The ability of a population to adapt to a changing environment depends on its genetic variation. Thus, the study of genetic diversity within and among species or populations is especially important on conservation bio...The ability of a population to adapt to a changing environment depends on its genetic variation. Thus, the study of genetic diversity within and among species or populations is especially important on conservation biology scopes. One way to assess the genetic diversity is through the use of microsatellite molecular markers. Microsatellites have been widely used to answer population genetics issues as gene flow, parentage, and population structure, mostly resulting in data on the distribution of genetic variability within and among natural populations, which are essential for ex situ and in situ conservation procedures. As the Psittacidae family comprehends one of the birds group with the largest number of endangered species, studies that aim to investigate the genetic diversity of these animals may support their conservation. This article is a review of genetic data on parrots, through the use of microsatellite markers, that have been published since 2004.展开更多
The origin of rhythmic synchronization or entrainment to a musical beat in animals has been widely discussed. Parrots are suitable animals to exami ne the relati on ship betwee n the capability of vocal learning and s...The origin of rhythmic synchronization or entrainment to a musical beat in animals has been widely discussed. Parrots are suitable animals to exami ne the relati on ship betwee n the capability of vocal learning and spontaneous rhythmic synchronization. In this study, budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus learned to tap (peck) 2 keys alternately at a self-paced rate. Then, the metronomic sounds were played in the background during test sessions while the birds were performing the key pecking task, although they were not required to synchronize tap timing with the metronome. We found modest but significant effects of the metronome rhythms on the tap timing in some subjects. We also tested humans Homo sapiens using almost the same method. In contrast to the birds, a number of huma n subjects synchr on ized tap timing to the on set of the metronome without verbal or documented instructions. However, we failed to find an effect of the metronome on self-paced tap timing in some human subjects, although they were capable of rhythmic synchronization. This is the first report describing the effects of metronomic sounds on self-paced tapping in nonhuman vocal learners. This study introduces a new method that can be used in future research comparing birds that differ in vocal learning capacities, social structure, age, sex, hormonal status, and so on as part of exami nations of the evolutionary foun dati ons of beat processing.展开更多
Adult neurogenesis is the life-long process of neural stem cell proliferation,differentiation into neurons,migration,and incorporation into the existing neuronal circuits.After decades of research,it is now widely acc...Adult neurogenesis is the life-long process of neural stem cell proliferation,differentiation into neurons,migration,and incorporation into the existing neuronal circuits.After decades of research,it is now widely accepted that mammals and birds retain the capacity to regenerate neurons even after their subadult ontogeny.Cerebrospinal fluid participates in the regulation of the neurogenic niches of the vertebrate brain through signaling pathways not fully elucidated.Proteomic studies of cerebrospinal fluid have the potential to allow the in-depth characterization of its molecular composition.Comparative studies help to delineate those pathways that are universally critical for the regulation of neurogenesis in adulthood.In this review,we performed literature-based data mining in studies using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy that analyzed cerebrospinal fluid samples from healthy adult humans(Homo sapiens);mice(Mus musculus);sheep(Ovis aries);chickens(Gallus gallus);and two parrot species,the budgerigar(Melopsittacus undulatus)and cockatiel(Nymphicus hollandicus).We identified up to 911 proteins represented in cerebrospinal fluid,involved in various pathways regulating adult neurogenesis.However,only 196 proteins were common across humans,mice,and birds.Pathway components involved in nervous system development,cell migration,and axonal guidance were commonly evident in all species investigated so far.Extensive bioinformatic analysis revealed that the universally over-represented pathways involved L1 cell adhesion molecule protein interactions,cell-adhesion molecules,signals regulating extracellular matrix remodeling,regulation of insulin growth factor signaling,axonal guidance,programmed cell death,immune signaling,and post-translational modifications.Most of the reported proteins are part of extracellular vesicles enriched in cerebrospinal fluid.However,the information presently available is still highly fragmentary,and far more questions persist than are answered.Technological advances will allow cerebrospinal fluid comparative proteomic research to delve into the fundamental processes of adult neurogenesis and eventually translate this research into any regenerative interventions.展开更多
Knowledge of breeding success and its limiting factors is crucial in assessing species’conservation needs.As cavity-nesters,parrots are particularly influenced by the availability of suitable cavities and low breedin...Knowledge of breeding success and its limiting factors is crucial in assessing species’conservation needs.As cavity-nesters,parrots are particularly influenced by the availability of suitable cavities and low breeding output,whether due to natural processes or trapping.On the island of Sumba,Indonesia,the Critically Endangered Citron-crested Cockatoo(Cacatua citrinocristata)has the added problem of co-existing with an unusually rich hole-nesting bird community in a forested environment much constrained by habitat loss.We monitored 95 nesting cavities of cockatoos and their competitors and potential nest-predators,over one to four breeding seasons,using a combination of camera-traps,direct checks on nest contents,and observations from the ground.Competition for suitable cavities was intense among three large parrot species,two owls and a hornbill.Visitation rates by potential competitors were higher at unoccupied cavities than at those containing active nests,reflecting the guarding behaviour of the occupants.The Endangered Sumba Hornbill(Rhyticeros everetti)dominated observed direct confrontations and was the most frequent visitor to active parrot nests,suggesting a further role as a potential nest-predator.Cockatoos prospected many cavities but rarely then attempted to nest:instead the sites were usually occupied by other cavity-nesters,or by bees.At the few cavities where cockatoos did breed,predation pressure was likely low,and observed success rate high(10 successful of 15 nests),although the low number of nests found early in the breeding cycle suggests that some may have failed before detection.Intense competition for cavities suggests a shortage of suitable nest-sites,the need for preservation of old hole-bearing trees and a role for nestboxes.Accessible,known,safe artificial nest-sites would also provide opportunities to assess the scale of nest-site shortage,allow camera placements to study productivity,exclude some competitors and predators,and prevent illegal trapping.Especially given continued trapping pressure,the species would benefit from targeted local awareness-raising and law enforcement,with the whole endeavour backed up by longer-term forest restoration.展开更多
A lady was walking down the street to work and she saw a parrot on a perch in front of a pet store.The parrot said to her,"Hey,lady,you are really ugly."Well,the lady was furious! She
An algal astaxanthin feeding trial was carried out to investigate the ef fects of natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis as feed additives on growth, pigmenting efficacy and antioxidant capacity in blood par...An algal astaxanthin feeding trial was carried out to investigate the ef fects of natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis as feed additives on growth, pigmenting efficacy and antioxidant capacity in blood parrot(C ichlasoma citrinellum × C ichlasoma. synspilum). Tissue total antioxidant capacity(TAC), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and maleic dialdehyde(MDA) were chosen as measures of its antioxidant capacity. All fish which received an astaxanthin(from micro-algal H. pluvialis) supplemented diet with 400 mg/kg of astaxanthin, after 50 days of feeding, the astaxanthin-fed fish displayed a pinkcolored skin and the control-fed fish displayed a grayish skin. For the growth, the weight gains of controlfed fish and astaxanthin-fed fish were 200% and 300%, respectively. Samples of skin and scales were used for analysis of total carotenoids and astaxanthin content, and fish feeding astaxanthin showed significantly( P <0.05) higher concentrations than the control group, indicating that the pigmentation of this fish had been significantly improved by dietary astaxanthin. Compared with the control fish, pigmented fish had lower SOD, CAT and MDA and higher TAC. It can be concluded that supplementation with dietary astaxanthin could eff ectively enhance growth, skin coloration and the antioxidant capacity of this fish. This study will provide a reference for application of natural astaxanthin from H. pluvialis as feed additives in blood parrot artificial breeding. Our data is also useful in ornamental fish farming, especially when the retentivity of astaxanthin in the skin and scales are involved. It is leading to the possibility of increasing the pigmentation of farmed-fish by adding the powdered form of H. pluvialis to the diet as an ef fective pigment.展开更多
Social relationships formed within a network of interacting group members can have a profound impact on an indi- vidual＇s behavior and fitness. However, we have little understanding of how individuals perceive their ...Social relationships formed within a network of interacting group members can have a profound impact on an indi- vidual＇s behavior and fitness. However, we have little understanding of how individuals perceive their relationships and how this perception relates to our external measures of interactions. We investigated the perception of affiliative and agonistic relation- ships at both the dyadic and emergent social levels in two captive groups of monk parakeets （Myiopsitta monachus, n = 21 and 19） using social network analysis and playback experiments. At the dyadic social scale, individuals directed less aggression to- wards their strong affiliative partners and more aggression towards non-partner neighbors.At the emergent social scale, there was no association between relationships in different social contexts and an individual＇s dominance rank did not correlate with its popularity rank. Playback response pattems were mainly driven by relationships in affiliative social contexts at the dyadic scale. In both groups, individual responses to playback experiments were significantly affected by strong affiliative relationships at the dyadic social scale, albeit in different directions in the two groups. Response pattems were also affected by affiliative relation- ships at the emergent social scale, but only in one of the two groups. Within affiliative relationships, those at the dyadic social scale were perceived by individuals in both groups, but those at the emergent social scale only affected responses in one group. These results provide preliminary evidence that relationships in affiliative social contexts may be perceived as more important than agonistic relationships in captive monk parakeet groups. Our approach could be used in a wide range of social species and comparative analyses could provide important insight into how individuals perceive relationships across social contexts and social scales [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 55-69, 2015].展开更多
Beak and feather disease virus(BFDV) is an infectious agent responsible for feather degeneration and beak deformation in birds. In March 2017, an epidemic of psittacine beak and feather disease(PBFD) struck a farm in ...Beak and feather disease virus(BFDV) is an infectious agent responsible for feather degeneration and beak deformation in birds. In March 2017, an epidemic of psittacine beak and feather disease(PBFD) struck a farm in Fuzhou in the Fujian Province of southeast China, resulting in the death of 51 parrots. In this study, the disease was diagnosed and the pathogen was identified by PCR and whole genome sequencing. A distinct BFDV strain was identified and named as the FZ strain.This BFDV strain caused severe disease symptoms and pathological changes characteristic of typical PBFD in parrots, for example, loss of feathers and deformities of the beak and claws, and severe pathological changes in multiple organs of the infected birds. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the FZ strain was more closely related to the strain circulating in New Caledonia than the strains previously reported in China. Nucleotide homology between the FZ strain and other 43 strains of BFDV ranged from 80.0% to 92.0%. Blind passage experiment showed that this strain had limited replication capability in SPF Chicken Embryos and DF-1 Cells. Furthermore, the capsid(Cap) gene of this FZ strain was cloned into the p GEX-4 T-1 expression vector to prepare the polyclonal anti-Cap antibody. Western blotting analysis using the anti-Cap antibody further confirmed that the diseased parrots were infected with BFDV. In this study, a PBFD and its pathogen was identified for the first time in Fujian Province of China, suggesting that future surveillance of BFDV should be performed.展开更多
A 35-year-old Indian parrot (Psittacula krameri manillensis) was presented to the Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences with a history of blepharospasm...A 35-year-old Indian parrot (Psittacula krameri manillensis) was presented to the Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences with a history of blepharospasm and corneal lesion OS. Test with fluorescein dye was negative. The dense corneal opacity (macula) was identified as involving the posterior corneal layer. The further ophthalmic examination was done and hypermature phacolytic cataract was diagnosed. No other abnormality was detected. Medical management with topical nepafenac prednisolone and triple antibiotic was instituted. The corneal lesion subsided completely within one week followed by spontaneous resorption of the cataract. The treatment protocol was successfully eliminated the discomfort and intraocular lesions in the senile parrot.展开更多
Whether meaning is arbitrary or motivated remains a matter of unsettled linguistic debate.The main purpose of this discussion is to bring to linguistic attention the level of motivation in EkeGusii,a Bantu language of...Whether meaning is arbitrary or motivated remains a matter of unsettled linguistic debate.The main purpose of this discussion is to bring to linguistic attention the level of motivation in EkeGusii,a Bantu language of the Niger-Congo family spoken in Kenya,using onomatopoeic infinitives and nouns,and to attest that meaning is considerably iconic.It does not look convenient to classify onomatopes under ideophones.Imagic iconicity plays a central role in the two word classes,though imagic and relative iconicity intersect in cacophonous,reduplicative,and inherently onomatopoeic nouns.In EkeGusii,onomatopes are either explicit or implicit.It becomes clear that onomatopoeia acquires a metaphorical function in certain idiomatic expressions in EkeGusii.展开更多
Background:Parrots(Psittacidae Family)are one of the most colorful groups of birds in the world,their colors pro-duced both structurally and via unusual pigments(psittacofulvins).Most species are considered to be mono...Background:Parrots(Psittacidae Family)are one of the most colorful groups of birds in the world,their colors pro-duced both structurally and via unusual pigments(psittacofulvins).Most species are considered to be monogamous,and many have been viewed historically as sexually monomorphic and monochromatic.However,studies using morphometric analysis and spectrophotometric techniques have revealed sexual size dimorphism and also sexual plumage color dimorphism among some species.The Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus),a native parrot of South America,is an interesting species for the study of plumage coloration and size since it is considered sexually mono-chromatic and monomorphic.Furthermore,recent studies show that the Monk Parakeet has extra-bond paternity behavior and even breeding trios,which suggests that sexual selection may play an important role in this species,and that it might have sexually dimorphic plumage(albeit imperceptible by humans)and be dimorphic in size.Methods:For the determination of plumage color we used spectrophotometry in the range of avian vision(300-700 nm)and performed a morphological analysis.Results:Our spectrophotometric results indicate that the Monk Parakeet shows subtle sexual plumage color dimor-phism in three(crown,nape and wing)out of twelve body regions.Similarly,our morphometric analysis showed that there are subtle sex differences in body size(bill and weight).Conclusions:Although the Monk Parakeet shows extra-bond paternity and breeding trio behaviors which could increase sexual dimorphism,these behaviors occur among highly related individuals;perhaps the high rate of inbreeding is responsible for the attenuation of sexual plumage color dimorphism and sex differences in body size observed.展开更多
By selecting one unit in Junior English for China （JEC）, a textbook for middle school students in some regions in China, this paper aims at analyzing how the grammar feature： Existential There is instructed in term...By selecting one unit in Junior English for China （JEC）, a textbook for middle school students in some regions in China, this paper aims at analyzing how the grammar feature： Existential There is instructed in terms of form, meaning and use, while answering some questions raised by Parrott in his Grammar for English Language Teachers. A conclusion is then drawn with regard to its form-based instruction on basis of the analysis and discussions.展开更多
文摘The ability of a population to adapt to a changing environment depends on its genetic variation. Thus, the study of genetic diversity within and among species or populations is especially important on conservation biology scopes. One way to assess the genetic diversity is through the use of microsatellite molecular markers. Microsatellites have been widely used to answer population genetics issues as gene flow, parentage, and population structure, mostly resulting in data on the distribution of genetic variability within and among natural populations, which are essential for ex situ and in situ conservation procedures. As the Psittacidae family comprehends one of the birds group with the largest number of endangered species, studies that aim to investigate the genetic diversity of these animals may support their conservation. This article is a review of genetic data on parrots, through the use of microsatellite markers, that have been published since 2004.
文摘The origin of rhythmic synchronization or entrainment to a musical beat in animals has been widely discussed. Parrots are suitable animals to exami ne the relati on ship betwee n the capability of vocal learning and spontaneous rhythmic synchronization. In this study, budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus learned to tap (peck) 2 keys alternately at a self-paced rate. Then, the metronomic sounds were played in the background during test sessions while the birds were performing the key pecking task, although they were not required to synchronize tap timing with the metronome. We found modest but significant effects of the metronome rhythms on the tap timing in some subjects. We also tested humans Homo sapiens using almost the same method. In contrast to the birds, a number of huma n subjects synchr on ized tap timing to the on set of the metronome without verbal or documented instructions. However, we failed to find an effect of the metronome on self-paced tap timing in some human subjects, although they were capable of rhythmic synchronization. This is the first report describing the effects of metronomic sounds on self-paced tapping in nonhuman vocal learners. This study introduces a new method that can be used in future research comparing birds that differ in vocal learning capacities, social structure, age, sex, hormonal status, and so on as part of exami nations of the evolutionary foun dati ons of beat processing.
基金supported by the Charles University (No.PRIMUS/17/SCI/12)by the Czech Science Foundation (No.P502/19-20152Y)through the Institutional Research Support (No.260571/2021)(to MV)
文摘Adult neurogenesis is the life-long process of neural stem cell proliferation,differentiation into neurons,migration,and incorporation into the existing neuronal circuits.After decades of research,it is now widely accepted that mammals and birds retain the capacity to regenerate neurons even after their subadult ontogeny.Cerebrospinal fluid participates in the regulation of the neurogenic niches of the vertebrate brain through signaling pathways not fully elucidated.Proteomic studies of cerebrospinal fluid have the potential to allow the in-depth characterization of its molecular composition.Comparative studies help to delineate those pathways that are universally critical for the regulation of neurogenesis in adulthood.In this review,we performed literature-based data mining in studies using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy that analyzed cerebrospinal fluid samples from healthy adult humans(Homo sapiens);mice(Mus musculus);sheep(Ovis aries);chickens(Gallus gallus);and two parrot species,the budgerigar(Melopsittacus undulatus)and cockatiel(Nymphicus hollandicus).We identified up to 911 proteins represented in cerebrospinal fluid,involved in various pathways regulating adult neurogenesis.However,only 196 proteins were common across humans,mice,and birds.Pathway components involved in nervous system development,cell migration,and axonal guidance were commonly evident in all species investigated so far.Extensive bioinformatic analysis revealed that the universally over-represented pathways involved L1 cell adhesion molecule protein interactions,cell-adhesion molecules,signals regulating extracellular matrix remodeling,regulation of insulin growth factor signaling,axonal guidance,programmed cell death,immune signaling,and post-translational modifications.Most of the reported proteins are part of extracellular vesicles enriched in cerebrospinal fluid.However,the information presently available is still highly fragmentary,and far more questions persist than are answered.Technological advances will allow cerebrospinal fluid comparative proteomic research to delve into the fundamental processes of adult neurogenesis and eventually translate this research into any regenerative interventions.
基金funded by Zoologische Gesellschaft für Arten-und Populationsschutz (Fond fur bedrohte Papageien and Strunden Papageienstiftung)supported by a scholarship of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD Doktorandenstipendium)Loro Parque Fundacion
文摘Knowledge of breeding success and its limiting factors is crucial in assessing species’conservation needs.As cavity-nesters,parrots are particularly influenced by the availability of suitable cavities and low breeding output,whether due to natural processes or trapping.On the island of Sumba,Indonesia,the Critically Endangered Citron-crested Cockatoo(Cacatua citrinocristata)has the added problem of co-existing with an unusually rich hole-nesting bird community in a forested environment much constrained by habitat loss.We monitored 95 nesting cavities of cockatoos and their competitors and potential nest-predators,over one to four breeding seasons,using a combination of camera-traps,direct checks on nest contents,and observations from the ground.Competition for suitable cavities was intense among three large parrot species,two owls and a hornbill.Visitation rates by potential competitors were higher at unoccupied cavities than at those containing active nests,reflecting the guarding behaviour of the occupants.The Endangered Sumba Hornbill(Rhyticeros everetti)dominated observed direct confrontations and was the most frequent visitor to active parrot nests,suggesting a further role as a potential nest-predator.Cockatoos prospected many cavities but rarely then attempted to nest:instead the sites were usually occupied by other cavity-nesters,or by bees.At the few cavities where cockatoos did breed,predation pressure was likely low,and observed success rate high(10 successful of 15 nests),although the low number of nests found early in the breeding cycle suggests that some may have failed before detection.Intense competition for cavities suggests a shortage of suitable nest-sites,the need for preservation of old hole-bearing trees and a role for nestboxes.Accessible,known,safe artificial nest-sites would also provide opportunities to assess the scale of nest-site shortage,allow camera placements to study productivity,exclude some competitors and predators,and prevent illegal trapping.Especially given continued trapping pressure,the species would benefit from targeted local awareness-raising and law enforcement,with the whole endeavour backed up by longer-term forest restoration.
文摘A lady was walking down the street to work and she saw a parrot on a perch in front of a pet store.The parrot said to her,"Hey,lady,you are really ugly."Well,the lady was furious! She
基金Supported by the Xiamen Scientific and Technologic Projects(XSTP)(Nos.3052Z20031086,3052Z20123004)the project of Xiamen Southern Ocean Technology Center of China(No.14CZP035HJ09)+2 种基金partly funded by the Marine Science Base Scientific Research Training and Scientific Research Ability Enhancement Project of Xiamen University(No.J1210050)the National Marine Commonweal Research Program,China(No.201205020-2)the XMU Training Program of Innovation and Enterpreneurship for Undergraduates(No.2016X0619)
文摘An algal astaxanthin feeding trial was carried out to investigate the ef fects of natural astaxanthin from Haematococcus pluvialis as feed additives on growth, pigmenting efficacy and antioxidant capacity in blood parrot(C ichlasoma citrinellum × C ichlasoma. synspilum). Tissue total antioxidant capacity(TAC), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase(CAT) and maleic dialdehyde(MDA) were chosen as measures of its antioxidant capacity. All fish which received an astaxanthin(from micro-algal H. pluvialis) supplemented diet with 400 mg/kg of astaxanthin, after 50 days of feeding, the astaxanthin-fed fish displayed a pinkcolored skin and the control-fed fish displayed a grayish skin. For the growth, the weight gains of controlfed fish and astaxanthin-fed fish were 200% and 300%, respectively. Samples of skin and scales were used for analysis of total carotenoids and astaxanthin content, and fish feeding astaxanthin showed significantly( P <0.05) higher concentrations than the control group, indicating that the pigmentation of this fish had been significantly improved by dietary astaxanthin. Compared with the control fish, pigmented fish had lower SOD, CAT and MDA and higher TAC. It can be concluded that supplementation with dietary astaxanthin could eff ectively enhance growth, skin coloration and the antioxidant capacity of this fish. This study will provide a reference for application of natural astaxanthin from H. pluvialis as feed additives in blood parrot artificial breeding. Our data is also useful in ornamental fish farming, especially when the retentivity of astaxanthin in the skin and scales are involved. It is leading to the possibility of increasing the pigmentation of farmed-fish by adding the powdered form of H. pluvialis to the diet as an ef fective pigment.
文摘Social relationships formed within a network of interacting group members can have a profound impact on an indi- vidual＇s behavior and fitness. However, we have little understanding of how individuals perceive their relationships and how this perception relates to our external measures of interactions. We investigated the perception of affiliative and agonistic relation- ships at both the dyadic and emergent social levels in two captive groups of monk parakeets （Myiopsitta monachus, n = 21 and 19） using social network analysis and playback experiments. At the dyadic social scale, individuals directed less aggression to- wards their strong affiliative partners and more aggression towards non-partner neighbors.At the emergent social scale, there was no association between relationships in different social contexts and an individual＇s dominance rank did not correlate with its popularity rank. Playback response pattems were mainly driven by relationships in affiliative social contexts at the dyadic scale. In both groups, individual responses to playback experiments were significantly affected by strong affiliative relationships at the dyadic social scale, albeit in different directions in the two groups. Response pattems were also affected by affiliative relation- ships at the emergent social scale, but only in one of the two groups. Within affiliative relationships, those at the dyadic social scale were perceived by individuals in both groups, but those at the emergent social scale only affected responses in one group. These results provide preliminary evidence that relationships in affiliative social contexts may be perceived as more important than agonistic relationships in captive monk parakeet groups. Our approach could be used in a wide range of social species and comparative analyses could provide important insight into how individuals perceive relationships across social contexts and social scales [Current Zoology 61 （1）： 55-69, 2015].
基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFD0500100,2016YFD0500205)Discipline Development Grant from College of Animal Sciences FAFU(2018DK003)+3 种基金Natural Science Foundation of China(31602046)National Basic Research Program(973)of China(2015CB910502)Program for Fujian University Outstanding Youth Scientific Research,Science and Technology Innovation Special Foundation of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University(KFA17229A)Collaborative Innovation Center of Animal Health and Food Safety Application Technology in Fujian,Fujian Vocational College of Agriculture(Kla17H01A).
文摘Beak and feather disease virus(BFDV) is an infectious agent responsible for feather degeneration and beak deformation in birds. In March 2017, an epidemic of psittacine beak and feather disease(PBFD) struck a farm in Fuzhou in the Fujian Province of southeast China, resulting in the death of 51 parrots. In this study, the disease was diagnosed and the pathogen was identified by PCR and whole genome sequencing. A distinct BFDV strain was identified and named as the FZ strain.This BFDV strain caused severe disease symptoms and pathological changes characteristic of typical PBFD in parrots, for example, loss of feathers and deformities of the beak and claws, and severe pathological changes in multiple organs of the infected birds. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the FZ strain was more closely related to the strain circulating in New Caledonia than the strains previously reported in China. Nucleotide homology between the FZ strain and other 43 strains of BFDV ranged from 80.0% to 92.0%. Blind passage experiment showed that this strain had limited replication capability in SPF Chicken Embryos and DF-1 Cells. Furthermore, the capsid(Cap) gene of this FZ strain was cloned into the p GEX-4 T-1 expression vector to prepare the polyclonal anti-Cap antibody. Western blotting analysis using the anti-Cap antibody further confirmed that the diseased parrots were infected with BFDV. In this study, a PBFD and its pathogen was identified for the first time in Fujian Province of China, suggesting that future surveillance of BFDV should be performed.
文摘A 35-year-old Indian parrot (Psittacula krameri manillensis) was presented to the Department of Veterinary Surgery & Radiology, West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences with a history of blepharospasm and corneal lesion OS. Test with fluorescein dye was negative. The dense corneal opacity (macula) was identified as involving the posterior corneal layer. The further ophthalmic examination was done and hypermature phacolytic cataract was diagnosed. No other abnormality was detected. Medical management with topical nepafenac prednisolone and triple antibiotic was instituted. The corneal lesion subsided completely within one week followed by spontaneous resorption of the cataract. The treatment protocol was successfully eliminated the discomfort and intraocular lesions in the senile parrot.
文摘Whether meaning is arbitrary or motivated remains a matter of unsettled linguistic debate.The main purpose of this discussion is to bring to linguistic attention the level of motivation in EkeGusii,a Bantu language of the Niger-Congo family spoken in Kenya,using onomatopoeic infinitives and nouns,and to attest that meaning is considerably iconic.It does not look convenient to classify onomatopes under ideophones.Imagic iconicity plays a central role in the two word classes,though imagic and relative iconicity intersect in cacophonous,reduplicative,and inherently onomatopoeic nouns.In EkeGusii,onomatopes are either explicit or implicit.It becomes clear that onomatopoeia acquires a metaphorical function in certain idiomatic expressions in EkeGusii.
文摘Background:Parrots(Psittacidae Family)are one of the most colorful groups of birds in the world,their colors pro-duced both structurally and via unusual pigments(psittacofulvins).Most species are considered to be monogamous,and many have been viewed historically as sexually monomorphic and monochromatic.However,studies using morphometric analysis and spectrophotometric techniques have revealed sexual size dimorphism and also sexual plumage color dimorphism among some species.The Monk Parakeet(Myiopsitta monachus),a native parrot of South America,is an interesting species for the study of plumage coloration and size since it is considered sexually mono-chromatic and monomorphic.Furthermore,recent studies show that the Monk Parakeet has extra-bond paternity behavior and even breeding trios,which suggests that sexual selection may play an important role in this species,and that it might have sexually dimorphic plumage(albeit imperceptible by humans)and be dimorphic in size.Methods:For the determination of plumage color we used spectrophotometry in the range of avian vision(300-700 nm)and performed a morphological analysis.Results:Our spectrophotometric results indicate that the Monk Parakeet shows subtle sexual plumage color dimor-phism in three(crown,nape and wing)out of twelve body regions.Similarly,our morphometric analysis showed that there are subtle sex differences in body size(bill and weight).Conclusions:Although the Monk Parakeet shows extra-bond paternity and breeding trio behaviors which could increase sexual dimorphism,these behaviors occur among highly related individuals;perhaps the high rate of inbreeding is responsible for the attenuation of sexual plumage color dimorphism and sex differences in body size observed.
文摘By selecting one unit in Junior English for China （JEC）, a textbook for middle school students in some regions in China, this paper aims at analyzing how the grammar feature： Existential There is instructed in terms of form, meaning and use, while answering some questions raised by Parrott in his Grammar for English Language Teachers. A conclusion is then drawn with regard to its form-based instruction on basis of the analysis and discussions.
