Chinese Hwamei Research Articles

Assessing the trade of Chinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus in the USA

Summary The trade in Asian songbirds is contributing to declining populations of many species in the wild. The Chinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus is a popular songbird endemic to Asia that is traded both domestically and internationally. The songbird trade in the USA, particularly involving Asian songbirds, has not been well studied. We hypothesised that despite Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II regulations, Chinese Hwamei are traded illegally in the USA. We scrutinised the CITES Trade Database, US seizure and confiscation records, publicly available records, and websites to assess the imports and availability of Chinese Hwamei in the USA. Since the species was first listed in CITES Appendix II in 2000, there have been three reports of Chinese Hwamei imports into the USA, one of which included four live birds, compared with approximately 40 records of illegally imported birds. Online advertisements of Chinese Hwamei for sale show that both wild-caught and captive-bred birds are easily available. We believe this indicates that there is both legal and illegal trade of the species in the USA. Based on these findings we concluded that more research into the songbird trade, and specifically songbird trade in the USA, is warranted. We recommend additional assessments of CITES and non-CITES songbird species and encourage additional species protection when illegal trade is occurring. We also recommend that the relevant authorities in the USA better scrutinise the trade in non-native songbirds and take meaningful action against anyone found unlawfully importing and trading in illegally sourced songbirds. Finally, we recommend that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species includes international trade as a threat to the Chinese Hwamei in order to raise concern and motivate action for this songbird.

Seasonal acclimatization and temperature acclimation in small passerine birds is achieved via metabolic adjustments

Temperature and other environmental factors play an integral role in the metabolic adjustments of animals and drive a series of morphological, physiological, and behavioral adaptions essential to survival. However, it is not clear how the capacity of an organism for temperature acclimation translates into seasonal acclimatization to maintain survival. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), evaporative water loss (EWL), and energy budget were measured in the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus) following winter and summer acclimatization, and in those acclimatized to 15 ​°C (cold) and 35 ​°C (warm) under laboratory conditions for 28 days. In addition to the above indicators, internal organ masses, as well as state 4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase (COX) activity were also measured for the liver, skeletal muscle, heart, and kidney. Both winter-acclimatized and cold-acclimated birds exhibited significantly higher BMR, EWL, and energy budget, as well as organ masses, state 4 respiration, and COX activity compared with the summer-acclimatized and warm-acclimated birds. This indicated that the Chinese Hwamei could adapt to seasonal or just temperature changes through some physiological and biochemical thermogenic adjustments, which would be beneficial to cope with natural environmental changes. A general linear model showed that body mass, BMR, GEI, state 4 respiration in the liver and kidney, and COX activity in the skeletal muscle, liver, and kidney were significantly affected by temperature and acclimation. A positive correlation was observed between BMR and each of the other parameters (body mass, EWL, energy budget, heart dry mass, kidney dry mass, state 4 respiration) in the muscle, heart, and kidney and also between BMR and COX activity in the muscle and kidney. The results suggested that similar to seasonal acclimatization, Chinese Hwameis subjected to temperature acclimation also exhibited significant differences in metabolism-related physiological and biochemical parameters, depending on the temperature. The data also supported the prediction that metabolic adjustment might be the primary means by which small birds meet the energetic challenges triggered by cold conditions.

Incorporating local stakeholders’ voices and knowledge into conservation decisions: a case study on the Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) in Taijiang, Guizhou, China

BackgroundThe Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus Linnaeus, 1758) is a widely distributed species and has long been kept as a pet, especially by the ethnic communities in Southwest China. According to conservation experts’ suggestions, it has been designated as a second-level national key protected species in February, 2021 to protect this bird, indicating that keeping it at home is no longer permitted in China. However, a key factor to ensure effectiveness and success of conservation initiatives is local stakeholders’ acceptance and support.MethodsInterviews and focus group discussions were used to document the policy outcomes and the views of 108 local bird-keepers in a county in Guizhou province.ResultsDespite awareness about the illegality of the practice, the bird was still commonly caged both in rural and urban regions. To justify their unwillingness to stop keeping these birds, the interviewees presented many arguments, such as benefits for the community members’ health, cultural heritage and contributions to local livelihoods. Fewer than 30% of the bird-keepers believed that the practice of self-keeping has reduced the wild population. Most argued the decline was mainly generated by the harvesting and keepers with monetary interests. They suggested enforcement should target those people and bird markets, as well as the harvesting methods. They also recommended restricting the number of birds allowed to be kept by one keeper, establishing protected areas and a harvesting ban period. The study participants demonstrated considerable local ecological knowledge about approaches for managing the species’ use.ConclusionsDue to the benefits for the people and the bird’s large distribution, I argued that a conservation goal to lower the harvesting and keeping rates would be more appropriate than a strict ban on keeping them. Such a policy would be more feasible and culturally acceptable because it is built on keepers’ support and suggestions. It is necessary to monitor the effects of bird keeping on the wild population. Overall, this qualitative study demonstrated the advantage of factoring in local voices in conservation decisions.

Importance of the Oriental mole cricket (Gryllotalpa orientalis) to gatherers’ livelihoods in Guiyang city, China

Edible insects contribute to the livelihoods of impoverished people worldwide and have become a key method to combat rural poverty. This study reports the role of harvesting the Oriental mole cricket (Gryllotalpa orientalis) in gatherers’ livelihoods in Guiyang city, China. We recorded 44 people involved in gathering the Oriental mole cricket, 34 of whom were successfully interviewed in an urban open market. All the gatherers were from the rural ethnic Miao community. Opportunities for sustaining their livelihoods were limited, and 82.4% (n=28) claimed that the Oriental mole cricket made the most important contribution to their family income. The study participants collected these insects almost every weekday, using a hoe to dig them out of the soil, and sold them at the market on weekends. They could earn an estimated gross income ranging from US dollars 1,118 to 9,176 per annum, representing a stable and considerable revenue source. However, the crickets were bought only by keepers of the Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus) bird, which has recently been categorised as a Class II key national protected species in China. The ban on keeping this species might cause a serious social problem. If alternative income sources are absent, strict enforcement could affect the livelihoods of the live-food gatherers. We call on bird conservation agencies to pay more attention to impoverished people in the process of decision-making. Our study identifies a rarely mentioned policy factor inhibiting the use of insects to combat rural poverty.

한국 미기록종 Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus)의 첫 관찰보고

초록 · 키워드 목차 오류제보하기 2020년 4월 23일 인천광역시 강화군 강화읍 강화도 장화리(37°36"53.63”N, 126°22"36.45”E)에서 해안도로 바위 위에 휴식중인 Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus)를 관찰하였다. 관찰 시 눈테는 파란색이었으며 이어지는 눈썹선은 흰색을 띠는 특징이 있어 중국에서 "hwamei"라 명명되었다. 본 연구는 아직까지 국내에 기록이 없는 Leiotrichidae와 Garrulax에 속하는 Chinese Hwamei의 관찰기록을 보고 하고자 수행되었다. #강화도 #눈썹선 #동아시아 #CHINESE HWAMEI #HABITAT #WHITE STRIPE 요약Abstract서론재료 및 방법결과 및 고찰References

Sex-Biased Gene Expression and Evolution in the Cerebrum and Syrinx of Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus).

It is common that males and females display sexual dimorphisms, which usually result from sex-biased gene expression. Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus) is a good model for studying sex-biased gene expression because the song between the sexes is quite different. In this study, we analyze cerebrum and syrinx sex-biased gene expression and evolution using the de novo assembled Chinese hwamei transcriptome. In both the cerebrum and syrinx, our study revealed that most female-biased genes were actively expressed in females only, while most male-biased genes were actively expressed in both sexes. In addition, both male- and female-biased genes were enriched on the putative Z chromosome, suggesting the existence of sexually antagonistic genes and the insufficient dosage compensation of the Z-linked genes. We also identified a 9 Mb sex linkage region on the putative 4A chromosome which enriched more than 20% of female-biased genes. Resultantly, male-biased genes in both tissues had significantly higher Ka/Ks and effective number of codons (ENCs) than unbiased genes, and this suggested that male-biased genes which exhibit accelerated divergence may have resulted from positive selection. Taken together, our results initially revealed the reasons for the differences in singing behavior between males and females of Chinese hwamei.

Effects of temperature and season on birds’ dawn singing behavior in a forest of eastern China

Birds’ dawn chorus is a daily period of high song output, which mainly occurs during the breeding season. Monitoring such chorus may provide important information about birds’ ecology and the function of bird vocalizations at dawn. In this study, we have recorded dawn singing activity from April to June 2019 at seven different sites in Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve (YNNR) in the eastern China and examined the effects of extrinsic factors such as temperature and time of the season on the dawn singing behavior of four common birds Alstrom’s Warbler (Phylloscopus soror), Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler (Pomatorhinus ruficolli), Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler (Cettia fortipes) and Chinese Hwamei (Garrulax canorus). In total, we analyzed 1511 days of recordings, 417 days for Alstrom’s Warbler, 343 days for Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler, 391 days for Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, and 360 days for Chinese Hwamei. Our results showed that the dawn singing start time of Alstrom’s Warbler, Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler and Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler were negatively affected by temperature in such a way that birds started singing later at the higher temperature; however, dawn singing start time of Chinese Hwamei was not affected by temperature change. As for Alstrom’s Warbler and Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, their singing rate decreased significantly with high temperatures, whereas the singing rates of the other two species were not significantly related to the temperature. The Julian date did not affect the dawn singing start time of any species. The Julian date influenced the singing rate of Alstrom’s Warbler, Brownish-flanked Bush Warbler, and Chinese Hwamei. In contrast, the singing rate of Streak-breasted Scimitar Babbler remained constant with the seasonal progression. Our results indicated that bird’s dawn singing activity is species-specific and is sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature and time of the season.

International wildlife trade, avian influenza, organised crime and the effectiveness of CITES: The Chinese hwamei as a case study

The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is the most important global initiative to monitor and regulate the international trade of plants and animals, but there is a lack of (retrospective) assessments of the effectiveness of its actions. We here focus on the international trade in Chinese hwamei Garrulax canorus, a songbird native to south-eastern China and northern Lao PDR and Vietnam. Prior to the year 2000, the species was heavily traded as an ornamental cage bird, both in countries within and outside its natural range. In an effort to prevent international overexploitation, at the request of China, the Chinese hwamei was listed in Appendix II of CITES, regulating all international trade. Here we compare data from three non-range countries (Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia) for which we have bird market survey data prior to and following the CITES listing. In addition, we assess whether or not CITES import and export figures agree with observations in the bird markets, and explore the contemporary (online) trade and trafficking in Chinese hwamei. We find a clear effect of the CITES listing and Chinese export restrictions in Indonesia (before ~50 birds/survey vs ~15 birds/survey after), but not in Thailand (~10 vs ~13) and Singapore (~4 vs ~16). Singapore is the only country that reports the import of Chinese hwamei, 1650 birds in 2002–2004 only, possibly accounting for a proportion of the birds observed in trade. In contrast, neither Thailand nor Indonesia report the import of a single Chinese hwamei since its CITES listing, despite some 2000 birds having been recorded openly for sale, suggesting large-scale illegal international trade in the species. Five seizures in Singapore and Indonesia were mostly because of concern about avian influenza. Price data, corrected for inflation, suggests that prices for Chinese hwamei have increased substantially, albeit following a delay, from ~US$50 prior to the listing to ~ US$200 after. We conclude that the CITES Appendix II listing of Chinese hwamei has had some positive effect on reducing the volumes of these birds in international trade, mainly through implementation of domestic legislation in China, but that substantial illegal or undocumented trade persists in Southeast Asia, involving organised criminal networks. We recommend actions from range countries, such as China, to cease the illegal export of Chinese hwamei, from importing countries such as Indonesia, to ensure no illegal shipments of birds enter their country, and for consumer countries where the species cannot legally be traded to curb the illegal domestic trade as the demand for songbirds in these markets drives the trafficking.

Physiological and Biochemical Thermoregulatory Responses in Male Chinese Hwameis to Seasonal Acclimatization: Phenotypic Flexibility in a Small Passerine.

Many small birds living in regions with seasonal fluctuations and ambient temperatures typically respond to cold by increasing metabolic thermogenesis, internal organ mass and the oxidative capacity of certain tissues. In this study, we investigated seasonal adjustments in body mass, resting metabolic rate (RMR), evaporative water loss (EWL), the mass of selected internal organs, and two indicators of cellular aerobic respiration (mitochondrial state-4 respiration and cytochrome c oxidase activity) in Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus) that had been captured in summer or winter from Wenzhou, China. RMR and EWL were higher in winter than in summer. State-4 respiration in the heart, liver, kidneys and pectoral muscle, as well as cytochrome c oxidase activity in the liver, kidneys and pectoral muscle were also higher in winter than summer. In addition, there was a positive correlation between RMR and EWL, and between RMR and indicators of cellular metabolic activity in the heart, liver, kidneys and pectoral muscle. This phenotypic flexibility in physiological and biochemical thermoregulatory responses may be important to the hwamei's ability to survive the unpredictable, periodic, cold temperatures commonly experienced in Wenzhou in winter.

Nothing to laugh about – the ongoing illegal trade in laughingthrushes (Garrulax species) in the bird markets of Java, Indonesia

SummaryIn ad hoc survey inventories of eight major bird markets in Java in 2014 and 2015, 615 individuals from nine species of the Garrulax genus were found for sale. The most numerous species was Sunda Laughingthrush Garrulax palliatus (215 individuals), followed by Chinese Hwamei G. canorus and Chestnut-capped Laughingthrush G. mitratus. Prices collected in Jakarta revealed that non-native species were the most expensive. Information from these and previous surveys indicate that prices for Sumatran Laughingthrush Garrulax bicolor appeared to have soared since 2007, suggesting increasing rarity of the species. We urge the Indonesian Government to take action against the illegal trade in laughingthrushes under existing laws, especially for the Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush Garrulax rufifrons which is listed on the national protected species list. We also recommend that the Sumatran Laughingthrush Garrulax bicolor be listed as a protected species under Indonesian law. As wild populations of Rufous-fronted Laughingthrush and Sumatran Laughingthrush are threatened by trade, we recommend an urgent review of the conservation status of both species on the IUCN Red List.

Incipient speciation with gene flow on a continental island: Species delimitation of the Hainan Hwamei (Leucodioptron canorum owstoni, Passeriformes, Aves)

Because of their isolation, continental islands (e.g., Madagascar) are often thought of as ideal systems to study allopatric speciation. However, many such islands have been connected intermittently to their neighboring continent during recent periods of glaciation, which may cause frequent contact between the diverging populations on the island and continent. As a result, the speciation processes on continental islands may not meet the prerequisites for strictly allopatric speciation. We used multiple lines of evidence to re-evaluate the taxonomic status of the Hainan Hwamei (Leucodioptron canorum owstoni), which is endemic to Hainan, the largest continental island in the South China Sea. Our analysis of mitochondrial DNA and twelve nuclear loci suggests that the Hainan Hwamei can be regarded as an independent species (L. owstoni); the morphological traits of the Hainan Hwamei also showed significant divergence from those of their mainland sister taxon, the Chinese Hwamei (L. canorum). We also inferred the divergence history of the Hainan and Chinese Hwamei to see whether their divergence was consistent with a strictly allopatric model. Our results suggest that the two Hwameis split only 0.2 million years ago with limited asymmetrical post-divergence gene flow. This implies that the Hainan Hwamei is an incipient species and that speciation occurred through ecologically divergent selection and/or assortative mating rather than a strictly allopatric process.

Molecular investigation of Cryptosporidium in small caged pets in northeast China: host specificity and zoonotic implications.

This study screened 151 pet-derived fecal specimens randomly collected from four commercial markets in northeast China for the presence of Cryptosporidium by genus-specific nested PCRs of the small subunit rRNA gene. Of these, 14 specimens (9.3%) from nine species of birds, two types of rodents, and a hedgehog were positive for Cryptosporidium. Sequence analysis on the PCR-positive isolates facilitated identification of three Cryptosporidium species (C. baileyi, C. galli, and C. ubiquitum) and two Cryptosporidium genotypes (ferret genotype and avian genotype V). The study birds were affected predominantly with bird-specific C. baileyi (Atlantic canary, budgerigar, crested myna, rock dove, and silky fowl), C. galli (Chinese hwamei), and Cryptosporidium avian genotype V (Fischer's lovebird and rosy-faced lovebird). Cryptosporidium ferret genotype previously considered rodent-adapted was identified in three specimens from budgerigar, chipmunk, and red squirrel. Two specimens collected from common hill myna and hedgehog were positive for C. ubiquitum. The species of birds that can be colonized by Cryptosporidium were extended. Moreover, the data expanded the host range of Cryptosporidium ferret genotype and C. ubiquitum, especially the birds. The carriage of zoonotic C. ubiquitum in small caged pets is of public health importance.

Seasonal changes in song and invasion progress of introduced Chinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus from confirmation rates at Yokohama Nature Sanctuary

Seasonal changes in song and invasion progress of introduced Chinese Hwamei <i>Garrulax canorus</i> from confirmation rates at Yokohama Nature Sanctuary

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus)

Chinese hwamei (Garrulax canorus) is native to Eastern Asia, which is a member of Leiothrichidae, Passeriformes. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of G. canorus was sequenced. The genome is 17 828 bp in length and consists of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and 2 control regions. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the mitogenomic sequence of G. canorus was most closely related to the sequences from other species of Garrulax.

Complete mitochondrial genome of the Chinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus (Aves: Passeriformes): the first representative of the Leiothrichidae family with a duplicated control region.

The Chinese Hwamei Garrulax canorus, a member of the family Leiothrichidae, is commonly found in central and southern China, northern Indochina, and on Hainan Island. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of G. canorus. The circular mitochondrial genome is 17,785 bp in length and includes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and two ribosomal RNA genes. In addition, two copies of highly similar putative control regions were observed in the mitochondrial genome. As found in other vertebrates, most of the genes are coded on the H-strand, except for one protein-coding gene (nad6; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6) and eight tRNA genes (tRNA(Gln), tRNA(Ala), tRNA(Asn), tRNA(Cys), tRNA(Tyr), tRNA(Ser(UCN)), tRNA(Pro), and tRNA(Glu)). All the protein-coding genes start with ATG, with the exception of cox1 (cytochrome oxidase subunit 1), which starts with GTG. All tRNA genes have the potential to fold into the typical clover-leaf structure. Conserved sequences in three domains were observed in the two putative control regions. These results provide basic information for future phylogenetic analyses among species of the order Passeriformes.

The characterization of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses isolated from wild birds in northern Vietnam from 2006 to 2009

Due to concerns that wild birds could possibly spread H5N1 viruses, surveillance was conducted to monitor the types of avian influenza viruses circulating among the wild birds migrating to or inhabiting in northern Vietnam from 2006 to 2009. An H5N2 virus isolated from a Eurasian woodcock had a close phylogenetic relationship to H5 viruses recently isolated in South Korea and Japan, suggesting that H5N2 has been shared between Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan. An H9N2 virus isolated from a Chinese Hwamei was closely related to two H9N2 viruses that were isolated from humans in Hong Kong in 2009, suggesting that an H9N2 strain relevant to the human isolates had been transmitted to and maintained among the wild bird population in Vietnam and South China. The results support the idea that wild bird species play a significant role in the spread and maintenance of avian influenza and that this also occurs in Vietnam.

東京都八王子市における移入鳥類ガビチョウの営巣場所と繁殖活動

東京都八王子市における移入鳥類ガビチョウの営巣場所と繁殖活動

Chinese Hwamei, Hong Kong

cover: Chinese Hwamei (Leucodioptron canorum canorum) from Hong Kong, watching back. L. canorum is a passerine bird of the Old World babbler family, Timaliidae. Picture by Charles Lam, available at Wikipedia Commons (hyperlink).

Chinese Hwamei, Hong Kong

Chinese Hwamei, Hong Kong

Update: Divergence of island biotas when they were not always islands

ISSN 1948‐6596 news and update update Divergence of island biotas when they were not always islands Islands have frequently captured the attention of biogeographers, providing insights into oceanic dispersal capabilities (McDowall 2002), the proc‐ esses of adaptation and diversification (Darwin 1872, Losos and Ricklefs 2009), and immigration‐ extinction dynamics (MacArthur and Wilson 1967). Furthermore, the presence of related but distinct lineages on islands and continents is con‐ sidered to represent classic examples of allopatric speciation (Mayr 1942). However, for continental shelf islands—those that possessed terrestrial connections to other landmasses via exposed con‐ tinental shelf during low sea stands (Whittaker and Fernandez‐Palacios 2007)—the interpretation may not always be so simple. Continental shelf islands are common throughout the globe, ranging from the numerous small nearshore islands that dot our coastlines, to larger and more notable examples, represented by places such as Tasmania, New Guinea, Borneo, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Japan, England and the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Continental shelf islands, like oceanic islands, often house a variety of endemic species (Kallimanis et al. 2010), and divergence resulting from the development of island‐ mainland allopatric distributions is typically in‐ voked (Fig. 1a). However, continental shelf islands have repeatedly and predominantly experienced terrestrial connections to mainlands throughout the Pleistocene, represented by glacial low sea stands (Lambeck et al. 2002). Therefore, the diver‐ gence of continental shelf island biotas from those on the mainland may have occurred by various means (allopatric, peripatric, parapatric or sym‐ patric speciation; Coyne and Orr 2004) prior to the development of island‐mainland allopatric distri‐ butions themselves (e.g. Fig. 1b,c). A recent study from Taiwan illustrates a novel approach by which the divergence of sister lineages can be tested for deviation from a strictly allopatric island‐mainland model. Li et al. (2010a) studied Taiwanese and Chinese hwamei (Leucodioptron taewanus and L. canorum canorum, respectively), representing species of babbler that are sedentary and occupy the mar‐ gins of secondary broadleaf evergreen woodlands. Figure 1. Hypothetical divergence scenarios leading to contemporary island‐mainland sister‐lineages. Cir‐ cles of different colours indicate the geographic distribution of diverging lineages. The grey shaded areas indi‐ cate continental shelf exposed dur‐ ing Pleistocene glaciations between China and the continental shelf is‐ land of Taiwan. (a) Strict island‐ mainland allopatric divergence. Is‐ land and mainland populations of a widespread ancestor were isolated following a marine transgression. (b) Divergence under gene flow. Diver‐ gence of lineages occurred despite sympatry or parapatry and gene flow, with island‐mainland allopatric distributions formed subsequently. (c) Divergence of lineages within a region (allopatric within the mainland, in this case), with island‐ mainland allopatry formed subse‐ quently. frontiers of biogeography 3.4, 2012 — © 2012 the authors; journal compilation © 2012 The International Biogeography Society