Number Of Nests Research Articles

Breeding ecology of the Asian openbill in eastern Nepal: Larger trees support higher fledgling success.

Colonial nesting waterbirds in agricultural landscapes have historically received limited research attention, especially in South Asia. For example, the Asian openbill (Anastomus oscitans) is a colonial species that extensively utilizes agricultural landscapes, yet there is a notable lack of substantial studies despite increasing urbanization across these landscapes. We investigated the factors affecting the breeding ecology of Asian openbills in eastern Nepal. We used a grid-based approach to locate stork colonies and monitored them throughout the breeding season from May to November for three consecutive years (2020-2022). Altogether, we observed a total of 67 active colonies, comprising 4020 active nests, which successfully fledged a total of 7566 chicks. Additionally, most of the colonies were located within areas of human settlements (40%), followed by community forests (33%) and agricultural land (27%). The Asian openbills primarily preferred large trees, such as Bombax ceiba (72%), for nesting. The mean height of nesting trees was approximately 4 m taller, the diameter at breast height was twice as large, and the canopy cover area was three times greater than that of non-nesting trees. The canopy cover area of trees positively influenced the colony size, while colony size positively influenced the fledgling's success. Our study underscores the significance of large trees in providing sufficient space for accommodating a substantial number of openbill nests and fledglings. These findings have significant implications for conservation efforts to protect large trees along with wetlands and agricultural lands, as crucial measures to ensure the sustainable breeding of this nationally vulnerable species.

Object detection of the bornean orangutan nests using drone and YOLOv5

<p class="tm6">Object detection methods when applied to ecology and conservation can help to identify and monitor endangered species and their habitats. Using drones for this purpose has become increasingly popular due to their ability to cover large areas quickly and efficiently. In this study, we aim to implement object detection using YOLOv5 to detect orangutan nests in forests. To conduct our experiment, we collect drone imagery under different conditions. We propose to use the original YOLOv5 to implement our model. The detection and monitoring of orangutan nests can help conservationists to identify critical habitats, monitor population, and design effective conservation strategies. Additionally, the use of drones can reduce the need for on-the-ground surveys, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and logistically challenging. In our study proposes a model for detecting orangutan nests in forests using a drone and the YOLOv5. Our model predicted 1,970 training images and 414 labeled orangutan nests, with a precision of 0.973, recall 0.949, accuracy mean average precision (mAP)_0.5 is 0.969, and mAP_0.5:0.95 is 0.630. The model finished 217 epochs in 58 hours and had a high object detection accuracy. The model has a 99.9% accuracy in detecting the number of orangutan nests.</p>

Catalogue of Sceliphron destillatorium (Illager, 1807) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Representatives of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 are found in almost all biogeographical regions of the world (Yuan, 2022). At present, 35 species of this genus have been known (Pulawski, 2020). Of these, six species have been recorded from the territory of Ukraine as follows: three invasive species: Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773); Sceliphron curvatum (Smith, 1870) and Sceliphron deforme (F. Smith, 1856) (Kletʹonkin, 2023); and three native species: Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807); Sceliphron madraspatanum (Fabricius, 1781) and Sceliphron spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tymkiv et al., 2015). The most common is Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807), which occurs throughout the territory of Ukraine. Representatives of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 belong to two subgenera: Sceliphron and Hensenia. Although species of both subgenera take care of their offspring and feed the larvae with spiders, their nests differ in shape and number of mud cells. Wasps of the subgenus Hensenia build a certain number of single-celled mud nests in shape of jugs. Instead, wasps of the subgenus Sceliphron build cells that joint into large mud nest. S. destillatorium is the South–Palaearctic species. Its range covers the Mediterranean region (southern and south-eastern Europe, northern Africa and south-western and southern Asia) (Wisniowski et al., 2013). S. destillatorium is a solitary wasp. It belongs to the family Sphecidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of the subgenus Sceliphron (Gülmez1 et al, 2017). S. destillatorium female builds a nests of the moist soil material, which she collects and transports herself. The nest consists of tubular cells placed side by side, the number of which varies (Chatenoud et al., 2012). After building the first cell, the female hunts spiders to feed her offspring (Pytel-Huta, 2023; Yuan, 2022). Female S. destillatorium brings the paralysed spider into the cell, lays an egg and continues to hunt. Each cell stores a certain number of spiders. The number depends on the size of the victims and the sex of the future generation. Once the cells have been built, the female S. destillatorium covers them with an additional layer of soil (Polidori, 2005). In the wild, females build their nests in shady, sheltered places (rock ledges, empty tree trunks, etc.). However, at present, they are increasingly nesting in people's houses (usually under roofs, attics, etc.) (Yuan, 2022). Adult wasps feed on angiosperm nectar. The collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences in Lviv contains 14 specimens of this species collected in the western part of Ukraine and one specimen collected in the central part. A few samples (4) of this species were collected in 1922, 1923 and 1926, collector – J. Noskiewicz. The date and place of collection of the remaining specimens are unknown. All data have been entered into the web resource Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” http://dc.smnh.org/.

Songbird annual productivity declines with increasing soil lead contamination around nests

Abstract Songbirds incidentally ingest soil contaminated with lead and several species in the Southeast Missouri Lead Mining District have a negative relationship between soil lead concentration and reproduction. We used an individual-based model (IBM) to simulate nesting processes throughout the breeding season to estimate annual productivity for 5 songbirds in relation to soil-lead concentration. We modeled daily nest survival and number fledged in relation to soil lead and incorporated these relationships into the IBM using a Bayesian approach that fully captured parameter uncertainty and process variation. The proportion of the posterior distribution for the effect of soil lead on daily nest survival was mostly negative for Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Eastern Towhee), Passerina cyanea (Indigo Bunting), Cardinalis cardinalis (Northern Cardinal), Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird; f = 0.972, 0.990, 0.741, 0.581, respectively), and slightly positive for Spizella pusilla (Field Sparrow; f = 0.680). The proportion of the posterior distribution for the effect of soil lead on the number fledged from successful nests was mostly negative for S. pusilla, P. erythrophthalmus, and C. cardinalis (f = 0.867, 0.585, 0.508, respectively) and positive for P. cyanea and S. sialis (f = 0.773, 0.744). Simulated annual productivity decreased by 0.04–1.47 young/female/year among species across the range of soil lead concentrations, with the greatest declines for P. erythrophthalmus and P. cyanea. The probability of fledging one or more young changed from 51% to 15% for P. erythrophthalmus, 57% to 23% for P. cyanea, 60% to 48% for C. cardinalis, 94% to 84% for S. sialis, and 57% to 64% for S. pusilla as soil-lead concentration around a nest increased from 20 to 4,000 ppm. Most nest failures were the result of predation; therefore, we suggest lead may have affected birds’ behavior at the nest, or affected nest site quality, which resulted in higher nest predation.

Re-Inventories at Two Study Sites in the Oberpfalz (Bavaria, Germany): Increase in RWA Nests, Herb Biodiversity and Dead Wood in Sustainably Managed Forests

A large-scale re-inventory of red wood ant (RWA; Formica rufa-group) nests and a comparative analysis of their presence/absence data was carried out for the first time in 2023 at two study sites in the Oberpfalz, NE Bavaria, Germany, to investigate the suspected decline of nests, their relationship with forestry aspects, and possible changes in spatial distribution due to tectonic activity (GeoBio-Interactions). We inventoried, in two sustainably managed forests, outstanding nest occurrences (5393 nests including 5276 active nests) and an increase of ≈8% over 4–7 years. Our results do not support claims that the number of nests in the Oberpfalz is in sharp decline. RWA preferred mature and medium–mature pine-dominated forests. Standing and downed dead wood did not negatively affect nests. The number of nests with woodpecker cavities and the diversity of the herb layer increased. Nests clusters in NW–SE direction suggest a strong interaction between nest distribution and active tectonics. Our (re-)inventory approach combined with the extensive photo database is a valuable tool for (a) monitoring the entire forest habitat including natural restocking, herb biodiversity, woodpecker cavities, and dead wood in, at, and around nests, and (b) identifying GeoBio-Interactions. Such an approach will lead to more realistic counts of RWA nests and provide scientific evidence of the current situation of nests occurrence. We suggest seven to eight years as an appropriate time interval for re-inventories.

Effects of Eight Years of Collecting on the Persistence of Liometopum apiculatum Ant Nests in Rangelands of Charcas, San Luis Potosí, Mexico

In Mexico, the pupae of the reproductive castes of the ant Liometopum apiculatum, escamoles, are highly valued in traditional and gourmet cuisine in the country’s central region. Escamoles are collected during the dry season of the year. The recommended collecting process is to open the ant nest by removing soil until the rearing chamber and the trabeculae with attached escamoles are found. A well-managed ant nest can be collected repeatedly for approximately 12 to 40 years. In Charcas municipality, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, 400 ant nests were located and checked under two land tenure conditions: the Laguna Seca private ranch and the Pocitos communal ejido. The exploitation of escamoles on both tenures was characterized by recording the number of dead and live ant nests. This work evaluated the condition of the ant nests registered in 2012 after eight years. The hypothesis was that ant nests’ survival would be greater in the private than in the communal land. The percentage of living ant nests on the ejido decreased by 35.67%. In contrast, on the ranch, it was 26.88%. The percentage of relocated ant nests was lower on the ejido, 37.43%, compared to the ranch, which was 48.1%. The number of dead ant nests on the ejido increased to 33.51% and on the ranch 15.0%. As predicted by the hypothesis, ant nest survival was higher on the private ranch than on the communal ejido lands because of stronger control of the extraction process.

Temporal Variability in Nest Numbers of Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Colonies: Influence of Nearby Rookeries and Insights for Species Censuses

Temporal Variability in Nest Numbers of Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Colonies: Influence of Nearby Rookeries and Insights for Species Censuses

Vertical Stratification of Solitary Bees and Wasps in an Urban Forest from the Brazilian Amazon.

Solitary bees and wasps that nest in cavities in tree trunks are important components of terrestrial ecosystems, providing pollination services, and in the case of wasps, the regulation of their prey populations. However, little is known about the vertical strata where bees and wasps build their nests. This is especially the case of urban forest remnants in the Amazon, which is relevant in the context of the global crisis in insect losses. We investigated the existence of vertical stratification in the nesting of solitary bees and wasps in an urban forest in Rio Branco, state of Acre, in the western Brazilian Amazon. We focused on whether wood temperature, ants, and termites are predictors of bee and wasp nesting. We sampled bee and wasp nests in the forest using trap-nests made with wooden blocks containing cavities with three different diameters for twelve months. Trap-nests were installed randomly at three heights in the forest. We collected 145 nests of 25 species, belonging to 11 genera and 6 families. A higher number of nests and species were collected in the upper stratum of the forest, strengthening the hypothesis that there is vertical stratification in the assemblage of solitary bees and wasps. Wood surface temperature and termite attacks on trap-nests were significantly different between strata, which may explain the vertical stratification of bee and wasp assemblages. Considering the importance of these insects for tropical forest ecosystems, the conservation of structurally complex and stratified forests is of paramount importance to maintain the diversity of this insect group.

Increasing Population Status of Broad-Snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) Based on Sustainable Use Strategies in a Managed Protected Area in Santa Fe, Argentina.

People and crocodilians have engaged in interactions since the earliest human settlements. After many years of escalating non-regulated use, coupled with emerging threats such as habitat modification, environmental pollution, and the exponential growth of human populations, natural crocodilian populations have been pushed to the brink of extinction. To prevent this, various initiatives have implemented strategies to prevent local extinction. Reinforcing wild populations through reintroductions and head-starting programs has been considered the safest approach to recovering crocodilian populations. Subsequently, the concept of sustainability emerged. In the case of many historically exploited crocodilian species, it became evident that rational utilization need not adversely affect population status; on the contrary, there were clear signs of recovery when local communities were involved. In 1990, the broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) was in a critical state due to decades of poaching and the aforementioned threats. In response, the "Monitoring and restocking program of the broad-snouted caiman for management purposes", commonly known as Proyecto Yacaré, was established to study population abundance and assess the biological, ecological, and social response to this management methodology. As a result of the eggs's harvest, a proportion equivalent to or greater than what would have survived in natural conditions was released into the original habitat where the eggs were collected. The surplus was allocated for leather and meat production with a focus on economic and environmentally sustainable practices, without affecting biodiversity or threats to the managed species. The in situ work carried out by this program has been crucial for the recovery of broad-snouted caiman populations under the "incentives for conservation" system, whereby local communities receive benefits for nest identification and egg harvesting. Over time, conservation incentives have become significant contributors to regional economies. This study illustrates how C. latirostris populations increased due to the implementation of egg harvesting by local communities in a natural reserve for management purposes. This population increase was detected through continuous night monitoring and an analysis of the number of nests in the area. Currently, C. latirostris populations have transitioned from being among the most threatened to becoming one of the most abundant throughout their distribution area. Based on the analyzed information, we may affirm that the commercial value of these species is one of the most relevant aspects contributing to the sustainability of these programs, primarily due to the change in perception generated among local communities. Therefore, identifying and controlling factors affecting these programs are fundamental for the conservation of these species.

Impacts of umbrella species management on non‐target species

Abstract Restoration of anthropogenically altered habitats has often focused on management for umbrella species—vulnerable species whose conservation is thought to benefit co‐occurring species. Woody plant encroachment is a form of habitat alteration occurring in grasslands and shrublands around the globe, driven by anthropogenic shifts in disturbance regimes. Conifer encroachment is a pervasive threat to historically widespread sagebrush communities, as trees outcompete sagebrush and can negatively affect sagebrush‐obligate animal species. Degradation and loss of sagebrush plant communities in western North America have been associated with drastic declines in wildlife populations. The imperilled Greater Sage‐Grouse is assumed to be an umbrella species for the sagebrush community, so habitat restoration, including removal of encroaching conifers, is commonly targeted towards sage‐grouse. How this conservation action affects the demography of species other than sage‐grouse is largely unknown. We quantified the demographic effects of landscape‐level restoration of sagebrush communities through conifer removal on an assemblage of sagebrush‐obligate, shrubland generalist and woodland‐associated songbirds. We compared songbird density and reproduction between adjacent restored and uncut conifer‐encroached sagebrush plots in southwest Montana. We found and monitored nests to record nest fate and number of offspring produced. We found demographic benefits for sagebrush‐obligate species in restored areas. Sage Thrashers colonized restored areas. Brewer's Sparrow density was 39% higher and nest success was 63% higher in removal treatments, resulting in 119% higher fledgling production compared with uncut areas. The density of Vesper Sparrows, a shrubland generalist, was 308% higher and fledgling production was 660% higher in restored areas. Another shrubland generalist, the White‐crowned Sparrow, experienced 55% lower density and 37% lower fledgling production in conifer removal areas. Two woodland‐associated species, Chipping Sparrows and Dark‐eyed Juncos, were nearly extirpated following conifer removal. A third woodland associate, the Green‐tailed Towhee, experienced 57% lower density and 69% lower fledgling production in removal than non‐removal areas. Synthesis and applications. Our study demonstrates the benefits of conifer removal for sagebrush‐obligate species, while highlighting species that may be sensitive. Umbrella species management can benefit co‐occurring species with similar habitat associations, but demographic analyses for all impacted species are essential for effective conservation.

Temporal Variability in Weaver Ant Oecophylla longinoda Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Nest Characteristics in Selected Host Plants

Weaver ants (Oecophylla smaragdina and O. longinoda) are famous for their impressive nest constructions where they weave together living leaves on their host plants. Also, they are known to protect tropical tree crops against insect pests and are thus being utilized for biological control. To optimize their use, nest numbers have been used to track weaver ant abundances in plantation, assuming the number of nests reflects ant numbers. In this study we compared nest size, the density of ants and the proportion of workers in nests between three host plants (cashew, citrus and mango) and between two seasons (rainy and dry). Nest size, ant density and worker proportion all differed between host species, whereas only nest size and worker proportion showed seasonal differences and only on mango and citrus, respectively. On hosts with smaller nests (in increasing size order: cashew, citrus mango), ant densities in the nests were higher, and the proportion of workers in the nests seemed to increase during seasons where food production on host trees decreased, or on hosts where more trophobionts were cultured inside nests. These results have implications for the development of methods used to estimate ant numbers and they raise interesting questions about the function of weaver ant nests.

Study on the Mental Care of Rural Empty Nest Elderly under New Urbanization

Today, with the continuous acceleration of new urbanization, the number of rural empty nests is also increasing year by year. The report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposes to improve the basic old-age insurance for urban and rural residents, improve the elderly care system, and ensure that the elderly have a place to take care of. Under the development of this era, it is necessary to protect rural empty nest elderly this group, but we not only pay attention to their material guarantee, but also notice their spiritual care. For the spiritual care of rural empty nest elderly, we should analyse their spiritual demands monolithically, and build a three-dimensional comfort system that is "government-led, fund investment, social worker intervention, self-regulation, and neighbourhood assistance" to solve their spiritual demands.

Aerial identification and quantification of nesting sites of Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in the mountain ranges of central Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Aerial census for identification and quantification of nesting sites of Golden Eagle was performed through the mountain ranges of the central Baja California Peninsula, Mexico from 5 to 8 April 2021. We identified a total of 113 nests and 12 territories of Golden Eagle on a sampling trajectory of 1,203 km that encompassed a surface of 176,000 ha. The highest abundance of nests (n = 57) was recorded between 29º and 30º N latitudes with elevations ranging between 600 and 700 m (n = 35) in the Valle de Los Cirios Protected Natural Area, which is mainly associated with mountain biotopes with steep cliffs and ample alluvial valleys that promote foraging and nesting sites for this species. The number of nests of Golden Eagle showed an inverse relationship with the altitude along a latitudinal gradient. This study reports new nesting sites of Golden Eagle in the central peninsular region that includes the mountain ranges of Matomí, Jaraguay, and La Libertad.

A pulse check for trends in sea turtle numbers across the globe

Population declines of vertebrates are common, but rebuilding marine life may be possible. We assessed trends in sea turtle numbers globally, building 61 time series of abundance extending beyond 2015, representing monitoring in >1200 years. Increases were widespread with significant upward trends, no significant change, and significant downward trends in 28, 28, and 5 time series, respectively. For example, annual nest numbers increased between 1980 and 2018 from around 4,000 to 16,000 for green turtles at Aldabra (Seychelles, Indian Ocean) and between 2008 and 2020 from around 500 to 35,000 for loggerhead turtles in Sal (Cape Verde, north Atlantic). However, conservation concerns remain. Major populations may experience declines, such as loggerhead turtles in Oman, while previous upward trends can be reversed, as with green turtles nesting at Tortuguero (Costa Rica, Caribbean). Further, decreases in abundance were evident in several leatherback turtle time series. These concerns show there is no room for complacency for sea turtle conservation.

Nesting trends and predation risks among yellow-spotted river turtles in Essequibo River Basin

The yellow-spotted river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis), inhabiting Amazon, Orinoco, and Essequibo River basins, is classified as vulnerable due to historical exploitation and current threats. Efforts have been made throughout the Amazon basin to understand the ecology of yellow-spotted river turtles and implement conservation measures, but the Essequibo River basin located in Guyana, remains the least studied part of the geographical range of the species. In this study we present data collected over a three-year period from 2020 to 2023, as part of a community driven conservation program by Yupukari village, in the North Rupununi, Guyana. We describe the nesting behavior of P. unifilis,and assess predation of eggs in the wild. A total number of nests in 9 beaches ranging from 59 (in 2021) to 76 (in 2023) (in averge 6.68 nest/beach, and 14.2 nests per ha) with an average number of 20.45 eggs per nest. Nesting locations were found to be predominantly situated within 1–20 m from the river, in proximity to vegetation, and on fine sand, with temperatures consistently falling within the 27–29 degrees Celsius range. Importantly, this study unravels the critical issue of nest predation, with lizards, human, and the birds emerging as the primary culprits, impacting nests located closer to vegetation to a greater extent. All nests in sites which potentially would be flooded were moved for a hatchery in the community of Yupukari in which the hatching success reached 83%.

A Potantial Nesting Site for Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta): Yakacık Beach, Türkiye

Monitoring of sea turtle nesting beaches in Türkiye have been conducted since 1988 and the number of beaches reached to 22. Mediterranean coast of Türkiye has many small pocket beaches and other inaccessible remote sandy beaches. In this study, I introduce a new nesting site, Yakacık Beach, for the loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) in the border of Antalya and Mersin provinces. Following the preliminary field studies on the 1.7 km long beach, 201 and 197 nests were found in 2020 and
 2021, respectively, and the average nest density of the two years was calculated as 117.6 nests/km-1. Satellite images were also used to ensure and estimate the number of nests. The number of nest and the nest density were compared with the literature and Yakacık has the second highest nest density in Türkiye with a high predation rate up to 68%. The potential importance of Yakacık Beach and threats to the nesting beach and mitigation measures were discussed. Türkiye has one of the most important
 nesting sites for the loggerhead turtles and the green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Mediterranean, with 17 nesting beaches identified in 1989. With the discovery of additional nesting sites such as Çıralı, Alata, Sugözü, Davultepe, and METUKocahasanlı beaches in the following years, the importance of Türkiye for sea turtle populations in the Mediterranean has gradually increased. With this study, a new nesting beach was identified and the importance of Türkiye for the Mediterranean Sea turtles was emphasized.

Habitat Factors Driving Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus) Population Growth and Productivity in the Judea Region

Abstract In Israel, Long-eared Owls (Asio otus) were considered primarily a wintering species with documented sporadic breeding. However, by the turn of the last century, it had become an increasingly numerous breeding species in the northern and central parts of the country. Based on the analysis of nest numbers in the Judea region, we determined that the population increased by at least 22% each year between 2003 and 2008, from 28 known nests in 2003 to 118 in 2008. We believe our study was conducted during the initial years for the Long-eared Owl population expansion in the region. We found that birds nesting in more-urban areas produced fewer offspring per brood than birds in more rural areas. We also found that nestlings from more-urban areas, exposed to artificial light at night, fledged earlier than birds from wild areas. The rapid growth in the numbers of nesting Long-eared Owls in the Judea region was likely due, at least in part, to the species’ adaptation to urban areas.

The reuse of Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) nests by the Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio) in an intensive agricultural landscape: a coincidence or a new solution?

Nest site availability plays an important role in the ecology of the birds inhabiting intensive agricultural landscapes. The removal of trees and snags due to logging is one of the main threats and the cause of the observed decline in many birds living in an agricultural landscape. When nests are lost, nesting passerines typically rebuild them for a new clutch. Additionally, relocating nests after a brood loss is a prevalent strategy used to avoid predators and brood parasites. Such a strategy is common to the Red-backed Shrike, which builds successive nests for each brood. Interestingly, clutch replacement may occur in unusual forms. This study describe three cases of Song Thrush nests reused by Red-backed Shrikes during one breeding season. The time and energy-saving behaviour or possible deterrence of nest parasitism could explain why the nests have been reused. However, due to the limited observations as compared to the total number of nests, further research is necessary to clarify this phenomenon.

The Ongoing Battle: Understanding the Population Trends of Green Turtles in Peninsular Malaysia

Sea turtles are crucial marine animals. They act as indicator to a healthy marine ecosystem. However, they are subjected to different challenges and threats which results of their declining population. This study looks at the population trends of sea turtles in Malaysia by examining the numbers of nests, eggs, and hatchlings in six states in Peninsular Malaysia which are Perak, Pahang, Melaka, Johor, Terengganu, and Negeri Sembilan. Statistical distribution, hatching success percentage, trend landing and hatching, and linear regression analysis are implemented. The results show that Terengganu, on the east coast, consistently has the highest numbers of nests, eggs, and hatchlings, highlighting its key role in sea turtle conservation. In contrast, Melaka has the lowest numbers, pointing where conservation efforts could be increased. This study provides valuable insights into the differences in green turtle populations across states and identifies critical areas for focused conservation strategies to better protect and help these endangered species recover in Malaysia.

The influence of selection of sires according to the degree of plumage pigmentation on the autosexness of guinea fowl

The studies were carried out on cream and silver guinea fowl populations at Genefond LLC, Moscow region. The purpose of the work was to study the effect of selecting sires with contrasting down pigmentation on the accuracy of sexing guinea fowl offspring. The basis for the creation of an autosex maternal form was cream and silver guinea fowl, carriers of the silver “S” and golden “s” genes, which in preliminary experiments showed the possibility of sexing them according to the degree of plumage pigmentation. To conduct the study, two groups of guinea fowl with cream and silver colored plumage were recruited at 20 weeks of age. In each group there were 6 selection nests; males with weak pigmentation and females with strong plumage pigmentation were taken into the nest. The ratio of males to females in the nest was 1:6. Experiments have shown the absence of significant differences between cream and silver guinea fowl populations in quantitative and qualitative indicators of sperm production, fertilization and egg hatchability. The selection of producers when recruiting a breeding herd with a contrasting plumage color (males with weak, females with strong plumage pigmentation) ensured an increase in the accuracy of sexing cream guinea fowl by 5.1%, silver guinea fowl by 1.8%, while the number of nests with sexing accuracy was more than 95 %, for cream guinea fowl it was 50%, for silver guinea fowl 66.7%, respectively.