O comportamento de forrageamento dos tiranídeos (Aves, Tyrannidae) é caracterizado por um modo estereotipado de \"procura e captura\", com sutis variações interespecíficas relacionadas com fatores morfológicos e ecológicos. Estas aves são predominantemente insetívoras e podem alternar entre modos distintos de forrageamento de acordo com variações climáticas que alterem a disponibilidade de presas. Neste estudo, procuramos quantificar o comportamento de forrageamento de Alectrurus tricolor, Gubernetes yetapa, Xolmis cinereus e Xolmis velatus, durante as estações seca e chuvosa dos anos de 2012 e 2013, na Estação Ecológica de Itirapina. Nosso objetivo foi verificar quão plásticos são os modos de forrageamento destas espécies diante de mudanças nas condições ambientais em diferentes escalas temporais. Buscamos verificar se: i) Estas espécies alteram sazonalmente as proporções entre os modos de ataques, o tempo de procura por presas e a distância entre um poleiro sem sucesso para um novo poleiro? Considerando que a disponibilidade de artrópodes pode variar consideravelmente em pequenas escalas temporais e espaciais, testamos se: ii) Existem correlações entre medidas diárias de fatores meteorológicos, como temperatura, insolação, pluviosidade, umidade relativa do ar e vento, e os comportamentos de forrageamento? iii) Existem correlações entre os diferentes tipos de habitats utilizados pelas aves e os comportamentos de forrageamento? iv) Diferenças entre os sexos e a idade do indivíduo influenciam no forrageamento de Alectrurus tricolor? Nossos resultados indicaram que as aves alteram seus padrões de comportamento entre as estações seca e chuvosa de modo a melhor aproveitar as especificidades de cada estação. Ataques aéreos foram predominantemente utilizados por Alectrurus tricolor e Gubernetes yetapa ao longo das duas estações, mas apenas durante a estação chuvosa para Xolmis velatus. Ataques direcionados ao solo foram predominantemente utilizado por Xolmis cinereus durante as duas estações e por Xomis velatus durante a estação seca. Ataques aéreos foram correlacionados principalmente com altas temperaturas, mas também com baixa cobertura de nuvens, tipo de habitat, fase do dia, ventos leves, maior umidade relativa do ar e presença de chuva, com variações de acordo com a espécie estudada. O tempo de procura por presas variou principalmente com a estrutura do habitat, e os maiores valores foram encontrados quando as aves forrageavam em áreas abertas. Fatores que reduzem a disponibilidade de presas aéreas, como baixas temperaturas, baixa insolação e vento moderado, foram correlacionados com as maiores distâncias percorridas entre poleiros. Porém, quando consideramos uma maior escala temporal, encontramos maiores valores de distâncias percorridas durante a estação chuvosa para Alectrurus tricolor e Xolmis velatus, quando as condições ambientais são mais favoráveis, o que pode estar relacionado com os requerimentos da fase reprodutiva. Assim, podemos observar que a interação entre fatores meteorológicos e estrutura do habitat influenciam os padrões de comportamento destas aves / The foraging behavior of tyrant flycatchers (Aves, Tyrannidae) is characterized by a stereotyped way of \"search-and-capture\" with subtle interspecific variations related to morphological and ecological factors. These birds are mainly insectivorous and can switch between different foraging modes according to weather variations that alter the availability of prey. In this study, we seek to quantify the foraging behavior of Alectrurus tricolor, Gubernetes yetapa, Xolmis cinereus and Xolmis velatus in the dry and wet seasons of the years 2012 and 2013, at the Ecological Station of Itirapina. The objectives of this study were to determine how plastics the foraging modes of these species are against environmental changing of conditions at different time scales. It seeks to determine whether: i) These species use foraging maneuvers, search time and the distances moved from one unsuccessful perch to a new perch (give-up flight) in different proportions between the two seasons? Arthropod availability may vary considerably in small spatial and temporal scales, then we tested whether ii) There is correlation between daily weather measurements, such as temperature, cloud cover, rainfall, relative humidity and wind, and the foraging behavior? iii) There are correlations between the different habitats used by birds and foraging behavior? iv) The foraging behavior of Alectrurus tricolor is influenced by sex and age of the individual? Our results indicated the birds change their behavior between the dry and wet seasons in order to benefit from specific features of each season. Aerial hawking was predominantly used by Alectrurus tricolor and Gubernetes yetapa during both seasons, but by Xolmis velatus only during the wet season. Perch-to-ground was the predominant hunting strategy for Xolmis cinereus during both seasons and for Xomis velatus during the dry season. Aerial hawking was mainly correlated with high temperatures, but also with lower cloud cover, habitat type, time of day, low wind speed, higher relative humidity and the rain, with variations according to the studied species. Search time varied mainly with habitat structure, and the highest values when the birds were foraging in open areas. Factors reducing the availability of aerial prey, such as low temperature, low insolation and moderate wind, were correlated with longer distances traveled between perches. However, when we consider a larger time scale, we fond Alectrurus tricolor and Xolmis velatus covered greater distances the wet season (when environmental conditions are more favorable) what may be related to breeding requirements. Thus, the interaction between weather and habitat structure influences the behavioral patterns of those birds

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2006. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

O comportamento de forrageamento dos tiranídeos (Aves, Tyrannidae) é caracterizado por um modo estereotipado de \"procura e captura\", com sutis variações interespecíficas relacionadas com fatores morfológicos e ecológicos. Estas aves são predominantemente insetívoras e podem alternar entre modos distintos de forrageamento de acordo com variações climáticas que alterem a disponibilidade de presas. Neste estudo, procuramos quantificar o comportamento de forrageamento de Alectrurus tricolor, Gubernetes yetapa, Xolmis cinereus e Xolmis velatus, durante as estações seca e chuvosa dos anos de 2012 e 2013, na Estação Ecológica de Itirapina. Nosso objetivo foi verificar quão plásticos são os modos de forrageamento destas espécies diante de mudanças nas condições ambientais em diferentes escalas temporais. Buscamos verificar se: i) Estas espécies alteram sazonalmente as proporções entre os modos de ataques, o tempo de procura por presas e a distância entre um poleiro sem sucesso para um novo poleiro? Considerando que a disponibilidade de artrópodes pode variar consideravelmente em pequenas escalas temporais e espaciais, testamos se: ii) Existem correlações entre medidas diárias de fatores meteorológicos, como temperatura, insolação, pluviosidade, umidade relativa do ar e vento, e os comportamentos de forrageamento? iii) Existem correlações entre os diferentes tipos de habitats utilizados pelas aves e os comportamentos de forrageamento? iv) Diferenças entre os sexos e a idade do indivíduo influenciam no forrageamento de Alectrurus tricolor? Nossos resultados indicaram que as aves alteram seus padrões de comportamento entre as estações seca e chuvosa de modo a melhor aproveitar as especificidades de cada estação. Ataques aéreos foram predominantemente utilizados por Alectrurus tricolor e Gubernetes yetapa ao longo das duas estações, mas apenas durante a estação chuvosa para Xolmis velatus. Ataques direcionados ao solo foram predominantemente utilizado por Xolmis cinereus durante as duas estações e por Xomis velatus durante a estação seca. Ataques aéreos foram correlacionados principalmente com altas temperaturas, mas também com baixa cobertura de nuvens, tipo de habitat, fase do dia, ventos leves, maior umidade relativa do ar e presença de chuva, com variações de acordo com a espécie estudada. O tempo de procura por presas variou principalmente com a estrutura do habitat, e os maiores valores foram encontrados quando as aves forrageavam em áreas abertas. Fatores que reduzem a disponibilidade de presas aéreas, como baixas temperaturas, baixa insolação e vento moderado, foram correlacionados com as maiores distâncias percorridas entre poleiros. Porém, quando consideramos uma maior escala temporal, encontramos maiores valores de distâncias percorridas durante a estação chuvosa para Alectrurus tricolor e Xolmis velatus, quando as condições ambientais são mais favoráveis, o que pode estar relacionado com os requerimentos da fase reprodutiva. Assim, podemos observar que a interação entre fatores meteorológicos e estrutura do habitat influenciam os padrões de comportamento destas aves / The foraging behavior of tyrant flycatchers (Aves, Tyrannidae) is characterized by a stereotyped way of \"search-and-capture\" with subtle interspecific variations related to morphological and ecological factors. These birds are mainly insectivorous and can switch between different foraging modes according to weather variations that alter the availability of prey. In this study, we seek to quantify the foraging behavior of Alectrurus tricolor, Gubernetes yetapa, Xolmis cinereus and Xolmis velatus in the dry and wet seasons of the years 2012 and 2013, at the Ecological Station of Itirapina. The objectives of this study were to determine how plastics the foraging modes of these species are against environmental changing of conditions at different time scales. It seeks to determine whether: i) These species use foraging maneuvers, search time and the distances moved from one unsuccessful perch to a new perch (give-up flight) in different proportions between the two seasons? Arthropod availability may vary considerably in small spatial and temporal scales, then we tested whether ii) There is correlation between daily weather measurements, such as temperature, cloud cover, rainfall, relative humidity and wind, and the foraging behavior? iii) There are correlations between the different habitats used by birds and foraging behavior? iv) The foraging behavior of Alectrurus tricolor is influenced by sex and age of the individual? Our results indicated the birds change their behavior between the dry and wet seasons in order to benefit from specific features of each season. Aerial hawking was predominantly used by Alectrurus tricolor and Gubernetes yetapa during both seasons, but by Xolmis velatus only during the wet season. Perch-to-ground was the predominant hunting strategy for Xolmis cinereus during both seasons and for Xomis velatus during the dry season. Aerial hawking was mainly correlated with high temperatures, but also with lower cloud cover, habitat type, time of day, low wind speed, higher relative humidity and the rain, with variations according to the studied species. Search time varied mainly with habitat structure, and the highest values when the birds were foraging in open areas. Factors reducing the availability of aerial prey, such as low temperature, low insolation and moderate wind, were correlated with longer distances traveled between perches. However, when we consider a larger time scale, we fond Alectrurus tricolor and Xolmis velatus covered greater distances the wet season (when environmental conditions are more favorable) what may be related to breeding requirements. Thus, the interaction between weather and habitat structure influences the behavioral patterns of those birds

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:31:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao_mariana_moura_mendes.pdf: 1113562 bytes, checksum: 48d46dd9dafe94b682264135d3d172ef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-18 / The Great Kiskadee, Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Tyrannidae), occurs only in the Americas, is distributed from the United States (Texas) to Argentina. It is the most popular bird species of Brazil and Rio Grande do Sul, being easily recognized by its onomatopoeic song, vivid colorations and aggressive behavior in a dispute over territory and when guarding the nest. These birds can be found in a wide variety of habitats such as crop fields, towns, orchards, woods and edge of aquatic environments, such as margins of ponds, streams, rivers and dams. They have skills to identify foods in natural environments and exploring food resources of anthropic origin, which contributes to its efficiency in colonizing urban environments and their abundance in various environments. The Great Kiskadee can be considered an omnivorous species, and its flexibility in their food can influence their helminthofauna, since the majority of gastrointestinal parasites are acquired through ingestion of food. Due to lack of information on parasite biodiversity of P. sulphuratus, this work was developed aimed to characterize and disseminate the helminthofauna and nasal mites that parasites the Great Kiskadee, and to calculate the parameters of prevalence, average intensity and average abundance of parasitism. Were examined 78 specimens of P. sulphuratus belonging to the municipality of Pelotas and adjacent municipalities, among those who came to death at the Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation Center and Triage of Wild Animals (NURFS / CETAS / UFPel) and were run over, collected on the highways. At the Laboratory of Parasitology of Wild Animals, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, birds were necropsied to collect helminths and nasal mites. Helminths found and their parameters of prevalence (P), average abundance (AM) and average intensity (IM) were Dispharynx nasuta (P = 3.85%, AM = 0.10, IM = 2.66), Acuaria Mayor (P = 7 , 69%, AM = 0.18, IM = 2.33), representatives of the subfamily Capillariinae (P = 10.26%, AM = 0.22, IM = 2.12), Eucoleus sp. (P = 10.26%, AM = 0.38, IM = 3.75), Aproctella sp. (P = 6.41%, AM = 0.08, MI = 1.2), Syngamus sp. (P = 7.69%, AM = 0.26, IM = 3.33), Lophosicyadiplostomum nephrocystis (P = 14.10%, AM = 3.18, MI = 22.54), Lutztrema sp. (P = 3.85%, AM = 0.08, IM = 2), Echinostoma sp. (P = 2.56%, AM = 0.15, IM = 6), Centrorhyncus spp. (P = 48.72%, AM = 3.87, IM = 7.95), and representatives of the order Ciclophyllidae (Cestoda) (P = 2.56%). The nasal mites Ptilonyssus spinosus were found with 12.82% prevalence, AM = 1.13, IM = 8.8, sex ratio 4:2, ♀ / ♂ and Sternostoma longisetosae, 5.13%, 0.13 and 2.5, respectively, all specimens were females. A parasitic association between the two species was observed in only one P. sulphuratus. Pitangus sulphuratus features a new host for helminths Dispharynx nasuta, Acuaria mayor, Capillariinae, Eucoleus sp. Aproctella sp. Syngamus sp. (Nematoda), Lutztrema sp. and Echinostoma sp. (Trematoda). That expands the area of occurrence of A. Mayor and L. nephrocystis for the state of Rio Grande do Sul. / O bem-te-vi, Pitangus sulphuratus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Tyrannidae), ocorre apenas nas Américas, distribui-se dos Estados Unidos (Texas) até a Argentina. É a espécie de pássaro mais popular do Brasil e do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), sendo facilmente reconhecido pelo seu canto onomatopéico, sua coloração viva e comportamento agressivo na disputa de território e guarda do ninho. Estas aves podem ser encontrados em uma ampla variedade de habitats, como campos de culturas, cidades, pomares, orla de matas e em ambientes aquáticos, tais como margens de lagoas, córregos, rios e represas. Apresentam habilidades para identificar alimentos em ambientes naturais e em explorar recursos alimentares de origem antrópica, o que contribui para sua eficiência em colonizar ambientes urbanos e sua abundância em vários ambientes. O bem-te-vi é consideradauma espécie onívora, e sua flexibilidade alimentar pode influenciar na sua helmintofauna, uma vez que a maioria dos parasitos gastrointestinais é adquirida através da ingestão de alimentos. Devido a escassez de informações sobre a biodiversidade parasitária de P. sulphuratus, desenvolveu-se este trabalho com o objetivo de conhecer a helmintofauna e ácaros nasais parasitos do bem-te-vi, bem como determinar os parâmetros de prevalência, abundância média e intensidade média de parasitismo. Foram examinados 78 espécimes de P. sulphuratus provenientes de municípios do RS, dos quais alguns vieram ao óbito no Núcleo de Reabilitação da Fauna Silvestre e Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (NURFS/CETAS/UFPel) e outros recolhidos mortos por atropelamento nas rodovias. No Laboratório de Parasitologia de Animais Silvestres, Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, as aves foram necropsiadas para coleta de helmintos e ácaros nasais. Os helmintos encontrados e respectivos parâmetros de prevalência (P), abundância média (AM) e intensidade média (IM) foram: Dispharynx nasuta (P= 3,85%, AM=0,10, IM=2,66), Acuaria mayori (P= 7,69%, AM=0,18, IM=2,33),representantes da subfamília Capillariinae (P= 10,26%, AM=0,22, IM=2,12), Eucoleus sp. (P= 10,26%, AM=0,38, IM=3,75), Aproctella sp. (P= 6,41%, AM=0,08, IM=1,2), Syngamus sp. (P= 7,69%, AM=0,26, IM= 3,33), Lophosicyadiplostomum nephrocystis (P= 14,10%, AM=3,18, IM=22,54), Lutztrema sp. (P= 3,85%, AM=0,08, IM=2), Echinostoma sp. (P= 2,56%, AM=0,15, IM=6), Centrorhyncus spp. (P= 48,72%, AM=3,87, IM=7,95) e representantes da ordem Cyclophyllidea (P= 2,56%). Os ácaros nasais encontrados foram Ptilonyssus spinosus com 12,82% de prevalência, AM=1,13, IM=8,8, razão sexual 4:2, ♀/♂ e Sternostoma longisetosae, 5,13%, 0,13 e 2,5, respectivamente, todos os exemplares eram fêmeas. A associação parasitária entre essas duas espécies de ácaros foi observada em apenas uma ave. Este achado caracteriza o primeiro relato de P. spinosus e S. longisetosae em P. sulphuratus e amplia a distribuição geográfica destas espécies, sendo a primeira ocorrência de S. longisetosae na região neotropical e primeira citação de P. spinosus no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. Pitangus sulphuratus caracteriza um novo hospedeiro para os helmintos Dispharynx nasuta, Acuaria mayori, Capillariinae, Eucoleus sp., Aproctella sp., Syngamus sp. (Nematoda), Lutztrema sp. e Echinostoma sp. (Trematoda). Amplia-se a área de conhecimento de ocorrência de A. mayori, e L. nephrocystis para o estado do Rio Grande do Sul.

Sexual reproduction entails complex co-evolution between the sexes, necessary for successful fertilization, ensuring individual and population-level fitness. Interfertility is the main criterion for species definition and understanding speciation requires detailed studies of reproductive barriers. However, many studies on reproductive barriers are constrained to infer evolutionary processes from patterns. In this thesis, I focus on a hybrid zone between collared and pied flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis and hypoleuca) on the island of Öland, and a trait that is essential for fertilization: sperm. Long-term monitoring of these species, combined with recent advances in molecular tools, allow me to study how complex on-going intersexual and interspecific interactions influence reproductive isolation in this young hybrid zone. I start by exploring the links between pre- and postmating sexual selection within collared flycatchers (paper I and II). I show that secondary sexual characters and indirect mate-choice benefits are tightly linked to physiology (paper I), and that a male’s attractiveness and dominance status dictate which sperm traits are optimal, as a male’s fertilization success depends on an interaction between sperm and display traits (paper II). I then report a source of strong postzygotic isolation between recently diverged collared and pied flycatchers: impaired spermatogenesis resulting in absence of mature sperm cells in hybrid males (paper III). I show however that pied flycatcher females, who are most exposed to hybridization, can mitigate these costs through mechanisms of cryptic female choice impairing heterospecific sperm performance, allowing them to bias paternity towards pure-species offspring (paper IV). Finally, by exploring the testes transcriptomes and sperm proteomes of both species, I highlight the importance of gene and protein regulation mechanisms in facilitating phenotypic divergence between these species (paper V). Thus, my thesis reveals complex interactions between primary and secondary sexual characters in a wild bird and suggests that mechanisms of sexual selection are tightly linked to essential physiological functions. I also show that genetic incompatibilities can evolve rapidly despite low genome-wide levels of divergence but that divergence in regulatory regions and proteins potentially allows fast evolution of molecular mechanisms impairing or preventing costly heterospecific fertilization.

Climate change is affecting the distribution of species, sometimes making previously separated species come into secondary contact. For closely related species, this often leads to competition and sometimes also hybridization, which can have negative effects on genetic bio? diversity. Collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) and pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) are two closely related species that hybridize where they meet on the Swedish islands Gotland and Öland. Studies from Gotland and the north of Öland have shown that the pied flycatcher is outcompeted and displaced from favourable, high-quality habitat by the collared flycatcher, leading to a decrease in the number of pied flycatchers in deciduous forest. However, this has not been shown for the ecologically important and one of the largest deciduous forests in Sweden, the Mittland forest located in central Öland. Here I use census data collected during two periods separated by 37 years from the Mittland forest to investigate habitat choice and competition between the two species. Although the number of collared flycatcher has greatly increased in the area, I show that the collared flycatcher has not outcompeted the pied flycatcher from favourable habitat. I also show that pied flycatcher does not have a preference for coniferous forest. Lastly, I show that the two species have a near complete overlap of habitat niches. These results indicate that they are in direct competition over the favourable habitat, that there is no equilibrium between the species and the collared flycatcher might still be expanding in the Mittland forest. Allowing more time to pass and further research will show if the pied flycatcher will be displaced from the high-quality habitats in this area or not.

Au cours de leur vie, les individus doivent constamment prendre des décisions qui peuvent fortement affecter leur valeur sélective. Pour optimiser leur prise de décisions, ces individus peuvent utiliser des informations soit issues de leurs propres interactions avec l’environnement (informations personnelles), soit issues de l’observation d’autres individus (informations sociales). La propension à utiliser des informations sociales et leur signification dépend certainement de paramètres individuels et environnementaux. Pour comprendre le potentiel évolutif de ce comportement à priori adaptatif, il est nécessaire de comprendre les causes de ces variations inter- et intra-individuelles. Le but de cette thèse était donc de déterminer les sources de variations individuelles dans l’utilisation d’information sociales hétérospécifiques pour le choix d’habitat de reproduction, chez le gobe-mouche à collier (Ficedula albicollis). A partir de données à long terme et d’expérimentations en nature dans la population de Gotland (Suède), j’ai montré que l’utilisation d’informations sociales n’est pas héritable dans cette population, mais dépend de l’âge et de l’agressivité des mâles, ainsi que de la taille de ponte des compétiteurs au moment où les gobe-mouches font leur choix. A partir d’une expérience de repasse, j’ai également montré que les femelles peuvent ajuster, en fonction de leur propre niveau d’agressivité, leur choix de site de nidification en fonction de caractéristiques de chants supposément liés à la qualité des mésanges charbonnières (Parus major). Cette thèse souligne l’importance de la personnalité dans l’utilisation d’informations sociales hétérospecifiques pour la sélection d’habitat de reproduction dans cette population, et montre que des caractéristiques fines de signaux à l’intention de congénères peuvent aussi être utilisées par d’autres espèces. Cela nous aide ainsi à mieux comprendre les mécanismes évolutifs de ce comportement / All their life, individuals have to make decisions that may strongly affect their fitness. To optimize their decisions, they can use personally acquired information but also information obtained from observing other individuals (“social information”). The propensity to gather and use social information and the information meaning might depend on both individual and environmental factors. Studying what drives within- and between-individual differences in social information use should help us understand the evolutionary potential of this supposedly adaptive behaviour. The aim of my PhD was to empirically investigate sources of variability in heterospecific social information use for breeding habitat selection. I worked on a natural population of collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis, Gotland Island, Sweden), a passerine species shown to cue on the presence, density, reproductive investment and nest site preference of dominant titmice for settlement decisions. Using both long term and experimental data, I showed that the use of heterospecific social information, measured as the probability to copy tit nest preference, is not heritable but depends on male age and aggressiveness and on tit apparent breeding investment at the time of flycatcher settlement. Using a playback experiment, I also showed that female flycatchers can fine-tune nest site choice according to (i) song features supposedly reflecting great tit (Parus major) quality and (ii) their own aggressiveness level. This thesis highlights the importance of personality in the use of heterospecific social information for breeding site selection in this population, and broadens the traditionally known sources of heterospecific information to fine song characteristics reflecting heterospecifics’ quality. To fully understand the evolutionary mechanisms and consequences of heterospecific social information use, genetically based plasticity and fitness consequences remains to be explored