Coereba Research Articles

Weather events influence survival and recruitment of Coereba flaveola (Bananaquit) in the Caribbean

Abstract The West Indies is considered a biodiversity hotspot and a priority for ecological conservation efforts. Understanding how environmental conditions influence survival of resident avifauna is an important information need given the predicted increases of drought and frequency and intensity of severe storms in the region. Throughout much of the Caribbean, Coereba flaveola (Bananaquit) are widespread and abundant, traits that may facilitate understanding their response to environmental changes in the region. We used a 10-yr capture–mark–recapture data set to examine C. flaveola survival, recruitment, population growth, and age structure in context of monthly and seasonal precipitation and temperatures, drought conditions, and occurrence and intensity of storm events. Our models suggested wing length, occurrence of storms, and drought all influenced survival. Both the incidence of storms and drier than average conditions in the preceding wet season (April–June) decreased survival. Sex of bird and net hours influenced capture probability, but weather influences on recruitment were equivocal. During non-storm years, mean population growth was stable at 1.019 (95% CI: 0.962, 1.098), but dropped to 0.843 (95% CI: 0.795, 0.846) in storm years. Increasing frequency of storms, such as back-to-back years, would likely push the growth rate lower. A protracted pattern of increased storm frequency, especially if coupled with a subsequent drought during the wet season, may lead to localized extirpations or strongly reduced populations.

Nectar availability and Interactions with Bird Pollinators in Grevillea banksii R. Br. (Proteaceae) in a Restinga Ecosystem in Southeastern Brazil

The mutualistic relationship between plants and their pollinators may influence species’ spatial distribution, richness, and abundance. We assessed the nectar availability and interaction with pollinators in Grevillea banksii (Proteaceae), an alien plant in Brazil. Our objectives were to study the floral biology and the pollination system and identify the pollinators in a G. banksii population in a Restinga ecosystem (sand-coastal-plain) in southeastern Brazil. We described the behavioral parameters of the pollinator-plant interaction and determined how the pollinators contribute to reproduction. Floral biology was analyzed by taking morphometric measurements of the flowers and determining the distribution of their structures. The reproductive system was assessed via different pollination treatments (open pollination, self-pollination, manual selfpollination, manual cross-pollination). The pollinators were identified and their behaviors were assessed by focal observation. Flower morphometrics showed compatibility between the mean calyx length and the beak length of the flower-visiting hummingbirds. All the pollination types tested were efficient, and we identified eight bird species (Chionomesa fimbriata, Eupetomena macroura, Chlorestes notata, Polytmus guainumbi, Florisuga fusca, Coereba flaveola, Cyanerpes cyaneus and Dacnis cayana) that visit G. banksii in the study area. The results show a positive interaction between pollinators and plants, with offers of resources, pollination, and pollen dispersal.

Alpha-globin variation does not predict avian malaria infection in the West Indian Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola)


 Abstract Infection by lineages of avian malaria parasites (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) varies geographically, and some lineages exhibit disjunct distributions. These patterns might be related to differential resistance among host populations reflecting intrinsic characteristics of both the host and the pathogen. In hematophagous parasites in particular, the structure of host hemoglobin can influence parasite development and reproduction. Though variation in avian hemoglobin has been documented across altitudinal gradients, little is known about hemoglobin variation as it relates to infection by the parasites causing avian malaria. We sequenced the αA-globin subunit of the Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola), and related sequence variation to avian malaria infection frequency and parasite lineage identity. We found no association between αA-globin haplotype and infection by particular parasite lineages among all locations, nor any protective association between globin haplotype frequency and the proportion of individuals infected within populations. Phylogeographic structure and genetic variation at the αA-globin locus, including a highly variable intron, is largely concordant with the mitochondrial cytochrome b locus for these same populations, supporting this marker as an independent and variable target with potential application in biogeographic analyses.
 
 
 Keywords alpha-globin, avian malaria, Bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, West Indies
 
 
 Resumen La variación de la globina alfa no predice la infección por malaria aviar en Coereba flaveola • La infección por linajes de parásitos de la malaria aviar (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) varía geográficamente y algunos linajes exhiben distribuciones discontinuas. Estos patrones podrían estar relacionados con la resistencia diferencial entre las poblaciones de huéspedes, y reflejan las características intrínsecas tanto del huésped como del patógeno. En los parásitos hematófagos, en particular, la estructura de la hemoglobina del huésped puede influir en el desarrollo y la reproducción del parásito. Aunque se ha documentado la variación de la hemoglobina aviar a través de gradientes altitudinales, se sabe poco sobre su variación en relación con la infección por los parásitos que causan la malaria aviar. Secuenciamos la subunidad de globina αA de Coereba flaveola y relacionamos la variación de la secuencia con la frecuencia de infección por malaria aviar y la identidad del linaje del parásito. No encontramos ninguna asociación entre el haplotipo de globina αA y la infección por determinados linajes de parásitos entre localidades; ni ninguna asociación protectora entre la frecuencia del haplotipo de globina y la proporción de individuos infectados dentro de las poblaciones. La estructura filogeográfica y la variación genética en el locus de la globina αA, que incluye un intrón muy variable, concuerdan en gran medida con el locus del citocromo b mitocondrial para estas mismas poblaciones; lo que respalda a este marcador como un objetivo independiente y variable con aplicación potencial en análisis biogeográficos.
 
 
 Palabras clave Caribe Insular, Coereba flaveola, globina alfa, malaria aviar 
 
 
 Résumé La variation de l’alpha-globine ne permet pas de prédire l’infection par le paludisme aviaire chez le Sucrier à ventre jaune (Coereba flaveola) • L’infection par des lignées de parasites responsables du paludisme aviaire (Apicomplexa: Haemosporida) varie géographiquement, et certaines lignées présentent des répartitions disjointes. Ces schémas pourraient être liés à une résistance différentielle entre les populations d’hôtes reflétant des caractéristiques intrinsèques à la fois de l’hôte et du pathogène. Dans le cas particulier des parasites hématophages, la structure de l’hémoglobine de l’hôte peut influer sur le développe- ment et la reproduction du parasite. Bien que la variation de l’hémoglobine aviaire ait été documentée en fonction des gradients altitudinaux, peu de choses sont connues sur la variation de l’hémoglobine en relation avec l’infection par les parasites responsables du paludisme aviaire. Nous avons séquencé la sous-unité αA-globine du Sucrier à ventre jaune (Coereba flaveola), et nous avons mis en relation la variation de la séquence avec la fréquence d’infection du paludisme aviaire et l’identité de la lignée parasitaire. Nous n’avons trouvé aucune association entre l’haplotype αA-globine et l’infection par des lignées parasitaires particulières en fonction des sites, ni aucune association protectrice entre la fréquence de l’haplotype globine et la proportion d’individus infectés au sein des populations. La structure phylogéographique et la variation génétique au locus de l’αA-globine, y compris un intron hautement variable, est largement concordante avec le locus du cytochrome b mitochondrial pour ces mêmes populations, indiquant ce marqueur comme une cible indépendante et variable pouvant avoir une application potentielle dans les analyses biogéographiques.
 
 Mots clés alpha-globine, Antilles, Coereba flaveola, paludisme aviaire, Sucrier à ventre jaune

Ocorrência de protozoários Apicomplexa em aves silvestres na região Nordeste do Brasil

Protozoa of the Apicomplexa phylum are worldwide distributed with capacity to infect endothermic animals. The study of these protozoa in wild birds in Brazil is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of apicomplexan protozoa in wild birds in the Northeast of Brazil. From October to December 2019, brain tissue samples were collected from 71 captive birds from the Wild Animal Screening Center of the Pernambuco State (CETRAS-Tangara) and 25 free-living birds from the Caatinga biome in Rio Grande do Norte, totaling 96 animals (41 species). Brain fragments were subjected to molecular diagnosis by nested PCR for the 18s rDNA gene of Apicomplexa parasites, followed by DNA sequencing. This gene was detected in 25% (24/96) of the samples, and it was possible to perform DNA sequencing of 14 samples, confirming three genera: Isospora, Sarcocystis and Toxoplasma from eight bird species (Amazona aestiva, Coereba flaveola, Egretta thula, Paroaria dominicana, Sporophila nigricollis, Cariama cristata, Columbina talpacoti, Crypturellus parvirostris). The occurrence these coccidia in wild birds provides important epidemiological information for the adoption of preventive measures for its conservation. Future studies are needed to better understand the consequence of Apicomplexa infection in birds in Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes.

Urbanization drives adaptive evolution in a Neotropical bird.

Urbanization has dramatic impacts on natural habitats and such changes may potentially drive local adaptation of urban populations. Behavioral change has been specifically shown to facilitate the fast adaptation of birds to changing environments, but few studies have investigated the genetic mechanisms of this process. Such investigations could provide insights into questions about both evolutionary theory and management of urban populations. In this study, we investigated whether local adaptation has occurred in urban populations of a Neotropical bird species, Coereba flaveola, specifically addressing whether observed behavioral adaptations are correlated to genetic signatures of natural selection. To answer this question, we sampled 24 individuals in urban and rural environments, and searched for selected loci through a genome-scan approach based on RADseq genomic data, generated and assembled using a reference genome for the species. We recovered 46 loci as putative selection outliers, and 30 of them were identified as associated with biological processes possibly related to urban adaptation, such as the regulation of energetic metabolism, regulation of genetic expression, and changes in the immunological system. Moreover, genes involved in the development of the nervous system showed signatures of selection, suggesting a link between behavioral and genetic adaptations. Our findings, in conjunction with similar results in previous studies, support the idea that cities provide a similar selective pressure on urban populations and that behavioral plasticity may be enhanced through genetic changes in urban populations.

Molecular identification of Isospora coerebae Berto, Flausino, Luz, Ferreira amp; Lopes, 2010 (Chromista: Miozoa: Eimeriidae) from the bananaquit Coereba flaveola (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Thraupidae: Coerebinae) from Brazil.

Isospora coerebae Berto, Flausino, Luz, Ferreira Lopes, 2010 is a coccidian protozoan described from bananaquits Coereba flaveola (Linnaeus, 1758), on Marambaia Island, which is located on the southeastern Brazilian coast. In this current work, I. coerebae is identified from C. flaveola in a protected area close to Marambaia Island, but on the mainland, establishing a new location of parasitism, in addition to providing a preliminary genotypic characterization via sequencing of two regions of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) gene. Its oocysts are sub-spherical, 24.4 22.9 m, with smooth, bilayered wall, ~1.7 m thick. Micropyle, polar granules and oocyst residuum are absent. Sporocysts are elongate ovoidal, 17.6 10.5 m. Stieda body prominent and rounded and sub-Stieda body short and wide. Sporocyst residuum is composed of scattered granules of different sizes. Sporozoites are vermiform with a prominent posterior refractile body. The oocysts of the current work are morphologically equivalent to the original description of I. coerebae, which have a typical and easily identifiable morphology, mainly in the Stieda and Sub-Stieda bodies. The two sequenced gene regions of the COI gene approximated I. coerebae to Isospora spp. from Southeastern Brazil, but also from Isospora spp. from passerines of North America, Europe and Asia. Although there is a small overlap between the two genic regions sequenced in the current work, it is estimated that the longer COI sequence, which was recently designed and still not widespread, should show better phylogenetic results in the future.

Evidence of short-term shifts in floral traits in response to nectar robbing

ABSTRACT Background Nectar robbing has multiple effects on plants and pollinators, depending on the traits of a plant and its reproductive system, the behaviour of its pollinators, and the identity of the robber. Aims We aimed to evaluate temporal variation in morphological traits of robbed and intact flowers of the ornithophilous Asian basket plant, Aeschynanthus speciosus (Gesneriaceae). Methods We measured the length of the style and corolla, and the width of the stigma of the flowers of potted A. speciosus plants on three different days. We also recorded whether nectar robbing influenced the position of the androecium in relation to the gynoecium between robbed and intact flowers. Results Nectar robbing by the bananaquit, Coereba flaveola, had a negative effect on the development of floral traits of A. speciosus, resulting in flowers with smaller styles and stigmas, and reduced herkogamy. Conclusion We discuss these findings from the perspective of plant-nectar robber interactions, offering insights into the strategies adopted by plants to counteract the negative effects of nectar robbing.

Molt patterns and age and sex determination criteria for selected landbirds in an urban area of the Peruvian Central Coast

Despite molting is an important and expensive activity in the life cycle of birds, this process is poorly known for neotropical species and even less so for species inhabiting urban zones. We studied molt patterns, aging and sexing criteria, and morphometrics for seven common resident species in an urban area of ​​Lima city, Peru. All species evidenced complete prebasic molts. Partial to eccentric incomplete preformative molts were evidenced for six species (Camptostoma obsoletum, Pyrocephalus rubinus, Catamenia analis, Poospiza hispaniolensis, Coereba flaveola, and Thraupis episcopus); whereas Columbina cruziana exhibited a complete molt. All thraupid species exhibited partial prealternate molts. Preformative and prebasic molts were recorded mostly during the dry season, and the few records of prealternate molts might suggest its occurrence soon after the wet season. Our species also exhibited low molt synchrony, with some of them (C. cruziana, P. rubinus, and C. flaveola) exhibiting extensive molt periods likely explained by its potential to reproduce throughout the year and/or the existence of suspended/ protracted molts. Morphometric analysis evidenced significant differences according to sex for C. cruziana, P. rubinus, and C. analis, with the wing chord being the most common characteristic for distinguishing between sexes. Our study covers an important gap in the knowledge of the natural history of urban birds and provides information to test hypotheses of molt pattern variation on species with widespread distribution throughout the Americas.

Report of Nesting of the Bananaquit (Passeriformes, Thraupidae, Coereba flaveola) in Man-made Objects in the Dominican Republic

Two nests of Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) were observed in man-made objects in a suburban area of Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic. The nests were located at the base of rustic pendant lights made of metal, placed on a second-floor terrace of an inhabited dwelling. One nest contained three chicks, while the other was empty. An adult made several approaches to the breeding nest to feed the chicks, despite the presence of people nearby. The selection of these nesting sites is probably due to protection against adverse environmental conditions and predators, since both were located under a roof.

Urban Noise Restricts Song Frequency Bandwidth and Syllable Diversity in Bananaquits: Increasing Audibility at the Expense of Signal Quality

Anthropogenic noise can interfere with animal behavior through masking of acoustic communication. In response to masking, animals may change their acoustic signals as an apparent adjustment strategy, but this may have a drawback on signal quality. Songs and calls may show noise-dependent changes in frequency and duration, which may yield some masking avoidance, but may also constrain other acoustic parameters that might carry information about the sender. In the present study, we investigated whether noise-dependent reduction in frequency bandwidth or song duration restricted syllable diversity or song elaboration in a Neotropical songbird, the bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). We show that bananaquits sing higher frequency songs, of narrower bandwidth, in noisier territories, independent of variation in territory density, without significant variation in song duration. We also show that songs with higher minimum frequencies, narrower bandwidths, and shorter durations have on average a lower number of syllable types and higher syllable rates. This finding is in line with an acoustic restriction and may reflect a functional trade-off between audibility and signal value: higher frequencies may be more audible but less elaborate songs may weaken the message of sender quality. Consequently, noise pollution may not only alter avian communities, but also shape acoustic diversity and processes of sexual selection in urban environments.

Ecological release and insular shifts in avian morphological traits in the Caribbean

AbstractWe compared support for 3 hypotheses that might explain observed morphological variation among islands of 4 species of Caribbean land birds: ecological release from competition and predation pressure, predation pressure from 1 novel predator species (small Indian mongoose, Herpestes auropunctatus), and climate. We measured wing chord, tarsus length, bill length, and mass of Bananaquits (Coereba flaveola), Black-faced Grassquits (Tiaris bicolor), Lesser Antillean Bullfinches (Loxigilla noctis), and Common Ground Doves (Columbina passerina) in Grenada, 2015–2017, and combined these measures with data from 23 other Caribbean islands collated from academic papers and researchers, for a total sample size of 6,518 individuals. We found the strongest support for the ecological release hypothesis, but each of our hypotheses received some support, suggesting that ecological release from competition, predation pressure from mongoose, and climate may all interact to influence morphological adaptations of birds to local conditions in the Caribbean.

Noise-Related Song Variation Affects Communication: Bananaquits Adjust Vocally to Playback of Elaborate or Simple Songs

Birds communicate through acoustic variation in their songs for territorial defense and mate attraction. Noisy urban conditions often induce vocal changes that can alleviate masking problems, but that may also affect signal value. We investigated this potential for a functional compromise in a neotropical songbird: the bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). This species occurs in urban environments with variable traffic noise levels and was previously found to reduce song elaboration in concert with a noise-dependent reduction in song frequency bandwidth. Singing higher and in a narrower bandwidth may make their songs more audible in noisy conditions of low-frequency traffic. However, it was unknown whether the associated decrease in syllable diversity affected their communication. Here we show that bananaquits responded differently to experimental playback of elaborate vs. simple songs. The variation in syllable diversity did not affect general response strength, but the tested birds gave acoustically distinct song replies. Songs had fewer syllables and were lower in frequency and of wider bandwidth when individuals responded to elaborate songs compared to simple songs. This result suggests that noise-dependent vocal restrictions may change the signal value of songs and compromise their communicative function. It remains to be investigated whether there are consequences for individual fitness and how such effects may alter the diversity and density of the avian community in noisy cities.

Double Mutualism Between the Black-crowned Palm-Tanager (Passeriformes, Pheanicophilidae, Phaenicophilus palmarum) and the Beach Creeper (Rubiaceae, Ernodea littoralis) on Hispaniola, Greater Antilles, Caribbean

Double mutualism describes the situation where two species interact for the benefit of both in more than one type of interaction. For instance, if a given plant species is both pollinated and has its seeds dispersed by the same animal species. Double mutualism is thought to be more present in ecosystems where organisms are generalized, such as on oceanic islands. In the Caribbean islands, double mutualism has only been reported four times, of which only one involves a bird, between the widespread Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) and the plant Cordia bicolor (Boraginaceae) on the continental island of Tobago. Here, for the first time, we report an observation of double mutualistic behaviour of a bird on Caribbean oceanic islands: The Black-crowned Tanager (Phaenicophilus palmarum), a bird endemic to Hispaniola, and the widespread plant Beach Creeper (Ernodea littoralis, Rubiaceae). Whereas hummingbirds and insects were more frequent visitors to the flowers of E. littoralis compared to P. palmarum, only P. palmarum was observed as a seed-disperser of E. littoralis. Based on our observations, we conclude that P. palmarum and E. littoralis show double mutualistic behaviour, though more detailed studies are needed to quantify the importance of this mutualistic behaviour, both from the bird's point of view and from the plant's point of view regarding the effectiveness of P. palmarum as pollinator and seed-disperser, respectively. We believe that double mutualism has been overlooked in the Caribbean, and, thus, we hope our observations will stimulate research into the importance of double mutualism across the Caribbean.

MODELLING OF 3D-STRUCTURES OF THE RARE MELANOCORTIN-1-RECEPTOR MUTATIONS ASSOCIATED TO MELANISM IN THE BANANAQUIT

Melanism in plumage color is often associated to the single nucleotide polymorphism of the melanocortin-1-receptor (MC1R). Despite the striking association between the substitution of a Glutamic-acid by for a Lysine at position 92 on the MC1R protein and a completely black plumage, an in-depth understanding of the effect of missense mutations on the conformational change and behavior of the MC1R in the lipid bilayer caused by the absence of a crystal structure is lacking. We examine the structural basis for receptor activation using DNA sequences from the GenBank to perform in silicoprotein homology-based modeling. Our tridimensional model shows that the Alanine for a 179-Threoninesubstitution is a structural complement of the charge-reversing effect associated to the substitution of a Glutamic-acid by for a Lysine at position 92 on the MC1R. We proposed the possibility of gradual evolution in stability and electrostatic properties of the MC1R by the sequential accumulation of these two rare substitutions. These two rare substitutions further perturb physical-chemical properties that may be necessary folding requirements of the constitutively active MC1R forms without altering of ligand binding affinity. The computational coarse-grained molecular dynamics of the MC1R binding affinities to the melanocyte-stimulating hormone predicted the disparity in ligand binding amongalleles. We speculate that the disparity in structural constraints and ligand binding among the alleles within heterozygous individuals may contribute as a mechanism to the plumage color variation in the Coereba flaveola.

FIRST ANNOTATED CHECKLIST OF BIRDS OF JICARÓN AND JICARITA: THE SOUTHERNMOST ISLANDS OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

The Isthmus of Panama, the narrowest land bridge between North and South America, is surrounded by a large number of islands (>1500) relatively close to the mainland. However, despite the potential role Panamanian islands have for the conservation of bird species, most avian surveys are conducted on the mainland. The islands of Jicarón and Jicarita, located in Coiba National Park, are of particular interest because these are the southernmost islands in the Republic of Panama. Additionally, previous avian surveys were restricted to Coiba Island, the largest of the park, leaving the avifauna in the rest of the islands poorly known. Here, we provide the first annotated checklist of birds for the islands of Jicarón and Jicarita, where we documented 115 and 53 species, respectively. Of these 23 species represent new records for the park. Further, we documented 10 endemic subspecies and 29 migratory species, of which 7 are warblers. The most frequently observed species were Brown-backed Dove (Leptotila plumbeiceps battyi), Rufous-tailed Hummingbird (Amazilia tzacatl) and Bananaquit (Coereba flaveola). We highlight some species of interest and discuss the potential role of these islands for conservation.

Molecular identification of Haemosporidia in avian endemics of Gorgona Island within a context for the eastern tropical Pacific region

Island bird populations and their obligate blood parasites are of interest for understanding the accumulation of biodiversity and the evolutionary relationship with their mainland congeners. We examined avian Haemosporidia cytochrome b gene among terrestrial birds on Gorgona Island National Park, Colombia. Three Haemoproteus haplotype groups found on Gorgona Island have a higher genetic similarity to Haemoproteus found in the eastern tropical Pacific than those documented in Africa, Asia, Europe and Oceania. Two of the haplotype groups on the island are generalists in terms of infecting multiple hosts and their wide geographical distribution within the eastern tropical Pacific region, a third Haemoproteus haplogroup appears endemic to Gorgona Island. The overall prevalence of haemosporidian parasites is 57,9% for birds on Gorgona island, which is higher than local reports of prevalence documented in other archipelagos or the mainland. The island population of Cyanerpes cyaneus gigas seems to be the most susceptible to Haemoproteus infection when compared to Thamnophilus atrinucha gorgonae and Coereba flaveola gorgonae. Our findings support an ubiquitous pattern of endemism among organisms including avian haemosporidian parasites on Gorgona Island and also highlight the potential exposure of island bird populations to avian malaria.

Immunogenetic response of the bananaquit in the face of malarial parasites

BackgroundIn the arms race between hosts and parasites, genes involved in the immune response are targets for natural selection. Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) genes play a role in parasite detection as part of the innate immune system whereas Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes encode proteins that display antigens as part of the vertebrate adaptive immune system. Thus, both gene families are under selection pressure from pathogens. The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola) is a passerine bird that is a common host of avian malarial parasites (Plasmodium sp. and Haemoproteus sp.). We assessed molecular variation of TLR and MHC genes in a wild population of bananaquits and identified allelic associations with resistance/susceptibility to parasitic infection to address hypotheses of avian immune response to haemosporidian parasites.ResultsWe found that allele frequencies are associated with infection status at the immune loci studied. A consistent general trend showed the infected groups possessed more alleles at lower frequencies, and exhibited unique alleles, compared to the uninfected group.ConclusionsOur results support the theory of natural selection favoring particular alleles for resistance while maintaining overall genetic diversity in the population, a mechanism which has been demonstrated in some systems in MHC previously but understudied in TLRs.

Historical demography of Coereba flaveola on Puerto Rico

AbstractWe use contemporary genetic diversity to characterize the within-island population structure and historical demography of Bananaquits (Aves: Thraupidae: Coerebinae: Coereba flaveola) on the West Indian island of Puerto Rico (Greater Antilles). We relate periods of population expansion, from Puerto Rico across the Lesser Antilles, to the genetic architecture of the source population, and describe differentiation of populations within Puerto Rico. Lastly, we report comparable analyses of populations of Bananaquits on Jamaica and of a related species, the Black-faced Grassquit (Coerebinae: Tiaris bicolor), on Puerto Rico. We found differentiation among contemporary populations of Bananaquits within Puerto Rico and signatures of renewed demographic expansion in eastern Puerto Rico beginning ~100 kyr ago and, in the western portion of the island, ~40 kyr ago. Populations of T. bicolor on Puerto Rico exhibit similar structure to Bananaquits, while Bananaquits on Jamaica exhibit no differentiation among locations. Both T. bicolor and Jamaican C. flaveola provide mixed evidence of demographic expansion.

Parasites in space and time: a case study of haemosporidian spatiotemporal prevalence in urban birds

Prevalence responses to anthropic factors differ across hosts and parasite species. We here analyzed the spatiotemporal variation of avian haemosporidian prevalence in bird assemblages of the Mooswald forest (i.e., urban greenspace; Freiburg, Germany), in response to local environmental features (e.g., water sources, human presence (visited)/absence (unvisited)) and bird-level traits (e.g., body condition, age, sex) in 2 years. We used a nested PCR protocol (mitochondrial (mt)DNA cytochrome b (cyt b) gene) and microscopy to determine haemosporidian infections. Prevalence was analyzed using a general linear multi-model (glmulti) approach with Akaike information criterion corrected for small samples (AICc), with subsequent model inferences using a GLMM on the best selected model, considering bird species as a random factor. Analyses were conducted for the main understory bird species (Blackcap – Sylvia atricapilla, Chaffinch – Coereba flaveola, Great Tit – Parus major, Blue Tit – Cyanistes caeruleus, European Robin – Erithacus rubecula, Blackbird – Turdus merula, Song Thrush – Turdus philomelos). We further conducted spatial autocorrelation analyses for all haemosporidian infections, and classification and regression trees (CARTs) for focal species. We analyzed a total of 544 samples of seven bird species. In 2011 prevalence for Haemoproteus/Plasmodium was 25.8% and 11.7% for Leucocytozoon. In 2013 prevalence for Haemoproteus/Plasmodium was 26.5% and 35.5% for Leucocytozoon. Haemosporidian prevalence was significantly different between some focal species. There was a negative association between distance to the nearest water source and prevalence in the year 2011, and the opposite pattern for the year 2013. However, when analyzed for the six focal species separately, such a relationship could change from a negative to a positive one, or there could be no relationship at all. For Leucocytozoon there was higher prevalence in the section of the forest visited by humans. We did not find spatial autocorrelation for prevalence across the study site, but there were statistically significant local spatial clusters in the visited section. Although there were similar responses of prevalence to some factors, infection patterns were generally bird species-specific. Thus, prevalence is a labile epidemiological parameter, varying spatiotemporally in an idiosyncratic way.

Using MacKinnon lists and mist-netting simultaneously: maximizing the efficiency of rapid surveys of bird populations in the Atlantic Forest of northeastern Brazil

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest has been transformed into a mosaic of forest fragments that impacts local populations of vertebrates, in particular birds. In the state of Sergipe, Brazil, while only approximately 10% of the original forest remains, ornithological research is still incipient, and basic data are still lacking. In this context, the present study investigated the bird community of a remnant of Atlantic Forest in the municipality of Japoatã using complementary methods in a rapid survey approach. The composition of the community and its trophic guilds was defined and compared with other localities in Sergipe, and Atlantic Forest sites in other Brazilian states. Data were collected in October 2016, by mist-netting and the compilation of MacKinnon lists. A total of 118 bird species were recorded during 1088 net-h and in 60 MacKinnon lists. Four of these species are under some risk of extinction, and one of these is endemic to the region. The most diverse families were Thraupidae, Tyrannidae, Trochilidae, and Thamnophilidae, with the relative contribution of each family varying according to the the sampling method used. The most common species were Manacus manacus (Linnaeus, 1766) and Coereba flaveola (Linnaeus, 1758). The omnivores were the largest guild (n = 301 individuals), followed by the insectivores (n = 236) and the frugivores n = 146). The combined survey approach proved effective, increasing the number of bird species known to occur in the study area to 165, with an increase of more than 40% in comparison with previous surveys in the same area. Overall, the results of the present study reinforce the need for further ornithological surveys in the region, and the value of combining complementary approaches for a more comprehensive inventory during rapid surveys.