （Na） was 3.5;expected heterozygosity value （He） were higher than observed heterozygosity value （Ho）;mean polymorphism information content （PIC） ranged from 0.479 4 to 0.769 9,which showed these 8 loci posses relatively high information content.Through analysis of genetic structure in primary parent and their first filial,allele and effective allele number,observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity values and mean polymorphism information content （PIC） in filial generation were little lower than their primary parents.However,genetic diversity of filial generation is not influenced,and still maintains a good heritability.展开更多
Based on the field observation on the parental behavior of Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) during their brooding period, this paper describes the breeding style, feeding behavior, water chicks, protect chicks,...Based on the field observation on the parental behavior of Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) during their brooding period, this paper describes the breeding style, feeding behavior, water chicks, protect chicks, etc. A Ritual “behavior—Culmen Knocking/bill clattering” was observed and which is divided into three styles with deferent meanings. This behavior plays an important role during this season.展开更多
基金Foundation item： This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （31472011）ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We are grateful to Peng ZHANG, Zheng CHEN, Jia-Hui WANG, and Hui-Jia YUAN of Beijing Normal University for field assistance, and staff from Henan Dongzhai National Nature Reserve for help during field work. We also thank editor for revising the English, and the two reviewers for their constructive comments, which have helped to improve the manuscript.
文摘Brooding is a major breeding investment of parental birds during the early nestling stage, and has important effects on the development and survival of nestlings. Investigating brooding behavior can help to understand avian breeding investment strategies. From January to June in 2013 and 2014, we studied the brooding behaviors of long-tailed tits （Aegithalos caudatus glaucogularis） in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, Henan Province, China. We analyzed the relationships between parental diurnal brooding duration and nestling age, brood size, temperature, relative breeding season, time of day and nestling frequencies during brooding duration. Results showed that female and male long-tailed tit parents had different breeding investment strategies during the early nestling stage. Female parents bore most of the brooding investment, while male parents performed most of the nestling feedings. In addition, helpers were not found to brood nestlings at the two cooperative breeding nests. Parental brooding duration was significantly associated with the food delivered to nestlings （F=86.10, dr=l, 193.94, P〈0.001）, and was longer when the nestlings received more food. We found that parental brooding duration declined significantly as nestlings aged （F=5.99, dr=-1, 50.13, P=0.018）. When nestlings were six days old, daytime parental brooding almost ceased, implying that long- tailed tit nestlings might be able to maintain their own body temperature by this age. In addition, brooding duration was affected by both brood size （F=12.74, dr=-1,32.08, P=0.001） and temperature （F=5.83, df=-l, 39.59, P=-0.021）, with it being shorter in larger broods and when ambient temperature was higher.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31872961 and 31272330)the biodiversity survey and assessment project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China(2019HB2096001006)the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China.
文摘In this study,we report an unusual homing behavior of the Sichuan Partridge(Arborophila rufipectus)at the Laojunshan National Nature Reserve,Sichuan Province,China.Hen Sichuan Partridges led the chicks back to the nests where they hatched in the evening and roosted there over night.This behavior lasted 6.7±4.3 nights(range=1–15;n=13)after the chicks hatched.At this stage,the hens became very vigilant to predators and human disturbance.If disturbed,they often abandoned the nests immediately and no longer returned thereafter.The ambient temperature at night during the early brooding period of Sichuan Partridge at our study site was^12.4°C.Our findings suggest that hen Sichuan Partridges may make trade-offs between nest predation risks versus the thermoregulatory needs of their young.
文摘The key techniques of artificial incubation and brooding of Bonasa bonasia during breeding technology promotion was summed up in the paper.Electric incubation and dielectric incubation,electric brooding and dielectric brooding were compared with each other.The results showed that the effect of dielectric inoculation was poor,and there were no significant difference between electric brooding and dielectric brooding.
基金the National Research Development and Innovation Office(NKFIH)of Hungary through the grant K132490 to A.L.and FK137743 to G.S.and by the TKP2020-IKA-07 project financed under the 2020-4.1.1-TKP2020 Thematic Excellence Program.I.P.was supported by theÚNKP-20-4 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Innovation and Technology from the Source of the National Research,Development and Innovation Fund.E.V.was supported by the National Office of Research,Development and Innovation(PD-134985)the MSCA EF Seal of Excellence IF-2019 grant by Vinnova,the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems(grant number:2021-01102).
文摘Urban areas differ from natural habitats in several environmental features that influence the characteristics of animals living there.For example,birds often start breeding seasonally earlier and fledge fewer offspring per brood in cities than in natural habitats.However,longer breeding seasons in cities may increase the frequency of double-brooding in urban compared with nonurban populations,thus potentially increasing urban birds’annual reproductive output and resulting in lower habitat difference in reproductive success than estimated by studies focusing on first clutches only.In this study,we investigated 2 urban and 2 forests great tit Parus major populations from 2013 to 2019.We compared the probability of double-brooding and the total number of annually fledged chicks per female between urban and forest habitats,while controlling for the effects of potentially confounding variables.There was a trend for a higher probability of double-brooding in urban(44%of females)than in forest populations(36%),although this was not consistent between the 2 urban sites.Females produced significantly fewer fledglings annually in the cities than in the forest sites,and this difference was present both within single-and double-brooded females.Furthermore,double-brooded urban females produced a similar number of fledglings per season as single-brooded forest females.These results indicate that double-brooding increases the reproductive success of female great tits in both habitats,but urban females cannot effectively compensate in this way for their lower reproductive output per brood.However,other mechanisms like increased post-fledging survival can mitigate habitat differences in reproductive success.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42122045,U23A2036)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2022-24,2023YFC3108800)。
文摘Dear Editor,Coral reefs sustain high biodiversity and have been referred to as the rainforests of the ocean.However,anthropogenic stressors have led to a global decline of coral reefs,partly due to the increasing scale,frequency,and intensity of coral bleaching events driven by global warming(Henley et al.,2024;Hughes et al.,2018).
文摘The brood-parasitic brown-headed cowbird(Molothrus ater)has one of the shortest incubation periods of any bird.Brown-headed cowbird eggs,and those of other avian brood parasites,tend to be more spherical due to their greater relative width.The traditional explanation for this egg shape is that it,combined with the thicker eggshells,resists host puncture-ejection.However,very few North American hosts of the brownheaded cowbird actually engage in puncture-ejection and therefore wider eggs may instead provide greater contact with a host’s brood patch during incubation,especially in large host nests.We tested whether greater egg width increased mean temperature and reduced temperature variation in brown-headed cowbirds by inserting temperature probes into brown-headed cowbird and house sparrow(Passer domesticus)eggs and placing them into red-winged blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus)nests.House sparrow eggs are similar in appearance and in length to cowbird eggs,but are not as wide.We found no signifcant relationship between brown-headed cowbird egg width and mean incubation temperature.However,brown-headed cowbird eggs experienced less temperature variation than house sparrow eggs,and within brown-headed cowbird eggs,more spherical eggs experienced less temperature variation when accounting for differences in width.These results suggest that brownheaded cowbirds may have short incubation periods in part because their eggs exhibit less temperature variation over the course of incubation.The brown-headed cowbird’s egg shape may contribute to its accelerated embryonic development rate relative to host eggs of similar size,which explains its ability to hatch in a variety of host nests.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFF1304600)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32160242 to JL,32470513 and 32270526 to WL)supported by the 2023 Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Youth Science and Technology Support Talent Training Project.
文摘With the ongoing acceleration of global urbanization, an increasingly larger proportion of natural habitats are being transformed and utilized by humans. Urbanization has a substantial impact on animal populations, exposing them to greater risks, but also presenting new opportunities and resources. Although the effects of urbanization and brood parasitism on the population dynamics and behavior of host birds have received considerable attention, there has been comparatively little research on how urbanization might affect the risk of brood parasitism on host birds. From April to August in 2023 and 2024, we investigated the risk of brood parasitism on Azure-winged Magpies (Cyanopica cyanus) breeding in the urban center, outskirt, and rural areas of Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The results revealed significant differences in the risk of brood parasitism among Azure-winged Magpies in the three regions, with the proportion of magpies parasitized by the Asian Koel (Eudynamys scolopaceus) being found to be significantly lower in the city center (0%) than that in outskirt (3.8%) and rural (11.4%) areas. Our results are consistent with the idea that cities can act as refuges that reduce the risk of brood parasitism experienced by host Azure-winged Magpies. Accordingly, breeding in cities enables Azure-winged Magpies to escape brood parasitism by the Asian Koel.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2023YFF1304600)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32160242 to JL,32470513 and 32270526 to W.L.)supported by the 2023 Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Youth Science and Technology Support Talent Training Project。
文摘Avian brood parasitism is a unique reproductive behavior in which parasitic birds depend on other species to incubate their eggs and raise their offspring.In China,there are 20 species of cuckoos in the family Cuculidae,order Cuculiformes,of which 17 species are parasitic cuckoos.This makes China one of the countries with the largest number of parasitic cuckoo species worldwide.Understanding the host utilization of cuckoos provides fundamental data for studying the coevolution of cuckoos with their hosts.We collected information on cuckoo hosts from the literature,photographs provided by birdwatchers,and online short video platforms,combined these data with our field observations,and summarized the parasitic cuckoos and their host species in China.A total of 1155 parasitism events were counted,involving 12 parasitic cuckoo species and 87 bird host species.These hosts belonged to 26 families,among which Muscicapidae was the most diverse with 19 species,accounting for 21.8%of the total hosts,followed by the families Phylloscopidae and Leiothrichidae with 8 species each,accounting for 9.2%of the total hosts recorded.The Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)had the largest number of host taxa with 38 species,accounting for 43.7%of the total host species.This study adds 14 host species that have not been reported in China.However,for five species,the Jacobin Cuckoo(Clamator jacobinus),Banded Bay Cuckoo(Cacomantis sonneratii),Violet Cuckoo(Chrysococcyx xanthorhynchus),Common Hawkcuckoo(Hierococcyx varius),and Whistling Hawk-cuckoo(Hierococcyx nisicolor),information regarding host utilization is still lacking.
基金funded by the Education Department of Hainan Province(no.HnjgY 2022-12)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(no.32260127).
文摘Alarm calls in bird vocalizations serve as acoustic signals announcing danger.Owing to the convergent evolution of alarm calls,some bird species can beneft from eavesdropping on certain parameters of alarm calls of other species.Vocal mimicry,displayed by many bird species,aids defense against predators and may help brood parasites during parasitism.In the coevolutionary dynamics between brood parasites,such as the common cuckoo(Cuculus canorus),and their hosts,female cuckoo vocalizations can induce hosts to leave the nest,increasing the probability of successful parasitism and reducing the risk of host attacks.Such cuckoo calls were thought to mimic those of the sparrowhawk.However,owing to their similarity to alarm calls,we propose a new hypothesis:Female cuckoos cheat their hosts by mimicking the parameters of the host alarm call.In this study,we tested this new hypothesis and the sparrowhawk mimicry hypothesis simultaneously by manipulating the syllable rate in male and female common cuckoo vocalizations and playing them in front of the host Oriental reed warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)for examination.The results indicate that similar to a normal female cuckoo call,a female call with a reduced syllable rate prompted the hosts to leave their nests more frequently and rapidly than male cuckoo calls.Additionally,the male cuckoo calls with increased syllable rate did not prompt the host to leave their nests more frequently or quickly compared with the male cuckoo calls with a normal syllable rate.Our results further confrm that female common cuckoos mimic the vocalizations of Eurasian sparrowhawks(Accipiter nisus),reveal the function mechanisms underlying such mimicry,and support the theory of imperfect mimicry.
基金supported by Grants from the Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica,from Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas(CONICET)and the University of Buenos Aires.
文摘For songbirds,the post-fledging period is critical for development and survival,as young must learn to get food,practice flying,and identify predators to become independent from their parents and disperse or migrate.Obligate avian brood parasites,like cuckoos and cowbirds,lay eggs in nests of other bird species that provide parental care until the parasite’s young become independent.The information on the post-fledging period in songbirds is limited due to the difficulty in following and observing fledglings and it is even scarcer for brood parasites.We studied the behavior,survival,and age of independence of Shiny Cowbird(Molothrus bonariensis)fledglings raised by 2 hosts that differ markedly in body size:the House Wren(Troglodytes aedon)and the Chalk-Browed Mockingbird(Mimus saturninus).We radio-tracked individuals from a few days before they left the nest until they disappeared from the natal territory.We found:(1)chicks left the nest when they were 11-15 days of age and the age of fledgling did not differ between the 2 host species,(2)after leaving the nest,they spent most of the time perched in a hidden place without begging but as they grew,the proportion of time perched without begging decreased and begging in hidden and exposed places increased,(3)we observed approaches between adult parasitic females and young in host territories,(4)young abandoned the host territory and joined conspecific flocks when they were 35-39 days of age,and(5)the estimated post-fledging survival was between 12.5%and 20.8%.
基金financed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971402 to H.Wang,32001094 to J.Yu,31870368 to K.Zhang)the High-level Startup Talents Introduced Scientific Research Fund Project of Baotou Teacher's College,China(No.BTTCRCQD2024-C34)。
文摘Individuals may gather information about environmental conditions when deciding where to breed in order to maximize their lifetime fitness.They can obtain social information by observing conspecifics and heterospecifics with similar ecological needs.Many studies have shown that birds can rely on social information to select their nest sites.The location of active nests and the reproductive success of conspecifics and heterospecifics can provide accurate predictions about the quality of the breeding habitat.Some short-lived species can facultatively reproduce two and/or more times within a breeding season.However,few studies have focused on how multiplebrooding individuals select nest sites for their second breeding attempts.In this study,we use long-term data to test whether the Japanese Tit(Parus minor)can use social information from conspecifics and/or heterospecifics(the Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea,the Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia)to select a nest site for the second breeding attempt.Our results showed that the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt tended to be surrounded by more breeding conspecific nests,successful first nests of conspecifics,and fewer failed first nests of conspecifics than the nest boxes that remained unoccupied(the control group).However,the numbers of breeding heterospecific nests,successful heterospecific nests,and failed heterospecific nests did not differ between the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt and the unoccupied nest boxes.Furthermore,the tits with local successful breeding experience tended to choose areas with more successful first nests of conspecifics than those without successful breeding experience.Thus,we suggest that conspecifics'but not heterospecifics'social information within the same breeding season is the major factor influencing the nest site selection of Japanese Tits during second breeding attempts.
基金financially supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)funded by The Ministry of Education(NRF-2020R1I1A2063567)。
文摘Many birds develop brood patches on their ventral apterium under hormonal regulation to effectively transmit body heat to eggs during incubation.The developed patch has several characteristics,including de-feathering,vascularization,and edema.However,little is known about whether avian brood parasites that do not incubate their eggs exhibit brood patch development during the breeding season.In this study,we measured the size of the ventral apterium in 114 Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus)captured in the field throughout the breeding season and examined the appearance of the ventral apterium to confirm the development of brood patches.We also examined whether morphological traits and various factors correlated with the size of the ventral apterium(sternal apterium and abdominal apterium)and how it changed during the breeding season.We found no clear signs of brood patch development in Common Cuckoos captured throughout the breeding season,indicating that they likely did not develop brood patches on the ventral apterium during this period.We also found that ventral apterium size was positively correlated with wing length and body weight.In addition,Common Cuckoos with newly growing feathers on the boundary of the ventral apterium with pteryla were frequently observed as seasons progressed to the end.In conclusion,Common Cuckoos exhibit neither brood patch development nor the vestigial characteristics of ancestral brood patches,except for the growth of feathers on boundary the ventral apterium.Further studies examining brood patches across different groups of avian brood parasites are valuable for enhancing our understanding of the developmental and physiological adaptations of avian brood parasites.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32270526 to W.L.and 32260253 to L.W.)supported by the specific research fund of The Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Provincesupported by the Hainan Province Postdoctoral Research Project。
文摘Common Cuckoos(Cuculus canorus)dependent on parental care for post-hatching demonstrate an intriguing ability to modify their begging vocalizations to ensure maximum care and resources from their interspecific foster parents.Here,we compared begging calls of the Common Cuckoo nestlings fed by four host species,the Grey Bushchat(Saxicola ferreus),Siberian Stonechat(Saxicola maurus),Daurian Redstart(Phoenicurus auroreus),and Oriental Magpie-robin(Copsychus saularis).Results showed that begging calls of the stonechat-,redstart-,and robin-cuckoo resemble those of host species'nestlings in various aspects like low frequency,high frequency,frequency bandwidth and peak frequency,while the bushchat-cuckoo chicks'begging calls were only comparable to their host species in terms of how long they lasted and their peak frequency.In addition,cuckoo nestlings raised in different host nests displayed significant variations in their begging calls in low and peak frequency.This study suggests that cuckoo nestlings do not mimic host species nestlings'begging calls throughout the nestling period,but may tune their begging calls according to host species,while begging calls vary with cuckoo and host species nestlings'ages.Future research should study the parents'reactions to these calls in different host species for a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying such adaptations.
文摘The shiny cowbird Molothrus bonariensis parasitizes many species with different life-history traits and has a detrimental effect on the survival of the progeny of the hosts.In response,hosts have developed numerous antiparasitic defenses.Here,we examined the effects of brood parasitism by shiny cowbird on the clutch and brood sizes(83 nests)in a small host,the black-backed water tyrant Fluvicola albiventer.We also studied whether the death of parasite nestlings was related to the care of the foster parents and whether the host had any antiparasitic defense against the shiny cowbird.Our results indicate that brood parasitism significantly decreased the host hatching and fledging successes.The majority of nest failures(57%)were caused by brood parasitism.Shiny cowbird parasitism occurred in 52%of nests and the intensity of parasitism was 1.23±0.53 eggs per parasitized nest.Of the total host eggs,54%were damaged.During the incubation stage,20 nests(47%)were abandoned because of egg punctures by shiny cowbirds females.Only two parasitic fledglings were recorded,while the remaining nestlings either died from starvation(n=12)or predation(n=3).Foster parents abandoned parasitic nestlings between 5 and 10 days old.Our findings demonstrate that the shiny cowbird has very low rates of fledging success when parasitizing black-backed water tyrant.Also,parasitism had a high reproductive cost in the black-backed water tyrant because a very low proportion(7%)of the parasitized nests(n=43)were successful.
基金supported by grants PICT 2015-1628 from Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica and UBACYT 20020170100521BA from Universidad de Buenos Aires to J.C.R.
文摘Juveniles of interspecific avian brood parasites need to locate and recognize conspecifics to continue their life cycle after being reared by individuals of another species.However,little is known about the recognition mechanisms and cues involved in this critical stage of their lives.It has been proposed that adult parasites could show some kind of parental behavior by actively searching and interacting with conspecific young,which in turn could serve the juveniles to learn and/or reinforce the learning of conspecific characteristics.Since acoustic communication is one of the main channels used by birds,if such form of parental behavior by adult avian brood parasites does exist,adult cowbirds should recognize and respond positively to vocalizations of conspecific juveniles.We experimentally tested whether adult shiny Molothrus bonariensis and screaming M.rufoaxillaris cowbirds respond positively towards acoustic signals of conspecific juveniles using two playback experiments,one conducted in semi-captivity and the other in the field.In both cases,we presented 3 types of playbacks to adults of both cowbird species:vocalizations of shiny cowbird juveniles,vocalizations of screaming cowbird juveniles,and white noise as a control.In the experiment in semi-captivity,no significant differences were found between treatments.In the field experiment,no conspecifics approached the playback area,but hosts of the species whose playback was played were attracted to the loudspeaker.In conclusion,our results do not support the predictions we tested from the parental behavior hypothesis and indicate that adult shiny and screaming cowbirds do not respond positively to acoustic signals of conspecific juveniles,at least not to the type of signals used in our experiments.
基金funded by the Education Department of Hainan Province(No.HnjgY,2022–12)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32260127 to C.Y.)Doctoral Start-up Funds of China West Normal University(No.493002 to P.Y.).
文摘In the co-evolutionary system of avian brood parasitism,egg recognition and rejection are common and generally act as effective anti-parasitic adaptations by hosts.Accordingly,most studies have examined the role of parasite egg colors and markings in detection cues in hosts;however,studies focusing on the effects of egg size and quantity are relatively scarce and have mostly concentrated on the hosts of parasitic cowbirds.Here,we studied the egg recognition behaviors of a potential host of the Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus)—the Green-backed Tit(Parus monticolus),to determine:(1)whether the host uses the sizes of parasite eggs and/or the quantity contrast between parasite and host eggs as cues for recognition,(2)whether the host employs the template or discordant recognition mechanism for egg recognition,and(3)whether the size and quantity of parasite eggs affect the egg rejection modes of the hosts.The results indicate that Green-backed Tits did not use parasite egg size as a primary cue for egg recognition.We hypothesized that both visual and tactile detection might be involved in egg recognition by Green-backed Tits and suggest further studies after controlling for nest light conditions.Differences in egg quantity between parasites and hosts were not used as cues for egg recognition because the hosts employed the template mechanism rather than discordance to recognize parasite eggs.However,both the relative sizes and quantity of parasite and host eggs significantly affected the rejection modes of parasite eggs,and larger or more parasite eggs triggered higher probabilities of nest desertion in hosts.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.32270526 to WL,32260253 to LW and 32101242 to LM)。
文摘The Oriental Reed Warbler(Acrocephalus orientalis)is one of the most commonly used hosts for the parasitic Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).However,as hosts that feed unrelated parasitic nestlings may suffer extra reproductive costs,they may be less willing to care for nestlings that have prolonged nestling periods.To test this hypothesis,the duration of feeding by Oriental Reed Warblers under natural conditions for their own nestlings was compared with the duration of feeding under natural conditions for Common Cuckoo nestlings and for artificially prolonged cuckoo nestlings.The results showed that Oriental Reed Warblers did not starve,drive away,or desert any of the nestlings in the experiment,and neither parent was left alone.Our experimental study indicates that both Oriental Reed Warbler parents were willing to care for nestlings with a prolonged nestling period(up to 30 days,twice the average duration time that the Oriental Reed Warblers fed their own chicks in natural conditions).However,further experiments and observations are required in other host bird species to examine whether both parents or one of the parents may exhibit the behavior of abandoning nestlings with a prolonged nestling period.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31071938, 31101646)Key Project of Chinese Ministry of Education (No. 212136)+1 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (20110490967)the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-10-0111)
文摘In this exposé we provide the first review of host use by brood parasitic cuckoos in a multiple-cuckoo system in China, based on our own long-term field data and a compilation of observations obtained from the literature. In total, we found that 11 species of cuckoos utilized altogether 55 host species. These hosts belong to 15 families, in which Sylviidae, Turdidae and Timaliidae account for 22.6%, 20.8% and 17.0% of parasitism records, respectively. The Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) had the widest range of host species, accounting for 45.5% of the total number of parasitized species (25 in 10 families) of all parasitism records and is the most frequent brood parasite in the country. Cuckoo species differed in their egg coloration and the extent of egg polymorphism with most of them, e.g. the Common Cuckoo, the Lesser Cuckoo (C. poliocephalus) and the Plaintive Cuckoo (Cacomantis merulinus) laying well mimetic eggs with respect to their hosts based on human being’s visual observations, while others such as the Large Hawk-cuckoo (C. sparverioides), the Himalayan Cuckoo (C. saturatus) and the Asian Emerald Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx maculatus) usually laid non-mimetic eggs. The use of cuckoo hosts and egg color variation in China are compared with those in other parts of their ranges in Asia.
基金Supported by Technology Innovation Projects from Science and Tech-nology Department of Guangdong Province (2008A023700011)~~
文摘Genetic variations of three species from primary parent （OI Q,SIS Q,Kona Bay Q） and their first filial generation （OI Z,SIS Z,Kona Bay Z） of Litopenaeus vannamei were detected using microsatellite marker technique.The amplified products of genomic DNA with 8 microsatellite makers indicated that 8 loci presents polymorphism,the number of total alleles were 28 in 6 species;the number of allele of every loci was 2 to 6;mean allele number （Na） was 3.5;expected heterozygosity value （He） were higher than observed heterozygosity value （Ho）;mean polymorphism information content （PIC） ranged from 0.479 4 to 0.769 9,which showed these 8 loci posses relatively high information content.Through analysis of genetic structure in primary parent and their first filial,allele and effective allele number,observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity values and mean polymorphism information content （PIC） in filial generation were little lower than their primary parents.However,genetic diversity of filial generation is not influenced,and still maintains a good heritability.
文摘Based on the field observation on the parental behavior of Oriental White Stork (Ciconia boyciana) during their brooding period, this paper describes the breeding style, feeding behavior, water chicks, protect chicks, etc. A Ritual “behavior—Culmen Knocking/bill clattering” was observed and which is divided into three styles with deferent meanings. This behavior plays an important role during this season.
