A Contribution to the Breeding Ecology of Two Species of Euplectes (Bishop‐birds) in Tanganyika Territory

How the local density of territorial animals responds to changes in food abundance will depend on the flexibility of territory size. Quantitative estimates of territory size over a broad range of food abundance are relatively rare because of the difficulty of measuring food abundance in the wild. Stream salmonids are an ideal model system for investigating flexibility in territory size, because food abundance can be quantified in the field and manipulated in the laboratory. We conducted a meta-analysis to test whether territory size decreases with increasing food abundance, and a mixed model analysis to test among three competing predictions: with increasing food abundance, territory size will be (1) fixed-the slope of a regression of log territory size vs. log food abundance=0; (2) flexible and decreasing, as if individuals are defending a fixed amount of food-a slope=-1; and (3) initially compressible, but with an asymptotic minimum size-a slope between 0 and -1. We collected data from 16 studies that manipulated or measured food abundance while monitoring changes in territory size of young-of-the-year salmonids; 10 were experimental laboratory studies, whereas six were observational field studies. Overall, territory size decreased significantly with increasing food abundance; the weighted average correlation coefficient was -0.31. However, the estimated slope of the relationship between log territory size and log food abundance was only -0.23, significantly different from 0, and also significantly shallower than -1. Our estimated slope suggests that attempts to increase the density of territorial salmonids by increasing food abundance and reducing territory size will be inefficient; a 20-fold increase in food abundance would be required to double population density. Our analysis may also have implications for other species with a territorial mosaic social system-i.e. contiguous territories. In these social systems, social inertia will dampen any effects of changes in food abundance on the local density of settlers, compared to non-territorial species or those with non-contiguous territories.

Study on the data of forage quality was conducted to determine the quality of napier grass forage with different growth and morfological type. In Indonesia, there are two types of napier grass, namely the tall and short type. The data used in this study were of proximate and van soest analysis of tall-type napier grass forage Pennisetum purpureum Schum and short-type napier grass, cultivar Mott dwarf, which were obtained from the Bekasi Feed Quality and Certification Center and data obtained from journals. The results of the study showed that dry matter content of short-type napier grass was higher than those of tall-type napier grass (23% vs 20%), while fiber fractions such as crude fiber, NDF and ADF of short-type napier grass were lower than those of tall-type napier grass 32% vs 29%, 70% vs 65%, 43% vs 39%, respectively. It is therefore relative forage quality (RFQ) of short-type napier grass was higher than those of tall-type napier grass (68 vs 57). It is concluded that related to dry matter and fiber fraction value, the quality of short-type napier grass (cv. Mott) is better than those of tall-type napier grass.
 Key words: cultivar Mott, Pennisetum purpureum, relative forage quality (RFQ), short-type napier grass, tall-type napier grass

Aspects of territorial behavior of Nearctic-neotropical migratory birds during the nonbreeding period are poorly studied. Information about territoriality, site persistence, between-year site fidelity, and territory sizes are not available for most birds, especially in tropical agroecosystems. Given the rapid expansion of oil palm in the neotropics, determining how oil palm affects the territorial behaviors of overwintering migratory birds is an important line of inquiry with conservation implications. The American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) is considered a model species for the study of population dynamics in the neotropics; however, territory size for American Redstart has only been assessed in native habitats. In this study, we outfitted individual redstarts with radio tags, across two winter seasons, to determine variation in territory sizes across oil palm plantations and native forest patches in the State of Tabasco, Mexico. Average redstart territory size was 0.29 ha in oil palm plantations and 0.17 ha in native forest. Albeit presenting larger territories in oil palm plantations, which could indicate poorer habitat quality, the difference between both habitats was not statistically significant. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that American Redstarts hold territories in oil palm plantations and that territory size may serve as an important indicator of relative habitat quality for redstart populations in tropical working landscapes.

Napier grass which has several types of them has been studied by researchers for few applications such as biofuel, sugar and pulp production. This research focused on specific type of Napier grass which is the Dwarf Napier due to high cellulose content to produce pulp. Delignification of Dwarf Napier grass was carried out by soda anthraquinone pulping under varying conditions selected according to experimental design software with three factors. The influence of these three factors including concentration of sodium hydroxide (15%, 17.5% and 20%), concentration of anthraquinone (0.05% and 0.1%) and duration of cooking time (30, 60 and 90 min) on pulp yield was studied. 18 runs of experiment were conducted and the result obtained was used to analyse the optimized condition for pulp extraction by using RSM. Results indicated that the optimized response obtained while Napier grass stem is treated with 17.5% sodium hydroxide and 0.05% AQ with 66 mins of cooking time meanwhile the predicted yield is 34.87 %. However, the actual pulp yield obtained (36.38%) is higher than the predicted yield. The pulp which extracted with optimized condition is then bleached with hydroxide peroxide. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the raw grass fiber and pulp obtained. Napier grass is successfully demonstrated to be an effective alternative source for producing paper pulp. In the this study Dwarf Napier grass fibres were successfully pulped applying soda AQ process although the obtained pulp is not as high as the studied done before due to the limitations. FTIR analysis also confirmed the removal of lignin as well as most of the hemicellulose during the pulping process. Therefore, the abundance and fast growth of Napier grass are an added advantage as an alternative non-wood source for papermaking

The aim of this study was to know effects of saline condition to crop physiology, growth andforages yield. A factorial completed random design was used in this study. The first factor was type ofgrass, these were king grass (Pennisetum hybrid), napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), panicum grass(Panicum maximum), setaria grass (Setaria sphacelata) and star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus). Thesecond factor was salt solution (NaCl) with concentration 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM. Parameters of thisexperiment were the percentage of chlorophyll, rate of photosynthesis, number of tiller, biomass and drymatter yield. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and followed by Duncan’s multiple range testwhen there were significant effects of the treatment. Panicum grass had the highest chlorophyll content(1.85 mg/g of leaf). Photosynthesis rate of setaria grass was the lowest. The increasing of NaClconcentration up to 300 mM NaCl reduced chlorophyll content, rate of photosynthesis, tiller number,biomass yield and dry matter yield. Responses of leaf area, biomass and dry matter yield to salinitywere linear for king, napier, panicum and setaria grasses. In tar grass, the response of leaf area andbiomass ware linear, but those of dry matter yield was quadratic. The response of tiller number tosalinity was linear for all species.

1. Graphical methods are presented for the simultaneous comparisons of group size and territory size (subsumed jointly under the term “social dispersion”), in organisms with exclusive but contiguous territories. The methods are applied to recently published data on five species of neotropical emballonurid bats with particular emphasis on identifying the factors which set maximal limits on group size. The available evidence suggests that population densities, group territory sizes, and group sizes are all limited by components of the food distribution. More particularly, it is argued that minimization of annual foraging ranges is of advantage to these bats and leads to a colony territory size containing one and only one active food site at any given time. Territory size is thus determined by the average distance between successively available food sites, the number of such sites needed per year, and the average size of these sites. Maximal group size is then determined as a result of this territory size minimization and equals average richness of currently used food patches. 2. The model predicts that where food patches are low in richness and close together, social dispersion will be fine-grained; where patches are high in richness and occur far apart, social dispersion will be coarse-grained. Since sites in this study which have many small patches tend to be located in the more stable habitats, the model also predicts that temporal stability in group size and unimodal frequency distributions of group size over space will be associated with fine-grained dispersions. The reverse is predicted for coarse-grained social dispersions. 3. The model only predicts the maximal size colonies can take. Among the many possible factors promoting social aggregation up to the predicted maxima, only a few account for the observed congruence in colony sizes and compositions at the roost and on the foraging grounds. These include information transfer about new food sites, location of roosts centrally to reduce energy costs of transit (Horn, 1968), and stabilization of competition with conspecifics at food sites.

Optimal territory size models predict a decrease in territory size with increasing food abundance. However, most of these models may not be applicable to juvenile salmonids in streams, because they defend contiguous territories at high densities. The optimal size of a contiguous territory is predicted to (1) be independent of food abundance when food is rare and (2) decrease only when food abundance is high enough to induce a reduction in territory size below the contiguous optimum. To test these predictions, we raised equal densities of juvenile steelhead trout in outdoor stream channels over a 32-fold range of food abundance in the absence of emigration for 25 days. Increasing competition for scarce food resulted in increasing mortality, higher willingness to emigrate, higher variance in body mass, lower growth, lower population density and lower biomass. The size of territories decreased with increasing local population density, and increased with increasing body size. However, territory size did not change with food abundance, a result consistent with the prediction of a contiguous territory size model. On average, total salmonid biomass increased 5.7 times in response to the 32-fold increase in food abundance. Our data provide strong support for an earlier quantitative relationship between the abundance of stream salmonids and their food.

1. Details are given of the distribution of the eight species of tsetse occurring in the Tanganyika Territory (G. brevipalpis, G. longipennis, G. fuscipleuris, G. palpalis, G. morsitans, G. swynnertoni, G. pallidipes, and G. austeni).2. The effect of past climatic changes on the present distribution of some of the species is discussed in a somewhat speculative manner.3. The detailed information is summarised in a general description and map of the fly-belts of the Territory.4. The effect of certain broad vegetation types and major topographical features on the distribution of species of tsetse in Tanganyika are discussed.5. The effect of the major topographical features in limiting the distribution of the fly is always found to reside in some accompanying vegetative or climatic feature.6. Possible and likely extensions of the fly-belts are briefly indicated ; if these should take place, but little of Tanganyika Territory would remain uninfested by tsetse-fly. The possibility of natural retreat of fly-belts is also discussed.7. A few details are given of the habits and habitats of some of the lesser known species (G. longipennis, G. fuscipleuris and G. austeni).

The objective of this study was to compare two varieties of Napier grass (Bana Napier grass vs French Cameroon Napier grass) and to determine whether feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG) and milk yield of lactating Friesian cows from fresh cut Bana Napier grass was greater than from French Cameroon Napier grass, using a completely randomized design.Results show that Bana Napier grass had similar percent dry matter (DM), ash and gross energy (GE) to French Cameroon.Bana grass had higher percent crude protein (CP) and lower fiber fractions, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin compared to French Cameroon.Overall the forage quality was marginally higher in Bana Napier grass compared to French Cameroon.The DM and NDF intake expressed as a percentage of body weight (BW) were similar in both Napier grass types.Both grasses had similar digestible DM and energy.Bana had higher digestible CP but lower digestible ADF and NDF than French Cameroon.Bana Napier was not different from French Cameroon when fed as a sole diet to lactating cows in terms of low DM intake, milk yield and a loss of BW and condition.To improve the efficient utilization of both Napier grass varieties, a supplement capable of supplying 1085-1227 g CP/d and 17.0-18.0Mcal ME/d is required for cows to support moderate gains 0.22 kg/d and 15 kg 4% fat corrected milk/d.

Female density and distribution are dependent on resource phenology and female availability strongly influences male mating behaviour and success. When a male adopts a ‘resource defence’ tactic, his reproductive success depends on the location and attractiveness of his territory. Environmental factors associated with territory quality are expected to influence mating success, for example, through territory features or male–male competition. In a protected population of a mountain‐dwelling polygynous herbivore, the Alpine chamois Rupicapra r. rupicapra, we investigated the relationships among mating opportunities, some environmental variables (snow depth, topographic features and size of territories) and male intra‐sexual competition for mating. We recorded the mating behaviour and territory size of 15 GPS‐GSM radio‐tagged territorial males, during five rutting seasons (early November to early December: N = 8 individuals in 2011, N = 9 in 2012, N = 8 in 2015, N = 11 in 2016, N = 7 in 2017; 80% of them were observed for more than one mating season) and related them to snow depth and topography of territories. In ruts with deep snow cover, territorial males had smaller territories and higher number of mating opportunities than in ruts with lower snow cover. Smaller territories showed the highest values of terrain roughness, in turn with little or no snow cover in the mating season, and were visited by a greater number of females, than larger territories. Number of wins was positively influenced by snow depth and negatively related to the frequency of aggressions. The frequency of male–male aggressive interactions was greater during ruts with deep snow cover and for males with territories at higher elevations; additionally, it was negatively related to interactions won. Thus, snow depth, which influences resource distribution and female movements, is confirmed as a strong determinant of male mating opportunities and mating behaviour.

1. Although local variation in territorial predator density is often correlated with habitat quality, the causal mechanism underlying this frequently observed association is poorly understood and could stem from facultative adjustment in either group size or territory size. 2. To test between these alternative hypotheses, we used a novel statistical framework to construct a winter population-level utilization distribution for wolves (Canis lupus) in northern Ontario, which we then linked to a suite of environmental variables to determine factors influencing wolf space use. Next, we compared habitat quality metrics emerging from this analysis as well as an independent measure of prey abundance, with pack size and territory size to investigate which hypothesis was most supported by the data. 3. We show that wolf space use patterns were concentrated near deciduous, mixed deciduous/coniferous and disturbed forest stands favoured by moose (Alces alces), the predominant prey species in the diet of wolves in northern Ontario, and in proximity to linear corridors, including shorelines and road networks remaining from commercial forestry activities. 4. We then demonstrate that landscape metrics of wolf habitat quality - projected wolf use, probability of moose occupancy and proportion of preferred land cover classes - were inversely related to territory size but unrelated to pack size. 5. These results suggest that wolves in boreal ecosystems alter territory size, but not pack size, in response to local variation in habitat quality. This could be an adaptive strategy to balance trade-offs between territorial defence costs and energetic gains due to resource acquisition. That pack size was not responsive to habitat quality suggests that variation in group size is influenced by other factors such as intraspecific competition between wolf packs.

Production, quality and availability of forage one of which is determined by soil fertility and soil health. The use of chemical fertilizers (inorganic) in a period of time is one of the causes of land degradation (Kartini, 2007), application of organic fertilizers is the right step in maintaining soil fertility and soil health, and reduce the negative impact of the use of inorganic fertilizers. The study aimed to evaluate the response of regrowth and production of several species of grass to organic fertilizer conducted in a greenhouse using a completely randomized design split plot pattern 3 x 4 with three replications. The first factor (main plot / main plot) is a type of grass is Panicum maximum var. trichoglume (R1), Setaria splendida (R2), and Pennisetum purpureum (R3); The second factor (sub-plot / subplot) is a type of organic fertilizer that is without fertilizer (P0), manure (P1), compost (P2), and vermicompost (P3). The results showed that there was no interaction effect between type of grass with the type of organic fertilizer on the regrowth and production of grass Panicum maximum var. trichoglume, Setaria splendida, and Pennisetum purpureum. Treatment types of grass significant (P <0.05) on all observed variables, while the treatment of organic fertilizers only significant (P <0.05) in the variable number of tillers, number of leaves, stem dry weight, total dry weight of forage and leaf area per pot. Based on the results of this study concluded that there was no interaction effect between type of grass with organic fertilizer. The three types of grass have different productivity, highest growth in grass with vermicompost fertilizer and highest production in grass with compost fertilizer.Key words: Organic fertilizers, panicum grass, Setaria grass, elephant grass

In dairy production systems, efficient pasture management is crucial for maximizing milk output while minimizing costs. However, many producers make decisions without considering the productive efficiency of different forage types. This research aims to address this gap by comparing the milk production and related expenses of Brown Swiss and Jersey cows fed with three types of grass: Maralfalfa (Pennisetum sp.), Cameroon (Pennisetum purpureum), and Mulato (CIAT 36087).The milk production and related expenses for generating one liter of milk from Brown Swiss and Jersey cows were compared when fed with Maralfalfa (Pennisetum sp.), Cameroon (Pennisetum purpureum), and Mulato (CIAT 36087) grasses. Productive and reproductive parameters affecting milk production were analyzed. Milk production of the cows under study was measured for one month when they were exclusively pasture–fed with Mulato grass. The group of 33 cows was randomly subdivided into three subgroups, each consisting of 11 cows, and each subgroup was assigned to consume a specific type of grass. This resulted in the Maralfalfa consumption group (SG1), the Cameroun consumption group (SG2), and the control group with Mulato pasture feeding (SG3). Daily milk production was recorded for six weeks, with standardized management and ad libitum feeding. Daily milk production for each cow was monitored and recorded over the six–week period. Highly significant differences (P<0.01) were observed among the three studied groups from the second week onward. The main difference was observed between SG1 and SG3. The highest productivity, with greater milk production volumes, was observed in cows consuming Maralfalfa. However, variables such as the service period, live weight, and number of calving performed better with Cameroon grass. Cost–benefit analysis favored the use of Mulato grass.

Indian Black Robin (Saxicoloides fulicata leucoptera) is one of the territorial bird found in scrub forest, rocky areas, open grasslands and near human residence and distributed throughout the country in all climatic zones. Breeding success of birds can be depended on the size of the territory. Territory size can be varying according to breeding season and different locations they occupied. Present study attempted to understand the breeding ecology and territorial behavior of black robin in both breeding and non-breeding seasons. The data were collected using scan sampling and focal animal sampling from 2014 to 2017 in adjacent to the Mihintale sanctuary. The behavioral and territory variations were checked by using a dummy of black robin. ArcGIS v10.3 and Minitab v17 were used for data analysis. The breeding season of black robin lasted nearly three months twice a year from March to June and July to September. Courtship behaviour was started beginning of April and nest building was performed by both male and female. The nest building period averaged 13.25±0.96 days. Ten nests were recorded within the study period whilst 4 of them were successful and 6 were pseudo nests. Nests were observed at different places such as rocky areas, rock fragments and joisters of resident places. The clutch size was 2-4 and eggs were whitish in background with small brownish blotches. Average incubation period was 11±3.4 days. Both male and female fed the chicks after hatching. Foraging sites were mostly nearby roads, human associated places and live foliage. As a percentage, male used to feed chicks 69.23% and female 30.77% within the observed period. There were 12 territories recorded within the study period. The territorial areas were changed according to the members of the group and the breeding season. Territory size ranged from 617 m2 to 5,050 m2 and smaller territories were recorded during the non breeding period while sizes were larger during the breeding period. Results suggest that this species require sufficient habitats to demarcate their territory and nesting. Hence maintain the gardens and shady areas are recommended to conserve this species in domestic areas. Keywords: Black Robin, Territory, Nests, Conservation

Aggressive behaviors occurring dissociated from the breeding season encourage the search of non-gonadal underlying regulatory mechanisms. Brain estrogen has been shown to be a key modulator of this behavior in bird and mammal species, and it remains to be understood if this is a common mechanism across vertebrates. This review focuses on the contributions of Gymnotus omarorum, the first teleost species in which estrogenic modulation of non-breeding aggression has been demonstrated. Gymnotus omarorum displays year-long aggression, which has been well characterized in the non-breeding season. In the natural habitat, territory size is independent of sex and determined by body size. During the breeding season, on the other hand, territory size no longer correlates to body size, but rather to circulating estrogens and gonadosomatic index in females, and 11-ketotestosterone in males. The hormonal mechanisms underlying non-breeding aggression have been explored in dyadic encounters in lab settings. Males and females display robust aggressive contests, whose outcome depends only on body size asymmetry. This agonistic behavior is independent of gonadal hormones and fast acting androgens. Nevertheless, it is dependent on fast acting estrogenic action, as acute aromatase blockers affect aggression engagement, intensity, and outcome. Transcriptomic profiling in the preoptic area region shows non-breeding individuals express aromatase and other steroidogenic enzyme transcripts. This teleost model reveals there is a role of brain estrogen in the control of non-breeding aggression which seems to be common among distant vertebrate species.