Phoenicopterus Roseus Research Articles

Experience‐dependent natal philopatry of breeding greater flamingos

1. Contrary to the generally high level of natal philopatry (i.e. likelihood that individuals breed at their natal colony) found in first-breeding colonial birds, little is known of natal philopatry later in life. Most hypotheses advanced to explain natal philopatry are valid at all ages. However, for young and inexperienced birds, the benefits of natal philopatry may be counterbalanced by the costs of intraspecific competition at the natal colony making dispersal temporarily advantageous. In turn, experience may increase competitive ability and make natal philopatry advantageous again. 2. We evaluated this hypothesis on the large-scale dispersal of greater flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus breeding among three colonies comprising >85% of the Western Mediterranean metapopulation. The Camargue (France) and Fuente de Piedra (Spain) are large and saturated colonies while Molentargius (Sardinia) is a recent and growing colony. 3. We used a 20-year capture-mark-resighting dataset of 4900 flamingos ringed as chicks in Camargue and Fuente de Piedra and breeding at the three colonies. We assessed the effects of natal colony and breeding experience (first-time observed breeders versus confirmed experienced breeders) on dispersal using multistate capture-recapture models. Dispersal to an unobservable state accounted for temporary emigration. 4. Fidelity was higher at the natal colony (>84%) than elsewhere. Fidelity increased with experience in the two large colonies (Camargue and Fuente de Piedra) suggesting a large-scale experience-related despotic distribution. Breeding dispersal was significant (up to 61% and 52% for first-time breeders and experienced breeders, respectively) so that colony dynamics is affected by exchanges with other colonies. Except for Fuente-born breeders leaving Molentargius, dispersal to the natal colony was higher than to any other colonies. 5. Survival was not higher at the natal colony. Inexperienced birds likely had lower breeding success at the Camargue and skipped reproduction after having emigrated to the other large colony but not to Molentargius. Breeding at Molentargius could allow avoiding queuing (and non-breeding) at the large colonies while gaining experience and competitive ability for future attempts. 6 Natal philopatry appears as an important driver of large-scale breeding dispersal in the Greater flamingo. The fitness advantage of natal philopatry is likely experience-dependent and mediated by the variations of intraspecific competition.

Avian Poxvirus Infection in Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in a Zoo in Japan

Two diseased flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) with nodular lesions (pock) characteristic of poxvirus infection were found in a zoo in Japan. Avian poxvirus was isolated from the lesions (upper beak) of the affected birds and was genetically characterized by polymerase chain reaction, nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, the virus isolated from these flamingos was genetically close to those isolated from pigeons, suggesting the possibility of interspecies transmission.

Avian Poxvirus Infection in Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in a Zoo in Japan

Avian Poxvirus Infection in Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) in a Zoo in Japan

Hematocrit is related to age but not to nutritional condition in greater flamingo chicks

We measured the hematocrit from greater flamingo chicks Phoenicopterus roseus over 4 years to test whether this blood parameter was related to the nutritional condition of chicks, as there are controversial results on whether hematocrit may be used as an index of body condition. We also tested whether hematocrit increased with chick age, as there would be an age-related increase of oxygen demand due to exercising. We found no evidences that hematocrit was related neither to the nutritional nor to the body condition of chicks. Hematocrit increased with chick age, which may be related to the increased requirements of chicks for oxygen delivery during development.

Compte rendu ornithologique camarguais pour les années 2001-2006

Summary. — Ornithological report 2001-2006 for the Camargue. – The present ornithological report for the Camargue covers six years (2001-2006). This time-period has been marked by an accelerated global warming (the summer 2003 was particularly extreme). Owing to a constant high observation pressure, 18 new species have been recorded and many rare species have been resighted in that region (Camargue, Crau, Alpilles). Among the species or group of species which are regularly censused, the number of breeding Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus and that of wintering ducks and coots did not show any significant change. The colonial herons have continued either to increase or to fluctuate at a high level. For example, the Great White Egret Casmerodius albus has definitely settled in the delta and the Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides has reached a new peak of 505 pairs in 2006. More efficient prospection efforts gave more precise breeding numbers for two species of solitary herons, the Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris and the Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus. New breeding species such as the Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, White Stork Ciconia ciconia, Eurasian Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia and Greylag Anser anser increased their numbers as well as the Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus of which 14 pairs has bred in 2006 and the Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio which was found for the first time breeding in 2006. The breeding species showing the most serious concern are actually the breeding gulls and terns whose figures have dramatically decreased. Without human management, this situation will even become worse in a near future. Further remarkable observations were the first case of wintering Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina in 2001/ 2002, a mixed pair of Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni x Collared Pratincole G. pratincola in 2001, the settling of the Rook Corvus frugilegus in Arles.

Sexing Greater Flamingo Chicks from Feather Bulb DNA

Adult Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) are sexually dimorphic, with males being on average larger and heavier than females. However, there is no practical way to sex the chicks by their morphology. Here we describe a method relying on quick and easy DNA extraction from feathers. A PCR test employing primers to amplify introns whose lengths usually differ between the CHD-W and the CHD-Z genes allow sex discrimination. This method is thus a fast, accurate and inexpensive protocol to sex flamingo chicks from feathers bulbs sampled in the field.

Anthropogenic and environmental determinants of Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus breeding numbers and productivity in the Camargue (Rhone delta, southern France)

Predicting how bird populations may respond to climate change is a major challenge which could be addressed by understanding how past environmental processes have driven the variations of breeding population size and productivity. In inhabited regions, this issue may be complicated by the interference associated with heterogeneous levels of habitat management. Here, we have explored how several hydrological variables influenced the breeding of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in the Camargue (Rhone delta, southern France) over a 28‐year period (1974–2001). In this region, Flamingos breed in a commercial salt pan. They forage in both salt pans and adjacent brackish lagoons. We hypothesized that breeding numbers, productivity and body condition of chicks at fledging were influenced positively by water levels of the Vaccares, the main lagoon of the delta, in spring (water and food availability) and the Rhone discharge in winter (nutrient availability in the salt pans). We controlled for variations of the flooding date of the breeding salt pan by the salt company and the size of the breeding island. We first found the Vaccares water levels and Rhone discharge to be negatively correlated with the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Secondly, the number of Flamingo breeding pairs (range 3560–22 200) increased by 1767 ± 1418 (95% CI) with a 10‐day advance of the flooding date of the breeding salt pan and by 1146 ± 1081 per 10‐cm water level rise in the Vaccares. Productivity was 0.46 ± 0.41 chicks per pair and could not be explained by any of the variables considered. Finally, chick body condition decreased with the number of breeding pairs and Rhone discharge. Our results show that (1) this intensely managed system remains sensitive to large‐scale climate variations, (2) the breeding of the Greater Flamingo is affected by both climate variations and management of the salt pan, and (3) the expected enhancement of delta productivity by high river discharge was absent, probably prevented by dykes and embankments along the river. The response of bird populations to climate variations can thus be complex in intensely managed biological systems as found in the Mediterranean. We encourage pursuing such analyses incorporating anthropogenic variables explicitly in order to expand our capacity to make inference on the future of these systems.

Time allocation and vigilance behaviour of Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) wintering in the Gulf of Gabès, Tunisia

We studied time allocation and vigilance behaviour of Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) wintering in the Gulf of Gabès. In particular, we tested the relationships between time devoted to vigilance and that devoted to foraging and sleeping, and investigated variation in individual vigilance level with group size and group activity. Our results suggest that vigilance behaviour is costly for flamingos wintering in the Gulf of Gabès, in that significant trade-offs were found between vigilance and foraging, and between vigilance and sleeping. We also found that vigilance level of individual flamingos was dependent on group activity and group size. Overall, flamingos were most vigilant during mixed activities and vigilance level increased with group size. The latter result could be due to the increase in competition and social friction with group size. Nous avons étudié l'allocation du temps et la vigilance chez le flamants rose (Phoenicopterus roseus) hivernant dans le Golfe de Gabès. En particulier, nous avons examiné la relation entre la vigilance et les autres principales activités des individus, à savoir l'alimentation et le repos, et nous avons testé les effets de la taille du groupe et de son activité sur le degré de vigilance des individus. Globalement, nos résultats suggèrent que la vigilance est coûteuse pour les flamants roses, dans la mesure où elle réduit le temps alloué à l'alimentation et celui alloué au repos. D'autre part, la vigilance individuelle semble dépendre de la taille du groupe et de son activité générale. C'est en effet au cours des activités mixtes et au sein des groupes nombreux que les individus semblent les plus vigilants. Ce dernier résultat serait du à l'augmentation de l'intensité de la compétition et des frictions entre les individus avec la taille du groupe.

Range of the Greater Flamingo, Phoenicopterus roseus, metapopulation in the Mediterranean: new insights from Turkey

Metapopulation conservation should rely on a flyway approach aiming at assessing the spatial range of metapopulations by estimating the level of exchanges among local populations. In the western Mediterranean, Greater Flamingos have been shown to constitute a metapopulation with natal and breeding dispersal among colonies. In this paper, we examine whether this metapopulation reaches Turkey using a band-resighting study. Our results are the first evidence of natal and breeding dispersal from the western Mediterranean to Turkey, and suggest that the Gediz Delta, one of the two Turkish breeding colonies, can play a significant role in the recruitment of flamingos from the western Mediterranean. In 2003 and 2004, breeders of western Mediterranean origin accounted for more than 1.2 and 1.9% of the estimated breeding population of the Gediz Delta, respectively. Our observations also indicate that the western Mediterranean and Southwest Asia may constitute two sets of populations, which overlap in Turkey. Finally, the resightings of flamingos banded in Turkey show that post-fledging dispersal from Turkey reaches both the eastern and western Mediterranean wetlands. Future data on the natal and breeding dispersal of flamingos born in Turkey could clarify further the connection between Turkey and the western Mediterranean metapopulation.

Interannual variations in feeding frequencies and food quality of greater flamingo chicks (Phoenicopterus roseus): Evidence from plasma chemistry and effects on body condition

Greater flamingos in southern Spain foraged in areas distant from a breeding site, spending 4-6 days in foraging areas between successive visits to the colony to feed their chicks. During four years, we took blood samples from chicks to ascertain whether there were interannual variations in several blood parameters, indicative of food quality and feeding frequencies. When the chicks were captured, 20-31% of them had their crops empty, indicating that not all chicks were fed daily. Additional evidence of variations in feeding frequencies was obtained from a principal component analysis (PCA) on plasma chemistry values, which also indicated that there were annual variations in the quality of food received by chicks. The association of cholesterol and glucose with some PC axes indicated that some chicks were experiencing fasting periods. Of all plasma metabolites considered, cholesterol was the best one to predict body condition. Greater flamingo chicks experiencing longer fasting intervals, as suggested by higher plasma levels of cholesterol, were in lower body condition.

The first recorded reproduction of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Algeria: behavioural and ecological aspects

Following several decades of unsuccessful attempts at locating breeding colonies of the Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus in Algeria, breeding was recorded on a natural islet of Garaet Ezzemoul, a seasonal salt lake near the town of Aïn M'lila in the Hauts Plateaux. This successful mass breeding event by at least 5 379 breeding pairs followed two failed attempts due to human disturbance at the same site during preceding years. Egg-laying started relatively late (mid-May) with precocious pairs nesting in the middle of the islet and at a higher nest density. Estimated breeding success was notably high (∼5 000 chicks) with apparent good hatching rate and chick survival. Ring sightings indicated that the breeding population was made up in part of adults born in Spain, France and Sardinia, supporting evidence of a metapopulation of nomadic birds breeding and wintering across the Mediterranean Basin. Garaet Ezzemoul does not benefit from any conservation status and is not labelled as a Ramsar site in contrast to some of the neighbouring wetlands. In the light of the key role played by this site, at the regional scale, its status should be reassessed and in view of the threats facing it, urgent conservation measures should be initiated. Local authorities have reacted swiftly in response to the discovery of the breeding colony of the Greater Flamingo, and administrative steps are being taken to formally protect Garaet Ezzemoul.

Exposure to trace elements of flamingos living in a biosphere reserve, the Camargue (France)

Recent research has shown that some adult flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus collected from the Camargue Biosphere Reserve had tissue metal concentrations considerably higher than the average for this species. As the range of these birds is large, the origin of the contamination was unknown. Blood and feather samples from nestling flamingos were therefore analysed for trace metals to determine the presence and origin of local contamination. A comparison of elemental concentration in the feathers of nestling and adult flamingos revealed higher concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Se in adults, and higher concentrations of Zn in juveniles. This was attributed to increased exposure to atmospheric pollutants of adults, and either differences in Zn requirements and metabolism between adults and juveniles, or a local contamination of the juveniles' food supply by Zn. Concentrations of Zn in serum were also very elevated compared with human standards. Cd, Cu, Zn and Se concentrations were analysed in outer (O) and inner (I) barbs (i.e. barbs that are, respectively, exposed or not exposed to external deposits) of greater coverts of nestling flamingos. A comparison of elemental concentrations in these two feather components indicates a local atmospheric contamination by Cd, Cu and Pb.

Normal and clinical haematology of greater and lesser flamingos(Phoenicopterus roseusandPhoeniconaias minor)

Normal haematological reference values were obtained for Greater and Lesser flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus, Phoeniconaias minor). Statistically significant differences in the total white cell count and the absolute heterophil count were found in the two species. The reference values were used to identify abnormalities in the blood of five sick birds. Three of these were anaemic, all showed red cell hypochromia and four had heterophilia. The findings suggested that haematological testing is of potential diagnostic value in the species.

Life History of Acanthoparyphium paracharadrii sp. n. (Trematoda : Echinostomatidae)

Of 351 Cerithium (Potamides) ornata collected at intervals from November 1962 to April 1963, 71 harbored echinostomate cercariae and 127 had metacercariae in their mantles and in muscles on the inner surface of the operculum. Numerous gravid adults identified as Acanthoparyphium paracharadrii sp. n. were obtained from the intestine of two guinea pigs, and one was recovered from a newly hatched duckling, 10 days after feeding snails containing metacercariae. The cercariae, metacercariae, and adults have 23 collar spines arranged in a single row. Only 30 to 32 flame cells were counted. To date, no larval trematode has been reported from Cerithium ornata in the Philippines. Acanthoparyphium paracharadrii is the first species in the genus observed to develop experimentally in the guinea pig and in the duckling. In a study of larval trematodes of snails from estuarine mud flats near fish ponds in Malabon, Rizal and vicinity, Philippines, 351 Cerithium (Potamides) ornata Adams were collected at intervals from November 1962 to April 1963. Seventy-one harbored an echinostomate cercaria and 127 had its metacercarial stage. Two guinea pigs and a newly hatched duckling were fed snails containing metacercariae. On autopsy 10 days later, numerous gravid trematodes identified as Acanthoparyphium paracharadrii sp. n. were recovered from the intestines of the guinea pigs and only one was obtained from the duckling. Deitz (1909) created the genus Acanthoparyphium for the type and only species, Echinostomum phoenicopteri (Liihe, 1898) from the intestine of Phoenicopterus roseus in Tunis, North Africa. Except for Acanthoparyphium pagollae (Cable et al., 1960) from Charadrius wilsonia wilsonia in Puerto Rico, most of the species of Acanthoparyphium have been reported from Asiatic birds, particularly Received for publication 15 October 1963. * Supported in part by grant AI 02575-05 [formerly grant E-2575 (C2), E-2575 (C3)] from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, U. S. Public Health Service and a grant-in-aid from the Office of Research Coordination, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. t Guggenheim Fellow, 1963 and on sabbatical leave from the University of the Philippines. 261 Japan, Korea, and Australia. A. ochthodromi Tubangui, 1933 from Ochthodromus mongolus taken at Palo, Leyte, is the only Philippine representative of the genus. Skrjabin (1956) recognized eight species in the genus while Yamaguti (1958) listed ten species and subspecies. Our knowledge of the life history of this group of worms is limited. Yamaguti (1934) described the germinal sacs, cercaria, and metacercaria of Acanthoparyphium sp. from a snail, Batillaria multiformis (Lischke), collected at Takasago, Hy6go Prefecture in Japan but no experimental work was done. Cable (1956) described Cercaria caribbea II from Cerithidea costata in Puerto Rico and suspected it to be the larva of Acanthoparyphium pagollae. Ito (1957) found another larva, Cercaria yamagutii from Cerithidea fluviatilis, Cerithidea largillieri, and Cerithidea cingulata, which he referred questionably to the genus Acanthoparyphium, and again no life cycle study was made. Martin and Adams (1960) reported in a brief abstract the recovery of Acanthoparyphium spinulosum Johnston, 1917, from the intestine of hatchery chicks fed with metacercaria-infected snails, Cerithidea californica from Newport Bay, California, and later (1961) described the life cycle more fully. However, Bearup (1960) had done so, using the gull Larus novae-hollandae as experimental defini-