Parrots are among the most popular pets in the world and they are also some of the most illegally traded, particularly in Brazil. Some computational tools were recently developed by researchers based on molecular data...Parrots are among the most popular pets in the world and they are also some of the most illegally traded, particularly in Brazil. Some computational tools were recently developed by researchers based on molecular databases for taxonomy support, forensic identification and conservation purposes. In this study, the DNA Surveillance platform was used to build an online database tool for molecular identification of Brazilian Psittacids using DNA sequences of six mitochondrial genes. To illustrate possible taxonomic issues of the online tool due to interspecific hybridization or unresolved taxonomy, we focused on Amazona aestiva that is considered as one of the most common parrots in Brazil, commonly bred as pets, and considered to be part of a species complex with Amazona ochrocephala from South America. We provide three curated sequence databases, which allow the species identification of individuals or tissue samples of birds of the Psittacidae family using mitochondrial DNA markers, and a comprehensive description of a taxonomic issue involving the A. ochrocephala complex. The results obtained corroborate previous studies suggesting that these species are not reciprocally monophyletic, due to either an ancient hybridization in central Brazil, or, they maybe just are morpho-varieties of the same species. Alternatively, if A. aestiva and A. ochrocephala were considered as sister species, the data could be interpreted either as a result of secondary contact or incipient speciation. Beyond the use of mtDNA for species identification, the high mtDNA haplotype diversity observed in A. aestiva indicates its potential use in discrimination of lineages that could be an important auxiliary tool to certify the captive origin of legally commercialized parrots.展开更多
Over the past decades,empirical evidence has been accumulated indicating that olfactory information plays a fundamental role in bird life history.Nonetheless,many aspects of avian olfaction remain poorly understood.Ou...Over the past decades,empirical evidence has been accumulated indicating that olfactory information plays a fundamental role in bird life history.Nonetheless,many aspects of avian olfaction remain poorly understood.Our purpose was to broaden the knowledge about the importance of the sense of smell in some neglected bird groups:psittaciformes and ramphastids,and to compare how the response varied between the species.Because of the lack of information about the use of chemical cues for locating food in fruit-eating species,we also aimed to delve into this question.We conducted a 3-choice(water/vinegar/papaya and banana juice)scent test in 5 Costa Rican native species:scarlet macaw(Ara macao),red-lored amazon(Amazona autumnalis),yellow-naped amazon(Amazona auropalliata),keel-billed toucan(Ramphastos sulfuratus),and yellow-throated toucan(Ramphastos ambiguus).Results revealed that macaws and toucans allocated significantly more time to interacting with the fruit scent container,indicating that these species can perceive the volatile chemicals emitted by ripe fruits and that they can use this information to make foraging decisions.However,amazons did not dedicate more time to interact with the fruit treatment.Our research provides thefirst evidence of the ability to exploit chemical volatile cues in macaws and toucans.展开更多
Inference by exclusion is the ability to select a given option by excluding the others.When designed appropriately,tests of this ability can reveal choices that cannot be explained by associative processes.Over ...Inference by exclusion is the ability to select a given option by excluding the others.When designed appropriately,tests of this ability can reveal choices that cannot be explained by associative processes.Over the past decade,exclusion reasoning has been explored in several non-human taxonomic groups,including birds,mainly in Corvids and Parrots.To increase our understanding of the taxonomic distribution of exclusion reasoning and,therefore,its evolution,we investigated exclusion performances in red-tailed black cockatoos(Calyptorhynchus banksii),an Australian relative of the Goffin cockatoo(Cacatua goffini),using a food-finding task.Cockatoos were required to find a food item hidden in 1 of the 2 experimenter’s hands.Following training sessions in which they reliably selected the closed baited hand they had just been shown open,each individual was tested on 4 different conditions.Critical to demonstrating exclusion reasoning was the condition in which they were shown the empty hand and then offered a choice of both closed hands.The performance of all birds was above chance on all experimental conditions but not on an olfactory and/or cuing control condition.The results suggest that the birds might be able to infer by exclusion,although an explanation based on rule learning cannot be excluded.This first experiment in red-tailed black cockatoo highlights the potential of this species as a model to study avian cognition and paves the pathway for future investigations.展开更多
基金supported by FAPEMIG(PRONEX),FAPEMIG-Vale SA(RDP-00043-10/2010-1)CNPq(473428/2004-0,303558/2009-1,473809/2008-7 and Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa da UFMG.).
文摘Parrots are among the most popular pets in the world and they are also some of the most illegally traded, particularly in Brazil. Some computational tools were recently developed by researchers based on molecular databases for taxonomy support, forensic identification and conservation purposes. In this study, the DNA Surveillance platform was used to build an online database tool for molecular identification of Brazilian Psittacids using DNA sequences of six mitochondrial genes. To illustrate possible taxonomic issues of the online tool due to interspecific hybridization or unresolved taxonomy, we focused on Amazona aestiva that is considered as one of the most common parrots in Brazil, commonly bred as pets, and considered to be part of a species complex with Amazona ochrocephala from South America. We provide three curated sequence databases, which allow the species identification of individuals or tissue samples of birds of the Psittacidae family using mitochondrial DNA markers, and a comprehensive description of a taxonomic issue involving the A. ochrocephala complex. The results obtained corroborate previous studies suggesting that these species are not reciprocally monophyletic, due to either an ancient hybridization in central Brazil, or, they maybe just are morpho-varieties of the same species. Alternatively, if A. aestiva and A. ochrocephala were considered as sister species, the data could be interpreted either as a result of secondary contact or incipient speciation. Beyond the use of mtDNA for species identification, the high mtDNA haplotype diversity observed in A. aestiva indicates its potential use in discrimination of lineages that could be an important auxiliary tool to certify the captive origin of legally commercialized parrots.
基金The experiments were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of each institution at which the studies were conducted,with Costa Rica animal welfare law n°7451/1994 and with the Spanish Government RD 53/2013.
文摘Over the past decades,empirical evidence has been accumulated indicating that olfactory information plays a fundamental role in bird life history.Nonetheless,many aspects of avian olfaction remain poorly understood.Our purpose was to broaden the knowledge about the importance of the sense of smell in some neglected bird groups:psittaciformes and ramphastids,and to compare how the response varied between the species.Because of the lack of information about the use of chemical cues for locating food in fruit-eating species,we also aimed to delve into this question.We conducted a 3-choice(water/vinegar/papaya and banana juice)scent test in 5 Costa Rican native species:scarlet macaw(Ara macao),red-lored amazon(Amazona autumnalis),yellow-naped amazon(Amazona auropalliata),keel-billed toucan(Ramphastos sulfuratus),and yellow-throated toucan(Ramphastos ambiguus).Results revealed that macaws and toucans allocated significantly more time to interacting with the fruit scent container,indicating that these species can perceive the volatile chemicals emitted by ripe fruits and that they can use this information to make foraging decisions.However,amazons did not dedicate more time to interact with the fruit treatment.Our research provides thefirst evidence of the ability to exploit chemical volatile cues in macaws and toucans.
文摘Inference by exclusion is the ability to select a given option by excluding the others.When designed appropriately,tests of this ability can reveal choices that cannot be explained by associative processes.Over the past decade,exclusion reasoning has been explored in several non-human taxonomic groups,including birds,mainly in Corvids and Parrots.To increase our understanding of the taxonomic distribution of exclusion reasoning and,therefore,its evolution,we investigated exclusion performances in red-tailed black cockatoos(Calyptorhynchus banksii),an Australian relative of the Goffin cockatoo(Cacatua goffini),using a food-finding task.Cockatoos were required to find a food item hidden in 1 of the 2 experimenter’s hands.Following training sessions in which they reliably selected the closed baited hand they had just been shown open,each individual was tested on 4 different conditions.Critical to demonstrating exclusion reasoning was the condition in which they were shown the empty hand and then offered a choice of both closed hands.The performance of all birds was above chance on all experimental conditions but not on an olfactory and/or cuing control condition.The results suggest that the birds might be able to infer by exclusion,although an explanation based on rule learning cannot be excluded.This first experiment in red-tailed black cockatoo highlights the potential of this species as a model to study avian cognition and paves the pathway for future investigations.
