Ibis Research Articles

With the Bald Ibis

P. 118

Blending of History and Fantasy in the Novels of Amitav Ghosh with reference to the Ibis Trilogy

Blending of History and Fantasy in the Novels of Amitav Ghosh with reference to the Ibis Trilogy

Correction: The Sacred Ibis debate: The first test of evolution.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005558.].

Breeding and Movements of the Straw-necked Ibis in Australia

Data on distribution and movements were obtained from the literature, an Australia-wide questionnaire and regular censuses at fifteen locations in eastern Australia from May 1969 to December 1972. Fifty-four breeding swamps were recorded, most in south-eastern Australia, Northern Territory and south-western Western Australia. Populations using these breeding areas may be largely discrete. Differences in time and regularity of breeding are probably caused by rainfall. Seasonal movements occurred between breeding areas and eastern coastal refuges in each year, but later and in smaller numbers in years of good rainfall inland than in poor ones. North-eastern Queensland seems to be an important refuge for Ibis breeding in northern Australia and south-eastern Queensland for those from south-eastern Australia, with relatively few sightings in intervening central coastal Queensland. Juveniles appear to disperse earlier and more widely than adults. Local rainfall may stimulate Ibis to depart from refuges, most departures probably being pre-nuptial; rain also probably stimulates breeding. Though flooding is enough to do this at many swynps, at two in South Australia, not affected bv floods, increase in temperature is probably the proximate stimulus.

Ibises in flight take turns to reduce drag

Ibises in flight take turns to reduce drag

Parasites of cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) and the associated haematological and biochemical changes

Parasitic diseases play an important role for wild animals and it is recognised as a significant factor in the successful conservation of endangered species. Diagnosing parasite infection and load in free-ranging populations traditionally is done via necropsy or coproscopy. Forty cattle egrets ( Bubulcus ibis ) were captured and used for this study. The birds were examined for parasites and associated ectoparasites were collected and identified. Gastrointestinal content of each bird was also examine for adult and eggs of different helminthes and protozoan cysts while blood smears were examined microscopically to identify the different haemoprotozoa associated with the birds. The haematological parameters and serum biochemistry profile of these birds were also evaluated. Menopon gallinae was the only ectoparasite seen with a prevalence of 52.5%. The endoparasites observed include Ascaridia galli with the highest prevalence 14 (35%), Heterakis spp 7(17.5%), Trichostrongylus tenuis and Capillaria spp having the same prevalence 5(12.5%), Fascioloides magna 4(10%) and Syngamus trachea with 3(7.5%) had the lowest prevalence. Haemoproteus spp 9(22.5%) was the most prevalent haemoparasites observed with Leucocytozoon spp having a prevalence of 4(10%) while Plasmodium spp had the least prevalence of 3(7.5%). Eighty percent of the cattle egrets had at least one of the different endoparasites while 52.5% had ectoparasites and 40% had haemoparasites. There was a 22.5% prevalence of the combined co-infection of at least one each of the different endoparasites, ectoparasites and haemoparasites species in the cattle egrets. The risk of a co-infection of only endoparasites was found to be 20% while the infection with only ectoparasites and haemoparasite was found to be 2.5% in both cases. However, 92.5% of the cattle egrets had at least one of the different parasites while a combined infection of both Ectoparasite and endoparasite had the highest co-infection prevalence (25%). The study also showed that there was a significantly higher risk of co-infection of the different types of parasites in cattle egrets. There were significant differences in the haematological parameters and the serum biochemistry profile of the infected cattle egrets compared to the uninfected birds. This study suggests that cattle egret when living near poultry pen could serve as a reservoir host for the transmission of parasitic diseases. Further research on parasite host interaction of wildlife birds is warranted to determine their possible role in the biological transmission of diseases. Keyword: Wildlife, Cattle egrets, parasites, haematological parameters, serum biochemistry

AVIFAUNA OF ARDEIDAE FAMILY OF AGRO-ECOSYSTEM OF KHAN SAROVAR AND IT’S SURROUNDING AREA, PATAN (N.G.)

Wetland agro-ecosystem of Khan Sarovar and its surrounding area have provided habitat for the seven species of Ardeidae family. The Ardeidae member-Cattle Egret ( Babulcus ibis ) were dominated and common in this habitat. The Cattle Egret species seen in maximum (980) number where as Black-crowned Night Heron ( Nyctocorax nycticorax) seen in minimum (259) number. Highest relative abundance (21.16%) seen in Cattle Egret and lowest relative abundance (5.59%) seen in Black-crowned Night Heron. North Gujarat is a prime habitat for residence and breeding of the Ardeidae family. Cattle Egret became associated species to agricultural practice of the farmer. It is hoped that this study would provide a preliminary database for the Ardeidae family of this area, for further research.

A few forays into the poetic laboratory of Ovid’s Ibis

A few forays into the poetic laboratory of Ovid’s Ibis

Advance in Dynamic Global Vegetation Models

The interaction between vegetation and climate is a complicated process.Many vegetation models were developed to understand the mechanism of interacting between vegetation and climate and assess the effects of climate change on vegetation.Furthermore,vegetation models have progressed from Static Vegetation Models(SVMs) to Dynamic Global Vegetation Models(DGVMs).DGVMs include the dynamic biogeochemical models and dynamic biogeophysical models,which mainly simulate the vegetation physiological processes,the vegetation dynamics,the vegetation phenophase and the nutrient cycling.The widely used DGVMs in the world include LPJ,IBIS,VECODE,TRIFFID and so on.The present research on DGVMs mainly focuses on four points:① the improvement of the accuracy of DGVMs;② the comparison among different models;③ the integrated model of DGVMs and Climate Models;④ the research on the Carbon Cycle Data Assimilation System(CCDAS).

Valuing the low fertilizer and agricultural chemical rice produced in creating a habitat for returning Japanese Ibis

本研究の目的は，佐渡市におけるトキの野生復帰を目的とした減農薬・減化学肥料栽培米の評価を行うことである． トキの野生復帰が実現し，十分な餌を確保できるためには，水田を中心とした環境保全型農業の推進が重要になる．本研究では，二肢選択形式のCVM（Contingent Valuation Method）を適用して，佐渡産の減農薬・減化学肥料栽培米の評価を行った．この結果，支払意志額の平均値は，8,093円/10 kgとなることを明らかにした．また，この支払意志額とトキひかりという無農薬・無化学肥料栽培米の価格とを比較した．その結果，差は574円と小さくなっている． また，トキの野生復帰を目的としていない減農薬・減化学肥料栽培の佐渡産コシヒカリは6,032円/10 kgになると推察されるために，両者の差は2,061円になることが明らかになった．このことから，トキの野生復帰を目的として示すことにより，これを目的として示さない場合よりも高価格で販売が可能であるといえる．

BOU Ibis Award

BOU Ibis Award

Mitochondrial DNA sequence evidence for close relationship of Bald Ibis, Geronticus calvus, and Waldrapp Ibis, G. eremita

Die Ibisse der Gattung Geronticus zeigen ökologische und ethologische Merkmale, die sie klar von anderen Milgliedern der Familie Threskiornithidae unlerscheiden. Um zu überprüfen, ob diese Gemeinsamkeiten auch durch eine enge phylogenetische Verwandtschaft reflektiert werden, haben wir zwei Abschnitte der mitochondrialen DNS sequenziert. In einem 307 bp Segment des Cytochrom b-Gens traten zwischen den beiden Arten nur zwei Basensubstitutionen auf. Beide sind Transitionen an dritter Codonposition und haben keinen Einfluss auf die Aminosäure-sequenz des Proteins. Im untersuchten 16S rDNS-Segment stellten wir sech Transitionen fest. Dieser starke Hinweis auf eine nahe Verwandtschaft könnte sich in Zukunftauch für den Schutz dieser bedrohten Vögel als nützlich erweisen.

El mito del hemisferio derecho del cerebro y la creatividad

me hypothesis of the relationship between a right hemisphere and creativity remains actual. However, theories and research relating creativity or artistic activity and right hemisphere may be based on a fashonable way of thinking instead of on results of empiric studies. That topic style of thinking makes use of anthitetical terms, like convergent versus divergent, intuitive versus rational... It is not strange that this style of thinking tried to localize Arte, Individuo y Sociedad, n·' 8. Servicio de Publicaciones. Universidad Cosnplutense. Madrid, i996 loo Julio Romero creative functions in one hemisphere. If there are two hemispheres and two types of mental activity, namely rational or logic and creative, it's easy to think there is some class of causal relation. However, results of investigations are confusing and contradictory. Ibis paper suggests that the brain must be considered as a system, not a conjunct of parts, and that we have to look back to the ideas that he under these theories, because those ideas construct the reality that we study.

Hipponax and his Enemies in Ovid's Ibis

Among the many textual difficulties that beset Ovid's Ibis are two passages that allude, in an oblique fashion typical of the whole poem, to the iambographer Hipponax:(1) et quae Pytheides fecit de fratre Medusae,eveniant capiti vota sinistra tuo,(447–8 La Penna)(2) utque parum stabili qui carmine laesit Athenin,invisus pereas deficiente cibo.(523–4 La Penna)

Australian ibises.

Australian ibises.

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos: 1914

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos: 1914

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos: 1914

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos: 1914

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos

The Ibis Cemetery at Abydos

The legend on the Ibis

The legend on the Ibis