Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2015-03-25T01:44:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 000008CD.pdf: 3707278 bytes, checksum: 479e9bd8617ca8adb079c71f7d8ebe20 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-25T01:44:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 000008CD.pdf: 3707278 bytes, checksum: 479e9bd8617ca8adb079c71f7d8ebe20 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / UNISINOS - Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos / A biologia de membros da família Icteridae ainda são desconhecidos na América do Sul. O presente estudo apresenta informação sobre a biologia reprodutiva de uma população da espécie ameaçada o Veste-amarela ( Xanthopsar flavus) nos campos de altitude do sul do Brasil. Foram encontrados 18 colônias reprodutivas de 28 ± 25 indivíduos, apresentando uma relação positiva entre o número de pares reprodutivos e o tamanho da colônia (y = .967x + .296; r2 = 0.929, P< 0.001). Foram coletados dados sobre 47 ninhos encontrados durante duas estações reprodutivas de 2011 á 2013 na região fisigráfica dos Campos de Cima da Serra. Reprodução occorre entre os meses de Outubro e Fevereiro e bandos grandes de até 300 indivíduos são encontrados na região esporadicamente entre os meses de Março e Setembro. As fêmeas constroem ninhos de formato de copo aberto de lâminas de grama grossas e finas em vegetação arbustiva aquática (em particular Eryngium horridum, Baccharis trimera e Ludwigia multinervia) á 45,12 ± 24,68 (dp) cm do chão ao longo de três á seis dias (média = 4 ± 1 d, n =6). A postura média é de 3,78 ± 0,55 (sd) ovos, e o s ovos tem uma largura de 2,18 ± 0,08 (dp) cm e altura de 1,62 ± 0,09 (dp) cm. Somenete a fêmea incuba os ovos para um período de 12 ± 1 dias ( n = 5). Fêmeas são mais atenciosas ao cuidado da prole de manhã cedo e no meio da tarde. Machos ajudam alimentar os filhotes mas fazem menos visitas por hora que as fêmeas (U 30 = 74, P= 0,04) e passam até 60% do seu tempo em vigilância. Houve uma relação positiva entre idade do ninhego e número de visitas ao ninho por hora (r 2 = 0.395, P< 0.001). A época de reprodução desta espécie na região dos Campos de Cima da Serra difere em relação às outras regiões na América do Sul, o qual pode estar associado com a disponibilidade de recursos e qualidade do habitat. Em relação á postura e ás características dos ninhos, foram semalhantes aos dados encontrados em Uruguai e na Argentina. Embora seja extirpado na maioridade da sua distribuição original, X. flavus ainda reproduz em grupos relativamente grandes no noroeste do 17 Rio Grande do Sul e esforços de conservação desta espécie deveriam ser intensificados para garantir sua sobrevivência no Brasil. / The life history of many South American icterids is still relatively unknown. We presente detailed information on the breeding biology of a population the vulnerable Saffron-cowled blackbird in the high altitude grasslands of southern Brazil. We found 18 breeding colonies of 28 ± 25 individuals, with a positive relationship between the number of breeding pairs and colony size (y = .967x + .296; r = 0.929, P < 0.001). We collected data on 47 nests found over two breeding seasons from 2011 to 2013 in the Campos de Cima da Serra region. Breeding occurs from mid-October to late January/early February and groups move as large flocks of up to 300 individuals from March to September. Females build an open-cup nest of thick and thin grasses in emergent wetland vegetation or shrubs (mainly Eryngium horridum, Baccharis trimera and Ludwigia multinervia) at 45.12 ± 24.68 (sd) cm above the ground in three to six days (mean = 4 ± 1.26 d, n = 6). Clutch size is 3.78 ± 0.55 (sd) eggs (Range: 3 – 5), and eggs ( n= 19) measure 1.62 ± 0.09 (sd) cm by 2.18 ± 0.08 (sd). Incubation is performed by the female and lasts 12 ± 1days (n = 5). Females are most attentive during the early morning and the mid-afternoon. Males help feed nestlings but make less trips/hr than females (U30 = 74, P = 0.04) and spend up to 60% of their time guarding the nest. There was a positive relationship between nestling age and the number of trips/hr by parents (r 2 = 0.395, P < 0.001). We found discrepancies between the breeding season of X. flavus in the Campos de Cima da Serra region and other parts of Southern South America, which may be related to resource availability and habitat quality. The clutch sizeand nest characteristics were similar to those found for this species in Uruguay and Argentina. Although it has been extirpated from the majority of its original distribution, X. flavus still reproduces in relatively large groups in north eastern Rio Grande do Sul and conservation efforts should be intensified to assure its continued survival in Brazil.

Submitted by Izabel Franco (izabel-franco@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-13T14:25:31Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissYDC.pdf: 2126225 bytes, checksum: 2147e7b962e991380f7156a8f8bb3b9d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-13T20:39:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissYDC.pdf: 2126225 bytes, checksum: 2147e7b962e991380f7156a8f8bb3b9d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-13T20:39:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissYDC.pdf: 2126225 bytes, checksum: 2147e7b962e991380f7156a8f8bb3b9d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-13T20:39:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissYDC.pdf: 2126225 bytes, checksum: 2147e7b962e991380f7156a8f8bb3b9d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-16 / Não recebi financiamento / Data on the reproductive biology of birds are essential to test hypotheses regarding the evolution of different aspects of the life history of these animals. However, basic information on the reproductive behavior of most South American bird species are poorly known. Moreover, particularly for birds with wide geographic distribution, life history may vary according to the different environmental conditions. Thus, the study of reproductive behavior in different populations of the same species, allow the identification of patterns of variation to make inferences about the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms responsible for the diversification and facilitates the development of conservation strategies. The Black Crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax (Ardeidae) is a cosmopolitan species very common in Brazil, which breeds in large colonies. Although data on the reproductive biology of this species are available for Europe and North America, is little studied in Brazil. Thus, the objective of this proposal is to describe the reproductive cycle of N. nycticorax in two colonies in the Parque Estadual Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. The breeding season extended from July of 2013 to January 2014, however the field work was performed from September to January, with peak activity in September. The nests were built average 3,55 ± 2,58 m high and 2,36 ± 1,62 m alway from the main trunk. A total of 38 nests were found, but just 29 were monitored. The clutch size was 2.41 ± 0.68 (1 - 3) n = 29, and the incubation period was 23,26±1,26. The nestlings began to leave the nest with an average of 17.4 ± 3.6 days of life, what we call the stay 1, and left the nest definitely with 25,71 ± 7,16 days, which we call the residence 2. From 70 eggs, 57.14 % hatched and 25 chicks survived and left the nest. The survival rate was 31% from laying to the left of the nest, Mayfield. We compared with other tropical populations and the Northern Hemisphere, we recorded a strong tendency in latitudinal gradients of larger clutch size at high latitudes, but reproductive success does not seem to be associated with it, should be more associated with habitat conditions and availability of resources than with the latitudes. Incubation seem to support the premise to be higher in tropical regions, but few incubation data and nestling data are available for comparison. / Dados sobre a biologia reprodutiva das aves são essenciais para se testar hipóteses referentes à evolução de diferentes aspectos da história de vida destes animais. No entanto, informações básicas sobre o comportamento reprodutivo da maioria das espécies de aves Sul Americanas são inexistentes. Além disso, principalmente para as aves com ampla distribuição geográfica, a história de vida pode variar de acordo com as diferentes condições ambientais. Desta maneira, o estudo do comportamento reprodutivo em diferentes populações de uma mesma espécie, além de permitir a identificação dos padrões de variação, possibilita inferir sobre os mecanismos ecológicos e evolutivos responsáveis pela diversificação e facilita o desenvolvimento de estratégias de conservação. O socó-dorminhoco, Nycticorax nycticorax (Ardeidae) é uma espécie cosmopolita muito comum no Brasil, que se reproduz em grandes colônias. Embora dados sobre a biologia reprodutiva desta espécie sejam disponíveis para a Europa e América do Norte, no Brasil é pouco estudada. Diante disso, o objetivo desta presente proposta, foi descrever o ciclo reprodutivo de N. nycticorax em dois ninhais no Parque Estadual Fontes do Ipiranga, São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil. O período reprodutivo se estendeu de Julho de 2013 a Janeiro de 2014, sendo que a coleta de dado foi de Setembro a Janeiro, com pico de ninhos ativos em Setembro. Os ninhos foram construídos numa média de 3,55 ± 2,58 metros de altura (0,44 – 7 m, n = 16 ninhos) e 2,36 ± 1,62 metros de distância do tronco principal (0,0 – 4,48 m, n = 20 ninhos). Um total de 38 ninhos foram encontrados, mas apenas 29 foram monitorados. O tamanho de ninhada foi de 2,41 ± 0,68 (1 – 3) n = 29 e o período de incubação foi de 23, 26 ± 1,26 dias. Os filhotes começaram a sair do ninho com uma média de 17.4 ± 3.6 dias de vida, o que chamamos de permanência 1, e deixaram o ninho definitivamente com 25.71 ± 7.16 dias, o que chamamos de permanência 2. De 70 ovos, 57,14% eclodiram e 25 filhotes sobreviveram e saíram do ninho. A taxa de sobrevivência de ninho foi de 31%, pelo método de Mayfield. Esses dados foram comparados com outras populações Tropicais e do hemisfério norte, notamos uma forte tendência em gradientes latitudinais, de maiores ninhadas em altas latitudes, porém o sucesso reprodutivo não parece estar associado a latitude, pode estar mais associado com as condições de habitat e de disponibilidade de recursos. Período de incubação parece corroborar com a premissa de ser maior nas regiões tropicais, porém poucos dados de incubação e permanência estão disponíveis para comparações.

<p>This thesis examines risk management in breeding Siberian jays (<i>Perisoreus infaustus</i>), which is indigenous to the northern taiga. Parent behaviour and the nest are cryptic. A new nest is built each year. It is placed on spruce or pine branches close to the trunk and well insulated with lichens, feathers and reindeer hair.</p><p>Nest failure rate was the main factor driving annual variations in jay numbers. The probability for nesting attempts to be successful ranged annually between 0.08 and 0.70. Nest predation was rampant and a main cause of nest failure. Nest predators were mainly other corvids (primarily the Eurasian jay <i>Garrulus glandarius</i>). Habitat quality was the main factor determining the risk of predation. The risk for nest failure due to predation was higher in thinned forests with an open structure and with a high abundance of man-associated corvid species (jays, crows, raven). </p><p>Siberian jay parents show several strategic adjustments in life-history and behaviour to the risk of nest predation. Parents traded reduced feeding rates for a lower predation risk and allocated feeding to low risk situations. Chick provisioning imposes a cost by drawing the attention of visually hunting predators to the location of nests, and parents adjusted their daily routines and avoided exposure by allocating provisioning to times of low activity among nest predators. These strategic adjustments of feeding efforts were estimated to reduce the exposure to nest predators by 26 percent. Also, parents adjusted their reproductive efforts to the perceived presence of predators in a playback experiment. Siberian jays reduced their reproductive investment by laying a smaller clutch size when high risk of nest predation reduced the value of current reproduction, as predicted from life-history theory.</p>

This thesis examines risk management in breeding Siberian jays (Perisoreus infaustus), which is indigenous to the northern taiga. Parent behaviour and the nest are cryptic. A new nest is built each year. It is placed on spruce or pine branches close to the trunk and well insulated with lichens, feathers and reindeer hair. Nest failure rate was the main factor driving annual variations in jay numbers. The probability for nesting attempts to be successful ranged annually between 0.08 and 0.70. Nest predation was rampant and a main cause of nest failure. Nest predators were mainly other corvids (primarily the Eurasian jay Garrulus glandarius). Habitat quality was the main factor determining the risk of predation. The risk for nest failure due to predation was higher in thinned forests with an open structure and with a high abundance of man-associated corvid species (jays, crows, raven). Siberian jay parents show several strategic adjustments in life-history and behaviour to the risk of nest predation. Parents traded reduced feeding rates for a lower predation risk and allocated feeding to low risk situations. Chick provisioning imposes a cost by drawing the attention of visually hunting predators to the location of nests, and parents adjusted their daily routines and avoided exposure by allocating provisioning to times of low activity among nest predators. These strategic adjustments of feeding efforts were estimated to reduce the exposure to nest predators by 26 percent. Also, parents adjusted their reproductive efforts to the perceived presence of predators in a playback experiment. Siberian jays reduced their reproductive investment by laying a smaller clutch size when high risk of nest predation reduced the value of current reproduction, as predicted from life-history theory.

The aim of the thesis was to document patterns in breeding and migration in Swedish Canada geese Branta canadensis, to explain these against the genetic and historical background of the population, and to test predictions of hypotheses pertaining to parental investment. The Canada goose population in Sweden was founded by the introduction of a few individuals in the 1930's. DNA fingerprint similarity between geese breeding in Sweden was on average at the same level as between inbred close relatives in other wild bird species. The genetic variability of the population appeared to be considerably reduced in comparison to that of Canada geese breeding in North America. Dispersal and migration patterns were studied using plastic neck-bands that could be identified at long distance. Most Canada goose females nested at the lake where they grew up. Males were more prone to disperse than females, although most of them still returned to breed close to their area of origin. Geese from three breeding areas in Sweden had different winter distributions, although wintering areas overlapped considerably. Individual geese tended to return to the same wintering area as they had used in previous years. The females' investment in the egg clutch was related to the migration distance from spring foraging areas to the nesting area, suggesting an energetic cost of migration for egg production. Within breeding seasons, clutch size decreased with later initiation of nesting, but only in years with early breeding. A probable reason for this decrease was that body reserves available for egg production were larger in early layers. In years with late breeding, clutch size did not decrease, most likely because late-nesting females could supplement their body reserves by foraging on fresh vegetation. Nest defence intensity was studied by recording the behaviour of the female geese when a human approached the nest. The results largely confirmed predictions for nest defence intensity extracted from parental investment theory. / <p>Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 1993, härtill 6 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

Trade-off between offspring size and number belongs to the most discussed concepts in the life history theory. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between egg size, clutch size and female body mass at the family level in bird's and to examine whether there is the relationship between offspring size and number and life history traits specific for particular bird families. From published sources, I collected data about 5.073 species belong in 146 families. Most species of birds lay smaller clutches, on average three eggs. In 112 families from 130 tested eggs size was positively correlated with female body mass. There is evidence that egg size and clutch size are inversely related in 83 families from 130 tested but only for 34 families was significant. The relationship exists independently of female body mass across bird families and this suggests a trade-off between these traits. The relationship between the strength and shape of egg size-number correlations and life history characteristics of bird families was not frequent. According to results, the strength of correlation seems to be related to development mode and diet type. The negative egg size-number correlation is stronger when incubation period and fledging time is longer and in birds with longer lifespan. The...

L’intensification des pratiques agricoles a été identifiée comme cause majeure du déclin de la biodiversité. Plusieurs études ont documenté l’impact de la fragmentation du paysage naturel et de l’agriculture intensive sur la diversité des espèces, mais très peu ont quantifié le lien entre la structure du paysage et les interactions trophiques, ainsi que les mécanismes d’adaptation des organismes. J’ai étudié un modèle biologique à trois niveaux trophiques composé d’un oiseau hôte, l’hirondelle bicolore Tachycineta bicolor, de mouches ectoparasites du genre Protocalliphora et de guêpes parasitoïdes du genre Nasonia, au travers d’un gradient d’intensification agricole dans le sud du Québec. Le premier objectif était de déterminer l’abondance des espèces de mouches ectoparasites et de leurs guêpes parasitoïdes qui colonisent les nids d’hirondelles dans la zone d’étude. La prévalence de nids infectés par Protocalliphora spp. était de 70,8% en 2008 et 34,6% en 2009. Le pourcentage de nids comprenant des pupes de Protocalliphora parasitées par Nasonia spp. était de 85,3% en 2008 et 67,2% en 2009. Trois espèces de Protocalliphora ont été observées (P. sialia, P. bennetti et P. metallica) ainsi que deux espèces de Nasonia (N. vitripennis et N. giraulti). Il s’agit d’une première mention de P. bennetti et de N. giraulti dans la province de Québec. Mon deuxième objectif était d’évaluer l’impact de l’intensification agricole et de la structure du paysage sur les relations tri-trophiques entre les organismes à l’étude. Les résultats révèlent que les réponses à la structure du paysage de l’hirondelle, de l’ectoparasite et de l’hyperparasite dépendantent de l’échelle spatiale. L’échelle spatiale fonctionnelle à laquelle les espèces répondent le plus varie selon le paramètre du paysage modélisé. Les analyses démontrent que l’intensification des pratiques agricoles entraîne une diminution des populations d’oiseaux, d’ectoparasites et d’hyperparasites. De plus, les populations de Protocalliphora et de Nasonia sont menacées en paysage intensif puisque la dégradation du paysage associée à l’intensification des pratiques agricoles agit directement sur leurs populations et indirectement sur les populations de leurs hôtes. Mon troisième objectif était de caractériser les mécanismes comportementaux permettant aux guêpes de composer avec la variabilité de la structure du paysage et de la qualité des hôtes. Nos résultats révèlent que les femelles Nasonia ajustent la taille de leur ponte en fonction de la taille de la pupe hôte et de l’incidence d’hyperparasitisme. Le seul facteur ayant une influence déterminante sur le ratio sexuel est la proportion de paysage dédié à l’agriculture intensive. Aucune relation n’a été observée entre la structure du paysage et la taille des filles et des fils produits par les femelles Nasonia fondatrices. Ce phénomène est attribué aux comportements d’ajustement de la taille de la ponte et du ratio sexuel. En ajustant ces derniers, minimisant ainsi la compétition entre les membres de leur progéniture, les femelles fondatrices sont capables de maximiser la relation entre la disponibilité des ressources et la valeur sélective de leur progéniture. En conclusion, ce travail souligne l’importance de considérer le contexte spatial des interactions trophiques, puisqu’elles influencent la biodiversité locale et le fonctionnement de l’écosystème. / Landscape fragmentation and homogenization are considered to be the main causes of the worldwide decline in biological diversity. The degradation of habitat quality is mainly caused by the expansion and intensification of human land-use activities, primarily for agricultural purposes. Many studies documented the impact of landscape fragmentation and agricultural intensification on the overall fitness of animals across various taxa, but few works have studied this phenomenon in relation to trophic interactions. Here, we investigated the effects of landscape structure on the tri-trophic interactions between a bird host (the Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot)), its blowfly ectoparasites (Protocalliphora Hough), and their parasitoid wasps (Nasonia Walker) along a gradient of agricultural intensification covering 10, 200 km2 in southern Québec, Canada. The first objective was to describe the assemblages of Protocalliphora and Nasonia species found in Tree Swallow nests within our system. The prevalence of nest infestation by Protocalliphora was of 70.8% in 2008 and 34.6% in 2009. The percentage of nests containing Protocalliphora pupae parasitized by Nasonia spp. was of 85.3 % in 2008 and 67.2% in 2009. Three species of Protocalliphora were collected (P. sialia, P. bennetti and P. metallica) and two species of Nasonia (N. vitripennis and N. giraulti). Secondly, I evaluated the impact of landscape structure and agricultural intensification on the number of Tree Swallow fledglings, number of Protocalliphora per nest and the level of hyperparasitism by Nasonia. Our results revealed that organisms from different trophic levels perceived the landscape at distinctive spatial extents. This perception, however, differed based on whether the proportions of intensive or extensive culture in the landscape were considered. Furthermore, the number of Tree Swallow fledglings, the abundance of P. sialia and the level of hyperparasitism by N. vitripennis all decreased with an increase in the proportion of intensive culture in the landscape. Protocalliphora and Nasonia were more susceptible to extinction within highly intensive landscapes as they are confronted with both the direct effect of habitat degradation on their populations and the indirect effect of habitat degradation on their host populations. The last objective was to investigate how parasitoid wasps respond to environmental variability. We showed that the size of the P. sialia pupae hosts decreased in more intensive landscapes. Wasps clutch size was shown to increase within increasing host size and the sex ratio of offspring produced by N. vitripennis became more male biased as the proportion of intensive culture increased in the landscape. In addition, both female and male size was influenced by resource availability (size of host and number of competitors). Our data indicate that by producing smaller male biased clutches in the smaller hosts within intensive landscapes, females were able to respond to poor environments and maximize the size of their offspring. To conclude, this work highlights the importance of considering the landscape context of trophic interactions, as these interactions dictate local biodiversity and ecosystem function.

No description available.

Mating behaviour of cockroaches is spectacular phenomenon with three different mating patterns traditionally distinguished. The most common and probably ancestral is type A - female climbing. Then it is type B - male climbing and type C - no climbing. Mating type was described in around 30 Blaberidae species. As it is the only cockroach family where all three types are present, it is an interesting model group for studying evolutionary questions. The main goal of the thesis was detail exploration and description of mating sequences in 21 Blaberidae species, 17 of which haven't been examined in this aspect before. An intrageneric diversity in mating patterns (genus Pycnoscelus) was described for the first time. Moreover, in case of P. tenebrigera, it was not possible to assign its mating pattern to any of the three traditional types. Multidimensional statistical analysis and biological interpretation of qualitative behavioural elements revealed two well separated clusters of mating sequensces. Consequently, we propose to distinguish only two types of mating pattern - ancestral type (identical with type A) and derived type. We also discussed the relationship between wing reduction and occurence of derived mating types. Evaluation of quantitative behavioural elements revealed positive correlation between...

Each species has specific adaptations to its environment, and since environmental parameters reveal geographic trends, it is reasonable to expect the existence of geographic trends in species characteristics as well. The aim of this study has been to evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on geographic variability of functional traits of European birds. I have analysed the effect of temperature, precipitation, productivity, altitude and habitat type (forest, open habitats, bush, settlements, wetlands) on clutch size, number of clutches per breeding season, egg size, incubation length, age of maturity, body mass, wing, tail, bill and tarsus length. I have used data from the European breeding bird atlas, so that I have calculated mean values of all the traits for quadrats 50x50 km, and then related them to environmental characteristics using OLS and GLS. Clutch size increases with temperature, whereas the number of clutches decreases with it, indicating possible trade-off between clutch size and the number of clutches, whose result is determined by the length of breeding season. Egg size decreases with temperature, possibly due to higher survival of large eggs (and consequently juveniles) in cold regions. Incubation length increases with both temperature and environmental productivity,...