Black Crown Research Articles

Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals Pseudobionectria phoenicis gen. et sp. nov. (Bionectriaceae) from a mangrove habitat

A bionectriaceous ascomycete was collected from palm rachides in a mangrove habitat. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses indicated this fungus belongs within the Bionectriaceae, forming a sister lineage to Septofusidium herbarum and distinct from other known genera. In this study, we proposed the new genus Pseudobionectria to accommodate the novel species P. phoenicis. Pseudobionectria is distinguished from other genera in Bionectriaceae by its superficial, globose, brownish-orange ascomata with a black crown that is flattened on the top and hyphal appendages that merge with the subiculum below. The asci are unitunicate, lacking a visible apical ring, and the ascospores are 1-septate, oblong-ellipsoidal to fusiform, hyaline, and exhibit spinose ornamentation. The establishment of this new genus is supported by morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Additionally, this paper provides a synopsis of the genera within Bionectriaceae, including information on the type species, morphological characteristics, lifestyles, molecular data and key publications.

Black Crown: Henry Christophe, the Haitian Revolution and the Caribbean's Forgotten Kingdom by Paul Clammer (review)

Black Crown: Henry Christophe, the Haitian Revolution and the Caribbean's Forgotten Kingdom by Paul Clammer (review)

Carrot (Daucus carota L.) of the plant Alternaria disease (review)

Nowadays, fungi-related illnesses are widespread in all nations that cultivate vegetables, which lowers output. Carrots are harmed by pathogenic fungus both during the growing season and while they are in storage, which reduces both the amount and quality of the crop. From this perspective, it is critical to investigate the bioecological characteristics of the fungus that cause illnesses in carrots and to carry out research on the creation of effective and ecologically friendly countermeasures. Alternaria diseases Daucus carota L. is one of the most common diseases of the carrot plant and often has a significant impact on the yield of carrots. Carrot Alternaria several fungi belonging to the genus are harmful and the symptoms of the disease are manifested in the form of leaf spotting, black crown and black rot of roots. Protecting carrots from these diseases is one of the main tasks facing field experts. Therefore, this research intends to make a summary of literature data on Alternaria leaf spotting, root rot and black rot of young seedlings caused by Alternaria fungi. The results showed that the most stable yielding carrot hybrid was F1 Santa Cruz taken as the control variant, which showed the highest yield, accounted for 113.7, however, its resistance to alternariosis was slightly lower, which was 2.3. In this regard, it is recommended to continue research on other new hybrids.

Melanin-based ornament darkness positively correlates with across-season nutritional condition.

Sexually dimorphic ornamental traits are widely regarded as indicators of nutritional condition. However, variation of nutritional condition outside the reproductive and the ornament production seasons has rarely been considered, although it affects the generality of information content, especially for ornaments that may be used across the year. We measured several indicators of migratory and molt condition in male and female blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) during their autumn migration, and quantified their crown reflectance. We detected robust correlations between migratory and molt condition indices, and the correlation structure was similar in the two sexes. Furthermore, the across‐season measure of body condition was positively related to the darkness of the black crown in males, while being unrelated to reflectance traits of the reddish crown in females. Our results reinforce the possibility that some melanin‐based ornaments may be year‐round indicators of individual quality via their dependence on nutritional condition.

Detection and quantification of black foot and crown and root rot pathogens in grapevine nursery soils in the Western Cape of South Africa

Black foot disease (BFD) and crown and root rot (CRR) are important soilborne diseases that affect young grapevines in nurseries and vineyards. A 3-year survey (2013–2015) of five open-field grapevine nurseries was conducted in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The survey involved the isolation of BFD and CRR pathogens from grafted rootstocks (ten plants per nursery, per year) that were rooted in soil for 1 year. In 2013 and 2015, grapevines were sampled, while in 2014, sampling was focused on rotation crops and weeds (ten plants each). The rotation crops included white mustard, lupins, canola, triticale and forage radish. The weed species sampled included Johnson grass, ryegrass, winter grass, Cape marigold and corn spurry. Soil samples from ten sites per nursery were also collected in close proximity to the sampled plants, at depths of 0–30 cm and 30–60 cm (ten samples per depth). Isolations were made from the grapevines, rotation crops and weeds. Pathogen detection and quantification in the soil were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction technology. The predominant BFD pathogens isolated from grapevines were Campylocarpon fasciculare , Ca. pseudofasciculare and Dactylonectria macrodidyma . The predominant CRR pathogens were Pythium irregulare and Phytopythium vexans. Dactylonectria macrodidyma , D. novozelandica , D. pauciseptata , Py. irregulare , Py. ultimum var. ultimum and Py. heterothallicum were isolated from triticale roots. Dactylonectria spp. were also isolated from corn spurry, while Py. irregulare and Py. ultimum var. ultimum were isolated from numerous weeds and rotation crops. Mean soil DNA concentrations of Ilyonectria and Dactylonectria were from 0.04 to 37.14 pg μL -1 , and for Py. irregulare were between 0.01 and 3.77 pg μL -1 . The Phytophthora mean soil DNA concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 33.48 pg μL -1 . The qPCR protocols successfully detected and quantified BFD and CRR pathogens in grapevine nursery soil. This is the first report of D. pauciseptata and D. alcacerensis in South African grapevine nurseries.

Clarification of the type locality of the Curl-crested Aracari Pteroglossus beauharnaesii Wagler, 1832 (Aves: Ramphastidae).

The Curl-crested Aracari Pteroglossus beauharnaesii Wagler, 1832 is one of the most remarkable species in the family Ramphastidae. Among other distinctive plumage traits, its modified curly, shiny black crown feathers are unique in the family and are modified to an extent not found in any other living bird species (Brush 1967; Short & Horne 2002). The crown feathers, along with the distinct white throat, were considered sufficient justification in the past to include the species in the monotypic genus Beauharnaisius Bonaparte; however, molecular studies have shown that it is embedded within the genus Pteroglossus Illiger, sister to P. bitorquatus (Hackett & Lehn 1997; Eberhard & Bermingham 2005; Pereira & Wajntal 2008). It is a southern Amazonian species, occurring in the lowlands of northern Peru, north and central Bolivia and western and central Amazonian Brazil, south of the Marañon-Solimões-Amazonas rivers (Short & Horne 2002).

First Report of Phytophthora drechsleri Causing Black Stem Rot and Crown Decay of Sunflower in China

First Report of <i>Phytophthora drechsleri</i> Causing Black Stem Rot and Crown Decay of Sunflower in China

Experimental confirmation that avian plumage traits function as multiple status signals in winter contests

Status signals are thought to reduce costs of overt conflict over resources by advertising social status or an individual's ability to win contests. While most studies have focused on single badges of status, recent empirical work has shown that multiple status signals may exist. To provide robust evidence for multiple badges of status, an experimental manipulation is required to decouple signals from one another and from other traits linked to fighting ability. Such experimental evidence is lacking for most studies of multiple status signals to date. We previously found that two plumage traits in golden-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia atricapilla, were correlated with social dominance in encounters between unfamiliar individuals. To confirm that each plumage patch functions as an independent status signal, we experimentally augmented the sizes of the gold crown patch and the black crown patch during encounters between unfamiliar individuals with similar premanipulation crown sizes. In nearly all cases, the individual with the artificially augmented gold or black crown was dominant during the trial and manipulations of each colour were equally successful in conferring dominance. The relative differences in crown sizes between manipulated and unmanipulated individuals in a dyad and mismatches in crown sizes of the manipulated bird led to escalation in gold trials, but these same factors were not significant for black trials. This study provides unequivocal evidence for multiple status signals: both black and gold crown patches influence social status per se and they do so independently of the other crown patch.

Sexually Selected Male Plumage Color Is Testosterone Dependent in a Tropical Passerine Bird, the Red-Backed Fairy-Wren (Malurus melanocephalus)

BackgroundSexual signals, such as bright plumage coloration in passerine birds, reflect individual quality, and testosterone (T) may play a critical role in maintaining signal honesty. Manipulations of T during molt have yielded mixed effects on passerine plumage color, in most cases delaying molt or leading to production of drab plumage. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted on species that undergo a post-nuptial molt when T is low; the role of T in species that acquire breeding plumage during a pre-nuptial molt remains largely unexplored.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe experimentally tested the effects of increased T on plumage color in second-year male red-backed fairy-wrens (Malurus melanocephalus), a species in which after-second-year males undergo a pre-nuptial molt into red/black (carotenoid and melanin-based) plumage and second-year males either assume red/black or brown breeding plumage. T treatment stimulated a rapid and early onset pre-nuptial molt and resulted in red/black plumage acquisition, bill darkening, and growth of the sperm storage organ, but had no effect on body condition or corticosterone concentrations. Control males molted later and assumed brown plumage. T treated males produced feathers with similar but not identical reflectance parameters to those of unmanipulated after-second-year red/black males; while reflectance spectra of red back and black crown feathers were similar, black breast feathers differed in UV chroma, hue and brightness, indicating a potentially age and plumage patch-dependent response to T for melanin- vs. carotenoid-pigmentation.Conclusions/SignificanceWe show that testosterone is the primary mechanism functioning during the pre-nuptial molt to regulate intrasexually variable plumage color and breeding phenotype in male red-backed fairy-wrens. Our results suggest that the effects of T on plumage coloration may vary with timing of molt (pre- vs. post-nuptial), and that the role of T in mediating plumage signal production may differ across age classes, plumage patches, and between pigment-types.

Sparrows use multiple status signals in winter social flocks

Status signals are thought to reduce the potential costs of social conflict over resources by advertising social status to other group members and reducing unnecessary contests between individuals of differing abilities. Nearly all studies of status signals to date have focused on single signalling traits, and most studies that have investigated multiple traits did not examine whether different traits are used in different contexts, as is required for them to function as multiple signals. We examined the role of gold and black crown patches of wintering golden-crowned sparrows, Zonotrichia atricapilla, in determining social dominance during experimentally staged encounters between unfamiliar individuals. Specifically, we determined whether variation in weakly correlated or uncorrelated traits (crown patch size and colour, body size) differentially affected the outcome of interactions involving avoidance versus aggression. Overall, crown patch size and colour were better predictors of dominance than were body size or sex. Several traits, including both crown features and morphological traits, predicted which individual avoided the other in dyadic interactions that did not escalate beyond avoidance. However, when dyads had similar gold crown patch sizes, the interaction was more likely to escalate, leading to aggression. In contrast to avoidance interactions, the outcomes of aggressive contests were largely predicted by variation in the colour of black crown patches. Taken together, our results show that gold and black crown features operate as multiple status signals that accommodate an escalated gradient of interactions and suggest that social status involves more complexity than can be accommodated by a single signal.

Guns in the Afternoon

Sam sat in the far corner of the bar, his sweat-marked Stetson hanging on a wooden peg above his head. The whiteness of his forehead ended abruptly just above his eyebrows. His face was wrinkled and dark from years in the prairie sunshine. He sat motionless, leaning against the timbered wall behind him, his chair angled so he could see across the whole room. Only his eyes were moving as he watched men playing card games at several tables, noisily arguing every hand, four miners drinking whiskey in complete silence at the other end of the long mahogany bar, and the women in tight skimpy dresses serving whiskey to the men at the tables. People who didn’t know him sometimes had trouble meeting Sam’s gaze—blue eyes washed out from the blazing prairie sun. Sam glanced at a distant corner of the barroom where a man played a piano. The man was old, with the beginnings of a beard that probably wouldn’t turn into anything. He wasn’t much of a piano player, either. The Irish tune he played was barely audible above the complaints of the crowd. He had taken off his hat and upended it on the upright some time before, but no coins gleamed inside the black crown. Sam’s eyes kept coming back to a young man playing cards with some of the older cowhands. That kid, Sam thought, he still seemed a kid even though he was grown up now. That kid had a moustache, it was thin and scraggly and looked new and he wore a Colt 45 in a holster. The revolver was well cared for; the pearl handle gleamed in a shaft of sunlight that raked across the room. Matthew, Sam thought. Matthew’s life hasn’t been easy. He had always lived with his mother in …

Trombiculidae larvae (Neotrombicula autumnalis) infestation in a Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) in Turkey

With this case report, we describe Trombiculidae larvae (Neotrombicula autumnalis) infestation in a Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) which was brought to our clinics by the Directorship of Environmental and Forestry authorities of Samsun, Turkey in April, 2007. The male Little Bittern (I. minutus), with a black back and crown, and black wings with a large white patch on each wing, had thick Trombiculidae larvae infestation both on its legs. There were neither dermatological nor general conditional changes observed, except its superficial larval attachments to the skin. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Trombiculidae larvae (N. autumnalis) infestation in a Little Bittern (I. minutus) in Turkey.

Melanin, carotenoid and structural plumage ornaments: information content and role in great tits Parus major

The importance of plumage colour as an indicator of individual quality and the basis of sexual selection has long been recognized. Of the three generally distinguished classes of plumage colours, melanin‐based ornaments are traditionally considered to provide less reliable information than carotenoid‐based traits. However, the role of structural ornaments in multiple signalling systems has rarely been examined, and no study has compared the information content and role of the three ornament types simultaneously. Here we investigated three plumage ornaments in great tits Parus major: the size of the melanin‐based breast stripe, the carotenoid‐based colour of the yellow breast and the structurally based reflectance properties of the black crown. We worked on both the mechanistic and the functional levels. First, we assessed the dependence of ornaments on body condition during moult using ptilochronology. Second, we estimated assortative mating for these traits, as a measure of mutual sexual selection. Only the spectral attributes of crown feathers correlated with body condition during moult. However, breast stripe size was related to age, while the brightness of the yellow breast indicated body size. Relative crown ultraviolet reflectance was much higher in males than in females. Assortative mating was strongest for crown ultraviolet reflectance, but composite measures suggest that a system of multiple sexually selected traits with different information content may work in this population. These data support the accumulating evidence that the condition‐dependence of melanin and carotenoid coloration is not qualitatively different. They also suggest that more research should target the reflectance properties of dark plumage areas in general, and ultraviolet crown ornamentation in tits in particular.

DO MELANIN- OR CAROTENOID-PIGMENTED PLUMAGE ORNAMENTS SIGNAL CONDITION AND PREDICT PAIRING SUCCESS IN THE KENTUCKY WARBLER?

Abstract Yellow and red feathers pigmented by carotenoids can signal a bird's condition and are important to both female choice and male-male competition. Melanin-based ornaments are thought to be less effective than carotenoid ornaments as indicators of condition, though their signal function is still relatively unstudied. We examined both carotenoid and melanin-pigmented feather ornaments in a single species, the Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus). Both males and females of this species have melanin-pigmented ornamentation (black crown, black face) and carotenoid-pigmented ornamentation (lemon-yellow undersides). Melanin-pigmented plumage patches were larger in males than females, and males had brighter breast plumage, with a larger ultraviolet component, than females. Among males in the wild, individuals in better condition had more extensive black caps and faces, but not brighter-yellow breasts. Males with larger black caps were more likely to attract mates. This work demonstrates that, in a specie...

NEW SPECIES OR INTERESTING RECORDS OF FOLIICOLOUS LICHENS. I. TRICHOTHELIUM ARGENTEUM(LICHENIZED ASCOMYCETES: TRICHOTHELIACEAE)

Trichothelium argenteumR. Lücking & L. I. Ferraro sp. nov. is dis-tinguished by its very large perithecia with a well-developed, silvery white, basally black crown of setae, and by a non-radiate phycobiont. In young perithecia, the setae are confluent and form a characteristic, two-coloured disc-like expansion. Ascospores are 7-septate and bacillar. Trichothelium argenteumis known from a few populations in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina.

Behavioral and Morphological Correlates of Heterochrony in Hispaniolan Palm-Tanagers

We documented the occurrence of heterochrony for morphological and behavioral characters in two species of Hispaniolan Palm-Tanager. Phaenicophilus palmarum is age-dimorphic in morphology and foraging behavior with 55% (n = 126) of specimens classified as juveniles. Juveniles differed from adults of their own species in five of eight foraging variables, average flight distance during a foraging bout, foraging height, use of broadleaf instead of pine substrates, and the presence of a gray instead of black crown. Phaenicophilus poliocephalus have gray crowns similar to those of P. palmarum juveniles and do not differ significantly from them for any of the eight foraging variables measured, choice of substrate, or average flight distance. They do differ from adult P. palmarum for four of eight foraging variables, average flight distance, and use of substrates. Phaenicophilus poliocephalus lacks a significant age-dimorphism in all behavioral and morphological characters measured. We classified only 15% (n = 66) of the specimens examined as juveniles based on morphology. This species tends to form groups of four to six individuals in the non-breeding season, in contrast to P. palmarum occurring singly or in pairs. Phaenicophilus poliocephalus is also smaller than adult P. palmarum for seven of 11 size-related features. We assessed the degree of gene flow across the narrow hybrid zone we documented and concluded, based on morphological variance analysis, that there was little introgression. The resemblance of P. poliocephalus to juvenile P. palmarum in general morphology and behavior, their smaller body size, and the increased tendency to form groups is consistent with a paedomorphic derivation of P. poliocephalus from P. palmarum.

REFLECTANCE CHARACTERISTICS OF FRESH-MARKET CARROTS

ABSTRACT Body reflectance was measured for normal, fresh-market carrots and carrots with dry rot, soft rot, black crown and cavity spot defects. The reflection was measured with an integrating spectrophotometer over the wavelengths from 486 to 1043 nm. The resulting data indicated that three of the four defects tested could be identified using radiation with wavelengths between 535 and 722 nm. Cavity spots could not be significantly distinguished from normal carrot tissue.

Mycocentrospora acerina . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract A description is provided for Mycocentrospora acerina . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: A very wide host range (29, 364); parsley, celery, carrot and parsnip are among the most important economically. DISEASE: Pansy leaf spot; celery storage rot; root rot, canker and black crown rot of parsnip; liquorice rot of carrot. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Europe (UK, Ireland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Netherlands, Poland, Rumania, USSR, Denmark); N. America (USA, Canada); Australia, New Zealand. TRANSMISSION By splash dispersed conidia; these are viable for short periods only (26, 133). Survival for longer periods is by infected debris and chlamydospores in the soil (23, 324; 45, 681; 52, 899). Water-borne spread is possible (49, 1526) and transmission on pansy seeds has been demonstrated (51, 422).

NOTES ON GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATION AND THE ANNUAL CYCLE IN PATAGONIAN POPULATIONS OF THE RUFOUS‐COLLARED SPARROW ZONOTRICHIA CAPENSIS

Summary Zonotrichia capensis australis inhabits Argentina from the northernmost limits of the Patagonian steppe south through Tierra del Fuego, and extends westward to the Pacific slope in southern Chile. At least part of the population has a north‐south migration along the Andean foothills of Argentina as far north as southwestern Bolivia. The breeding range of australis is bounded on the north and northwest by subspecies of Z. capensis (chilensis, choraules, and possibly hypoleuca) having conspicuous black lateral crown‐stripes. Topotypical australis (Tierra del Fuego) have plain grey crowns, but the frequency of black nuchal markings and faint lateral crown‐lines increases northward in the coastal populations. In inland populations (Andean piedmont) the frequency of black crown markings is apparently reversed, increasing southward. The size (wing‐length, tarsus, bill, and probably body‐weight) of australis decreases northward in both coastal and inland samples.The nesting season of australis begins in late November and early December and extends to mid January and early February. Postnuptial moult begins from mid December to early January. Moult proceeds while the testes are apparently still functional. Postnuptial moult terminates from late January through mid March. There is no evidence in the current data of geographical trends in the chronology of nesting and postnuptial moult. The calendars appear to be about the same throughout the range of australis.Postjuvenal moult begins about 4–5 weeks later than the onset of postnuptial moult and terminates in the latest birds in about mid March. Northward migration begins at about this time.

The Transmission of Leucocytozoon simondi to Birds by Simulium rugglesi in Northern Michigan

The ornithophilic Simuliidae that feed on waterfowl were studied in northern Michigan. With the exception of one Cnephia sp., only Simulium rugglesi (Nicholson and Mickel) were collected attacking birds in Michigan during the study period from 15 April 1959 to 21 August 1962. The number of flies trapped in Michigan was never comparable to similar collections in Canada and Wisconsin. Nevertheless, a high incidence of Leucocytozoon infection was observed in both Cheboygan and Presque Isle Counties near streams, in contrast to substantially lower incidences of infection and fatality on the lake front at the University of Michigan Biological Station and at Riggsville (both in Cheboygan Co. and both away from streams). Host preference studies were made by exposing mallard ducks and 14 other species of birds. New host feeding records for S. rugglesi included black terns, herring gulls, black crown night herons, sandpipers, robin fledglings, and blackbird fledglings. S. rugglesi preferred ducks over all other birds except gulls and blackbirds, colored ducks and ducklings over white ducklings and over goslings of all colors. They preferred colored ducklings and large white ducklings over goslings. S. rugglesi transmits Leucocytozoon among summer resident birds rather than the birds migrating through this region of Michigan. Epizootic conditions here are therefore significantly different from those in areas with larger and earlier appearing S. rugglesi populations farther north.