Attila Fülöp

The Effect of Coccidians on The Condition and Immune profile of Molting House Sparrows (Passer Domesticus)

ABSTRACT. Feather molt is recognized as an energetically costly activity for birds, and parasite infestation during molt has the potential to reduce host fitness because parasites sequester essential nutrients and stimulate the immune system. We manipulated the coccidian parasite load of captive male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) by suppressing the natural infection of control birds with an anticoccidial drug and infecting experimental birds with coccidian oocysts. Following infestation, the effect of chronic coccidian infection on individual condition, molt and 12 indices of physiological and immunological function was assessed. We found a significant positive relationship between infestation and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio measured at capture, indicating infectioninduced stress. We also found that coccidians negatively affected feather growth during molt: the increase in wing length of the noninfected birds was significantly higher than that of infected birds. In comparison to control birds, infected birds showed a significantly higher concentration of white blood cells and greater blood bactericidal activity. There was also a positive correlation between infection intensity, agglutination and lysis of blood in the experimentally infested birds, which indicated activation of the constitutive innate immune system during infection. Finally, the total antioxidant capacity of the blood increased significantly, while the carotenoid concentration decreased significantly in infected compared with control birds. Therefore, we showed that coccidians stimulated several measures of the constitutive innate immunity, including the bactericidal activity of the blood, and that coccidians can have significant negative effects on the health and possibly fitness of molting House Sparrows.

Autumn migration of soaring birds at Bosporus: validating a new survey station design

Capsule Using a new survey station network we report the highest number of migrating raptors and Black Storks ever recorded on Bosporus during the autumn migration period. Also, we show that migration occurs with similar intensities over the full length of the strait, but individual migration patterns differ for some species at a local scale.

The effects of adult sex ratio and density on parental care in Lethrus apterus (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae)

Theoretical models suggest that adult sex ratio (ASR) and population density are expected to influence parental roles by reducing the mating opportunities of the commoner sex and by changing the intensity of sperm competition, although experimental evidence for these predictions is sparse. In biparental species with a high risk of extrapair paternity and consecutive egg laying over the breeding period, males are expected to reduce their parental investment and to spend more time on mate guarding if male density is high, to maximize their fitness. We conducted a field experiment to test this hypothesis in Lethrus apterus, a flightless biparental beetle species from the Geotrupidae family. Using seminatural enclosures, we assigned individuals to nine treatment groups differing in adult sex ratio (three levels) and individual density (three levels) using a full factorial experimental design. Nest attendance and parental provisioning (i.e. collecting and transporting leaves to the nest) were recorded as well as the number, size and sex ratio of the offspring. We found that as the level of male–male competition increased, generated either by the increased density of individuals or by the male-biased sex ratio, pairs showed higher nest attendance and collected fewer leaves. Male-biased groups also produced fewer offspring under high and low densities indicating a possible conflict of interest between the sexes over paternity and brood size. These results support the increased paternity assurance hypothesis under a high level of intrasexual competition.

Return migration of Common Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) between breeding grounds in Hungary and wintering grounds in Africa as documented by non-PTT GPS technology

Abstract We tagged 12 adult Common Cuckoos (Cuculus canorus) with non-platform terminal transmitter (non-PTT) GPS-UHF telemetry at their breeding grounds in Hungary. One male and two female Cuckoos (one of them twice) were again observed in subsequent years, and GPS fixes documented their migration routes to and from Africa, as far south as Namibia. All four routes showed the species-typical clockwise loop migration. Although currently non-PPT GPS tracking with remotely downloadable data as an ornithological method is primarily suitable to map home ranges of birds, it could be a complement to PTT technology in migration research, especially for delivery of higher spatial accuracy.ZusammenfassungZug des Kuckucks (Cuculus canorus) zwischen den Überwinterungsgebieten in Afrika und den Brutgebieten in Ungarn, aufgezeichnet mittels nicht-Satellitenbasierter GPS-Technologie Wir markierten 12 adulte Kuckucke (Cuculus canorus) in ihren Brutgebieten in Ungarn mit nicht Satellitenbasierter GPS-UHF-Telemetrie. Ein Männchen und zwei Weibchen (eines davon zweimal) wurden in den folgenden Jahren erneut beobachtet. Die GPS-Daten zeigten ihre Zugrouten von und nach Afrika mit Namibia als südlichstem Punkt. Alle vier Routen zeigten den arttypischen Schleifenzug im Uhrzeigersinn. Obwohl in der Ornithologie derzeit nicht Satellitenbasierte GPS-UHF-Telemetrie mit Datenfernübertragung in erster Linie eingesetzt wird, um Bewegungen im Territorium aufzuzeichnen, könnte sie auch die Vogelzugforschung ergänzen, vor allem dann, wenn eine höhere räumliche Auflösung gewünscht wird.

Oxidative physiology of reproduction in a passerine bird: a field experiment

Organisms face resource trade-offs to support their parental effort and survival. The life-history oxidative stress hypothesis predicts that an individual’s redox state modulates the trade-off between current and residual fitness, but this has seldom been tested experimentally in non-captive organisms. In this study, we manipulated the brood size in breeding pairs of barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) and found that females tending enlarged broods had increased levels of plasma oxidative damage (malondialdehyde concentration). This effect, however, was not accompanied by either a depletion, or defensive upregulation in antioxidants (glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, and uric acid) that may explain the increase in oxidative damage. Brood size manipulation and the level of plasma oxidative damage during brood rearing are not translated into decreased annual return rate, which does not support the oxidative stress hypothesis of life-history trade-offs. On the contrary, we found that female’s oxidative damage and total glutathione levels, an important intracellular non-enzymatic antioxidant measured at hatching decreased and correlated positively, respectively with annual return rate, suggesting that oxidative condition at hatching might be a more important contributor to fitness than the oxidative physiology measured during chick rearing. We also show that individual traits and ecological factors, such as the timing of breeding and the abundance of blood-sucking nest mites, correlated with the redox state of males and females during brood care.Significance statementOxidative stress is one of the most important physiological costs of reproduction and thus a key modulator of life-history trade-offs. In this study, we manipulated reproductive effort in breeding pairs of barn swallows and found that females tending enlarged broods had increased levels of plasma oxidative damage. This effect, however, was not accompanied by either a depletion or upregulation in antioxidants that may explain the increase in oxidative damage. We found that female’s oxidative damage and total glutathione levels measured at hatching decreased and correlated positively, respectively with annual return rate, suggesting that oxidative condition at hatching might be an important contributor to fitness. Brood size manipulation and the increased levels of plasma oxidative damage are not translated into decreased annual return rate; thus, our results support the hypothesis that reproductive effort has a transient effect on oxidative physiology.

Autumn Passage of Soaring Birds over Dobrogea (Romania): A Migration Corridor in Southeast Europe

The Dobrogea region in southeastern Romania, which is part of the Eurasian-East African Flyway, is listed as one of the important migration corridors for soaring birds on the western coast of the Black Sea. However, our knowledge regarding migration intensity, phenology and geographical patterns of soaring birds over the area is poor. To determine the migration intensity and phenology of soaring birds, we recorded the autumn migration in the Măcin Mountains (northern Dobrogea) from mid-August to the end of October between 2002–2007. To describe the geographical patterns of migration at a regional scale, we recorded migration intensity in the second half of September in 2010 and 2011, simultaneously from 15 and 13 counting points, respectively, covering the entire region of Dobrogea. In the Măcin Mountains we recorded a mean number (±SD) of 11,297 ± 2333.5 (CV = 20.7%) migrating raptors per year, and of 21,367 ± 10,949.3 (51.2%) and 455.6 ± 43.6 (9.6%) migrating White Storks Ciconia ciconia and Black Storks Ciconia nigra, respectively. Migration phenology parameters varied across raptor and non-raptor species. Migration occurred over a broad front, covering all of Dobrogea. However, migration intensity was more pronounced in the western, central and eastern parts of the region, and was less intensive in the northern central areas. Overall, we recorded 30 migrating raptor species and three non-raptor species. The most abundant raptors were Common Buzzard Buteo buteo, European Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus, Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina, Eurasian Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus and Western Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus. The three non-raptor species were White Stork, Black Stork and Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus. Our study provides the first general overview of the autumn passage of soaring birds over Dobrogea, highlighting the importance of this area as part of a global migration network.

Phylogenetic and Morphological Analysis of Birch Mice (Genus Sicista , Family Sminthidae, Rodentia) in the Kazak Cradle with Description of a New Species

Birch mice (genus Sicista) represent an early diverging lineage of dipodid rodents with a wide geographic distribution and a cryptic lifestyle that makes the genus difficult to study. As a result, reconstructing the evolutionary phylogeny of the group remains incomplete. Here, we report the molecular phylogeny of the genus based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers sampled from 12 of the 14 known living species. Moreover, we discuss morphological character (i.e., fur coloration and glans penis morphology) evolution in the genus. We have found a strong agreement between phylogenetic relationships among species and morphological peculiarities, both supporting a mountainous origin of Sicista, and a recent spread towards lowlands of some lineages. Glans penis structure turned out to be rather simple in the early lineages, but became more complex in phylogenetically later diverging taxa. The presence of dorsal stripes is associated with the colonization of lowland habitats. In addition, we describe here a species new to science from the Tien Shan Mountains, and provide evidence of uncovered cryptic diversity from the region. Additionally, we revise the identification of a specimen collected from China, thus documenting the presence of Sicista pseudonapaea, previously unreported from that country.

Autumn migration of soaring birds in North Dobrogea, Romania: a study with implications for wind farm development

Abstract In Dobrogea, a core area for wind energy exploitation in Romania, existing knowledge regarding the intensity and pattern of bird migration is limited. In the absence of enumerated data, wind farms may be constructed in areas where large aggregations of migrants pass. In this study we recorded the intensity of the autumn migration of soaring birds in three locations within the Măcin Mountains, where wind farms are planned to be built. The locations chosen were at Văcăreni, Greci and Cerna villages. Furthermore we categorized all migrating individuals as threatened or non-threatened by the planned wind farms, based on their migration routes and height at local scale. At Văcăreni 4.716 individuals were counted, 3.394 raptors and 1.322 non-raptors, at Greci 2.387 individuals, 2.064 raptors and 323 non-raptors, and finally at Cerna, 5.268 individuals, 4.529 raptors and 739 non-raptors. At all three sites a significant proportion of birds, both raptors and non-raptors, were found to be threatened by the proposed wind farms. At Văcăreni 68.33% of raptors and 84.95% of non-raptors were at threat, at Greci 44.48% and 54.18% respectively, and at Cerna 59.37% and 94.86%. As such we conclude that intensive migration occurs in North Dobrogea and wind farms would have a considerable negative impact on migrants in the studied areas Összefoglalás A madárvonulás intenzitásáról és mintázatáról Dobrudzsa területéről, mely egy kulcsfontosságú régiót jelent Románia számára, a szélenergia hasznosítása szempontjából csekély mennyiségű ismerettel rendelkezünk. A megfelelő információk hiányában a szélerőmű parkokat olyan területekre építhetik, ahol jelentős madár tömegek vonulnak el. Vizsgálatunkban a termikelő madarak őszi vonulását követtük a Măcin-hegység térségében, Văcăreni, Greci és Cerna települések határában, ahova a közeljövőben szélerőmű parkokat terveznek létesíteni. Az átvonuló egyedeket megszámoltuk, majd minden madár esetében megállapítottuk, összehasonlítva a vonulási útvonalát és magasságát a tervezett szélerőművek hatáskörzetével, hogy veszélyeztetett-e vagy sem a tervezett a szélturbinák által. Văcăreni-nél összesen 4716 egyedet észleltünk, 3394 ragadozót és 1322 nem ragadozót, Greci-nél 2387 egyedet, 2064 ragadozót és 323 nem ragadozót, és végül Cerna-nál 5268 egyedet, 4529 ragadozót és 739 nem ragadozót. Văcăreni-nél a ragadozók 68,33%-a és a nem ragadozók 84,95%-a vonult a veszélyes zónában, Greci-nél a ragadozók 44,48%-a, a nem ragadozók 54,18%-a, Cerna-nál a ragadozók 59,37%-a, valamint a nem ragadozók 94,86%-a repült át a veszélyes területen. Eredményeink alapján megállapíthatjuk, hogy Észak-Dobrudzsában jelentős őszi madárvonulás fi gyelhető meg, valamint a tervezett szélerőmű parkok jelentős kockázatot jelentenének a vonuló madarakra, ha megépülnének.