Bird Fauna Research Articles

Trough bird fauna of the North Caucasus and features of its formation, the Botlikh trough-like depression of Inner Dagestan taken as an example

Trough bird fauna of the North Caucasus and features of its formation, the Botlikh trough-like depression of Inner Dagestan taken as an example

Ecological groups of birds of Zhytomyr region (Ukraine) in relation to thermal regime and their future prospects in the context of global climate change

The potential impact of global climate change on the distribution of bird species can be predicted based on observed climate change and current knowledge of the factors affecting range boundaries. The concept of an ecological niche allows one to qualitatively and quantitatively characterise the impact of environmental factors on species. The study estimates the parameters of the thermal projection of the ecological niche of birds in Zhytomyr region, compares different approaches to modelling the response of species to the average annual temperature gradient, identifies ecological groups of birds based on their thermal gradient, and provides prospects for these ecological groups in the context of global climate change. The beta-function was found to reflect the reactions of different species within a single bell-shaped pattern across the entire gradient of the environmental factor. This makes it possible to estimate the optimal level for all bird species. Kurtosis can be used to distinguish between different response patterns within the beta model. Zero kurtosis indicates a symmetrical bell-shaped response. The relationship between the kurtosis of species response models and the optimum is complex. In general, species show negative kurtosis in the warm part of the range, indicating a sharp break in the species response curve in the warm part of the factor range. In the middle part of the factor range, the kurtosis value randomly fluctuates around zero, indicating a predominant tendency towards symmetrical response forms and the prevalence of the classical bell-shaped response model. The limits of variation of kurtosis are of great importance in the cold part of the range. The thermal projection of the ecological niche was used to divide bird species into ecological groups based on the position of the optimum zone and the width of the tolerance amplitude. It is shown that ecological groups differ in their prospects under global climate change. Stenotopic megatherms have the best prospects in the face of global climate change. The habitat conditions of all other bird species in the region will deteriorate over the next 70 years. The most threatening prospects should be expected for stenotopic microtherms. The stenotopic megatherms include 68 species, which is 25.9% of the total regional bird fauna. That is, global climate change poses a threat to 74.1% of the region's bird species. Stenotopic megatherms are typified by Anseriformes, Bucerotiformes, Gruiformes, and Pelecaniformes. It was predicted that Ciconia ciconia has the greatest prospects for expansion due to global climate change. The stenotopic microtherms are represented by 18 species, which is 6.9% of the regional avifauna. For these species, climatic conditions will significantly limit the number of favourable habitats. This ecological group is most strongly typified by for Galliformes, Piciformes, and Strigiformes. Climate change will lead to a shift in the range of Picus canus, which will reduce the abundance of this species in the region.

Трансформація оселищ і її вплив на зообіоту

The history of the use of the term “habitat” is considered. It is emphasized that this term refers to the habitat of a particular animal species or population and is determined by their ranges. The factors that lead to the destruction of habitats of many populations on the lowlands and in the highlands of the Ukrainian Carpathians are indicated. Attention is drawn to the degradation of mountain lakes and streams as habitats for aquatic hydrobionts. Among the factors that cause the destruction of habitats, the factors of both natural and anthropogenic origin are identified: climate change, absolute protection of territories, demutational processes, uncontrolled recreation activities, changes in traditional land use, water chemiсal composition and pollution, the appearance of invasive plants, urbanization, etc. The synergistic effect of these factors leads to rapid habitat change, and thus to the loss of adaptive capacity of individuals of different species to the changed conditions of their habi­tats. Among the objects of our study are such taxa as planktonic crustaceans (Cladocera), ants (Formicidae), lampreys (Cyclostomata), ray-finned fish (Actinopterygii), amphibians (Amphibia) and birds (Aves). It was found, in particular, that deciduous forest habitats are the most favorable for the existence of a significant diversity of ants. The mega-habitats for amphibians were identified as a complex of individual habitats that vary during the vegetation season and are connected by migration routes. The key habitat in Western Polissia, as an example, can be the Unychi wetland, which is home to a number of rare bird species. The nest-building behavior of birds under the influence of anthropogenic factors also undergoes changes - its species-specific appearance and composition of nesting materials are transformed in response to habitat pollution. In addition, the study showed that the use of invasive trees and shrubs for urban greenery has a negative impact on the diversity of urban bird fauna, as it paradoxically reduces the number of nesting and foraging habitats for birds. It is proposed to identify key habitats for the populations of rare and endangered animal species within the protected areas and on the non-protected ones, to indicate their locations and the type of management approach (protection, restoration, reconstruction, etc.).

Late Quaternary Paleoecology and Environmental History of the Hortobágy, an Alkaline Steppe in Central Europe

Hungary’s first national park was created in 1973 in the Hortobágy area to protect Europe’s largest contiguous steppe area and its flora and fauna. The Hortobágy National Park—the Puszta was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as a cultural landscape in 1999. The park’s outstanding importance is due to the predominantly non-arboreal steppe vegetation, home to a unique bird fauna, and alkaline and chernozem soils with a complex, mosaic-like spatial structure. In addition, the landscape of Hortobágy has a pastoral history stretching back thousands of years. Several hypotheses have been put forward that suggest that the alkaline soils and the habitats that cover them were formed as a result of human activities related to river regulation that began in the second half of the 19th century. However, paleoecological and paleobiological studies over the last 30–40 years have pointed to the natural origin of the alkaline steppes, dating back to the end of the Ice Age. For thousands of years, human activities, in particular, grazing by domestic animals, hardly influenced the natural evolution of the area. The drainage of marshy and flooded areas began in the 19th century, as well as the introduction of more and more intensive agriculture, had a significant impact on the landscape. This paper aims to describe the past natural development of this special alkaline steppe ecosystem, with particular reference to the impacts of past and present human activities, including conservation measures.

Вклад Михаила Дмитриевича Рузского в изучение фауны птиц Волжско-Камского края

Mikhail Dmitrievich Ruzsky is one of the last encyclopedic scientists of the 20th century, known for his works on zoology, ichthyology and ornithology, hydrobiology, and entomology. Professor Mikhail Dmitrievich Ruzsky (1864-1948) is one of the country outstanding biologists and founders of the national science of ants, the first researcher of the myrmecofauna of Russia and neighboring countries. He made a significant contribution to the development of not only individual sciences, but also the formation of university education in Russia. The Kazan period of his biography is significant for his life and career. Mikhail Dmitrievich began his bird watching in Kazan and its surroundings while still being a very young researcher. His formation as a scientist began in Kazan Imperial University. Ruzsky had his first publications on birds in 1889, although he began conducting ornithological observations from the first years of university. The significant coverage of the territory allowed him not only to obtain new data on the distribution of birds in these areas, but also compare the lists of species and changes in their composition. His interest in studying fauna was influenced by the works of his predecessors - famous local historians and scientists of Russia - Pallas, Eversman, Bogdanov, and others. Ruzky gave the first list of birds of the Kazan province. In 1893, he presented his master’s thesis, Materials for the Study of Birds of the Kazan Province, whose results were published in the Proceedings of the Society of Naturalists of Kazan University. Ruzsky was the curator and collector of the Zoological Museum of Kazan University; within just one decade (from 1887 to 1896), he delivered 439 specimens of birds to the museum. His works made it possible to compile the first list of the avifauna of Kazan. He noted 56 species of birds directly inhabiting the city, and about 50 species found in the vicinity. A comparison of Ruzsky’s regional avi-faunistic lists with the data from recent years made it possible to present the dynamics and main changes that occurred in the composition of the bird fauna of the Volga-Kama Region over two hundred years. He was one of the organizers of the Kazan City Museum (now the National Museum of the Republic of T atarstan), chairman of its Council (1912), and having received the title of honorary member of the museum staff, he became director of the Natural History Department (1908-1913). Mikhail Dmitrievich was directly involved in the formation of the third Zoological Museum in Kazan located in the Veterinary Institute (now the Kazan State Academy of Veterinary Medicine), where he also worked for some time. The studies conducted on the avifauna of the Volga-Kama Region laid the foundation for subsequent large-scale work on both zoogeography, species distribution, and species ecology. In 1913, Mikhail Dmitrievich Ruzsky was elected professor of the Department of Zoology in Kiev and Tomsk Universities. He faced the choice and gave his preference to Tomsk devoting next 35 years of his life to working for the benefit of science in Tomsk University. The article contains 2 Figures, 13 References. The Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Bird fauna of urbanized territories of south-west Kazakhstan (on the example of Kyzylorda city)

Bird fauna of urbanized territories of south-west Kazakhstan (on the example of Kyzylorda city)

A tiny duck (<em>Sibirionetta formozovi</em> sp. nov.), a giant grey partridge (<em>Titanoperdix felixi</em> gen. et sp. nov.), a new rail (<em>Porzana payevskyi</em> sp. nov.), and other birds from the Early Pleistocene of Baikalian Siberia

The paper describes fossil birds from the Early Pleistocene (Gelasian) of Malye Goly locality in the Baikal area of the East Siberia (Irkutsk Region, Russia). This is the first studied bird fauna from the Early Pleistocene of the Northern Asia, shedding the first light on the early Quaternary bird associations of the Siberia. A tiny fossil duck Sibirionetta formozovi sp. nov. is the first fossil representative of the modern genus Sibirionetta, the modern endemic of Eastern Siberia. This find documents the long-time (at least since the Early Pleistocene) presence of these ducks in the region. A new large pheasant-sized phasianid bird Titanoperdix felixi gen. et sp. nov. is a large-sized representative of the grey partridge evolutionary lineage (Perdicini). This find is in agreement with the fact that modern relatively small grey partridges (genus Perdix) are phylogenetically nested within the larger-bodied pheasants. Among other birds from the locality are Tadorna tadorna, three other ducks (including one diving form), Perdix cf. dauurica, Porzana payevskyi sp. nov., Podicipedidae gen. indet., Scolopacidae gen. indet., and Corvidae gen. indet. The assemblage indicates a rather productive water body with mostly open landscapes in the vicinity. The avifauna from Malye Goly does not show any considerable affinity with the Late Pliocene avian assemblages from Southern Transbaikalia and Northern Mongolia, as well as with the Early Pleistocene bird fauna of Eastern China, and thus most likely represents a separate paleornithogeographical unit. Porzana payevskyi sp. nov. is one of the oldest confirmed representatives of Porzana s.s. in the fossil record, supporting the Asian origin of the genus and a probable out-of-Asia dispersal to North America in the Early Pleistocene.

Species composition and distribution of birds in the city of stepanakert and adjacent territories

This article is devoted to the identification of the species composition of the birds population in the city of Stepanakert and the seizure of their territories. The study of bird biodiversity within certain limits is of particular importance, changing in the urban environment. The material for this work was collected on the administrative borders of the city of Stepanakert and its surroundings from April 2017 to April 2023. All year round, birds were counted along routes in residential areas, gardens, squares, cemeteries, on river banks, in wooded areas, and thickets of shrubs. As a result of observations, it was revealed for the first time that the bird fauna is represented by 117 species, which belong to 14 orders and 37 families, representing 52,4% of the bird fauna of Nagorno Karabakh. The results of the research made it possible to identify the main bird species that determine the habitat, as well as to assess their occurrence, seasonal changes and prevailing ecological properties. An analysis of the urban environment by bird populations and possible measures to protect them was also carried out. The results obtained can be useful for developing strategies for sustainable human-nature interaction in the urban environment, as well as for conducting broader environmental research in the region.

Molecular and morphological studies on Contracaecum rudolphii A and C. rudolphii B in great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) from Italy and Israel.

The distribution of parasites is shaped by a variety of factors, among which are the migratory movements of their hosts. Israel has a unique position to migratory routes of several bird species leaving Europe to winter in Africa, however, detailed studies on the parasite fauna of birds from this area are scarce. Our study investigates occurrence and distribution of sibling species among Contracaecum rudolphii complex in Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from Italy and Israel, to acquire further information on the geographical range of these species to gain deeper knowledge on the ecology of these parasites and their bird host. A total of 2383 Contracaecum were collected from the gastric mucosa of 28 great cormorants (18 from Israel and 10 from Italy). A subsample was processed for morphological analyses in light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and for molecular analyses through amplification and sequencing of the ITS rDNA and the cox2 mtDNA, and through PCR-RFLP. All the 683 Contracaecum subjected to molecular identification belonged to C. rudolphii s.l., (300 C. rudolphii A and 383 C. rudolphii B). SEM micrographs provided, for the first time, details of taxonomic structures in male specimens from both sibling species, and the first SEM characterization of C. rudolphii B. This work presents the first data on the occurrence of sibling species of C. rudolphii in Israel and provides additional information on the distribution of C. rudolphii A and B in Italy, confirming the high prevalence and intensity of infection observed in Ph. carbo sinensis from other Italian areas.

Small Ducks (Aves: Anatidae) from the Early–Middle Miocene of Eurasia. 2. The Fauna of Tagay Locality (Baikal Area; Eastern Siberia)

Remains of small ducks are described from the boundary early–middle Miocene deposits of Tagay (Baikal area), the only locality in Asia with a representative bird fauna of the Miocene climatic optimum. New taxa Mioquerquedula palaeotagaica sp. nov. and Tagayanetta palaeobaikalensis gen. et sp. nov., corresponding in size to modern Anas crecca, as well as an even smaller duck Selenonetta lacustrina gen. et sp. nov. are described. A revision of the genus Mioquerquedula is undertaken; “Anas” integra Miller, 1944 from the Lower Miocene of North America is here transferred to this genus. Tagayanetta gen. nov. is here considered as an evolutionarily more advanced genus than Mioquerquedula, probably close to Anatini. Selenonetta gen. nov. is considered as a taxon close to the divergence between Mergini and other Anatinae. A similar form (possibly the same species) is present in the Sansan locality (France).

Ecological analysis of bird fauna in the territories of water treatment facilities at Kharkiv region

Purpose. Analysis of the avifauna on the territory of water treatment facilities to assess their importance in the support and conservation of birds at Kharkiv region. Methods. Field survey: records of birds on permanent routes. Statistical analysis. Results. Avifauna of water treatment facilities (hereinafter WTF) at Kharkiv region in 2019 - 2023 amounted to 195 species from 17 orders and 44 families. Passeriformes birds dominated (37.7%; n=159), Charadriiformes (16.6%) and Anseriformes (12.1%) subdominated. A minority of other orders (Accipitriformes (4.5%), Ciconiiformes (3.2%), Columbiformes (3.2%)) was recorded. WTF are important for nesting of 80 species (53.3%; n=195), and are also a trophic base for 44 (27.7%) wandering, 28 (17.6%) migratory and 7 (4.4%) wintering bird species. Among 11 faunal groups, limnophilic 18.5% (n=159), boreal (15.9%) and tropical (13.4%) dominated. The nesting avifauna is formed mainly by tropical (16.9%; n = 80), limnophilic (13.0%) and forest-steppe - 13.0% groups. Conclusions. The research suggests that man-made areas of water treatment facilities are important for maintaining species diversity of birds, as they are a place of concentration of both widespread and rare species during all seasons of the year. In total, 159 species of birds were found nesting or staying in different seasons on the territory of water treatment facilities at Kharkiv region, most of which are rare and endangered: listed in the Red Book of Kharkiv region (15 species) and the Red Book of Ukraine (13 species); species of concern in Europe (Bonn and Bern Conventions).

Conservation of birds in an urban environment – wild bird fauna at the Osijek Zoo, Croatia

Zoos are our closest, independent, and continuous link to nature. Apart from providing the opportunity to observe captive and exotic wild animals, they also attract various species of wild birds. For that purpose, the main goal of this study was to provide a list of free-living bird species at the Osijek Zoo. During 2021, fieldwork was performed monthly using a point count transect, except during the breeding season when counts were performed twice a month. A total of 61 species were recorded, belonging to 31 families distributed in 15 orders. The most frequently recorded species were Hooded crow, Corvus cornix and Great tit, Parus major. Five species observed at the Osijek Zoo are listed as endangered species in the Red Book of Birds of Croatia: critically endangered: European roller, Coracias garrulus; endangered: Great egret, Ardea alba and Western marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus; vulnerable: Little egret, Egretta garzetta and Black stork, Ciconia nigra. It appears that the Osijek Zoo provides a good foundation for a high diversity of bird fauna, indicating that this is a good quality urban area. The Osijek Zoo should also strive to preserve this abundant avifauna, by educating the public on conservation, and forbidding any potentially disturbing behaviours.

A statistical approach on distribution and seasonal habitat use of waterfowl and shorebirds in Çıldır Lake (Ardahan, Türkiye).

Wetlands are crucial habitats for both migrant and resident bird assemblages. The distribution and habitat preferences of birds in aquatic ecosystems are significantly influenced by environmental and ecological factors that critically impact the relevant habitats. In order to reveal the distribution and habitat preferences of the birds, many statistical models and methodologies are employed in ecology and conservation biology. Herein, we investigated the effects of year, season, habitat, and species variables on the distribution and population dynamics of waterfowls and shorebirds associated with the wetland. In this regard, field surveys were carried out in and around Çıldır Lake (Ardahan, Türkiye) between April 2017 and September 2018 to examine the distribution of waterfowls and shorebirds and variations in population sizes. As an experimental design, a stratified random sampling design was used to assess bird fauna in the four dominant habitat types (open water surface, reeds, grasslands, and agricultural areas) in the study area. Accordingly, a total of 51 waterfowl and shorebird species were identified during the study period. Of the identified families, Anatidae (n = 18), Scolopacidae (n = 8), and Ardeidae (n = 8) were the most common families. Considering bird species, common coot Fulica atra and mallard Anas platyrhynchos were the most abundant species. The dependent variable (bird populations) was compared with the independent variables (year, season, habitat, and species). The population in 2018 decreased by 13% in comparison to the population in 2017 (p < 0.05). Once the reed area was considered as the reference, the population density in the water surface habitat increased by 65% (p < 0.001). In relation to seasonal reference, a 65% increase in population growth in spring was recorded in comparison to the growth in fall (p < 0.001). On the other hand, no statistical differences were noted in population growth in winter and summer ((p > 0.05). With respect to the reference species (Anas crecca), critical differences in species fluctuation were observed among species (p < 0.001). Consequently, the findings of the present study suggest that seasonal factor might be of the substantial factors linked to the habitat composition. However, more descriptive and predictive analytical methods are needed beyond classical regression approaches in habitat use and selection studies at bird ecology.

Population Dynamics of Avian Diversity in the District Okara, Pakistan

Pakistan has a varied bird fauna, with over 790 species recorded and their distribution in three zoogeographical zones (Oriental, Palearctic, and Ethiopian), which is exceptional in the world. The data on avian diversity and abundance in the district Okara, Punjab was carried out from January 2022 to January 2023. Data were collected by direct, indirect, and flocks count methods on four transect points used in the study by visiting the field and by interviewing the local people and hunters about the current and past status of the avian fauna of the area. Okara district contains a major wetland for both local and international migratory birds, including falcons, gulls, plovers, snipes, waders, and long-distance migrating birds. A total of 201 avian species of 19 orders and 54 families were recorded. These included 54 winter migrant species, 23 summer migrants, 13 passage migrants, 1 year-round visitor, and 110 resident species. The spotting of seven globally threatened species and three vulnerable also highlights the importance of this area for avian species. A total of 80 species were recorded in the Passeriformes order. The Shannon-Weiner diversity index showed that Transect Point 1 (H′ = 4.906) had the largest diversity of birds, followed by Transect Points 2, 3, and 1, i.e., 4.778, 4.672, and 4.679. Species evenness has varied among transects based on diversity, with values of 0.7266 (TP 1), 0.6719 (TP 2), 0.7082 (TP 3), and 0.7226. (TP 4). The Simpson index (1-D) for Transect Points 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 0.991, 0.9872, 0.9883, and 0.9888, indicating that Transect Points 1 and 2 had the maximum bird species diversity. The findings revealed that the Okara district is home to a large number of resident migratory and endangered bird species. As a result, it is critical to conserving its habitat as well as bird variety by overcoming serious challenges.

Avifauna of São Camilo State Park: the importance of this semideciduous seasonal forest fragment for bird conservation

The São Camilo State Park is a protected area of an important remnant of Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in western Paraná, a region highly threatened by deforestation. Although conservation areas such as the São Camilo State Park are important for preserving biodiversity, knowledge about the local avifauna is limited, with the only available study conducted 17 years ago. Thus, this study presents an inventory of the avifauna of the São Camilo State Park through point counts, mist nets, naturalistic observations, and citizen science data. We recorded 222 birds species (25 Orders and 56 Families), representing approximately 29% of the bird fauna of Paraná state. Five regionally threatened species were found in the area. Twelve species are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, nine are classified as migratory, and 26 are partially migratory, 21 taxa are forest-dependent, while 83 are semi-dependent. There is a predominance of insectivorous, omnivorous, and frugivorous birds. A total of 179 species were added to the original species list of the area. Our results highlight the importance of the São Camilo State Park for the conservation of birds in the Semideciduous Seasonal Forest in western Paraná.

Arnthor Gardarsson 1938–2022

Professor Arnthor Gardarsson (1938–2022) was an Icelandic ornithologist who made a major contribution to the studies of the bird fauna of Iceland and to the ecology of waterfowl and wetland conservation. After finishing a BSc in Zoology from the University of Bristol in 1962 he went to the University of California, Berkeley, for a PhD project under the supervision of Professor Frank A. Pitelka. His project, finished in 1971, was about the population and feeding ecology of the Icelandic Ptarmigan Lagopus muta islandorum. In 1971–73, working with the Icelandic Museum of Natural History, he conducted a research programme on the ecology of the Thjorsarver area. This tundra oasis in the otherwise desert-like Icelandic highlands harboured the world's largest breeding colony of the Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus and was under serious threat by hydropower development. A part of this ecosystem-oriented study involved aerial surveys of birds, a method that was to become one of Arnthor's signature research tools. Waterfowl held a special place in Arnthor's heart. The opportunity to study them in detail came in 1974 when Lake Myvatn, the world-renowned waterfowl site in Iceland, was defined as a nature reserve. This was in the wake of a heated debate over a hydropower project that would have fundamentally altered the lake's ecology. In 1974, Arnthor became professor in zoology at the new biology department of the University of Iceland and he promptly focused his academic research effort on Lake Myvatn. The idea was to monitor the ecological situation of the lake by studying its many duck populations. Despite the newly acquired protection status, there was concern about ongoing industrial sediment extraction from the lake (continuing till 2004). Arnthor's efforts, with students and collaborators, soon developed into a full-scale ecological study of the lake's foodweb, benefiting from his deep insight into ecological processes. His research revealed immense fluctuations in the Lake Myvatn ecosystem, that still occur and continue to attract scientific interest. The studies resulted in a series of classic papers, demonstrating how the variable abundance of aquatic insects and crustaceans in a lake determined duckling production and subsequent changes in breeding populations. It was Arnthor's ambition to obtain a comprehensive picture of the bird populations of Iceland, their distribution, size, production, resources, and trends. It was a gargantuan task, considering the size, remoteness and ruggedness of the landscape and the sheer number of birds. But Arnthor was a daredevil who was quick to apply aerial surveys to the mapping and photographing of all the important bird areas, both coastal and inland, and he kept seeking new techniques to this effect. Estimating bird densities in the immense, towering seabird colonies of northwest Iceland was his biggest challenge. His final solution was to fly low over and then off the cliff edge, taking a rapid succession of photographs with a large-format camera aimed slightly backwards – a rather risky undertaking with the myriad of fast-flying birds around. His aerial endeavours, backed up by field studies, resulted in comprehensive population estimates of alcids, Black-legged Kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, Northern Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis, Northern Gannets Morus bassanus, European Shags Gulosus aristotelis, Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo, Common Eiders Somateria mollissima and other ducks, swans, geese and even passing migratory waders such as Red Knots Calidris canutus, Ruddy Turnstones Arenaria interpres and Sanderlings Calidris alba. Later he extended the surveying to cover all the Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica colonies of Iceland and developed methods to monitor seabird trends via ground-based observations. Arnthor also used his skills to reveal the details of the population dynamics of European Shags and Great Cormorants in the Breidafjördur archipelago, their central stronghold in Iceland. Spring field trips with his students to the impressive seabird colonies in the northwest of Iceland made an enduring impact on many, who are now continuing and expanding the monitoring work on birds in marine, freshwater and terrestrial habitats all over Iceland. Arnthor served as a chairman of the Nature Conservation Council in 1990–96, a government advisory body that also managed protected areas. Through this he became a leading figure in the protection of many of the ecosystems he had studied, in particular Thjorsarver and Myvatn, the crown jewels of inland wetland sites in Iceland. In addition to his extensive ornithological skills, Arnthor had a fascination for terrestrial and marine invertebrates, polychaetes in particular, and he was proficient in botany. He was also artistic and made a name for himself at a young age when illustrating papers on bird life. Arnthor's character may be described as an attractive mix of generousity, ambition and shyness, as well as being humble, friendly and joyful. In 1959 Arnthor married Gudrun Sveinbjarnardóttir (1937–2016), an economist from Reykjavik. They had two children, Soffia and Thrandur.

Fauna and population of passerine birds in the lower reaches of the Bolshaya Rechka River (Altai Territory, Bolsherechensky Reserve)

Fauna and population of passerine birds in the lower reaches of the Bolshaya Rechka River (Altai Territory, Bolsherechensky Reserve)

Schistosomatidae from the trematode fauna of aquatic and semi-aquatic birds in Uzbekistan

The article discusses the infection of wetland birds in Uzbekistan with the trematodes Schistosomatidae Stiles et Hassall, 1898. The research covered 282 individuals from the main groups of birds represented by the orders Pelecaniformes, Ciconiformes, Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Podicipediformes and Charadriiformes. The Schistosomatidae fauna of Uzbekistan includes 13 species: Bilharziella polonica (Kowalewsky, 1895), Trichobilharzia ocellata (La Valette, 1854), T. filiformis (Szidat, 1938), T. kowalewskii (Ejsmont, 1929), T. tatianae (Spasskaja, 1953), Macrobilharzia macrobilharzia Trawassos, 1923, Ornithobilharzia canaliculata (Rudolphi, 1819), O. baeri Fain, 1955, Dendritobilharzia pulverulenta (Braun, 1901), D. loossi Skrjabin, 1924, D. anatinarum Cheatum, 1941, Gigantobilharzia acotylea Odhner, 1910 and Gigantobilharziella monocotylea (Szidat, 1930). Predominant are representatives of the genera Trichobilharzia and Dendritobilharzia. The species composition of Schistosomatidae is most diverse in birds from the lower reaches of the Amu Darya, where a high rate of infection with larvae of some of these trematodes was also recorded in aquatic molluscs. 11 species of molluscs were registered in the studied regions: Galba truncatula (Muller, 1774), Stagnicola corvus (Gmelin, 1791), Radix auricularia (Linnaeus, 1758), Lymnaea stagnalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Physa fontinalis (Linnaeus, 1758), Physella acuta (Draparnaud, 1805), Planorbis planorbis (Linnaeus, 1758), P. tangitarensis Germain, 1918, Anisus spirorbis (Linnaeus, 1758), Gyraulus albus (Muller, 1774), Melanoides kainarensis Starobogatov et Izzatullaev, 1980, from the families Lymnaeidae (4 species), Planorbidae (4 species), Physidae (2 species) and Thiaridae (1 species). They are identified as intermediate hosts of Schistosomatidae and were infected with 7 species of flukes. The total rate of infection with larval stages of Schistosomatidae in molluscs was about 2.0%. The highest infection rate was observed in Melanoides kainarensis – 5.3%. Morpho-biological indicators for mature forms of B. polonica from different bird species (Anas platyrhynchos and Oxyura leucocephala) were confirmed by molecular genetic studies. The study identified foci of birds’ infection with Schistosomatidae and the occurrence of human cercarial dermatitis.

Checklist of the Birds of the Gaza Strip—Palestine

Bird fauna checklists are important tools in ecology, biology, and conservation planning for scientists, stakeholders, and decision-makers. Despite its small area, the Gaza Strip (365 km2) has a relatively large variety of resident and migratory bird fauna. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide an updated checklist of all bird fauna living in or inhabiting the Gaza Strip. Direct field observations using binoculars, continuous visits to zoos, pet stores and biology museums, discussion with bird hunters, follow-up of news and social networking sites, review of scientific publications and photography were the main tools to satisfy the purpose of the study. At least 250 bird species collected from different sources occur in the Gaza Strip and are included in the checklist. This list will not be static, but is inevitably subject to additions and changes in the face of times. The current 250 bird species of the Gaza Strip represent 45.4% of the 551 species of birds living in Palestine. The bird species were found to belong to 21 orders and 61 families. The Passeriformes (passerines) represented the largest order with 96 species of birds (38.4%), followed by the Charadriiformes 54 (21.6%), the Accipitriformes 18 (7.2%), Anseriformes 17 (6.8%) and Pelecaniformes 14 (5.6%), while the other orders represented the remaining percentage (20.4%). With regard to families, the Scolopacidae represented the largest family with 22 species of birds (8.8%), followed by the Anatidae and Accipitridae 17 for each (6.8%), the Muscicapidae 16 (6.4%) and Chariidridae and Fringillidae 11 for each (4.4%), while the other families represented the remaining percentage (62.4%). According to the IUCN regional threat categories, 226 species (90.4%) were Least Concern (LC), 12 (4.8%) were Near Threatened (NT), 6 (2.4%) were Vulnerable (VU), 4 (1.6%) were Endangered (EN) and 2 (0.8%) were Critically Endangered (CR). In conclusion, the study recommends a sustainable control of bird hunting and trafficking in addition to building prestigious centers and museums for studying and documenting birds in the Gaza Strip.

Bird Fauna Composition in a Protected Area in Southern Brazil.

The integrity of natural landscapes is affected by human actions, mainly by the intensification and expansion of agriculture. Factors such as fragment size and the structure of the environment can determine changes in the structure and composition of bird assemblages. In this study we evaluated the bird species composition in three structurally different forest environments, defined as the Core areas, Edge areas, and Buffer areas. The surveys were performed in the Natural Park of Sertão (NPS) and its surroundings in the southern limit of the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil. To record species composition of birds, the point count method was used. The bird species were categorized according to feeding habits, habitat use, and sensitivity to forest fragmentation. A total of 131 species of birds distributed in 18 orders and 38 families were recorded. The species composition varied between the three areas and there was a significant difference in diversity between the Core and Edge areas and the Core and Buffer areas. Omnivorous species were found more in the Buffer areas than in the Core areas. Species that use the Broad habitat were more frequent in the Buffer and Edge areas than in the Core areas. Species that use the Forest habitat were found more in the Core areas than in the Buffer areas. Most recorded species (66%) have low sensitivity to forest fragmentation. The assemblage patterns found in this study, notably the differences among the three areas in diversity and species composition, can be explained by the ecological traits and the sensitivity levels of birds to forest fragmentation, which in turn seem to reflect different forest structures in the NPS and its surroundings. Although the Edge and Buffer areas have greater diversity, the Core areas showed great importance in maintaining species that are more sensitive to forest fragmentation. Even the largest fragments (such as the NPS), considering the regional context, may have bird species that are widely distributed and less sensitive to forest fragmentation. Forested habitat species may no longer occur or be restricted to the core area of the fragments. For conservation of bird fauna in the NPS, the maintenance of the core areas is essential, especially for those species that require a structurally preserved environment.