Wild Finches Research Articles

Identification of diverse novel genomoviruses in gut of wild birds

Genomoviridae is a virus family belonging to circular replication associated protein encoding ssDNA (CRESS-DNA) viruses, which have diverse genomic architecture and are widely distributed among different ecosystems. In this study, we characterized 39 novel genomovirus genomes including 3 from wild egrets, 9 from wild cranes, as well as 27 from wild finches in three different types of cloacal swabs of wild bird sampled in the station of Xinqing bird ringing, Maoershan Nature Reserve in Heilongjiang Province, Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, and Hangzhou Wetland Park in Zhejiang Province, China. Here, using a Rep sequence phylogeny-based analysis, we divided the 39 genomoviruses into 8 genera within the family Genomoviridae, including Gemycircularvirus (n=20), Gemykibivirus (n=3), Gemygorvirus (n=2), Gemyvongvirus (n=2), Gemykolovirus (n=3), Gemykrogvirus (n=6), Gemytondvirus (n=1), Gemyduguivirus (n=1) and one unclassified genomovirus. The 39 genomovirus genomes belong to 36 species (27 of which are new) based on the currently accepted genomovirus pairwise nucleotide sequence identity species demarcation threshold of 78%. Overall, the research enriches our knowledge of CRESS-DNA viral diversity in China and emphasizes the prevalence of genomoviruses in nature.

Concerns about trade in wild finches in Algeria

Concerns about trade in wild finches in Algeria

Spatio-temporal dynamics and aetiology of proliferative leg skin lesions in wild British finches

Proliferative leg skin lesions have been described in wild finches in Europe although there have been no large-scale studies of their aetiology or epizootiology to date. Firstly, disease surveillance, utilising public reporting of observations of live wild finches was conducted in Great Britain (GB) and showed proliferative leg skin lesions in chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) to be widespread. Seasonal variation was observed, with a peak during the winter months. Secondly, pathological investigations were performed on a sample of 39 chaffinches, four bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), one greenfinch (Chloris chloris) and one goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) with proliferative leg skin lesions and detected Cnemidocoptes sp. mites in 91% (41/45) of affected finches and from all species examined. Fringilla coelebs papillomavirus (FcPV1) PCR was positive in 74% (23/31) of birds tested: a 394 base pair sequence was derived from 20 of these birds, from all examined species, with 100% identity to reference genomes. Both mites and FcPV1 DNA were detected in 71% (20/28) of birds tested for both pathogens. Histopathological examination of lesions did not discriminate the relative importance of mite or FcPV1 infection as their cause. Development of techniques to localise FcPV1 within lesions is required to elucidate the pathological significance of FcPV1 DNA detection.

Divergence in problem-solving skills is associated with differential expression of glutamate receptors in wild finches.

Problem solving and innovation are key components of intelligence. We compare wild-caught individuals from two species that are close relatives of Darwin's finches, the innovative Loxigilla barbadensis, and its most closely related species in Barbados, the conservative Tiaris bicolor. We found an all-or-none difference in the problem-solving capacity of the two species. Brain RNA sequencing analyses revealed interspecific differences in genes related to neuronal and synaptic plasticity in the intrapallial neural populations (mesopallium and nidopallium), especially in the nidopallium caudolaterale, a structure functionally analogous to the mammalian prefrontal cortex. At a finer scale, we discovered robust differences in glutamate receptor expression between the species. In particular, the GRIN2B/GRIN2A ratio, known to correlate with synaptic plasticity, was higher in the innovative L. barbadensis. These findings suggest that divergence in avian intelligence is associated with similar neuronal mechanisms to that of mammals, including humans.

Sex steroid profiles in zebra finches: Effects of reproductive state and domestication

The zebra finch is a common model organism in neuroscience, endocrinology, and ethology. Zebra finches are generally considered opportunistic breeders, but the extent of their opportunism depends on the predictability of their habitat. This plasticity in the timing of breeding raises the question of how domestication, a process that increases environmental predictability, has affected their reproductive physiology. Here, we compared circulating steroid levels in various “strains” of zebra finches. In Study 1, using radioimmunoassay, we examined circulating testosterone levels in several strains of zebra finches (males and females). Subjects were wild or captive (Captive Wild-Caught, Wild-Derived, or Domesticated). In Study 2, using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS), we examined circulating sex steroid profiles in wild and domesticated zebra finches (males and females). In Study 1, circulating testosterone levels in males differed across strains. In Study 2, six steroids were detectable in plasma from wild zebra finches (pregnenolone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), testosterone, androsterone, and 5α-dihydrotestosterone (5α-DHT)). Only pregnenolone and progesterone levels changed across reproductive states in wild finches. Compared to wild zebra finches, domesticated zebra finches had elevated levels of circulating pregnenolone, progesterone, DHEA, testosterone, androstenedione, and androsterone. These data suggest that domestication has profoundly altered the endocrinology of this common model organism. These results have implications for interpreting studies of domesticated zebra finches, as well as studies of other domesticated species.

Plumage color and pathogen-induced gene expression in a wild bird

Ornamentation is hypothesized to signal the capacity of an individual to cope with environmental challenges. At the molecular level, organisms respond to their environments largely by altering gene transcription, but the transcriptional responses linking ornamentation and disease resistance are virtually unstudied. In the house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), carotenoid coloration displayed by males is important in female choice, and plumage redness predicts a male’s ability to recover from bacterial infection with Mycoplasma gallisepticum. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying links between ornamentation and disease response, we experimentally infected wild finches and used microarrays to identify genes that were differentially expressed in males with redder and yellower plumage coloration. Sixteen candidate genes were then investigated across individuals. Principal components analysis revealed that infection induced a marginally significant decrease in 11 genes, several with primary immune functions. The treatment by plumage color interaction effect was largely driven by greater disease-induced changes in expression of heat shock protein 90 and ubiquitin c (the second principal component) by red birds than by yellow birds. In a direct comparison of disease severity between infected birds, plumage color on its own did not significantly predict disease symptoms. However, in multivariate models, expression of genes loading on the second principal component, plumage color, and their interaction were significant predictors of the severity of disease symptoms. Our observations demonstrate links between ornamentation and expression of genes related to disease resistance; we suggest that male plumage color may reflect functionally associated differences in inducibility or plasticity of gene expression in this species.

Serovars, bacteriophage types and antimicrobial sensitivities associated with salmonellosis in dogs in the UK (1954–2012)

Serovars and bacteriophage (phage) types were determined for 442 isolates of Salmonella enterica from dogs in the UK submitted to the Scottish Salmonella Reference Laboratory from 1954 to 2012. The...

Plants Used to Capture and Sustain Wild Finches (Fringillidae) in Southeast Spain1

Plants Used to Capture and Sustain Wild Finches (Fringillidae) in Southeast Spain1

First Report of Epizootic Trichomoniasis in Wild Finches (Family Fringillidae) in Southern Fennoscandia

Forty-one outbreaks of mortality in wild finches were reported in southern Norway, Sweden, and Finland in the second half of 2008 (n = 40) and in February 2009 (n = 1). Greenfinches (Carduelis chloris) and occasional chaffinches (Fringilla coelebs) primarily were affected. Forty-eight greenfinches, eight chaffinches, one hawfinch (Coccothraustes coccothraustes), and one blue tit (Parus caeruleus) from 22 incidents were examined postmortem. Birds were in poor nutritional condition and had necrotizing ingluvitis, esophagitis, and/or oropharyngitis. Viable trichomonads with morphology consistent with Trichomonas gallinae were demonstrated successfully in 65% and 71% of fresh carcasses examined by culture and wet mount, respectively. No primary bacterial pathogens were detected. To our knowledge, this is the first report of epizootic trichomoniasis in wild finches in Europe outside of the UK.

Causes of death of wild birds of the family Fringillidae in Britain

The provision of supplementary food for wild birds in gardens during the winter months is common in the UK, but it is possible that it may precipitate infectious diseases in...

Scott on the Rearing of Wild Finches by Foster-Parents of Other Species An Account of Some Experiments in Rearing Wild Finches by Foster-Parent Birds W. E. D. Scott

Scott on the Rearing of Wild Finches by Foster-Parents of Other Species An Account of Some Experiments in Rearing Wild Finches by Foster-Parent Birds W. E. D. Scott

An Account of Some Experiments in Rearing Wild Finches by Foster-Parent Birds

An Account of Some Experiments in Rearing Wild Finches by Foster-Parent Birds