Species Of Anatidae Research Articles

A high-quality chromosomal-level genome assembly of Greater Scaup (Aythya marila)

Aythya marila is one of the few species of Anatidae, and the only Aythya to live in the circumpolar. However, there is a relative lack of research on genetics of this species. In this study, we reported and assembled the first high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of A. marila. This genome was assembled using Nanopore long reads, and errors corrected using Illumina short reads, with a final genome size of 1.14 Gb, scaffold N50 of 85.44 Mb, and contig N50 of 32.46 Mb. 106 contigs were clustered and ordered onto 35 chromosomes based on Hi-C data, covering approximately 98.28% of the genome. BUSCO assessment showed that 97.0% of the highly conserved genes in aves_odb10 were present intact in the genome assembly. In addition, a total of 154.94 Mb of repetitive sequences were identified. 15,953 protein-coding genes were predicted in the genome, and 98.96% of genes were functionally annotated. This genome will be a valuable resource for future genetic diversity and genomics studies of A. marila.

Distribution of breeding waterbirds in relation to wetland characteristics in the Oued Righ valley in the Algerian Sahara

Abstract In the framework of this study 14 breeding species were identified in the wetland complex of the Oued Righ valley in the Algerian Sahara. Six species of breeding Anatidae were reported, two of which are classified as vulnerable and threatened, namely, the ferruginous duck Aythya nyroca and the marbled teal Marmaronetta angustirostris. For shorebirds, we noted reproduction of the pied avocet Recurvirostra avosetta, the black-winged stilt Himantopus Himantopus, and the Kentish plover Charadrius alexandrinus in most of the wetlands studied. We report for the first time nesting of the slender-billed gull Chroicocephalus genei at Chott Merouane with 72 pairs recorded during the breeding season 2018. This colony was associated with the larger colony of greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus composed of 640 pairs. Principal component analysis (PCA), gathering 69.74% of the information, showed a significant correlation between the distribution of different bird species and the main environmental factors, that is, vegetation, water surface area, water depth, and salinity, and a strong correlation between the species of Annatidae and Rallidae, which are associated with less-saline environments rich in vegetation and deep water, with the exception of shelducks, which prefer large surface areas with less-dense vegetation and more holomorphic water. For the shorebirds such as R. avosetta and H. himantopus, there was a clear preference for large wetlands with shallow water and relatively high salinity. A remarkable correlation was also noted for P. roseus, where a strong distribution of breeding populations was observed in areas with the highest salinity levels and a vast surface area.

The Knucklebone and the Goose: Playing and Jeopardy for the Boy of Lilaia

Abstract A particularly beautiful marble statue of a boy, a dedication unearthed in Lilaia, Phokis, and on display in the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, is an opportunity for us to explore the connection between the boys’ games and the jeopardy in their outcome. Both the expression on the boy’s face and the way he holds an astragal and a goose demand multiple levels of reading. These are related to the intent of the dedication in the first place, the identification of the games requiring an astragal or involving a goose, as well as to the choice of these specific playthings for the particular imagery. Why is he holding a single astragal, and in such a particular way? Why is the goose included in the picture, and what species of Anatidae is this? The apparent originality of the motif and of the work, in comparison with other well-known Hellenistic representations in stone or terracotta, dictated our research into the milieu of artistic and symbolic quests of that period, and also a reflection on the choice of the artist to designate a child as the owner of the playthings within a particular spatial and temporal context, perhaps associated with healing frοm a life-threatening fever.

Temporal changes in species richness of waterfowl (Anseriformes) community in D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh, India

We conducted five yearly field surveys to assess long-term changes in the species richness, abundance, and composition of waterfowl populations (Anseriformes) in the D’Ering Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary, a significant staging area on migratory flyways with one of the largest concentrations of waterfowl in Arunachal Pradesh, especially during winter. A total of 8,040 birds belonging to 17 species of Anatidae were recorded, including two threatened species. The most abundant species were Tadorna ferruginea, Anas poecilirhnycha, and Bucephala clangula, with relative abundances of 29%, 10%, and 9.4%, respectively. Species richness was highest in winter (H’= 2.40; January H’= 2.43) and lowest in the monsoon (H’= 1.48; August, H’= 1.12). Seasonal difference in species richness was noticed for winter visitors, but not for year-round residents. We observed a major declining trend for seven species. Findings from this study can be used for further ecological assessment of the waterfowl community of the sanctuary.

Assessment of the Suitability of Wintering Anatidae Habitats before and after Impoundment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region

In this study, we aimed to understand the distribution of and changes in the habitats suitable for Anatidae wintering in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region (TGRR), China, and to explore the impact of the impoundment during different impoundment periods. Based on species occurrence data for four dominant species of Anatidae and environmental factors, a maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to analyze the suitability of habitats during five impoundment periods. The results show that the main factors affecting Anatidae distribution were temperature and roads before the Three Gorges Project (TGP) and elevation after the TGP. After the TGP, the area of the suitable habitat declined rapidly and then gradually increased with increasing water level. After impoundment, the primary area of increased habitat suitability was the main stream of the Yangtze River from Changshou District to Yunyang County and its tributary in the Kaizhou area. Among the habitats, the central water regions were more suitable than the marginal shoal areas. Anatidae habitats in the TGRR were distributed mainly within the Yangtze River main stream and the surrounding areas before the TGP, and the surrounding areas largely disappeared after the TGP, particularly in Chongqing City and Jiangjin District. In this context, it is challenging to create new protected areas within the habitat suitable for Anatidae in the main stream of the Yangtze River; we propose adding the Anatidae as conservation targets within the existing conservation agencies and implementing a waterbird monitoring program for scientific waterbird conservation and the sustainable development of the reservoir.

Sitting ducks: diet of wintering wildfowl in Lake Tonga, northeast Algeria

Dietary studies of five species of Anatidae (Gadwall Anas strepera, Shoveler Anas clypeata, Pochard Aythya ferina, Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca, and White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala) were carried out at Lake Tonga, northeast Algeria, from December 2011 to March 2012. Diet analysis of all five wintering species indicated a heavy reliance on seeds, which included a wide variety of aquatic plants, such as Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Sparganium erectum, Scirpus lacustris and Potamogeton pectinatus. Noteworthy is the paucity of ingested macroinvertebrates. Despite dietary overlap, the type, abundance and frequency of food consumed clearly indicated differences in resource use among the ducks. Incidentally, the study also highlighted the high vulnerability of threatened ducks to poaching (harvesting and disturbance) in a protected area. We discuss the implications of these findings for the management and conservation of wintering wildfowl and their North African habitats.

Avian influenza virus ecology in wild birds of Western Siberia

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to explore the ecological diversity of wild birds in Siberia, which are the natural reservoir of avian influenza virus (AIV).MethodsCloacal swabs and intestinal fragments were collected from wild migratory birds from 2007‒2014. Isolated viruses were grown in the allantoic cavity of embryonated chicken eggs. The presence of virus was determined using hemagglutination assays. Primary identification and subtyping of influenza viruses was confirmed by RT-PCR.ResultsA total of 2300 samples obtained from wild migratory birds of 8 orders were collected and tested. Influenza was detected in 185 birds of 3 orders. Species of family Anatidae (order Anseriformes) such as European Teal (Anas crecca), Garganey Teal (A. querquedula), and Shoveler (A. clypeata) play the main role in AIV circulation in the south of Western Siberia. The proportion of viral carriers among waterfowl ranged from 5.6 to 20% in 2007‒2014. The order Charadriiformes had lower virus isolation rates of not more than 1.4%.ConclusionsWild migratory waterfowl of orders Anseriformes and Charadriiformes are the main reservoir of AIV in the south of Western Siberia. This area plays a key role in persistence, evolution, and geographical distribution of avian influenza.

Gut travellers: internal dispersal of aquatic organisms by waterfowl

AbstractAimPatterns of high biodiversity among less mobile organisms throughout isolated locations suggest that passive dispersal importantly contributes to biodiversity. We examined the contribution of waterbirds to the dispersal of plant seeds and macroinvertebrates between aquatic wetlands. Birds are renowned vectors for seeds of terrestrial plants, but less is known about their role in more dispersal‐dependent aquatic systems. We therefore performed a meta‐analysis on bird‐mediated endozoochorous dispersal of aquatic species.LocationOur review included studies that collected data world‐wide.MethodsWe analysed data from 81 peer‐reviewed publications on endozoochorous dispersal of aquatic plant seeds and macroinvertebrates by waterbirds.ResultsIn total, 36% of 1581 waterbird droppings collected in the field contained one or more intact propagules, with macroinvertebrates found almost as frequently as plant seeds. Positive droppings contained on average 3.3 intact propagules, of which one‐third were viable. In 728 trials from 17 published feeding experiments 24% of the ingested propagules were retrieved intact, with c. 6.5% both viable and intact. As many as 17 species of Anatidae and Rallidae were involved in the dispersal of at least 39 species of macroinvertebrates and seeds from 97 species of plants across a wide taxonomic range. Smaller propagules seemed less affected by digestion than larger ones. We provide a first quantitative model that can be used to estimate waterbird‐mediated dispersal of propagules between wetlands. This model indicates that an average waterbird has the potential to disperse five viable propagules after flying more than 100 km, and one additional propagule after flying 300 km.Main conclusionsWe demonstrate that waterbirds have the potential to transport a wide variety of aquatic plants and animals over several hundreds of kilometres. High survival of propagules might be explained by propagule adaptations or by the digestive adaptations of birds, whereby energy absorption is thought to be maximized rather than assimilation efficiency. Our meta‐analysis suggests that waterbirds might contribute significantly to wetland biodiversity around the world, despite several limitations to our current knowledge. We outline avenues for future research to address these knowledge gaps.

The southernmost records of Anhingidae and a new basal species of Anatidae (Aves) from the lower–middle Miocene of Patagonia, Argentina

New bird fossils from the Santa Cruz Formation (lower–middle Miocene), Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina, are described. They represent an indeterminate species of the extinct anhingid Macranhinga and a new genus and species of basal Anatidae Ankonetta larriestrai. The record of the giant darter Macranhinga constitutes the southernmost record for the family, and expands the known stratigraphic range of the genus, previously restricted to the upper Miocene. Based on an analysis of the fossil anhingid record from South America, we hypothesize that giant darters disappeared from South America in the early Pliocene due to climatic deterioration, regression of marine and freshwater environments, the arrival of placental carnivorous mammals, and also probably by competition with phalacrocoracid cormorants. The new anatid Ankonetta is based on an incomplete but informative tarsometatarsus, with superficial similarities to extant Dendrocygna. A brief overview of several fossil ducks from the Patagonian Cenozoic concludes that most pre-Pliocene examples belong to non-anatine taxa, indicating that plesiomorphic ducks were the dominant anseriforms in those times, a pattern also evident on other continents.

A review of vertebrate community composition in seasonal forest pools of the northeastern United States

Seasonally-flooded wetlands occur throughout the world and provide important foraging, resting, and breeding habitat for a broad array of organisms. This review summarizes our current understanding of vertebrate community composition at seasonal forest pools in the northeastern United States. These wetlands typically have hydroperiods that range from temporarily flooded to intermittently exposed, which reduces densities of many potential predators (e.g., fish). Current research has shown that pool hydroperiod, canopy closure, vegetation structure within pools, presence of potential predators, and landscape structure surrounding pools are the key factors determining vertebrate diversity at seasonal forest pools. Of 25 species of amphibians in the region, frogs (10 of 12 species) are more likely to breed in seasonal forest pools than salamanders (6 of 13 species). Seven of 10 amphibian species that breed in seasonal forest pools are state-listed as threatened or endangered. Among 27 species of reptiles, 3 of 15 species of snakes, and 6 of 12 species of turtles utilize seasonal pools during at least one stage of their annual cycle. Seasonal forest pools are important foraging and basking habitat for three species of turtles listed as threatened or endangered. Compared to other vertebrate taxa, most species of mammals are habitat generalists, with 50 of 63 mammal species potentially foraging at seasonal pools during part of their annual cycle. Chiroptera (bats; all 9 species) are believed to actively forage at seasonal pools and some Insectivora, particularly Sorex palustris Richardson and S. fumeus (Miller) and Condylura cristata (L.), are detected regularly at seasonal pools. Breeding birds are less likely to utilize seasonal pools than other vertebrate taxa, although 92 of 233 species might forage or breed near seasonal pools. Several species of Anatidae, Rallidae, and some Passeriformes use seasonally flooded pools. All vertebrates that use seasonal forest pools use other habitats during some stage in their life cycle; thus gaining a clear understanding of their habitat requirements is critical to their long-term persistence.

Feeding patch selection by herbivorous Anatidae: the influence of body size, and of plant quantity and quality

Recent findings suggest that herbivores select feeding sites of intermediate biomass in order to maximise their digestible nutrient intake as the result of the trade‐off between forage quality and quantity (‘forage maturation hypothesis’). We propose a reformulation of this hypothesis which recognises this trade‐off, but also underlines that constraints due to body mass (i.e. metabolism and digestive constraints, size of the feeding apparatus) can lead to variations in grazing patterns. We tested this latter hypothesis experimentally in three species of herbivorous Anatidae of different body mass: the wigeon Anas penelope (in our study c. 620 g), the barnacle goose Branta leucopsis (c. 2000 g), and the greylag goose Anser anser (c. 3500 g). Each species was tested separately from 0600 to 0930 hours, in an enclosure with a mosaic of patches of grass of three different heights: short, medium and tall. The behaviour, and the location (i.e. patch) of each individual were recorded every 5 minutes. Our results show important interspecific differences in intake rates resulting in different feeding site selection: wigeon and barnacle goose fed fastest on the shortest swards, and selected short grass which was also of higher quality. Tall grass provided the highest dry matter intake rate and digestible protein intake for greylag geese, and they preferred these swards. These choices allowed the birds to maximise their digestible nitrogen intake rate rather than dry matter intake rate and our results thus underline the importance of nitrogen as a major currency for foraging decisions in herbivorous Anatidae. Since the birds selected the two extreme sward heights (instead of the medium one), the results give support to our hypothesis and underline the role of body size as an important cause of variations in patch selection in herbivorous Anatidae.

The functional response in three species of herbivorous Anatidae: effects of sward height, body mass and bill size

Summary The functional response, i.e. the quantity of food consumed per unit of time as a function of food availability, is a central process in foraging ecology. The application of this concept to foraging by mammalian herbivores has led to major insights into the process of resource acquisition, but it has so far been little used to understand foraging in avian herbivores. In this study, we describe the functional responses of three grazing Anatidae, the wigeon Anas penelope L. (mean body mass in this study 620 g), the barnacle goose Branta leucopsis B. (2000 g), and the greylag goose Anser anser L. (3500 g). We measured instantaneous intake rates on eight grass heights from 1 cm to 12 cm, as well as pecking rates and peck sizes, and used the Spalinger–Hobbs model developed for mammalian herbivores to explore the mechanisms limiting intake in these three species. Greylag geese increased their intake rate with increasing food availability (a Type II response), wigeon showed a weak quadratic (Type IV) response, and intake rate by barnacle geese did not vary significantly across the range of variability we offered the birds. Intake rates differed markedly between individuals, especially in greylag geese, where body mass explained much of the variation. For individuals in all three species, peck sizes strongly influenced instantaneous intake rates, and the size of the bill (width in particular) appeared to be an important determinant of peck size. Peck sizes increased with sward height (although only very weakly in wigeon), but so did cropping time for wigeon and barnacle geese, which led to a significant decline of intake rates on the tallest grass, at least in the small wigeon. For these very selective small herbivores, the time to crop a mouthful was therefore a significant limiting factor for the birds’ instantaneous intake rate (in addition to peck size and swallowing time). This differs markedly from the situation in mammalian herbivores where bite size (through chewing time) is the principal controlling process in food concentrated patches, a result that we found in greylag geese. We discuss the differences in foraging between the three species in relation to their principal food resources, body mass and bill morphology.

The status and conservation of wildfowl (anatidae) in Heilongjiang Province, China

Heilongjiang Province has large areas of wetlands. 32 species ofanatidae were recorded: 5 geese (Anser sp.), 2 swans (Cygnus sp.) and 25 ducks (Anas sp.). Some millions of geese and duck bred here before the 1960s. Because of wetland reclamation for farmland in recent years, their numbers have declined rapidly, and five species: whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus), whistling wans (Cygnus columbianus), white-fronted goose (Anser erythropus), mandarin duck (Aix galericulata), and Chinese merganser (Mergus squamatus) are endangered. They are now protected by the China Wildlife Protection Law, promulgated in 1989. In order to protect wildlife resources, 19 natural reserves were set up in Heilongjiang Province; some species can be restored and utilized reasonably.

Scaling Effects On Cervical Kinematics in Drinking Anatidae

Scaling effects on cervical motion patterns during drinking were examined in seven species of Anatidae, ranging in body size from small Common Teal to large Mute Swan. Cranio-cervical anatomy, head and body movements and representative cervical motion patterns were compared for the immersion, upstroke and tip up phases. Cranio-cervical anatomy is characterized by 5 functionally different regions in the neck (functional components) and it is modified by shorter vertebrae in smaller species while in larger species the number of vertebrae is increased, especially in the second functional component. A General Anatid motion pattern was found in Mallard and White-fronted Goose, two intermediate sized species. The pattern comprises three synchronous waves of rotations running from caudal to rostral through three functional components, each starting from a different joint. Scaling effects were found in species smaller than the Mallard and in the much larger Swan. Modifications in Teal, Shoveler, and Wigeon comprise extra rotations in the caudal part of the neck, since rotations of the relatively short vertebrae do not result in a sufficient head elevation and compensation. In Swans, the rostral wave of rotations of the General Anatid pattern is replaced by a Bike Chain pattern in which a wave of rotations to dorsal followed by rotations to ventral runs from rostral to caudal. This results in minimization of: 1) the large forces per joint which develop due to the relatively long rostral cervical region and 2) the amount of water expelled by gravity and centrifugal forces. Other factors influence the cervical motion patterns as well. The Tufted Duck shows a Bike Chain pattern along the whole cervical column, which can be explained as a trophic effect: the drinking mechanism is different, due to a modified mouth which is an adaptation to the major type of food intake, so that different functional demands are put on the cervical motion pattern.

Accumulation and distribution of hydrocarbons, polychlorobyphenyls, and DDT in tissues of three species of Anatidae from the Ebro Delta (Spain).

Five tissues (breast muscle, liver, kidney, adipose tissue and medulla) of three species of Anatidae (Netta, rufina, Anas crecca andAnas clypeata) from the Ebro Delta have been analyzed for ∑DDT, polychlorobyphenyls (PCBs) and biogenic and petrogenic hydrocarbons, with the aim of obtaining information on the biodynamics of these compounds in wildbirds.

Importance, composition et distribution des populations d’anatidés présentes en hiver dans l’Ouest africain tropical

The results of the 1984 aerial counts of wintering waterfowl in the Senegal, Niger, and Chad basins are given and discussed. Both palearctic and afro-tropical species of Anatidae are restricted to the Sahelian belt during the winter, and do not enter the Guinea savannas or the forest-savanna mosaic further south, even during the drought episodes. In such harsh circumstances, paleartic migrants and afro-tropical species both concentrate in a limited number of refuge areas within the Sahelian belt itself. However, these winter waterfowl refuges may change from year to year. In January 1984, for instance, the Lake Chad refuge harboured 868 900 ducks and geese, against 122 400 in the Senegal basin refuge, and 545 100 in the Niger basin refuge.

The Breeding Biology of Captive Black-Headed Ducks and the Behavior of Their Young

The behavior patterns of captive Black-headed Ducks (Heteronetta atricapilla) at the Wildfowl Trust, Slimbridge, Gloucester, were studied for three consecutive breeding seasons to investigate the breeding biology of this parasitic species. The birds fed mostly in the early morning and swam most actively in the evening, while they mainly rested on land during midday. In the evening, both males and females patrolled or skulked near nest sites of other birds, apparently searching for a suitable host to parasitize. The existence of pair-bonds during the breeding season was fully established; copulation and egg-laying were observed. Two Black-headed Duck eggs were returned to the nest of a Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca) to determine the post-hatching behavior of the young and the role of the host bird. One Black-headed duckling hatched before any of the host's own clutch and left the nest on its own one day after hatching. The second duckling, which hatched with the young pochards, accompanied the family to water and returned to the female for warmth and protection (at increasingly infrequent intervals) for two days. These findings emphasize the uniqueness of the species and reinforce the case for placing Heteronetta in a tribe of its own. The Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla) frequents freshwater marshes in the temperate regions of South America, ranging from central Argentina to Bolivia and across the continent from central Chile to southern Brazil. Breeding has been recorded in Argentina, Chile, and central Paraguay (Delacour 1959, Weller 1967, Todd 1979). Since Phillips (1925) first remarked about the lack of information on the Black-headed Duck, studies of its morphology and behavior have revealed its singularity; even its taxonomic position is still disputed. Similarities in anatomy and certain behavior patterns link Heteronetta to the Oxyurini, with whom they are most commonly classified. However, Blackheaded Ducks also exhibit a number of behavioral characteristics of the Anatini, and may be descendants of a primitive group from which both tribes evolved (Weller 1968a). The parasitic breeding behavior of the Blackheaded Duck is considered unique among waterfowl. Several species of Anatidae, most notably Redheads (Aythya americana) and Ruddy Ducks (Oxyurajamaicensis) occasionally lay eggs in other birds' nests (Friedmann 1932), but they usually hatch and rear their own young. The Black-headed Duck, however, neither builds a nest nor incubates its eggs, but leaves these duties entirely to host birds. The female tends to lay during the host's laying period, thereby making full incubation more likely, and usually adds her egg to the host's nest with little or no damage to the main clutch. Black-headed Duck eggs have been found in nests of a wide range of birds, including birds of prey (e.g., Chimango Caracara, Milvago chimango) and gulls (e.g., Common Black-headed Gull, Larus ridibundus). However, the preferred hosts appear to be coots (Fulica rufifrons and F. armillata), probably because their nests are common in marshy areas (Weller 1968a). Although the Black-headed Duck in its natural environment has been studied extensively by Weller (1967, 1968a, b), the species' unobtrusive nature and preferred habitat have made it difficult to observe its breeding behavior and a number of points still require clarification. We describe here the diurnal activities of captive Black-headed Ducks during the breeding season, including their pre-laying and pre-copulatory behavior, as well as the behavior of ducklings that hatched in the nest of a Rosy-billed Pochard (Netta peposaca). MATERIALS AND METHODS In 1974 the Wildfowl Trust collected eggs of Black-headed Ducks in Argentina in order to establish a captive breeding population of this species at Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, England. The five males and two females from

Monthly Counts as a Measure of Population Changes in Some Species of Anatidae in South Sweden

Monthly Counts as a Measure of Population Changes in Some Species of Anatidae in South Sweden

Tear carion concentration in some Australian waterfowl (Anatidae)

Sodium and potassium concentrations were analysed in the plasma and tears of three species of Anatidae. While sodium was concentrated only slightly in tears, potassium tear: plasma ratios ranged from 4 : 1 to 15 : 1, indicating that tears serve as an excretory route for potassium in these species.

“Pipping” Mechanism and Hatching in Nidifugous Birds

THE hatching of nidifugous birds involves complex biological and mechanical factors, some of which are poorly understood. In the herring gull, Larus argentatus1, and the black-tailed godwit, Limosa limosa2, the extent of shell breakage, or pipping, is reported to be little more than a quarter of the circumference. Breakage of most of the circumference, however, has been noted in the turnstone, Arenaria interpres3, the pigeon, Columba livia4, the fowl5–7 and many species of Anatidae (unpublished work of P. M. D.). Pipping obviously needs study.