Vanellus Chilensis Research Articles

Correction to: Copulation behaviour in the Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Correction to: Copulation behaviour in the Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Copulation behaviour in the Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Copulation behaviour in the Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis)

Gestão da fauna aeroportuária: avaliando o estado de saúde de gaviões asa-de-telha (Parabuteo unicinctus) através da avaliação hematológica

The Harris’ Hawk is commonly used by falconers in falconry as a plan to avoid collisions between birds and aircraft, being trained to capture vultures, herons, Southern caracara, Southern lapwing, and pigeons. The aim of this work was to evaluate the hematological parameters in Harris’ Hawks used in airport fauna management in order to assess the health of these birds, compare the results of hawks from similar characteristics and differentiate parameters of trained and not trained hawks. This study has federal authorization under number 57551-1 (Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio/Ministério do Meio Ambiente, Brazil) on 08/30/2017. In this study, six females and three males of Harris’ Hawks (Parabuteo unicinctus), trained with falconry techniques, were used to control of fauna at the Antônio Carlos Jobim-Galeão International Airport, from Centro de Preservação de Aves de Rapina - CePAR, located in Rio de Janeiro - RJ. All birds were over six months of age, clinically healthy and in good body condition. The following analysis were performed: weight, erythrocyte counts, hemoglobin dosage, hematocrit, quantification of the mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, count of leukocytes, basophils, eosinophils, heterophils, lymphocytes and monocytes, processed by microscopy. Compared to other studies of Harris’ Hawks hematological parameters, this study presented decreased values for erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, while indicators such as leucocyte, heterophils and lymphocytes were increased. In conclusion, trained birds of prey are more susceptible to stressful factors, which can cause alterations in hematological parameters.

Satellitome Analysis in the Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) Genome: Implications for SatDNA Evolution in Charadriiform Birds.

Vanellus (Charadriidae; Charadriiformes) comprises around 20 species commonly referred to as lapwings. In this study, by integrating cytogenetic and genomic approaches, we assessed the satellite DNA (satDNA) composition of one typical species, Vanellus chilensis, with a highly conserved karyotype. We additionally underlined its role in the evolution, structure, and differentiation process of the present ZW sex chromosome system. Seven distinct satellite DNA families were identified within its genome, accumulating on the centromeres, microchromosomes, and the W chromosome. However, these identified satellite DNA families were not found in two other Charadriiformes members, namely Jacana jacana and Calidris canutus. The hybridization of microsatellite sequences revealed the presence of a few repetitive sequences in V. chilensis, with only two out of sixteen displaying positive hybridization signals. Overall, our results contribute to understanding the genomic organization and satDNA evolution in Charadriiform birds.

Composition and spatio-temporal dynamics of aquatic bird community in humid areas of Alto Parana Atlantic Forest.

The northwestern portion of the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest ecoregion is one of the most disturbed and fragmented areas in the Atlantic Forest, and little is known about the local avifauna. In this study, we have described the composition and diversity of the aquatic avifauna of this region and analyzed the patterns of similarity with respect to the seasonal as well as spatial distribution. We used the line transect sampling technique in six distinct humid areas (including lentic and lotic water bodies) during the dry and rainy seasons of 2012 and 2013. A total of 52 species of waterfowl were recorded. The species richness of the studied areas was surprisingly distinct; only seven waterfowl species, namely Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), Tigrisoma lineatum (Boddaert, 1783), Rosthramus sociabilis (Vieillot, 1817), Aramus guarauna (Linnaeus, 1766), Vanellus chilensis (Molina, 1782), Jacana jacana (Linnaeus, 1766), and Arundinicola leucocephala (Linnaeus, 1764), were common to these six studied areas. This indicated that the other bird species that were observed might be habitat selective. Moreover, the analysis of the composition of birds in the two seasons (dry and rainy) combined with their spatial distributions showed significant dissimilarities between the areas with lotic (river and constructed wetland) and lentic (lagoons) characteristics. Nevertheless, despite the small extent and low total richness of the entire study area, it was found to be home to 1/3 of all freshwater aquatic birds documented in the state of São Paulo, with the record of 5 migratory species and 11 new species added to the northwest of the state. The heterogeneity of local aquatic environments, habitat selection combined with seasonality, and the absence of other humid locations in the surroundings can explain the diversity and distribution of these birds in the water bodies of this uninvestigated Atlantic Forest ecoregion.

An outbreak of type C botulism in free-ranging Southern lapwing (Vanellus chilensis).

In the fall of 2021, a significant mortality event in free-ranging Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) occurred on a soccer field in southern Brazil. Approximately 130 adult southern lapwings died after showing weakness and flaccid paralysis, characterized by the inability to move or fly and drooped wings. Due to the large number of animals affected, there was concern that they had been criminally poisoned. The affected birds were found to have ingested maggots in fresh poultry litter incorporated into the grass surface. Postmortem examinations of four southern lapwings revealed no significant gross and histological findings. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for influenza A virus, flavivirus, and paramyxovirus was negative. Based on the epidemiological and clinical findings and the negative viral results, a presumptive diagnosis of botulism was made. This diagnosis was confirmed through mouse bioassay and seroneutralization, which detected botulinum toxin type C. Maggots loaded with botulinum neurotoxins were the probable vehicle for intoxication in the outbreak. Considering the impact of avian botulism on wild bird populations, our results may help prevent similar outbreaks in the future.

Baseline Corticosterone, Stress Responses, and Leukocyte Profiles in Chicks of Precocial Birds in Rural and Urban Environments.

The urban environment produces complex relationship among urban stressors that could change the levels of the steroid hormone, glucocorticoid (GCs). Studies that have evaluated baseline corticosterone (Cort) levels (the main GC in birds) and stress responses during development in urban and rural environments have obtained contrasting results. This ambiguity could partially be because the studies were carried out in altricial species, where parental care and sibling competition can affect Cort levels. Therefore, in this study, we compared levels of circulating baseline levels of CORT (blood sample obtained within 3 min of capture) and stress responses (blood sample obtained 30 min after capture) and the H/L ratio (an alternative method to measure stress) in chicks of a precocial bird, southern lapwings (Vanellus chilensis), from one rural (6 chicks), one urban low-polluted (13 chicks), and one urban high-polluted (10 chicks) site of Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile. We observed higher baseline Cort (2.41 ± 1.78 ng/mL) in the urban high-polluted site, a higher H/L ratio (0.51 ± 0.20) in the urban low-polluted site, and similar stress response across the three sites. We propose that the difference in stress physiology we observed within Santiago de Chile is because the two zones are at extremes in terms of stressors (noise, light, chemical, and human presence). It is unusual to find a precocious bird that lives in both urban and rural areas; therefore, the results of this study will advance our knowledge of the effect of the urban environment during the development of wildlife, which is relevant in terms of management and conservation.

Individual features influence the choice to attack in the southern lapwing Vanellus chilensis, but the opponent type dictates how the interaction goes

Individual features influence the choice to attack in the southern lapwing Vanellus chilensis, but the opponent type dictates how the interaction goes

Annual pattern of agonistic interactions of southern lapwing, a typical aggressive bird species from southern Brazil

Annual pattern of agonistic interactions of southern lapwing, a typical aggressive bird species from southern Brazil

Microchromosome BAC-FISH Reveals Different Patterns of Genome Organization in Three Charadriiformes Species.

Microchromosomes, once considered unimportant elements of the genome, represent fundamental building blocks of bird karyotypes. Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) comprise a wide variety of approximately 390 species and are considered a valuable model group for biological studies. Despite this variety, cytogenetic analysis is still very scarce in this bird order. Thus, the aim of this study was to provide insight into the Charadriiformes karyotype, with emphasis on microchromosome evolution in three species of shorebirds-Calidris canutus, Jacana jacana, and Vanellus chilensis-combining classical and molecular approaches. Cross-species FISH mapping applied two BAC probes for each microchromosome, GGA10-28 (except GGA16). The experiments revealed different patterns of microchromosome organization in the species investigated. Hence, while in C. canutus, we found two microchromosomes involved in chromosome fusions, they were present as single pairs in V. chilensis. We also described a new chromosome number for C. canutus (2n = 92). Hence, this study contributed to the understanding of genome organization and evolution of three shorebird species.

Chromosomal painting in Charadrius collaris Vieillot, 1818 and Vanellus chilensis Molina, 1782 and an analysis of chromosomal signatures in Charadriiformes.

Charadriiformes represent one of the largest orders of birds; members of this order are diverse in morphology, behavior and reproduction, making them an excellent model for studying evolution. It is accepted that the avian putative ancestral karyotype, with 2n = 80, remains conserved for about 100 million years. So far, only a few species of Charadriiformes have been studied using molecular cytogenetics. Here, we performed chromosome painting on metphase chromosomes of two species of Charadriidae, Charadrius collaris and Vanellus chilensis, with whole chromosome paint probes from Burhinus oedicnemus. Charadrius collaris has a diploid number of 76, with both sex chromosomes being submetacentric. In V. chilensi a diploid number of 78 was identified, and the Z chromosome is submetacentric. Chromosome painting suggests that chromosome conservation is a characteristic common to the family Charadriidae. The results allowed a comparative analysis between the three suborders of Charadriiformes and the order Gruiformes using chromosome rearrangements to understand phylogenetic relationships between species and karyotypic evolution. However, the comparative analysis between the Charadriiformes suborders so far has not revealed any shared rearrangements, indicating that each suborder follows an independent evolutionary path, as previously proposed. Likewise, although the orders Charadriiformes and Gruiformes are placed on sister branches, they do not share any signature chromosomal rearrangements.

Macro and micro-habitat selection by Vanellus chilensis (Aves: Charadriiformes) in southern Brazil

Macro and micro-habitat selection by Vanellus chilensis (Aves: Charadriiformes) in southern Brazil

First record of helminths parasitizing Vanellus chilensis (Aves, Charadriiformes) in Acre state, southwestern Brazilian Amazon

ABSTRACT The southern lapwing, Vanellus chilensis, is a bird frequently seen in most of Brazil. Although it is widely distributed in other Brazilian biomes, including some parts of the Brazilian Amazon, it has only been recorded in the western Amazonian state of Acre since 2000. We report the presence of intestinal parasites in individuals of V. chilensis from the Cazumbá-Iracema Extractive Reserve in Acre through a coproparasitological analysis. Seven of the nine sampled individuals were parasitized. We observed larvae of Strongyloides sp. (28.5% of the samples), and eggs of Ascaridia sp. (28.5%), Ancylostoma sp. (14.2%), and Choanotaenia sp. (42.8%). These parasites are reported for the first time parasitizing V. chilensis in Brazil. The parasitized birds may act as reservoirs and were recorded in a peridomicile area, which may facilitate their contact with domestic birds.

Macro and micro-habitat selection by Vanellus chilensis (aves: charadriiformes) in southern Brazil

The Southern Lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) is a typical bird from southern Brazil, but it is widely distributed across South America. It is well-recognized by its characteristic colors, imposing vocalization and aggressive behavior. The species inhabits grasslands, which can vary locally and regionally. The aim of this study is to evaluate how Southern Lapwings select their macro- and micro-habitats, which is necessary to better understand the species’ ecology, its relationship with the environment and the complex interaction between behavior and territory. This research intends to verify if there is any kind of selection for a specific environment and which factors influence the choice of feeding and breeding territories. Fieldwork was carried out at 40 ha in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, with 60 sampling points divided across six different vegetal formations. For macro-habitats, we analyzed data on availability and use of the area through the selection index, while for micro-habitat selection we constructed Generalized Linear Models (GLM) with the measures of environmental variables for each point. The selection index indicates that there is a strong preference for impacted grasslands, while lapwings seem to avoid forests and shrubland during both breeding and non-breeding seasons. The micro-habitat analysis indicates that the birds generally select areas with low vegetation height, and a certain degree of local human impact, but that the presence of farm animals is only preferred during the non-breeding season. This study shows...

Eavesdropping of an African ground squirrel on the heterospecific alarm calls of a noisy ground‐nesting bird

AbstractAnimals gather information about their environment from a variety of sources to enable adaptive decision‐making behaviour. Eavesdropping on heterospecific alarm calls enhances predator avoidance, reduces time spent vigilant and allows for more time on daily activities such as foraging. If the information is relevant and reliable, individuals that respond to heterospecific signals may benefit from a wider range of information at a low marginal cost. The Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris) and crowned lapwing (Vanellus chilensis) are ground‐dwelling species that are taxonomically distant but share similar predators, habitat and anti‐predatory behaviours. We used playback experiments of the alarm calls produced by conspecifics and lapwings to investigate the vigilance responses of adult female Cape ground squirrels. Squirrels responded with greater vigilance to both squirrel and lapwing alarm calls, and no changes of vigilance levels were observed in response to a control sound. However, contrary to our predictions, changes in vigilance and time to relax did not differ between conspecific versus heterospecific playbacks. The results from our study suggest that squirrels perceive lapwing alarm calls as relevant and reliable information and that responding to it could increase their survival.

Aberrant plumage records in Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis (Aves: Charadriidae)

Aberrant colored plumages in birds are not uncommon events in nature. These cases might be associated with genetic, environmental and nutritional factors, the presence of parasites, or even age. This study had the objective of reporting two new aberrant plumage cases inVanellus chilensisindividuals, an individual with progressive greying and a melanistic one, and review information available at the “Birds of Brazil Encyclopedia” (WikiAves). The study also presents a case review of published cases in indexed journals aboutV. chilensisaberrant coloring published in indexed journals. In total, 24 cases ofV. chilensisindividuals with aberrant plumage are known. For some cases following current specialized literature, we only suggest changes to progressive graying and brown. Finally, we encourage researchers to publish their records of birds with aberrant plumage in scientific journals.

Urban Ecology. Bird Diversity in Cities in Southern Chile

Urbanisation is a dominant demographic trend and an important component of the earth’s global transformation. It has unprecedented socioeconomic, cultural and environmental implications, and poses a threat to the conservation of biodiversity, as it can provoke alterations in ecological systems and lead to poor functioning of urban systems as they are currently structured. From the ecological point of view, the city is a fragmented, heterogeneous, complex mosaic of habitats, including ecosystems with different degrees of alteration. Urban systems contain only small areas of fragments of original vegetation and/or artificial green spaces, leading to a drastic decrease from their original abundance and diversity. However, green spaces, including original fragments, can help to conserve bird diversity, improving the functioning of these artificial systems in the medium term. This study looks at the characteristics and benefits of urban ecology in the framework of sustainable development, and carries out a meta-analysis of research into bird diversity in four cities in southern Chile, using ecological indices (Shannon-Wiener, β diversity between cities). The results reveal that there is low evenness in the four cities and that the city with the highest evenness is Valdivia (J = 0.78). There is clear dominance by a few bird species (e.g. the exotic species house sparrow Passer domesticus and rock pigeon Columba livia, and the native species rufous-collared sparrow Zonotricia capensis, austral thrush Turdus falklandii, southern lapwing Vanellus chilensis, and chimango caracara Milvago chimango). β diversity is low as the four cities show similarity greater than 50%. Birds reject paved surfaces in squares and prefer areas with native bushes and trees, with nearby bodies of water and large spaces (parks rather than squares). The study proposes technical recommendations and suggests further research.

REGISTRO DE MUTAÇÃO MARROM EM QUERO-QUERO (Vanellus chilensis Molina, 1782), NO CENTRO-OESTE DO BRASIL

Mutações cromáticas (plumagens aberrantes) em aves, não são incomuns de se registrar na natureza, mas devem ser divulgados. Apresentamos aqui um novo caso de mutação cromática em quero-quero (Vanellus chilensis), que apresenta mutação marrom. Acreditamos ser o primeiro caso divulgado em revista indexada nesse padrão de aberração para V. chilensis, tendo em vista que os casos conhecidos são de indivíduos com leucismo e diluição. É importante divulgar os casos de plumagens aberrantes em aves, com enfoque de estudos futuros, servindo de base para reunir todos os casos mencionados visando a elaboração de listas regionais e/ou nacionais, reportando os respectivos casos de mutações e espécies afetadas.

Comportamiento de defensa de nido, discriminación de depredadores y éxito reproductivo de Vanellus Chilensis (aves : Charadriidae).

La defensa del nido presenta gran variación inter e intraespecífica, a menudo asociada a diferencias en el sistema social o al tipo de amenaza. El Pellar (Vanellus chilensis) es conocido por la defensa de nido vigorosa contra depredadores, sin embargo, esta respuesta puede variar desde huida en silencio con maniobras de distracción al depredador (defensa pasiva), hasta vuelos estridentes de ataque directo a depredadores (defensa activa). Este estudio examina la relación entre los patrones conductuales de defensa de nido, la naturaleza de los estímulos próximos, el desarrollo embrionario y el éxito reproductivo del Pellar en estado silvestre en Colombia. Se sometieron parejas marcadas y reproductivamente activas a tres estímulos que representaron amenazas potenciales para la nidada (hombre a pie, jinete y tractor) y sus respuestas conductuales se clasificaron en diferentes categorías según su intensidad. La defensa del nido varió según el estado de desarrollo embrionario de los polluelos; con un desarrollo embrionario temprano, la defensa fue principalmente pasiva y a medida que avanzó el desarrollo embrionario se incrementó la defensa activa. El jinete fue el estímulo que desencadenó la mayor defensa activa mientras que, ante el hombre a pie y el tractor, la respuesta fue principalmente pasiva. La distancia a la cual las aves abandonaron los nidos al aproximarse un estímulo se correlacionó con la naturaleza del mismo. Los adultos toleraron más cerca del nido al tractor que a los estímulos de hombre a pie y jinete, lo cual sugiere discriminación entre estímulos. Los machos realizaron el doble de vuelos de ataque directo que las hembras. El éxito reproductivo no se correlacionó con la categoría de intensidad de defensa del nido manifestada ni con el tamaño de la postura de la pareja.

Novel insights into chromosome evolution of Charadriiformes: extensive genomic reshuffling in the wattled jacana (Jacana jacana, Charadriiformes, Jacanidae).

The order Charadriiformes comprises three major clades: Lari and Scolopaci as sister group to Charadrii. Until now, only three Charadriiformes species have been studied by chromosome painting: Larus argentatus (Lari), Burhinus oedicnemus and Vanellus chilensis (Charadrii). Hence, there is a lack of information concerning the third clade, Scolapaci. Based on this, and to gain a better understanding of karyotype evolution in the order Charadriiformes, we applied conventional and molecular cytogenetic approaches in a species belonging to clade Scolopaci - the wattled jacana (Jacana jacana) - using Gallus gallus and Zenaida auriculata chromosome-specific probes. Cross-species evaluation of J. jacana chromosomes shows extensive genomic reshuffling within macrochromosomes during evolution, with multiple fission and fusion events, although the diploid number remains at high level (2n=82). Interestingly, this species does not have the GGA7-8 fusion, which was found in two representatives of Charadrii clade, reinforcing the idea that this fusion may be exclusive to the Charadrii clade. In addition, it is shown that the chromosome evolution in Charadriiformes is complex and resulted in species with typical and atypical karyotypes. The karyotypic features of Scolopaci are very different from those of Charadrii and Lari, indicating that after divergence, each suborder has undergone different chromosome rearrangements.