Rock Ptarmigan Research Articles

Revision of Late Pleistocene and Holocene Galliformes Fauna from the Crimean Mountains

The Late Pleistocene and Holocene Galliformes faunas from the Crimean Mountains included seven species of birds belonging to the families Phasianidae and Tetraonidae: Phasianus colchicus, Alectoris chukar, Perdix perdix, Coturnix coturnix, Lyrurus tetrix, Lagopus mutus, and Lagopus lagopus. The habitation of Gallus representatives in the Crimea in the Late Pleistocene has not been confirmed. Representatives of the family Phasianidae were present in the Crimean fauna at least for most of the Late Pleistocene. All of them survived until the Late Holocene. Pheasants became extinct around the eighteenth century, and the rock partridge seems to have disappeared only in the first half of the twentieth century. The species were restored in the Crimea in the second half of the twentieth century. Gray partridges were common resident birds of the Crimean Mountains throughout the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Quail was not a numerous breeding species of the Crimean Mountains at the same time, but mass migration of this species through the Crimea appeared only at the end of the Late Pleistocene and evolved over the Holocene warming. Species of Tetraonidae appeared in the fauna of the Crimea long before the beginning of the cold-phase maximum of the last glaciations but no later than 28000 years ago and became extinct in the Early Holocene warming but no later than 9000 years ago.

Effective Degradation of Phenolic Glycoside Rhododendrin and its Aglycone Rhododendrol by Cecal Feces of Wild Japanese Rock Ptarmigans

Effective Degradation of Phenolic Glycoside Rhododendrin and its Aglycone Rhododendrol by Cecal Feces of Wild Japanese Rock Ptarmigans

Ptarmigan hunting restrictions: Effects on hunters’ opinions and harvest

ABSTRACTIn Norway, willow (Lagopus lagopus) and rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) populations and harvests have declined during the last few decades, and the 2 species are considered as near threatened on the Norwegian Red List. The Norwegian State‐Owned Land and Forest Enterprise (Statskog) is a main provider of ptarmigan hunting on public lands, and has recently introduced harvest restrictions in Nordland County. We investigated the relationship between hunters’ opinions and the effects of restrictions on hunters and ptarmigan harvest using online structured questionnaires (2012, n = 570) and bag reports (2009–2011, n = 8,795). A majority of hunters (66%) supported harvest restrictions, and 89% were willing to shoot fewer birds to increase population size. However, opinions towards specific management alternatives were more negative and disparate. Residency of the hunters (local or non‐resident) was the most influential factor on hunter opinions, and this reflected a tendency to approve of restrictions with the smallest effect on their own hunting practice. Our study indicates that access and the opportunity to hunt are more important to hunters than bag size. Daily and annual hunting bags were small, averaging 1.7 and 5.8 ptarmigan, respectively, and the daily bag limit of 4 birds was reached during 5.8% of hunting days. A harvest reduction of 50% implied a daily bag limit of 1 bird and a seasonal bag of 4, which were lower than what hunters found as acceptable. Hence, although hunter opinions may provide useful guidelines for the development of management practices, their opinions need to be evaluated for the actual effects they may have on the game populations. © 2017 The Authors. Journal of Wildlife Management Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) and rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) (Galliformes: Phasianidae: Tetraoninae)

The complete mitochondrial genome sequences of the two sister species, Scandinavian willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus and Icelandic rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta, were characterized using next-generation sequencing. The mitogenome for willow ptarmigan was 16,677 bp long, with base composition of 30.3% A, 30.8% C, 13.3% G and 25.6% T, with a GC content of 44.1%, while for rock ptarmigan mitogenome was 16,687 bp long, with base composition of 30.2% A, 30.6% C, 13.4% G and 25.8% T, and a GC content of 44.0%. Like other Galliformes species, the mitogenomes comprised of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA, 2 rRNA and 2 non-coding regions; and control region (D-loop). All genes except ND6 and 8 tRNA were encoded on the + strand. All protein-coding genes started with ATG, except for COX1, where a GTG codon was present in both willow ptarmigan and rock ptarmigan. Phylogenetic analysis of the two novel mitogenomes with other Galliformes species demonstrates close relationship within the Tetraoninae subfamily.

Where is the pulse to have the finger on? A retrospective analysis of two decades of Alpine Galliforms (Aves: Galliformes) census and game bag data in Italy

Information on the abundance of the Italian populations of black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), Alpine rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta helvetica) and Alpine rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) rely only on extrapolations of local data to the national scale, since there is no national standardized survey. Consequently, their status is virtually unknown. We performed a first-ever assessment of a medium-term (1996–2014) population trend of these species using and comparing post-breeding count and bag data at hunting district scale. These data were collected from various authorities in charge of wildlife management and allowed us to test the influence of hunting policies on the estimated trends. Rock partridge showed a stable trend with numbers fluctuating between years, while there was evidence of a severe decline for rock ptarmigan. No general conclusion could be drawn for the black grouse, as we detected lack of consistency of count and bag data. Counts were greatly overdispersed as a result of an uneven count effort among hunting districts. Adding the game management authority as model covariate resulted in more robust trend estimations, suggesting a significant effect of different policies that emerged also as similar hunting pressure across species within authorities. Hunting effort variation over the time was instead negligible. Species-specific game management bias is discussed. Our results highlight the need for a survey scheme or guidelines to be applied uniformly at a national scale.

Avian remains from new Upper Pleistocene and Holocene sites in the Spanish Pyrenees

Despite the interest of birds in reconstructing ancient environments, there are but few works concerning Quaternary avian remains. We have the opportunity to show in the present paper, the fossil avian remains of one of the more interesting natural, high-mountanous regions in southern Europe: the Spanish Pyrenees. In the central part of the Pyrenees, in the province of Huesca, Spain, five new paleontological sites with bird remains have been described: La Brecha del Rincón B-9 cave, the B-8 cave (Secús Range), Los Batanes C-4 (Tendeñera Range), and C-15 and D-2 (Lecherines System). Their ages range from the Upper Pleistocene up to the Holocene. At least twenty three taxa are recorded: Galliformes indet., Lagopus muta, Coturnix coturnix, Bonasa bonasia, Rallus aquaticus, Columba oenas, Columba palumbus, Columba sp., Passeriformes indet., Ficedula hypoleuca, Ficedula sp., Lanius sp., Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Phoenicurus ochruros, Oenanthe oenanthe, Corvidae indet., cf. Perisoreus infaustus, Corvus frugilegus, Corvus monedula, Pyrrhocorax sp., Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, Pyrrhocorax graculus, and Aves indet. In this work we present the highest-altitude paleontological record for Coturnix coturnix, Bonasa bonasia, Columba palumbus, and Corvus frugilegus, and the southernmost record of cf. Perisoreus infaustus. The new data go some way towards filling the gap in our information on avian assemblages in the Aragonese Pyrenees (especially by comparison with the vast knowledge that exist on the avian assemblages of the French Pyrenees sites) as well as the gap in what is known about avian assemblages in high-mountain systems, for La Brecha del Rincón B-9 and B-8 are the highest-altitude avian paleontological assemblages described in the Pyrenees Range.

Spatial distribution of Svalbard rock ptarmigan based on a predictive multi-scale habitat model

We re-evaluated the relationship between territorial Svalbard rock ptarmigan male presence and ecological relevant variables related to vegetation, terrain and snowmelt, building on the lessons learned from a previous regional habitat multiscale model, to predict breeding habitat suitability of this high-arctic, endemic ptarmigan on a large spatial scale. We used 11 years (2000–2010) of presence/absence data of territorial males, a multi-scale generalized linear modelling framework (glms) and recent advances in digital satellite based vegetation mapping. The final habitat model contained four significant predictors related to vegetation, terrain (elevation and slope) and a heat load index, as a proxy for snowmelt. Increasing amount of one particular habitat type, ‘established dense Dryas heath’ influenced habitat suitability positively at a small scale, while gentle sloping landscapes of intermediate steepness (10–25°) and elevation in the upper southwest facing part of the mountain slopes characterized o...

Feather holes of rock ptarmigan are associated with amblyceran chewing lice

Feather holes have traditionally been suggested to be feeding traces of chewing lice (mallophagans). There is controversy whether mallophagans are the real source of feather holes. We studied mallophagan infestations and holes in tail feathers of 528 rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta collected 2007–2012 in northeast Iceland. Three mallophagans were found, Amyrsidea lagopi (prevalence 13%), Goniodes lagopi (72%) and Lagopoecus affinis (51%). The prevalence of feather holes was 15% and based on pattern the holes could be separated into two groups termed feather hole swarms (FHS), prevalence 9%, and single holes (SH), prevalence 6%. Holes for FHS were concentrated in the central tail feathers and decreased outwards, but holes for SH did not show any such pattern. There was a significant positive relationship between the number of holes for FHS birds and A. lagopi number, and the prevalence was similar. No other combinations of FHS or SH and the mallophagans indicated any relationship. The observed differences betw...

Hidden in the darkness of the Polar night: a first glimpse into winter migration of the Svalbard rock ptarmigan

Among many unknown aspects of the Svalbard rock ptarmigan's biology is whether the birds migrate seasonally within the Svalbard archipelago. Visual observations in spring and fall have indicated that they could perform long-range migration, a behaviour that would allow them to track seasonal shifts in suitable feeding areas. However, the movement patterns and habitat use of the Svalbard rock ptarmigan has until now been hidden in the dark of the Polar winter making visual observations almost impossible. The most effective method for gathering reliable data about bird migrations and overwintering areas is to use satellite telemetry. Here we report on the first application of satellite telemetry on rock ptarmigan. Our aim was to investigate the performance of satellite tags on ptarmigan and to collect information about the timing of migration, migration distances and directions as well as the location of winter areas. Satellite tags were mounted on 21 birds in May, but due to technical malfunctioning, we ob...

Climate change will seriously impact bird species dwelling above the treeline: A prospective study for the Italian Alps

High mountain systems are predicted to be especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change, with the climatically-constrained tree limit rapidly shifted upslope. In turn, the impact of upward treeline migration on mountain-dwelling bird species is expected to significantly reduce habitat suitability.We developed the first projection of the expected climate-driven rise of the whole treeline (19,256km) of the Italian Alps. The study area extends over 20,700km2, ranging over 550km in longitude and 320km in latitude. We then investigated how much the expected treeline rise will induce a) shrinking and shifting of the elevation range and b) loss in suitable habitat for the flagship species rock ptarmigan, an alpine bird species dwelling above the treeline and, similarly to many other alpine species, highly vulnerable to treeline rise. We also investigated the potential gain in suitable habitat for rock ptarmigan due to the climate-driven upshift in the uppermost thermal limit.At lower altitudes (1500–1600m a.s.l.), the average expected upshift in the current treeline resulted in 195, 274 and 354m over the short (2010–2039), medium (2040–2069) and long term (2070–2099) respectively. Above 2400m a.s.l., it was less than 30m even in the long term. Overall, during the three climate periods the extent of suitable habitat for rock ptarmigan above the current treeline is projected to decrease by 28.12%, 38.43% and 49.11% respectively. In contrast, the expected gain in suitable habitat due to the shift in the uppermost thermal limit will be severely restrained by the limited surface extension in the top portion of the Italian Alps.The presented approach can promote similar studies elsewhere in the globe, providing a regional perspective to the projection of climate change impact on bird species dwelling above the treeline.

Island life and isolation: The population genetics of Pacific Wrens on the North Pacific Rim

AbstractConservation of intraspecific variation is a growing focus of conservation biology. Island populations can make up a large portion of the variation of widespread species, as they are often isolated and exhibit differences in phenotype and genetic structure compared with mainland populations. We genotyped 169 Pacific Wrens (Troglodytes pacificus) from 9 locations and 6 subspecies in Alaska, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, to examine the population structure, genetic diversity, and likelihood of genetic rescue of island populations of conservation concern. We found that 25% of genetic variation was partitioned among conservation units delineated by subspecies, suggesting that the present framework of managing subspecies as separate units is warranted. Populations found farthest from possible mainland sources had the lowest genetic diversity. The Attu Island population, subspecies T. p. meligerus, had the lowest genetic diversity and highest genetic divergence of all sampled locations, a signal also found in Attu Island populations of Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) and Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta). Currently, populations in western Alaska are unlikely to be connected to populations in mainland locations through dispersal, and thus are unlikely candidates for natural genetic or demographic rescue.

Seasonal variation in the thermal responses to changing environmental temperature in the world's northernmost land bird.

Arctic homeotherms counter challenges at high latitudes using a combination of seasonal adjustments in pelage/plumage, fat deposition and intricate thermoregulatory adaptations. However, there are still gaps in our understanding of their thermal responses to cold, particularly in Arctic birds. Here, we have studied the potential use of local heterothermy (i.e. tissue cooling that can contribute to significantly lower heat loss rate) in Svalbard ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea) - the world's northernmost land bird. We exposed birds kept under simulated Svalbard photoperiod to low ambient temperatures (Ta; between 0 and -30°C) during three seasons (early winter, late winter, summer), whilst recording resting metabolic rate (RMR), core temperature (Tc) and several cutaneous temperatures. Leg skin temperature varied the most, but still only by up to ∼15°C, whereas body trunk skin temperature changed <1°C when Ta decreased from 0 to -30°C. At the same time, Tc increased by 0.9°C, concomitant with increased RMR. This was probably driven by the triggering of cerebral thermosensors in response to cooling of the poorly insulated head, the skin of which was 5.4°C colder at -30°C than at 0°C. Thermal conductance in winter was higher in yearlings, probably because they were time/resource constrained from acquiring a high-quality plumage and sufficient fat reserves as a result of concomitant body growth. In conclusion, Svalbard ptarmigan do not employ extensive local heterothermy for cold protection but instead rely on efficient thermogenesis combined with excellent body insulation. Hence, cold defence in the world's northernmost land bird is not mechanistically much different from that of its lower latitude relatives.

Habitat Selection by Alpine Rock PtarmiganLagopus muta helveticain the Italian Alps

We analysed space use strategies in two populations of Alpine Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta helvetica considering three topographical variables (elevation, slope and aspect) to investigate whether populations living at range margins can adapt to suboptimal conditions by exploiting the available habitat differently. Selection for topographic features differed between populations, suggesting that Rock Ptarmigan adapt their habitat selection to local availability. Therefore, we suggest considering a wide range of habitat parameters when planning conservation strategies for species living at the margins of their range.

Isolation of Streptococcus gallolyticus with very high degradability of condensed tannins from feces of the wild Japanese rock ptarmigans on Mt. Tateyama.

Isolation of Streptococcus gallolyticus with very high degradability of condensed tannins from feces of the wild Japanese rock ptarmigans on Mt. Tateyama.

Assessment of genetic diversity using feces of the Japanese rock ptarmigan collected around Mt. Tateyama, Japan

Assessment of genetic diversity using feces of the Japanese rock ptarmigan collected around Mt. Tateyama, Japan

Host-Parasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan.

Populations of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Iceland fluctuate in multiannual cycles with peak numbers c. every 10 years. We studied the ptarmigan-parasite community and how parasites relate to ptarmigan age, body condition, and population density. We collected 632 ptarmigan in northeast Iceland in early October from 2006 to 2012; 630 (99.7%) were infected with at least one parasite species, 616 (98%) with ectoparasites, and 536 (85%) with endoparasites. We analysed indices for the combined parasite community (16 species) and known pathogenic parasites, two coccidian protozoans Eimeria muta and Eimeria rjupa, two nematodes Capillaria caudinflata and Trichostrongylus tenuis, one chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi, and one skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus. Juveniles overall had more ectoparasites than adults, but endoparasite levels were similar in both groups. Ptarmigan population density was associated with endoparasites, and in particular prevalence of the coccidian parasite Eimeria muta. Annual aggregation level of this eimerid fluctuated inversely with prevalence, with lows at prevalence peak and vice versa. Both prevalence and aggregation of E. muta tracked ptarmigan population density with a 1.5 year time lag. The time lag could be explained by the host specificity of this eimerid, host density dependent shedding of oocysts, and their persistence in the environment from one year to the next. Ptarmigan body condition was negatively associated with E. muta prevalence, an indication of their pathogenicity, and this eimerid was also positively associated with ptarmigan mortality and marginally inversely with fecundity. There were also significant associations between fecundity and chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi prevalence (negative), excess juvenile mortality and nematode Capillaria caudinflata prevalence (positive), and adult mortality and skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus prevalence (negative). Though this study is correlational, it provides strong evidence that E. muta through time-lag in prevalence with respect to host population size and by showing significant relations with host body condition, mortality, and fecundity could destabilize ptarmigan population dynamics in Iceland.

Range shifts or extinction? Ancient DNA and distribution modelling reveal past and future responses to climate warming in cold-adapted birds.

Global warming is predicted to cause substantial habitat rearrangements, with the most severe effects expected to occur in high-latitude biomes. However, one major uncertainty is whether species will be able to shift their ranges to keep pace with climate-driven environmental changes. Many recent studies on mammals have shown that past range contractions have been associated with local extinctions rather than survival by habitat tracking. Here, we have used an interdisciplinary approach that combines ancient DNA techniques, coalescent simulations and species distribution modelling, to investigate how two common cold-adapted bird species, willow and rock ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus and Lagopus muta), respond to long-term climate warming. Contrary to previous findings in mammals, we demonstrate a genetic continuity in Europe over the last 20 millennia. Results from back-casted species distribution models suggest that this continuity may have been facilitated by uninterrupted habitat availability and potentially also the greater dispersal ability of birds. However, our predictions show that in the near future, some isolated regions will have little suitable habitat left, implying a future decrease in local populations at a scale unprecedented since the last glacial maximum.

Stable isotope ratios in alpine rock ptarmigan and black grouse sampled along a precipitation gradient

Rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) and black grouse (Tetrao tetrix) are two closely related alpine bird species that form relict populations in the European Alps. Besides manifold anthropogenic influences in this region, global climate change is forecast to lead to significant changes in temperatures and precipitation. We here analysed stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) of feathers of both bird species and their potential dietary plants across a longitudinal precipitation gradient in south-east Switzerland.Plant δ13C was higher at higher altitudes and in drier areas (coinciding with higher longitudes) while plant δ15N did not differ geographically. Black grouse δ13C reflected the longitudinal pattern in precipitation and plant δ13C, and there was no indication for a change in dietary composition with precipitation (i.e. no significant changes in δ15N). In contrast, rock ptarmigan δ13C was independent of precipitation and plant δ13C values and showed a significant increase in δ15N towards drier areas, suggesting a potential dietary shift.In rock ptarmigan, we furthermore investigated intraspecific differences with age, between males and females and among years, and did not find any biologically meaningful intraspecific differences. Interspecifically, rock ptarmigan feathers had significantly higher δ13C and lower δ15N values than black grouse, reflecting a dietary segregation between both species. This may partly be due to the higher altitudinal distribution of rock ptarmigan in combination with an altitudinal gradient in plant δ13C. In addition, however, species also segregated in δ15N, most likely caused by a higher proportion of invertebrate diet in black grouse.

Morphological characteristics of Mesocestoides canislagopodis (Krabbe 1865) tetrathyridia found in rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Iceland.

Necropsies of 1010 rock ptarmigans (Lagopus muta) sampled in autumn 2006-2015 in northeast Iceland revealed Mesocestoides canislagopodis tetrathyridia infections in six birds (0.6%), two juvenile birds (3month old), and four adult birds (15months or older). Four birds had tetrathyridia in the body cavity, one bird in the liver, and one bird both in the body cavity and the liver. There were more tetrathyridia in the body cavity of the two juveniles (c. 50 in each) than in three adults (10-40), possibly indicating a host-age-related tetrathyridia mortality. Approximately, half of tetrathyridia in the body cavity were free or loosely attached to the serosa, the other half were encapsulated in a thin, loose connective tissue stroma, frequently attached to the lungs and the liver. Tetrathyridia in the liver parenchyma incited variably intense inflammation. Tetrathyridia from the juvenile hosts were whitish, heart-shaped, and flattened, with unsegmented bodies with a slightly pointed posterior end. In the adult hosts, tetrathyridia were sometimes almost rectangular-shaped, slightly wider compared to those in the juveniles, but more than twice as long as the younger-aged tetrathyridia. Tetrathyridia infections are most likely acquired during the brief insectivorous feeding phase of ptarmigan chicks, and the tetrathyridia persist throughout the lifespan of the birds.

No short-term effects of climate change on the breeding of Rock Ptarmigan in the French Alps and Pyrenees

In the last decades, the effects of climate warming have been particularly marked in high mountain areas. High-altitude species adapted to cold temperatures are consensually held to be particularly vulnerable to climate warming. Among these species at risk, alpine birds like the Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) are expected to exhibit a strong negative response, particularly at the southern margins of their ranges in the northern hemisphere. In this study, conducted from 1998 to 2011, we investigated whether variations in the local climate affected the breeding biology of Rock Ptarmigan in the French Alps and Pyrenees. The median hatching date did not significantly advance in either massif, suggesting that Rock Ptarmigan did not breed earlier during this period. The date of snowmelt and spring temperatures influenced the onset of breeding but not consistently in both sites. In the Alps, the median hatching date was significantly correlated with the date of snowmelt, but this correlation was less clear in the Pyrenees. Unlike woodland grouse which inhabit lower elevations, the onset of breeding in Rock Ptarmigan may be related to both date of snowmelt and spring temperatures. Reproductive success varied greatly over the years and among sites. On average, the number of young per adult in the Pyrenean population was greater than that recorded in the two populations in the Alps. A significant positive trend of reproductive success over the period of 2000–2009 was detected in the Pyrenees but not in the Alps. The model that best explained annual variation in reproductive success included the additive effects of site, date of total snowmelt and rainfall after hatching. The estimates from this model showed that for all sites, reproductive success was much lower when snowmelt was late, and rainfall after hatching was high. We did not detect any altitudinal changes in locations of either breeding females or nests, suggesting that the breeding habitat of the species has not shifted upward from 1998 to 2011. To conclude, although the Rock Ptarmigan is generally considered a potential sentinel species for indicating temperature-induced changes in alpine avifauna, our study did not show a short-term effect of climate change on the breeding biology of the southern populations of this species.