Pelecanus Crispus Research Articles

IN MEMORIAM: ROGER MALCOLM EVANS, 1935–1998

Roger Malcolm Evans was born at Coronation, Alberta, on 27 May 1935. His father died when Roger was three years old, so he grew up on his grandparents' farm at Blackfalds, Alberta, where he learned perseverance, independence, and resourcefulness while tagging after his grandfather and his uncle. After completing high school at Spirit River, Alberta, Roger worked in a bank for three years. He then entered Zoology at the University of Alberta and, as a freshman, collected birds for the museum under David A. Boag, then an M.Sc. student; David's infectious enthusiasm him on. Still at the University of Alberta, Roger studied courtship and mating behavior of Sharp-tailed Grouse for his M.Sc. thesis, under the guidance of Victor Lewin, and eventually published a paper on territoriality in Sharp-tailed Grouse in The Wilson Bulletin. SGS, who years later would become Roger's colleague, was a freshman at Alberta in fall 1961; he vividly remembers Lewin entering a meeting of the Edmonton Bird Club carrying a copy of Roger's newly minted M.Sc. thesis, raving about the great job he had done. It was during this work that Roger's interest in animal behavior developed. He recognized the advantages of studying species in which large numbers of individuals could provide data in a brief reproductive season. Then he turned his attention to colonial water birds and, for his Ph.D., used playback experiments to study the ontogeny of mobility and approach responses in young Ring-billed Gulls, under John T. Emlen, Jr., at the University of Wisconsin. Creative experimentation would continue to characterize Roger's research. In 1966, Roger joined the Department of Zoology at the University of Manitoba. He was a behaviorist and wrote for a behavioral audience, but he gradually became interested in ornithology. His research continued on parent-young interactions in gulls, and by the early 1970s he had established himself as a behavioral ecologist, just as that field emerged as a recognized scientific discipline. Until his terminal illness, he maintained continuous grant support for his students and himself for a variety of studies, including work on parent-young interactions in brood-parasitic waterfowl and lekking behavior of Sharp-tailed Grouse. But his primary research focused on the American White Pelican and several species of gull. He investigated brood reduction (including a study on blackbirds) and the significance of insurance eggs; vocal communication of hunger and cold by embryos; creching and begging behavior; siblicide among young; and loafing, flocking, and foraging by adults. Most of Roger's field studies were conducted in Manitoba, but he also studied spacing and foraging behavior of Blackbilled Gulls in New Zealand and, just months before his death, behavior of endangered Dalmatian Pelicans in Greece. He was first author, with Fritz Knopf, of the account of the American White Pelican for The Birds of North America. Roger did ground-breaking work, and his many papers, authored alone and with students, were published widely in the behavioral and ornithological literature. He used a wide diversity of avian species as research organisms, and the breadth and depth of his theory-based work were impressive. Listening to Roger talk about his research was always a pleasure, and

On waterbirds in the Anzali Wetlands, Iran, in 1999/2000

Regular counts of waterbirds between October 1999 and April 2000 and in June 2000 at Selke and Espand wetlands in the Anzali wetland complex, Gilan Province, in north-western Iran, produced 55 species of waterbirds. The total numbers of waterbirds reached their highest levels at Selke on 27 December (11,442 individuals) and at Espand on 9 January (6,087 individuals). Three of the species recorded are globally threatened or near threatened (LR/nt): Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus crispus (4 on 27 December), Ferruginous Duck, Aythya nyroca (17 on 3 October), and Pygmy Cormorant, Phalacrocorax pygmeus (217 on 15 November). Peak numbers of some waterbird species included Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo, over 1500 individuals roosting during mid-autumn to midwinter, Garganey, Anas querquedula, 3,794 on 3 October, Teal, Anas crecca, 5,625 on 29 November, Coot, Fulica atra, 3,645 on 16 November, Avocet, Recurvi-rostra avosetta, 131 on 8 February, and Little Gull, Larus minutus 570 on 14 March.

Satelite tracking of migration route of Pelecanus crispus breeding in Kazakhstan.

Satelite tracking of migration route of Pelecanus crispus breeding in Kazakhstan.

Waterbirds in coastal wetlands along the Persian Gulf coast of Iran, January–February 2000

In January and February 2000, about 20 wetland sites were visited to count waterbirds and pay special attention to the presence of Slender-billed Curlews Numenius tenuirostris, a Globally Threatened species. At least 1,200 Eurasian Curlews N. arquata and 240 Whimbrels N. phaeopus were checked individually, but no Slender-billed Curlews were observed. More than 53,000 waterbirds of 82 species were counted during the survey, including Globally Threatened Species like Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, Marbled Teal Marmaronetta angustirostris, Ferrugineous Duck Aythya nyroca, White-tailed Eagle Halaeetus albicilla, Greater Spotted Eagle Aquila clanga, and Imperial Eagle Aquila heliaca. Only a small part of the wetlands along the Iranian Gulf coast were counted and a total of over 240,000 waders were estimated to winter in the surveyed wetlands. Our survey suggests that the total Iranian Gulf coast is very important for waterbirds and in particular for waders and Dalmatian Pelican. Apparently suitable habitat for Slender-billed Curlews, including irrigated wheat fields, extensive salt marshes and marshland close to intertidal mudflats, was found in the Hilleh Protected Area (42,600 ha) and Monde Protected Area (46,700 ha), as well as much of the surrounding area up to Bushehr and Monde River Delta.

Nesting Habitat Characteristics and Breeding Performance of Dalmatian Pelicans in Lake Mikri Prespa, NW Greece

-Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) in Lake Mikri Prespa nest on islands of Common Reed (Phragmites) rhizomes formed at the interface between marsh and open water and mostly ranging from 6-80 m2 in area. Nest density from 1984 to 1996 varied from 0.12 to 1.2 nests/m2. Large islands were not more densely occupied than smaller ones. Higher nest densities were observed in the second and third year that a site was used. Islands used for nesting were degraded by weather, water and use by the birds and shrank in size by 1-55% each year; thus some were abandoned and new ones colonized each year. On the average, sites were used for three years in succession, but initially larger sites were used much longer. Nest site quality was related to island rigidity and the availability of nesting material on it. Numbers of breeding pelicans at Prespa are probably limited by the availability of suitable nest sites and, especially, larger islands, since breeding success is positively correlated with the mean nesting assemblage size (number of breeding attempts/number of sites). Artificial nesting rafts are likely to be more successful the more their features comply with the above findings and the more they enhance overall colony compactness. Received 15 April 2001, accepted 18 August 2001.

Changes in the waterbird community of the Lake Sevan–Lake Gilli area, Republic of Armenia: a case for restoration

Waterbird species richness (Gaviiformes, Podicipediformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, Phoenicopteriformes, Falconiformes, Anseriformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Passeriformes) has been significantly affected by a 19.5 m lowering of the water level in Lake Sevan (1933–2000), and the complete draining of nearby Lake Gilli (1960–2000) in the Republic of Armenia. Twenty-three former breeders are currently nonbreeders in the area. Four former breeders (black stork Ciconia nigra, glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus, white-winged scoter Melanitta fusca, little crake Porzana parva) have been extirpated from the area. Four former nonbreeders (cattle egret Bubulcus ibis, red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, sociable lapwing Chettusia gregaria, lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus) have been absent from the area for at least 20 years. The red-breasted merganser Mergus serrator is the only former nonbreeder discovered breeding in the Lake Sevan basin. We recommend that management plans of the 1960s and 1970s be used to further develop and enact new efforts to increase the water level of Lake Sevan by at least 6 m, and that Lake Gilli and its surrounding wetlands be restored as a means of increasing waterbird species richness overall, and protecting regional populations of globally threatened or near-threatened species (Dalmatian pelican Pelecanus crispus, red-breasted goose Branta ruficollis, ferruginous pochard Aythya nyroca, white-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala, corn crake Crex crex, great snipe Gallinago media, black-winged pratincole Glareola nordmanni, white-tailed eagle Haliaeetus albicilla).

The south-eastern North Sea: losses of vertebrate fauna during the past 2000 years

At least 31 species of marine mammals, marine and coastal birds, and marine and anadromous fish have disappeared temporarily or permanently from the coasts of The Netherlands and in most cases also from the south-eastern North Sea (south of 54° N) during the past 2000 years. In 18–22 cases, the disappearance was probably due to overexploitation. For 9–12 species, physical destruction of their habitat was involved and, for 3–5 species, pollution probably played a part. Five species have returned to the area; these are doing very well. Three species may return through expansion of populations elsewhere. Anadromous fish and demersal fish species that have disappeared because of bottom-trawling in the North Sea have little chance of returning under the present conditions. For the gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) and the Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) suggestions are made to investigate the possibilities for re-introduction.

Organochlorine contamination in bird's eggs from the Danube Delta

In this study we report the levels of organochlorine compounds in eggs of aquatic birds from the Danube Delta, a major European wetland. The eggs were collected in 1997 and belonged to the following species: the mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos), the greylag goose ( Anser anser), the mute swan ( Cygnus olor), the coot ( Fulica atra), the glossy ibis ( Plegadis falcinellus), the spoonbill ( Platalea leucorodia), the little egret ( Egretta garzetta), the night heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax), the grey heron ( Ardea cinerea), the great white egret ( Egretta alba), the red-necked grebe ( Podiceps griseus), the Dalmatian pelican ( Pelecanus crispus), the Pygmy cormorant ( Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) and the common cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo). Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) levels were higher in eggs of the little egret, the great white egret, the cormorant and the Pygmy cormorant with respect to the other species (48,399, 13,613, 12,400 and 10,417 ng/g dry wt., respectively). Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) levels were lower than 1393 ng/g dry wt. in all species while polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations in the Pygmy cormorant (2565 ng/g dry wt.) were higher than in the other species. The toxicity evaluation was based on 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxic equivalent factors (TEF) and non- ortho PCB congeners contributed much more than mono- ortho PCBs in most of species. A further aim of this study was to evaluate the possible differences of organochlorine levels in bird eggs collected in the same area in 1982 and in 1997; generally speaking the levels detected in the latter period were lower than those detected in the earlier one.

Organochlorine compounds in pelicans (Pelecanus crispus and Pelecanus onocrotalus) nesting at Lake Mikri Prespa, north western Greece.

Organochlorine compounds in pelicans (Pelecanus crispus and Pelecanus onocrotalus) nesting at Lake Mikri Prespa, north western Greece.

The breeding biology of the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus

The breeding biology of the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus crispus, a vulnerable bird species in the Palaearctic, has been studied for 7 years at Lake Mikri Prespa, a continental wetland and Tsoukalio lagoon, a coastal wetland within the Amvrakikos Gulf. The two colonies showed stability, with fluctuations in the number of breeding attempts each year varying by about 30% over a period of 7 years. The date of arrival at the breeding sites and the date of laying of the first egg varied between mid‐February and mid‐March. The egglaying period (including renesting) varied between 18 and 114 days between years. The annual average clutch size varied between 1.60 and 1.94 eggs per nest. The incubation period averaged 31.4 ± 1.4 days. The overall hatching success varied from 36% to 70%. Egg losses were mainly due to nest abandonment, infertile eggs and eggs rolled from the nests. The Dalmatian Pelican chicks took 11–12 weeks to fledge. Nestling mortality was very low in contrast to other species of pelican. Such a low nestling mortality explains why the breeding success each year is largely explained by the hatching success.

PROFILE: Integrated Management to Create New Breeding Habitat for Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) in Greece

/ An integrated management plan to create favorable nesting habitat for the world-endangered Dalmatian pelicans, was tested at Kerkini irrigation reservoir, a Ramsar wetland. The lake is the major wintering site of Dalmatian pelicans in Europe, where the species lives year-round without breeding. The rise of water level at the reservoir during spring (exceeding 5 m) has an impact on the whole system, including several birds, which lose their nesting habitat. Although the integrity of the wetland demands ecological restoration with changes in its hydrologic regime, local socioeconomic conditions allow only habitat level interventions. During the planning phase of the management plan, both the ecological and social context of the interventions were considered. Monitoring of all pelican habitats and populations provided the scientific basis, while a socioecological survey on knowledge/attitudes of local fishermen toward wetland identified conflicts with specific resources and planned management. To gain public support, a broad information/education program was implemented. The education program for fishermen was based on the findings of the socioecological survey. The in situ management involved experimental construction of floating rafts, platforms over water, dredged-spoil islands, and platforms at various sites of the wetland. Monitoring of the managed habitats showed that most waterbirds used them for resting and roosting. Common terns nested on the rafts, cormorants on the platforms, and Dalmatian pelicans on the man-made island. Under the prevailing hydrologic and weather conditions, islands seem to be the most suitable habitat for pelican nesting. It is concluded that wildlife habitat management should integrate the ecological component, related to the needs of the species and ecosystem, with the social one, expressed by cooperation and involvement of the local community.KEY WORDS: Integrated management; Pelican; Nesting habitat; Habitat management; Reservoir-wetland; Public participation, Greece

The Structure of Preen Gland Waxes from Pelecaniform Birds Containing 3,7-Dimethyloctan-1-ol -an Active Ingredient against Dermatophytes

Abstract A biologically active principle has been isolated from the uropygial gland secretion of the gannet (Sula bassana) exhibiting growth inhibitory activity for Gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, moulds and, in particular, for dermatophytes.The feather lipids of this species consist of monoester waxes predominantly composed of 3,x-dimethylalkanols esterified with fatty acids belonging to homologous series of 2-and 3-methyl-, 2,x-and 3,x-dimethyl-as well as 2,x,y-and 3,x,y-trimethyl-substituted alkanoic acids. For chemosystematic reasons other pelecani­ form species (Pelecanus crispus, Pelecanus onocrotalus, Phaeton lepturus) and one gaviiform species (Gavia stellata) have also been analysed. The pattern of their preen wax constituents suggest to assume that the Pelecaniformes are polyphyletic with gannets and cormorants being closely related, whereas pelicans and tropic birds are different, both from the former and from each other. Pelicans resemble very much the grebes, while tropic birds seem to be more closely related to the charadriiform, alciform, and possibly to the gaviiform birds.

The breeding population of some species of waterbirds at Gediz Delta, Western Turkey

The breeding populations of many waterbirds in the Gediz Delta near Izmir in Western Turkey are of considerable importance for the Mediterranean basin. Up to 35 pairs of Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), a globally endangered bird species, breed in the area. The breeding populations of Mediterranean Gull (Lorus melanocephalus), Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia), Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis), and Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) are significant in terms of the entire Mediterranean population. Breeding of the Sandwich Tern was recorded in Turkey for the first time.

The Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus crispus, Nesting in Mediterranean Lagoons in Albania and Turkey

The Dalmatian Pelican, Pelecanus crispus, Nesting in Mediterranean Lagoons in Albania and Turkey

Organochlorine residues in eggs of Pelecanus crispus and its prey in wetlands of Amvrakikos Gulf, North-western Greece

Organochlorine insecticide residues were determined in eggs of Dalmatian Pelican ( Pelecanus crispus) as well as in eels ( Anguila anguila) (the main pelican prey). Material was collected at wetlands of Amvrakikos Gulf (North-western Greece) for a two-year period, 1992 and 1993. Residues of the organochlorine pesticides, α-BHC, β-BHC, lindane, 2,4′-DDD, 4,4′DDD, 4,4′-DDE and 4,4′-DDT were found in collected pelican eggs and eels. The bioconcentration factors (BCF) of these compounds had very high values in all samples examined. The BCF values of lindane and α-BHC were in lower levels in pelican eggs and eels, as compared with 4,4′-DDE. The biomagnification factor (BMF) for 4,4′-DDD, 4,4′-DDE and 4,4′-DDT had higher values than α-BHC, β-BHC and lindane in pelican eggs.

Continual Monitoring of the Rat Blood Cholinesterase Activity In Vivo Following Administration of Different Inhibitors

Three main groups of persistent organic pollutants (POPs); namely organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were quantified in water and sediment samples, as well as in various invasive and non-invasive samples from waterbirds in the Büyük Menderes River (BMR). Liver and muscle tissues, blood, and preen gland oil samples of yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) and Euroasian coot (Fulica atra) were collected both from the origin (Işıklı Lake) and the estuary (Söke) of the river, blood and preen gland oil samples of grey heron (Ardea cinerea) and pelican (Pelecanus crispus) were collected from the estuary only. In addition, non-hatched eggs from several above species and Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus), in either station were collected. In all samples, POP contamination was measured and the potential usefulness of those invasive and non-invasive sampling for biomonitoring was evaluated. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were measured as potential indicators of POP exposure and of changes in the cellular defence. Venous blood proved to be a promising biomonitor for the concentrations in liver and muscle, especially for PCBs. Activities of antioxidant enzymes were correlated with the liver concentrations of several OCP congeners. The measured egg DDE concentrations were below the established threshold concentrations for the risk of hatch and reproductive success.

Mortality Factors of Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) Wintering in Macedonia, Greece

A survey of dead Dalmatian Pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) at Kerkini Lake, Greece, the major wintering site in Europe of this world-endangered species, was undertaken to investigate the causes of high mortality that occurred during 1991–93. In February 1991, 30% of the population wintering on the Lake (30 individuals) were found dead, the majority (85%) having died of natural causes. A loss of this magnitude does not reflect only locally or on the genetic stock of the species but is also a matter of grave concern relative to its conservation world-wide.Most mortality of the Pelicans coincided with subzero temperatures and the Lake freezing over — conditions that direct fish to deep waters, and make them unavailable to the Pelicans. Necropsies were carried out on the carcasses of 13 Pelicans, including stomach and gizzard, etc., contents' analysis, and gross pathological, bacteriological, toxicological, and parasitological, examinations. All the carcasses found at Lake Kerkini were dehydrated and emaciated. No food was found in the digestive system of the Pelicans, but there was a heavy parasite burden. Species of seven helminth genera were detected in the carcasses, three of them (Bolbophorus, Contracaecum, and Synhimantus) being reported for the first time in Greece. Contracaecum spp. in large numbers (up to 875 worms per bird), were found in the digestive system of all the carcasses. Most parasites were observed to penetrate the wall of the gizzard, causing haemorrhages and ulcers. No evidence of chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination or bacterial infection was found. Mycotic lesions were detected in the air-sacs of one Dalmatian Pelican, which may have contributed to the death of that particular individual in connection with the parasite burden.

Preliminary results on the wintering of the Dalmatian Pelican,Pelecanus crispus, in Turkey

Abstract Turkey supports a major wintering population of the Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus. A significant reduction in numbers has been recorded between the periods 1969–1974 and 1986–1990. ...

Trace elements and chlorinated hydrocarbons in eggs of Pelecanus crispus, a world endangered bird species nesting at Lake Mikri Prespa, North-western Greece

Eggs of the Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus, collected from 1984 to 1986 at Lake Mikri Prespa, north-western Greece, contained residues of trace elements and PCBs at low concentrations, and of DDE at rather high concentrations. DDE is negatively related to eggshell thickness. Eggshell thickness was reduced by 12–20% in comparison with the pre-1947 (before DDT use) eggshell thickness. However, this decrease did not affect the reproductive success of this species. The main fish species eaten by the Dalmatian pelican at Lake Mikri Prespa were analyzed for pollutants. All the fish contained low concentrations of residues. The contribution of the diet while the birds are on the wintering grounds is unknown. Recommendations for a monitoring programme of pollutants in eggs of the Dalmatian pelican, a world-endangered species, are proposed.

The Dalmatian pelican, Pelecanus crispus Bruch 1832, a recently world-endangered bird species

The world population of Dalmatian pelicans Pelicanus crispus, the largest pelican species of the genus Pelicanus, has decreased drastically since the last century. Its breeding range has diminished in relationship to agricultural and industrial development and draining of wetlands, and is now limited to the eastern part of the Old World. The present status of P. crispus is reviewed, and the number of breeding pairs in the world is estimated to be between 700–1100 in 16–24 different breeding sites. Migration and wintering are poorly known. Data on the food (strictly fish), the impact of P. crispus on fisheries and a peculiar feeding behaviour of Dalmatian pelicans is distinct association with the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo are discussed. New contributions on reproduction and predation are presented, and suggestions are made for conservation, monitoring and management.