Avian predation on wild and cultured sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Strongylocentrotus intermedius</Emphasis> in a rocky shore habitat

ABSTRACT:   The present study reports the annual variation in consumption of the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius by avian predators on a rocky shore where the culture of sea urchins has been conducted. Carrion crow and a few gull species were the most abundant avian predators and consumed a large number of sea urchins. Crows consumed mostly natural sea urchins, approximately 36 kg ww/ha per year on the intertidal rocky bench, but the gull species consumed mostly cultured sea urchins, approximately 100 kg ww/ha per year in the culture area. The seasonal variation in the amount of sea urchins consumed by crows was higher than that by the gull species, presumably because of the difference in foraging behavior in association with the seasonal tidal cycle. The natural sea urchins consumed are an allochthonous input from the subtidal to the intertidal habitat, and thus, crow predation may not affect the natural and the cultured populations of the sea urchin. The gull species consumed much of the cultured sea urchin, and thus, may be regarded as an effective predator causing damage to sea urchin culture. The results suggest that further studies are needed to determine why the gull species selectively feed on cultured sea urchins.     

Molecular sexing of Jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos japonensis) and Carrion crow (Corvus corone corone) using a feather

A molecular sexing method using the intron‐size difference between chromo‐helicase‐DNA binding protein (CHD1) genes on the Z and W sex chromosomes (CHD1Z and CHD1W, respectively) was developed for wild Jungle crows and wild Carrion crows. The polymerase chain reaction product sizes were 661 bp for CHD1Z and 465 bp for CHD1W in both the Jungle and the Carrion crows. Each male crow sample produced a single fragment (CHD1Z), whereas female samples produced two fragments (CHD1Z and CHD1W), which differed by 200 bp in crows. In the present study, sexing live Jungle and Carrion crows was performed by applying the method to a feather for molecular sexing.     

Gross morphological features of the air sacs of the hooded crow (Corvus cornix)

Air sacs are considered to be one of the controlling factors of bird behaviour and habits in addition to their roles in ventilation, regulating body temperature, swimming and flight. As a scavenger and an omnivorous flight bird, air sacs of the hooded crow were the focus of this study. Eight healthy, adult hooded crows were used to examine the morphological characteristics of the air sacs, which were examined grossly and with latex and cast preparations. In general, the morphological overview of the hooded crow air sacs is similar to other avian species. We observed nine air sacs; four paired sacs (cervical, cranial thoracic, caudal thoracic and abdominal air sacs) and one unpaired sac; the clavicular air sac. The cervical air sac communicated to the lung through the medioventral bronchus and had three diverticula; intermuscular, subscapular and subcutaneous. The clavicular air sac communicated with lung through the medioventral bronchus and had subscapular, axillary, humeral, subpectoral and sternal diverticula. The cranial and caudal thoracic air sacs were communicated with lung through the lateroventral bronchi and the both sacs did not have any diverticula. The abdominal air sacs were posterior to the caudal thoracic air sacs. The left abdominal sac was the largest air sac. The right and left abdominal sacs gave off branches to diverticula that pneumatized synsacrum. The abdominal air sacs gave off femoral diverticula behind the hip joint as well as perirenal diverticula.     

Corvid response to human settlements and campgrounds: Causes, consequences, and challenges for conservation

Human development often favors species adapted to human conditions with subsequent negative effects on sensitive species. This is occurring throughout the urbanizing world as increases by generalist omnivores, like some crows and ravens (corvids) threaten other birds with increased rates of nest predation. The process of corvid responses and their actual effects on other species is only vaguely understood, so we quantified the population response of radio-tagged American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), common ravens (Corvus corax), and Steller’s jays (Cyanocitta stelleri) to human settlements and campgrounds and examined their influence as nest predators on simulated marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) nests on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula from 1995 to 2000. The behavior and demography of crows, ravens, and jays was correlated to varying degrees with proximity to human development. Crows and ravens had smaller home ranges and higher reproduction near human settlements and recreation. Annual survival of crows was positively associated with proximity to human development. Home range and reproduction of Steller’s jays was independent of proximity to human settlements and campgrounds. Local density of crows increased because home ranges of neighboring breeding pairs overlapped extensively (6× more than ravens and 3× more than Steller’s jays) and breeders far from anthropogenic foods traveled 10s of kilometers to access them. Corvids accounted for 32.5% of the predation events (n = 837) we documented on artificial murrelet nests. Small corvids (jays) were common nest predators across our study area but their contribution as predators did not vary with proximity to settlements and campgrounds. In contrast, large corvids (crows and ravens) were rare nest predators across our study area but their contribution varied greatly with proximity to settlements and campgrounds. Managers seeking to reduce the risk of nest predation need to consider the varied impacts and variable behavioral and population responses of potential nest predators. In our situation, removing large corvids may do little to reduce overall rates of nest predation because of the diverse predator assemblage, but reducing anthropogenic food in the landscape may be effective.     

川西亚高山针叶林林窗边界木特征的研究

为探讨川西亚高山针叶林边界木树冠对林窗干扰的响应,对王朗自然保护区的这一植被类型进行了调查,分析了该类型森林中边界木的数量、树高、胸径和偏冠率的分布。结果表明：一些林窗的个别边界木个体较小,但大多数边界木个体与群落乔木层中主要树木的个体大小相一致,一个林窗中边界木的平均高度可以用来表示林窗的高度;约1／5的边界木未出现偏冠现象,绝大多数边界木的偏冠率在0．5～0．7之间(占61．72％),不同树种间的偏冠有显著差异;单个林窗的边界木最少为5株,最多为17株,平均每个林窗拥有9．51株边界木。     

山西芦芽山自然保护区星鸦的繁殖生态

2007～2009年,在山西芦芽山国家级自然保护区对星鸦的繁殖生态进行了研究,结果表明：在本区星鸦主要分布在海拔1 500～2 500 m的针叶林或针阔混交林带;繁殖前3月的种群密度为0.25只/km,繁殖后的8月种群密度为0.43只/km;繁殖期为4～7月,最早产卵期为4月19日,窝卵数为3～5枚,孵化期为17～18 d,孵化率为83.2%,巢内育雏期18～19 d,幼乌离巢率为96%;星鸦的食物主要以昆虫为主,占总食物量的76.7%。     

Managing supplementary feeding for avian scavengers: Guidelines for optimal design using ecological criteria

Current European sanitary laws are promoting the concentration of domestic livestock carcasses in limited locations called ‘vulture restaurants’ or supplementary feeding stations in order to safeguard human health. However, this type of food concentration could lead to monopolization by a few, large dominant species. Management guidelines are urgently needed to ensure that potentially less competitive and more endangered scavengers can also benefit from this resource, considering that once abundant carcasses are now absent from the field. Here, we assess factors affecting the abundance of six avian scavenger species at 17 feeding stations in northern Spain, considering aspects such as carrion availability, physiographic features, humanization, presence of heterospecifics and densities of scavengers during both winter and summer seasons. Results indicate that conditions for interspecific facilitatory processes are possible at low numbers (<100 individuals) of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus). Otherwise, the other avian scavengers are excluded. In a few cases, spatio-temporal patterns of segregation become apparent. Differences in the size of carcasses supplied to feeding stations as well as the local characteristics influence the balance of species at these points and, therefore, how species of conservation concern use feeding stations. Future legislation should encourage the opening of numerous feeding stations supplied with low quantities of food to mimic the original condition of temporal and spatial unpredictability of carcasses and to maintain ecological relationships within the scavenger guild.     

椴树红松林林隙边缘木特征研究

以黑龙江小兴安岭椴树红松林为对象,对椴树红松林林隙边缘木的数量、胸径级、高度级和偏冠率等数据进行分析,运用威布尔及正态模型拟合胸径级和高度级的多度分布,同时采用柯尔莫哥洛夫（K−S）检验法和卡方（χ²）检验法检验其拟合结果。结果表明：单个林隙的边缘木分布介于9～15株,以9株边缘木形成的林隙居多;1.04%的边缘木未出现偏冠现象,67.71%的边缘木偏冠率分布于0.5～0.7;树高在25 m以上的边缘木分布较广泛,在不同面积的林隙中均零星分布。林隙边缘木胸径级和高度级多度的分布均符合2种分布模型,而边缘木径级、高度级和偏冠率分布均因林隙面积和边缘木树种的不同而有所差异。