Alpine Accentor Prunella Collaris Research Articles

Foraging efficiency of two alpine bird species in central Japan

ABSTRACT Capsule The foraging efficiency of Alpine Accentors Prunella collaris and Japanese Accentors P. rubida is highest on the snow surface in the alpine zone, where they forage for fallen arthropods. Aims To compare the foraging efficiency of two bird species across alpine habitats, including the snow surface, and discuss the impact of changes in snow cover on their foraging behaviour. Methods The foraging efficiency of two alpine bird species, recorded as the number of pecks per unit time, was compared in the alpine zone of Mount Norikura in central Japan, among four habitat types: snow surface, Japanese Stone Pine scrub, alpine tundra and scree. Results In total, respective 45 and 32 foraging sequences of Alpine Accentors and Japanese Accentors were recorded. For both species, foraging efficiency was markedly higher on the snow surface than in other habitats. Conclusion Alpine bird species exhibit high foraging efficiency on the snow surface in the alpine zone, assuming that prey sizes are similar across habitats. With the decreasing amount of remaining snowpack in the alpine zone, due to the general trend of climate change, bird species will likely have a shorter period to efficiently utilize these foraging habitats in the future.

Godman‐Salvin Prize

Godman‐Salvin Prize

Survival Strategies and Seasonal Size Variations of Feather Mites Proctophyllodes megaphyllus on their Host Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

Compared to chewing lice, symbiotic and studies on their biology, ecology and survival strategies are still rare. To describe the ecology and morphology of the mite species Proctophyllodes megaphyllus, a symbiont of the alpine accentor Prunella collaris, 150 accentors were captured in the West Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia. The mites extracted from the birds were sexed and their specific body structures were measured. In total 2144 individuals of P. megaphyllus were collected from 100 accentors. Male mites collected in autumn, after the bird's postnuptial moult, reached the largest size. At the same time, mite prevalence reached maximum while the mean intensity of infestation was at its lowest. Our results suggest that mites preferred newly coated feathers after a moult and radiated horizontally, infesting birds at shared roosting sites where alpine accentors tend to reoccur. This study is one of the few evaluations of seasonal variation in ecology and morphology of feather mites in alpine conditions.

Autumn migration of birds over Polonyna Borzhava (Ukrainian Carpathians)

Migration processes of birds occurring on the Polonyna Borzhava ridge were studied. Material was collected during 52-days period since September till November 2018 and total duration of observations was equal to 307 hours. It was found that despite difficult terrain and variable weather conditions at least 48 species of birds migrate over Polonyna Borzhava. Among them the following species dominate: Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs, Common Crane Grus grus, Eurasian Siskin Spinus spinus, Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus, Great Tit Parus major, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis, Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta, Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus, and also raptors: Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus, Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, Goshawk Accipiter gentilis, Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus, Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus and other species. Among detected species six are under protection of the Red Data Book of Ukraine: Common Crane, Hen Harrier, Stock Dove Columba oenas, Alpine Accentor  Prunella collaris, Osprey Pandion haliaetus, and Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. Median date of the overall bird passage falls on 9 October. Passage dynamics differs among species. Most of species prefer flight heights not higher than 55 m above the ridge, but some numerous species choose higher altitudes, for instance Wood Pigeon (85.6±62.7 m), and Common Crane (227.5±62.5 m).

Adaptive Plasticity in Insect Parasites – Philopterus Lice and their Accentor Passerine Hosts

One hundred and five alpine accentors Prunella collaris (Scopoli, 1786) and ninety four dunnocks Prunella modularis (Linnaeus, 1758) were captured in the West Carpathian Mountains of Slovakia in order to compare the morphology of their Ischnoceran parasites Philopterus emiliae Balat 1985 and Philopterus modularis (Denny, 1842), respectively. In the case of both host species, the largest bodied lice occurred in winter, before the beginning of the host breeding season. Lice collected during the host breeding season were smaller in size than those collected in winter. Lice collected in the autumn, following postnuptial molt were even smaller in size. The largest lice were found on the bodies of host individuals with relatively long wings. The lice Ph. emiliae also differed in shape. In winter, the relative size of the head was large, while in the autumn, the head was proportionately smaller in size, compared to other body regions. Adult lice Ph. modularis also tended to have larger heads in April than in July. Measurements of lice over an eleven year period from the same site yielded differences in shape, but not in size. This study is one of the first assessments of seasonal variation in morphology of lice.

Two new species of the feather mite genus Analges Nitzsch, 1818 (Analgoidea: Analgidae) from accentors (Passeriformes: Prunellidae) — morphological descriptions with DNA barcode data

Two new species of the genus Analges (Astigmata: Analgoidea) are described from two species of accentors (Passeriformes: Prunellidae): Analges himalayanus sp. nov. from the Altai Accentor P. himalayana (Blyth), and A. slovakiensis sp. nov. from the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris (Scopoli). Both species are closely related to A. bidentatus Giebel, 1871 described from the Dunnock Prunella modularis (Linnaeus). We extended the standard morphological descriptions of feather mites by species delimitation analyses carried out on DNA barcode sequences.

Different Coevolutionary Breeding Strategies of Ischnoceran Lice onPrunella collarisandP. modularisin High Mountains

ABSTRACT Alpine accentors (Prunella collaris) and dunnocks (P. modularis) are closely related species of Prunellidae, which often breed in polygynandrous groups and have specific types of mating behaviour. The alpine accentor lives at high altitudes, in an extreme alpine environment; the dunnock is widely dispersed from lowland to tree line in the mountains. Both species are hosts of the related species of wing lice Philoptersus emiliae and Ph. modularis, respectively. Behavioural differences between these two host species may have resulted in different breeding and seasonal adaptations by their parasites. The main goal of this paper was to test this hypothesis. Sixty five alpine accentors Prunella collaris (Scopoli, 1769) and eighty four dunnocks Prunella modularis (Linnaeus, 1758) were examined for Ischnocera lice in the West Carpathians, Slovakia from 1988 to 2001, and from 2007 to 2010, respectively. Birds were found to be infested with two species of Ischnoceran lice: the parasite species are not com...

Male and female reproductive strategies and multiple paternity in the polygynandrous Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

Five breeding groups of the Alpine Accentor were studied in a Swiss alpine region. The studied groups showed a polygynandrous mating system and each group was formed of 1–4 females and 3–5 males. The females had exclusive territories, while the males cooperated in defending their group territory. Among the males of one group, a linear dominance relationship was usually well established among the alpha, beta and subordinate male S 1. Both frequent copulation and mate guarding strategies were applied. Females advertised their fertility, solicited most of the copulations and mated multiple times with several males. With approximately 350 matings during the short fertile period of 10 days, the Alpine Accentor is one of the bird species with the highest copulation frequency. Intensity of mate guarding and copulation frequency were highest starting 1 day before egg-laying and throughout the egg-laying period. The alpha male guarded a fertile female closely during the ovulation period, while the beta and other subordinate males (S 1, S 2 and S 3) were restricted in their access to fertile females by the alpha male’s mate guarding ability. In most cases, they did not guard mates and solely performed the frequent copulation strategy. Accordingly, higher ranking males got more solicitations from females, maintained a higher copulation frequency, but also refused a greater portion of all mating offers. Sperm competition was intense with 81.8 % of the broods having multiple paternity. The share of matings during the ovulation period best reflected the achieved share of paternity. Alpha, beta and S 1 sired most of the young, while S 2, S 3 and extra-group males were seldom fathers of offspring. At one nest, up to 4 males helped to feed the young, however, usually at a low rate and the overall male help (28 %) was smaller than the female contribution (72 %). In this polygynandrous mating system, females of the studied population lacked full male help but might have benefited from the greater genetic variation of their young, while males have a large individual variance in their lifetime reproductive success with higher ranking males raising their fitness to above average.

Differential migration in the polygynandrous Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

Capsule Differential migration by sex and age occurs in the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris. Aims To characterize the wintering phenology of migrating Alpine Accentors, and to test for differences in sex and age ratios between wintering sites. Methods Alpine Accentors wintering at low elevation, in Mediterranean France, were monitored (census, ringing) over four winters. Individual arrival date, duration of stay and departure dates were analysed according to sex and age. Within‐day use of the site was characterized. Results were combined with previously published data to test for differential migration. Results Post‐breeding migration was recorded in November. Yearlings arrived 22 days later than adults at the wintering site. Females stayed longer (108 days) than males (77 days). The study site – a picnic place – was mainly used by the birds in the afternoon. Males departed earlier (22 February) than females (7 March). The inter‐annual return rate was 0.61 (without transients). Conclusion Combining these results with available estimates of age and sex ratios from other wintering populations revealed that female and yearling Alpine Accentors are more prone to migrate than adult males. Differential migration probably results from the ecological selective pressures faced by the species, particularly their high‐altitude breeding grounds and their polygynandrous mating system.

Consequences of pastoral abandonment for the structure and diversity of the alpine avifauna

Summary There is a long‐term trend of depopulation of rural areas and pasture abandonment throughout the Alps. This trend peaked after the Second World War and is now omnipresent. Its ecological consequences are evident mostly below the timberline, where grassland gradually turns into shrub and, ultimately, to forest. This study addresses the consequences of land abandonment and the decline of pastoral practices on the diversity and structure of the bird communities of the Italian Alps. The breeding birds of Gran Paradiso Natural Park in north‐western Italy were surveyed, and bird diversity, abundance of grassland, ecotone, woodland and shrub species were analysed using regression in relation to a set of explanatory variables including elevation, local habitat variables, landscape variables and grazing intensity. Avian diversity increased in abandoned pastures as higher numbers of shrub species followed tree and shrub encroachment. Conversely, open habitat species that benefited from grazing were mostly confined to pure grasslands and high altitudes. The effects of grazing were more evident in the montane belt. Grazing maintained open habitats by limiting tree and scrub encroachment, thereby favouring grassland bird species. At higher altitudes, however, grazing had little effect on typical open habitat alpine species (choughs Pyrrhocorax spp., water pipit Anthus spinoletta, alpine accentor Prunella collaris, wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, snow finch Montifringilla nivalis, rock thrush Monticola saxatilis) and only skylark Alauda arvensis and linnet Carduelis cannabina preferred grazed meadows. Synthesis and applications. This study shows that the abandonment of grazing in the Alps has significant effects on bird species diversity and abundance, especially below the timberline where pastoral decline leads to significant changes in vegetation structure. However, grazing importance differs markedly depending on whether the focus is avian α‐diversity or grassland bird abundance. Pastoral abandonment leads to an overall increase in avian diversity, but most species invading abandoned pastures are already common, whereas several grassland bird species that are dependent upon grazed pastures have an unfavourable conservation status. Overall, in terms of bird conservation objectives, large‐scale abandonment of long‐established pastoral habitats and their complete replacement with scrub, or even forest, is likely to be detrimental.

Vancomycin Resistance Genes in Enterococcus spp. Strains Isolated from Alpine Accentor and Chamois

Jano‰kova A., KmeE V: Occurrence of Vancomycin Resistance Genes in Enterococcus spp. Strains Isolated from Alpine Accentor and Chamois. Acta Vet. Brno 2004, 73: 211-214. Enterococcus strains from highland animals the alpine accentor Prunella collaris (n = 19) and chamois Rupicapra rupicapra (n = 18) were isolated. One third of strains belonged to the species E. casseliflavus, while other were identified as E. faecalis and E. gallinarum, E. faecium and E. mundtii or E. flavescens. Intrinsic low level resistance to vancomycin (MIC 0.5 - 4 µg⋅ml -1 ), but not teicoplanin were found in 13 strains E. casseliflavus and E. faecalis. The vanC2/C3 genes (4 strains) and van C1 genes (2 strains) were detected by PCR in E. casseliflavus strains. The genes van A or van B were no detected. The results of our study have shown that in high altitude mountains where no antibiotic selection pressure exists only vanC genes coding the intrinsic resistance to vancomycin were recorded in enterococcal strains.

Anatomical and histophysiological characterization of the male cloacal protuberance of the polygynandrous Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

This paper describes the morphology of the male cloacal protuberance (CP) of the polygynandrous Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris, with special reference to intense sperm competition in the mating system. The fully developed CP consisted of dorsal (DL) and ventral (VL) lobes. The DL was found to be a massive part formed by a highly convoluted extension of the distal vas deferens with a fibro‐muscular sheath. Here, the vas deferens contained abundant spermatozoa, round cells of unknown origin, and secretory droplets in the tubular lumen. The epithelium of the vas deferens was lined with columnar cells that showed numerous microvilli and apocrine processes in their periluminal portion, frequent engulfing of spermatozoa, and many mitochondria and vesicular endoplasmic reticula in their cytoplasm. The VL was a smaller subdivision distal to the DL and further connected to a terminal papilla. The VL was organized similarly to the DL, but showed different features: it lay beneath the thick skin; the fibro‐muscular sheath was more muscular; the epithelial cells were cuboid and showed poorly developed microvilli; and the figures of secretion and engulfed spermatozoa were infrequent. Thus, the CP of the male Alpine Accentor showed a clear regional differentiation, i.e. the DL for storing/maintaining spermatozoa and the VL for storing/ejaculating spermatozoa.

Susceptibility of Enterobacteriaceae from the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris

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Female cloacal protuberance of the polygynandrous Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris: histological features and possible functional significance

This paper describes the histological features of the prominent cloacal protuberance (CP) of sexually mature females of the polygynandrous Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris. In the copulation period, the CP of the prelaying mature female developed remarkably and the lips of the vent turned brilliant scarlet. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the cloacal region from females of different ovarian maturity showed that the formation of the CP was mainly due to the hypertrophy of the cloacal musculature, i.e. the sphincter cloacae muscle and levator cloacae muscle, and to the development of the associated connective tissue in the sexually mature female. The scarlet coloration of the cloacal lips was ascribed exclusively to the development of the dermal vascular plexus accompanied by hyperaemia, as characterized by the dilated blood vessels filled with blood. There was no evidence that skin pigmentation was involved in the scarlet coloration of the cloacal lips. We speculate that the morphological changes in the cloacal lips of the female Alpine Accentor are mediated hormonally by the brain–pituitary–gonadal axis.

Characterization of nine polymorphic microsatellite loci from the alpine accentorPrunella collaris

AbstractNine polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the alpine accentorPrunella collaris. In analyses of 50 unrelated individuals, allelic diversity ranged from 2 to 7, and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.08 to 0.70. Except for one locus (Pco2), variability was relatively low even in long repeat loci. This result may be due to the high return rate to the natal population. Primer sets were also tested in Japanese accentorPrunella rubida, and seven out of nine loci were successfully amplified.

Food Patchiness, Territory Overlap and Social Systems: An Experiment with Dunnocks Prunella modularis

1. Dunnocks Prunella modularis inhabit dense scrub where females defend small, exclusive territories. Individuals have one to two mates depending on how the territories of males overlap the female territories, resulting in monogamy, polygyny, polyandry or polygynandry. 2. The congeneric alpine accentor Prunella collaris inhabits high mountains where food is more patchily distributed. Two to five females have large, overlapping ranges defended by two to five males in a polygynandrous group. 3. We tested whether dunnocks would adopt the alpine accentor's social system when provided with an artificial patchy food supply. 4. At regular feeding sites, where food was provided each day, dunnocks defended small, exclusive territories. At variable feeders, where food was allocated at random each day to one of several adjacent sites, dunnocks adopted larger, overlapping ranges typical of alpine accentors, with two to five males overlapping two to four females. 5. Unlike alpine accentors, however, the dunnocks with variable feeders did not have a consistent dominance hierarchy over the whole of the shared range and females did not gain mating access to more males. 6. We suggest that whereas ecological conditions influence the spacing system, social relationships are affected by individual conflicts of interest.

Cooperative breeding by Alpine AccentorsPrunella collaris: Polygynandry, territoriality and multiple paternity

The composition of breeding groups, territoriality, parentage and parental care were examined in a population of Alpine AccentorsPrunella collaris in the Swiss Alps. Five (1993) and six (1994) breeding groups were located on a south facing hillside between 2500 and 2860 m above sea level. 3–5 males cooperated in the defence of their group territory, wherein 2–3 females each held an exclusive territory (separate nesting polygynandry). Males competed for access to fertile females within their group territory. The females copulated promiscuously with all or several males within their breeding group. The α- and β-males had more access than other subordinate males. They combined frequent copulations and mate guarding as types of paternity guards. The female performed most of the parental care. Usually, 1–4 males helped feeding the young. Results of DNA-profiling showed that members of one group were seldom closely related. In three out of five sampled broods, multiple paternity occurred with up to three males siring offspring within one clutch.

Social Unit of the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in the Non-breeding Season

The breeding unit of the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris is a territorial group consisting of seven unrelated members. Within the group, cooperative polygynandry is common; females copulate with several male members and the males help to feed the chicks of the several females with whom they have copulated. Do Alpine Accentors, like typical cooperative breeders, maintain the membership of the group throughout the year? The social unit in winter and the wintering ecology were studied at Ashio in 1989-95, Yoshino in 1990-93 and Misaka-Pass in 1992-95. At each site, one or two (total of four) individuals banded at a breeding site, Mt. Norikura, wintered. They exhibited wintering site fidelity within seasons and between years. They were recorded singly or in flocks with less than ten unhanded birds. The unhanded birds were not members of their breeding group, which means that the breeding group was broken' up in winter. We also found no evidence of extended bonds between parents and their offspring in winter flocks. Flocks were less cohesive and their membership often changed day by day. Linear dominance hierarchies were observed within a flock. Individual activities were concentrated in particular areas, but they frequently associated with other conspecifics without aggression. Wintering individuals spent, on average, 78.1% and 17.3% of their total activity foraging and perching, respectively. Information at other wintering sites also shows that Alpine Accentors live in less cohesive small flocks but can readily switch from solitary living to flocking. We conclude that the breeding group and the winter flock in Alpine Accentors are independent of each other because there was no evidence that individual associations (group composition and family bonds) were maintained between breeding and, wintering sites.

Social Unit of the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in the Non-breeding Season

Social Unit of the Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris in the Non-breeding Season

Responses in spatial organization to manipulations of the food resource in polygynandrous alpine accentors

AbstractThe alpine accentor Prunella collaris is a territorial and polygynandrous mating species. The breeding unit is a group consisting of about seven members who share a group territory which contains all the resources necessary for living. Each female holds a small territory around her own nest within the larger group territory. Supplemental food in the form of millet seed was provided for a total of 23 group territories to test the hypothesis that the abundance and distribution of food influences the size of a female's territory and her dispersion pattern which, in turn, determine the mating system. Both males and females had regular access to the feeders, but females and groups provided with feeders did not have smaller territories than those without feeders. No groups were divided into two by offering extra food. Provision of extra food resulted in an increase of group size but did not alter the sex ratio. All members, including new settlers, were sexually active and the sexual relationships among the members of a group were still multiple matings. Food addition did not prompt the fed females to choose nest sites nearer the feeder. Nest sites were restricted to particular rocky slopes and non‐vegetated areas which were invariably free from snow each year due to the effects of strong winds and the topography. Females showed a nest‐site fidelity for successive years. The reason why supplemental food had no effect on the territory size or dispersion of female alpine accentors is discussed.