Food is a critical environmental factor that influences animal survival,especially for small passerines due to their high mass-specific metabolic rates.Basal metabolic rate(BMR)reflects the energy expended by endother...Food is a critical environmental factor that influences animal survival,especially for small passerines due to their high mass-specific metabolic rates.Basal metabolic rate(BMR)reflects the energy expended by endothermic animals for basic physiological processes and constitutes a major part of their daily energy budget.Some birds have been shown to employ compensatory mechanisms during food shortages,temporarily reducing these selfmaintenance expenditures without using hypothermia.However,the mechanisms of BMR adjustment remain unexplored.In the present study,we assessed the phenotypic variation in basal thermogenesis of Eurasian Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)by comparing a control group to groups fasted for 6,12,18,and 24 h.We focused on the correlation between a reduction in energy metabolism and the alterations of cellular metabolic activities,mitochondrial substrate supply,and changes in serum thyroid hormones during fasting.Our data indicated that fasting groups had significantly lower body mass,BMR,body temperature,and body fat content.Furthermore,fasting groups had significantly lower glycogen levels,mitochondrial state 4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase(CCO)activity in the liver,and CCO activity in pectoral muscle.The levels of avian uncoupling protein(avUCP)m RNA were significantly reduced,while the levels of myostatin protein in pectoral muscle were significantly increased in the fasting groups.Furthermore,the groups subjected to fasting exhibited significantly lower levels of serum glucose,triglyceride,thyroxine(T_(4)),and triiodothyronine(T_(3)).Positive correlations were observed between the following pairs of variables:log BMR and log body mass,log body mass and log body fat,log BMR and log state 4 respiration in the liver,log BMR and log CCO activity in the liver and muscle,log BMR and log av-UCP m RNA expression,whereas a negative correlation was observed between log BMR and log myostatin level.In addition,a positive correlation was also detected between log T_(3) and each of the following:log BMR,state 4 respiration,and log CCO activity in the liver.Our results suggested that decreased metabolic thermogenesis via down-regulation in cellular aerobic capacity of organs and serum thyroid hormones may be an important survival strategy for fasting Tree Sparrows to reduce energy expenditure.展开更多
The imbalanced allocation of maternal resources to eggs and nestlings may significantly impact the phenotype and fitness of offspring.Moreover,anthropogenic metal pollution has been reported to exert adverse effects o...The imbalanced allocation of maternal resources to eggs and nestlings may significantly impact the phenotype and fitness of offspring.Moreover,anthropogenic metal pollution has been reported to exert adverse effects on avian offspring.Therefore,we herein evaluated the relationships among offspring characteristics,asymmetric sibling rivalry,and the resulting offspring phenotype in a small passerine bird,Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus),at a polluted site(Baiyin,BY)and a relatively unpolluted site(Liujiaxia,LJX).By initiating incubation before the completion of clutch,asymmetric sibling rivalry might create a core and marginal offspring within the brood.In this study,lower egg mass,fewer core offspring,and more marginal offspring were found at the polluted site.Although eggshell speckling and coloration were relatively similar between the two sites,higher eggshell spotting coverage ratio and lower eggshell lightness(L*)and hue(h°)were observed in core eggs than in marginal eggs at the unpolluted site.The clutch size had a positive relationship with egg mass at the polluted site and with brood size at hatching at the unpolluted site.The differences in egg measurements across the laying orders in the samples were relatively large for larger clutch sizes.The core and marginal egg masses had a significant positive effect on the size of early core nestlings and late marginal nestlings at the unpolluted site.Fledgling rate was significantly positively related to the incubation period and nestling period,while negative relationship with mean spotting coverage ratio was found at the polluted site.Marginal nestlings at the polluted site showed a higher mortality rate.Overall,although asymmetric sibling competition strongly determines the variation of marginal offspring size,the effect is less dramatic in metal-polluted environments,providing some respite to wild birds that survive pollution-induced stress.展开更多
With rapid urbanization occurring throughout China,the existence of Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) in big cities is likely to be affected by a decrease in habitat and food availability.Can the urban Tree Sparrow adap...With rapid urbanization occurring throughout China,the existence of Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) in big cities is likely to be affected by a decrease in habitat and food availability.Can the urban Tree Sparrow adapt to these changes? To elucidate this question,we studied the effect of urbanization on the abundance and distribution of Tree Sparrows in Beijing.We found the abundance of the Tree Sparrow negatively correlated with an urbanization score.Sparrow abundance was very low in residential areas with high-rise buildings,commercial centers and main roads,while their numbers were significantly higher in parks,university campuses,low building residential and suburban areas.Environmental factors within the 50 m and 200 m scales were most suitable in predicting the distribution of Tree Sparrows during winter,while factors within 50 m and 400 m scales are suitable during the breeding season.During winter,the number of conifer trees and pedestrians were the major factors at the 50 m scale,while the area of high-rise buildings and vegetation become the predominant factors on a 200 m scale.Alternatively,during the breeding season the area of low buildings and the number of conifers and pedestrians were the main factors on the 50 m scale while the area of high-rise buildings and vegetation remained the most important factors on the 400 m scale.These results indicate that highly urbanized areas are not suitable habitats for the Tree Sparrow,although this species can adapt to human environments.Food and nest sites for urban birds should be considered in urban planning of big cities in developing countries.展开更多
Following an introduction, non-native species are exposed to environments that differ from those found in their native range; further, as these non-native species expand beyond the site of introduction, they must cons...Following an introduction, non-native species are exposed to environments that differ from those found in their native range; further, as these non-native species expand beyond the site of introduction, they must constantly adapt to novel environ- ments. Although introduced species are present across most ecosystems, few species have successfully established themselves on a truly global scale. One such species, the house sparrow Passer domesticus, is now one of the world＇s most broadly distributed vertebrate species and has been introduced to a great part of its current range. To date, work on four continents suggests both ge- netic and phenotypic variation exists between native and introduced ranges. As such, house sparrows represent an excellent op- portunity to study adaptations to novel environments and how these adaptations are derived. The global distribution of this spe- cies and the multiple independent introductions to geographically isolated sites allow researchers to ask questions regarding ge- netic variation and adaptation on a global scale. Here, we summarize the molecular studies of invasive house sparrows from the earliest work using allozymes through more recent work on epigenetics; using these studies, we discuss patterns of dispersal of this species. We then discuss future directions in techniques （e.g. next generation sequencing） and how they will provide new in- sight into questions that are fundamental to invasion biology. Finally, we discuss how continued research on the house sparrow in light of these genetic changes and adaptations will elucidate answers of adaptation, invasion biology, range expansion, and resi- lience in vertebrate systems generally展开更多
Background:The capacity for thermogenesis is considered part of an animal's adaptive strategy for survival,and basal metabolic rate(BMR) is one of the fundamental physiological standards for assessing the energy c...Background:The capacity for thermogenesis is considered part of an animal's adaptive strategy for survival,and basal metabolic rate(BMR) is one of the fundamental physiological standards for assessing the energy cost of thermoregulation in endotherms.BMR has been shown to be a highly flexible phenotypic trait both between,and within,species,but the metabolic mechanisms involved in the regulation of BMR,which range from variation in organ mass to biochemical adjustments,remain unclear.In this study,we investigated the relationship between organ mass,biochemical markers of metabolic tissue activity,and thermogenesis,in three species of small passerines:wild Bramblings(Fringilla montifringilla),Little Buntings(Emberiza pusilla) and Eurasian Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus),caught in Wenzhou,southeastern China.Methods:Oxygen consumption was measured using an open-circuit respirometry system.Mitochondrial state-4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase(COX) activity in liver and pectoral muscle were measured with a Clark electrode.Results:Our results show that Eurasian Tree Sparrows had significantly higher BMR,digestive organ mass,mitochondrial state-4 respiration capacity and COX activity in liver and muscle,than Bramblings and Little Buntings.Furthermore,interspecific differences in BMR were strongly correlated with those indigestive tract mass,state-4 respiration and COX activity.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that the digestive organ mass,state-4 respiration and COX activity play an important role in determining interspecific differences in BMR.展开更多
Background:Small birds in temperate habitats must either migrate,or adjust aspects of their morphology,physiology and behavior to cope with seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod.It is,however,difficult to acc...Background:Small birds in temperate habitats must either migrate,or adjust aspects of their morphology,physiology and behavior to cope with seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod.It is,however,difficult to accurately measure how seasonal changes in temperature and photoperiod affect physiological processes such as basal metabolic rate(BMR)and metabolic activity.To address this problem,we collected data in each month of the year on body mass(Mb)and BMR,and conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Mb,BMR and physiological markers of metabolic activity,in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus).Methods:In one experiment,we measured monthly change in Mb and BMR in a captive group of birds over a year.In another experiment,we examined the effects of acclimating birds to two different temperatures,10 and 30℃,and a long and a short photoperiod(16 h light:8 h dark and 8 h light:16 h dark,respectively)for 4 weeks.Results:We found that these treatments induced sparrows to adjust their Mb and metabolic rate processes.Acclimation to 30℃for 4 weeks significantly decreased sparrows’Mb,BMR,and energy intake,including both gross energy intake and digestible energy intake,compared to birds acclimated to 10℃.The dry mass of the liver,kidneys and digestive tract of birds acclimated to 30℃also significantly decreased,although their heart and skeletal muscle mass did not change significantly relative to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to 30℃also had lower mitochondrial state-4 respiration(S4R)and cytochrome c oxidase(COX)activity in their liver and skeletal muscle,compared to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to the long photoperiod also had lower mitochondrial S4R and COX activity in their liver,compared to those acclimated to the short photoperiod.Conclusions:These results illustrate the changes in morphology,physiology,and enzyme activity induced by seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod in a small temperate passerine.Both temperature and photoperiod probably have a strong effect on seasonal variation in metabolic heat production in small birds in temperate regions.The effect of temperature is,however,stronger than that of photoperiod.展开更多
Global surface air temperatures increased during the past 100 years. Many long-term studies of birds have reported a climatic influence on breeding performance. We analysed long-term changes in first laying date and c...Global surface air temperatures increased during the past 100 years. Many long-term studies of birds have reported a climatic influence on breeding performance. We analysed long-term changes in first laying date and clutch size for first clutches of sedentary, hole-nesting and socially monogamous tree sparrows Passer montanus during 1980-2009 in northwestern Croatia. Laying date advanced and spring temperature increased significantly during the study. Date of laying was significantly correlated with mean air spring temperature and advanced by 8.6 days during the 30 years period. Laying date was delayed in extremely cold, but not in extremely warm springs compared to years with normal temperatures. These results suggest that current climate change including extreme change does not have negative effects on timing of laying or clutch size. In contrast to laying date, clutch size did not vary systematically during the study period or with mean spring air temperature changes [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 414-418, 2011].展开更多
Habitat suitability models have been used to predict the present and future potential distribution of a variety of spe- cies. Eurasian tree sparrows Passer montanus, native to Eurasia, have established populations in ...Habitat suitability models have been used to predict the present and future potential distribution of a variety of spe- cies. Eurasian tree sparrows Passer montanus, native to Eurasia, have established populations in other parts of the world. In North America, their current distribution is limited to a relatively small region around its original introduction to St. Louis, Missouri. We combined data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility with current and future climate data to create habitat suitability models using Maxent for this species. Under projected climate change scenarios, our models show that the distribution and range of the Eurasian tree sparrow could increase as far as the Pacific Northwest and Newfoundland. This is potentially important in-formation for prioritizing the management and control of this non-native species [Current Zoology 57 （5）： 648--654, 2011].展开更多
The cerclage wire is an important adjuvant in the management of Orthopaedic and trauma cases and is particularly useful in long bone fractures. It is especially useful for addressing the fractures, especially the comm...The cerclage wire is an important adjuvant in the management of Orthopaedic and trauma cases and is particularly useful in long bone fractures. It is especially useful for addressing the fractures, especially the comminuted ones with a butterfly fragment. Orthopaedic cerclage Wiring is used as an adjunct to maintain fracture reduction (either temporarily or permanently), while the bone is primarily stabilised by either a plate intramedullary nail or external fixation frame. Multiple cerclage wires provide adjunctive fixation against compressive shear, bending & rotational forces and have been used in traumatology since many years. The aim of this article is to introduce a new year simple low cost instrument named as “Suyash cerclage wire passer”, with excellent outcomes without any major complications to the Orthopaedic community.展开更多
Females actively seek extra-pair paternity(EPP)to acquire a fitness advantage for their offspring.The“contextdependence hypothesis”posits that female extra-pair mate choice has plasticity in response to environmenta...Females actively seek extra-pair paternity(EPP)to acquire a fitness advantage for their offspring.The“contextdependence hypothesis”posits that female extra-pair mate choice has plasticity in response to environmental conditions,and therefore magnitude of female genetic benefits from EPP depends on the environmental variation.Furthermore,chronic heavy metal pollution can cause adverse effects on fitness-related traits of wild birds.However,few studies were available on the interactions between heavy metal pollution and EPP.We selected an area that was contaminated by heavy metals for more than 60 years(Baiyin,BY),a relatively unpolluted area(Liujiaxia,LJX),and Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)as study species to explore the response of female extrapair mate choice and genetic benefits from EPP to heavy metal pollution in socially monogamous birds.The relatedness between social mates and extra-pair mates was investigated.Additionally,we compared the body size and heterozygosity of extra-pair offspring(EPO),within-pair offspring(WPO),social males and extra-pair males from the two Tree Sparrow populations.We found that at BY,female Tree Sparrows tended to choose extra-pair males with larger body size and lower genetic similarity,thereby producing higher heterozygosity and larger body size of EPO compared with those of WPO.However,no similar phenomenon was observed in the Tree Sparrow population from LJX.In addition,there was a significant interaction between population and paternity in the analyses of the fitness-related traits,suggesting that environmental variation could affect female genetic benefits from EPP.This study confirmed the existence of presumed interactions between environmental pollution and EPP within the natural population of socially monogamous Tree Sparrows.Our findings shed lights on the possible effects of long-term environmental stress on mating system in wild birds.展开更多
The widespread Russet Sparrow is usually called Passer rutilans(Temminck).I have shown that this specific name was published on 31 December 1836,and that it is preceded by cinnamomeus,published by Gould on 8 April 183...The widespread Russet Sparrow is usually called Passer rutilans(Temminck).I have shown that this specific name was published on 31 December 1836,and that it is preceded by cinnamomeus,published by Gould on 8 April 1836.The species thus should be called Passer cinnamomeus(Gould,1836)due to the Principle of Priority.The three generally recognized subspecies should bear the following names:P.cinamomeus rutilans(Temminck,1836),P.cinnamomeus intensior Rothschild,1922,and P.cinnamomeus cinnamomeus(Gould,1836),respectively.展开更多
基金financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.32371573,32171497,and 31971420)。
文摘Food is a critical environmental factor that influences animal survival,especially for small passerines due to their high mass-specific metabolic rates.Basal metabolic rate(BMR)reflects the energy expended by endothermic animals for basic physiological processes and constitutes a major part of their daily energy budget.Some birds have been shown to employ compensatory mechanisms during food shortages,temporarily reducing these selfmaintenance expenditures without using hypothermia.However,the mechanisms of BMR adjustment remain unexplored.In the present study,we assessed the phenotypic variation in basal thermogenesis of Eurasian Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)by comparing a control group to groups fasted for 6,12,18,and 24 h.We focused on the correlation between a reduction in energy metabolism and the alterations of cellular metabolic activities,mitochondrial substrate supply,and changes in serum thyroid hormones during fasting.Our data indicated that fasting groups had significantly lower body mass,BMR,body temperature,and body fat content.Furthermore,fasting groups had significantly lower glycogen levels,mitochondrial state 4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase(CCO)activity in the liver,and CCO activity in pectoral muscle.The levels of avian uncoupling protein(avUCP)m RNA were significantly reduced,while the levels of myostatin protein in pectoral muscle were significantly increased in the fasting groups.Furthermore,the groups subjected to fasting exhibited significantly lower levels of serum glucose,triglyceride,thyroxine(T_(4)),and triiodothyronine(T_(3)).Positive correlations were observed between the following pairs of variables:log BMR and log body mass,log body mass and log body fat,log BMR and log state 4 respiration in the liver,log BMR and log CCO activity in the liver and muscle,log BMR and log av-UCP m RNA expression,whereas a negative correlation was observed between log BMR and log myostatin level.In addition,a positive correlation was also detected between log T_(3) and each of the following:log BMR,state 4 respiration,and log CCO activity in the liver.Our results suggested that decreased metabolic thermogenesis via down-regulation in cellular aerobic capacity of organs and serum thyroid hormones may be an important survival strategy for fasting Tree Sparrows to reduce energy expenditure.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.32370508 and 32201266)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No.GZC20230731)。
文摘The imbalanced allocation of maternal resources to eggs and nestlings may significantly impact the phenotype and fitness of offspring.Moreover,anthropogenic metal pollution has been reported to exert adverse effects on avian offspring.Therefore,we herein evaluated the relationships among offspring characteristics,asymmetric sibling rivalry,and the resulting offspring phenotype in a small passerine bird,Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus),at a polluted site(Baiyin,BY)and a relatively unpolluted site(Liujiaxia,LJX).By initiating incubation before the completion of clutch,asymmetric sibling rivalry might create a core and marginal offspring within the brood.In this study,lower egg mass,fewer core offspring,and more marginal offspring were found at the polluted site.Although eggshell speckling and coloration were relatively similar between the two sites,higher eggshell spotting coverage ratio and lower eggshell lightness(L*)and hue(h°)were observed in core eggs than in marginal eggs at the unpolluted site.The clutch size had a positive relationship with egg mass at the polluted site and with brood size at hatching at the unpolluted site.The differences in egg measurements across the laying orders in the samples were relatively large for larger clutch sizes.The core and marginal egg masses had a significant positive effect on the size of early core nestlings and late marginal nestlings at the unpolluted site.Fledgling rate was significantly positively related to the incubation period and nestling period,while negative relationship with mean spotting coverage ratio was found at the polluted site.Marginal nestlings at the polluted site showed a higher mortality rate.Overall,although asymmetric sibling competition strongly determines the variation of marginal offspring size,the effect is less dramatic in metal-polluted environments,providing some respite to wild birds that survive pollution-induced stress.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30900181)“111 Project” (2008-B08044)
文摘With rapid urbanization occurring throughout China,the existence of Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus) in big cities is likely to be affected by a decrease in habitat and food availability.Can the urban Tree Sparrow adapt to these changes? To elucidate this question,we studied the effect of urbanization on the abundance and distribution of Tree Sparrows in Beijing.We found the abundance of the Tree Sparrow negatively correlated with an urbanization score.Sparrow abundance was very low in residential areas with high-rise buildings,commercial centers and main roads,while their numbers were significantly higher in parks,university campuses,low building residential and suburban areas.Environmental factors within the 50 m and 200 m scales were most suitable in predicting the distribution of Tree Sparrows during winter,while factors within 50 m and 400 m scales are suitable during the breeding season.During winter,the number of conifer trees and pedestrians were the major factors at the 50 m scale,while the area of high-rise buildings and vegetation become the predominant factors on a 200 m scale.Alternatively,during the breeding season the area of low buildings and the number of conifers and pedestrians were the main factors on the 50 m scale while the area of high-rise buildings and vegetation remained the most important factors on the 400 m scale.These results indicate that highly urbanized areas are not suitable habitats for the Tree Sparrow,although this species can adapt to human environments.Food and nest sites for urban birds should be considered in urban planning of big cities in developing countries.
文摘Following an introduction, non-native species are exposed to environments that differ from those found in their native range; further, as these non-native species expand beyond the site of introduction, they must constantly adapt to novel environ- ments. Although introduced species are present across most ecosystems, few species have successfully established themselves on a truly global scale. One such species, the house sparrow Passer domesticus, is now one of the world＇s most broadly distributed vertebrate species and has been introduced to a great part of its current range. To date, work on four continents suggests both ge- netic and phenotypic variation exists between native and introduced ranges. As such, house sparrows represent an excellent op- portunity to study adaptations to novel environments and how these adaptations are derived. The global distribution of this spe- cies and the multiple independent introductions to geographically isolated sites allow researchers to ask questions regarding ge- netic variation and adaptation on a global scale. Here, we summarize the molecular studies of invasive house sparrows from the earliest work using allozymes through more recent work on epigenetics; using these studies, we discuss patterns of dispersal of this species. We then discuss future directions in techniques （e.g. next generation sequencing） and how they will provide new in- sight into questions that are fundamental to invasion biology. Finally, we discuss how continued research on the house sparrow in light of these genetic changes and adaptations will elucidate answers of adaptation, invasion biology, range expansion, and resi- lience in vertebrate systems generally
基金financially supported by Grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31470472)the National Undergraduate "Innovation" Project and Zhejiang Province’s "Xinmiao" Project
文摘Background:The capacity for thermogenesis is considered part of an animal's adaptive strategy for survival,and basal metabolic rate(BMR) is one of the fundamental physiological standards for assessing the energy cost of thermoregulation in endotherms.BMR has been shown to be a highly flexible phenotypic trait both between,and within,species,but the metabolic mechanisms involved in the regulation of BMR,which range from variation in organ mass to biochemical adjustments,remain unclear.In this study,we investigated the relationship between organ mass,biochemical markers of metabolic tissue activity,and thermogenesis,in three species of small passerines:wild Bramblings(Fringilla montifringilla),Little Buntings(Emberiza pusilla) and Eurasian Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus),caught in Wenzhou,southeastern China.Methods:Oxygen consumption was measured using an open-circuit respirometry system.Mitochondrial state-4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase(COX) activity in liver and pectoral muscle were measured with a Clark electrode.Results:Our results show that Eurasian Tree Sparrows had significantly higher BMR,digestive organ mass,mitochondrial state-4 respiration capacity and COX activity in liver and muscle,than Bramblings and Little Buntings.Furthermore,interspecific differences in BMR were strongly correlated with those indigestive tract mass,state-4 respiration and COX activity.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that the digestive organ mass,state-4 respiration and COX activity play an important role in determining interspecific differences in BMR.
基金This study was financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31470472 and 31971420).
文摘Background:Small birds in temperate habitats must either migrate,or adjust aspects of their morphology,physiology and behavior to cope with seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod.It is,however,difficult to accurately measure how seasonal changes in temperature and photoperiod affect physiological processes such as basal metabolic rate(BMR)and metabolic activity.To address this problem,we collected data in each month of the year on body mass(Mb)and BMR,and conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Mb,BMR and physiological markers of metabolic activity,in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus).Methods:In one experiment,we measured monthly change in Mb and BMR in a captive group of birds over a year.In another experiment,we examined the effects of acclimating birds to two different temperatures,10 and 30℃,and a long and a short photoperiod(16 h light:8 h dark and 8 h light:16 h dark,respectively)for 4 weeks.Results:We found that these treatments induced sparrows to adjust their Mb and metabolic rate processes.Acclimation to 30℃for 4 weeks significantly decreased sparrows’Mb,BMR,and energy intake,including both gross energy intake and digestible energy intake,compared to birds acclimated to 10℃.The dry mass of the liver,kidneys and digestive tract of birds acclimated to 30℃also significantly decreased,although their heart and skeletal muscle mass did not change significantly relative to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to 30℃also had lower mitochondrial state-4 respiration(S4R)and cytochrome c oxidase(COX)activity in their liver and skeletal muscle,compared to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to the long photoperiod also had lower mitochondrial S4R and COX activity in their liver,compared to those acclimated to the short photoperiod.Conclusions:These results illustrate the changes in morphology,physiology,and enzyme activity induced by seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod in a small temperate passerine.Both temperature and photoperiod probably have a strong effect on seasonal variation in metabolic heat production in small birds in temperate regions.The effect of temperature is,however,stronger than that of photoperiod.
文摘Global surface air temperatures increased during the past 100 years. Many long-term studies of birds have reported a climatic influence on breeding performance. We analysed long-term changes in first laying date and clutch size for first clutches of sedentary, hole-nesting and socially monogamous tree sparrows Passer montanus during 1980-2009 in northwestern Croatia. Laying date advanced and spring temperature increased significantly during the study. Date of laying was significantly correlated with mean air spring temperature and advanced by 8.6 days during the 30 years period. Laying date was delayed in extremely cold, but not in extremely warm springs compared to years with normal temperatures. These results suggest that current climate change including extreme change does not have negative effects on timing of laying or clutch size. In contrast to laying date, clutch size did not vary systematically during the study period or with mean spring air temperature changes [Current Zoology 57 （3）： 414-418, 2011].
文摘Habitat suitability models have been used to predict the present and future potential distribution of a variety of spe- cies. Eurasian tree sparrows Passer montanus, native to Eurasia, have established populations in other parts of the world. In North America, their current distribution is limited to a relatively small region around its original introduction to St. Louis, Missouri. We combined data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility with current and future climate data to create habitat suitability models using Maxent for this species. Under projected climate change scenarios, our models show that the distribution and range of the Eurasian tree sparrow could increase as far as the Pacific Northwest and Newfoundland. This is potentially important in-formation for prioritizing the management and control of this non-native species [Current Zoology 57 （5）： 648--654, 2011].
文摘The cerclage wire is an important adjuvant in the management of Orthopaedic and trauma cases and is particularly useful in long bone fractures. It is especially useful for addressing the fractures, especially the comminuted ones with a butterfly fragment. Orthopaedic cerclage Wiring is used as an adjunct to maintain fracture reduction (either temporarily or permanently), while the bone is primarily stabilised by either a plate intramedullary nail or external fixation frame. Multiple cerclage wires provide adjunctive fixation against compressive shear, bending & rotational forces and have been used in traumatology since many years. The aim of this article is to introduce a new year simple low cost instrument named as “Suyash cerclage wire passer”, with excellent outcomes without any major complications to the Orthopaedic community.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32370508)the Foundation for Excellent Doctoral Student of Science and Technology Program of Gansu Province(No.23JRRA1125)。
文摘Females actively seek extra-pair paternity(EPP)to acquire a fitness advantage for their offspring.The“contextdependence hypothesis”posits that female extra-pair mate choice has plasticity in response to environmental conditions,and therefore magnitude of female genetic benefits from EPP depends on the environmental variation.Furthermore,chronic heavy metal pollution can cause adverse effects on fitness-related traits of wild birds.However,few studies were available on the interactions between heavy metal pollution and EPP.We selected an area that was contaminated by heavy metals for more than 60 years(Baiyin,BY),a relatively unpolluted area(Liujiaxia,LJX),and Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)as study species to explore the response of female extrapair mate choice and genetic benefits from EPP to heavy metal pollution in socially monogamous birds.The relatedness between social mates and extra-pair mates was investigated.Additionally,we compared the body size and heterozygosity of extra-pair offspring(EPO),within-pair offspring(WPO),social males and extra-pair males from the two Tree Sparrow populations.We found that at BY,female Tree Sparrows tended to choose extra-pair males with larger body size and lower genetic similarity,thereby producing higher heterozygosity and larger body size of EPO compared with those of WPO.However,no similar phenomenon was observed in the Tree Sparrow population from LJX.In addition,there was a significant interaction between population and paternity in the analyses of the fitness-related traits,suggesting that environmental variation could affect female genetic benefits from EPP.This study confirmed the existence of presumed interactions between environmental pollution and EPP within the natural population of socially monogamous Tree Sparrows.Our findings shed lights on the possible effects of long-term environmental stress on mating system in wild birds.
基金supported in part by grants from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic(MK DE-06P04OMG008 and MK 00002327201)
文摘The widespread Russet Sparrow is usually called Passer rutilans(Temminck).I have shown that this specific name was published on 31 December 1836,and that it is preceded by cinnamomeus,published by Gould on 8 April 1836.The species thus should be called Passer cinnamomeus(Gould,1836)due to the Principle of Priority.The three generally recognized subspecies should bear the following names:P.cinamomeus rutilans(Temminck,1836),P.cinnamomeus intensior Rothschild,1922,and P.cinnamomeus cinnamomeus(Gould,1836),respectively.
