1
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Barros-Leite A, Francisco MR. Nest site correlates with nest type and body size in Troglodytidae passerines. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20240053. [PMID: 39191286 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Nest characteristics are highly variable in the Passeriformes, but the macroevolutionary patterns observable for birds in general are not necessarily valid for specific families, suggesting that both global and within-family studies are needed. Here, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to address the evolutionary patterns of nest type, nest site and habitat in the Troglodytidae, a passerine group with diversified nest and habitat characteristics. The common ancestor of the Troglodytidae likely constructed enclosed nests within sheltered sites (cavity or crevice), but the radiation of the group was characterized by (i) shifts to exposed nest sites (vegetation) with retention of enclosed nests or (ii) retention of sheltered sites with nest simplification (cup nests). Nest site and nest type presented strong phylogenetic conservatism and evolved interdependently, while habitat was poorly correlated with nest evolution. A phylogenetic mixed modelling approach showed that sheltered nest sites were associated with small body size, likely to avoid competition with other animals for these places. With these results, we improve the understanding of nest character evolution in the Troglodytidae and reveal evolutionary aspects not observed so far for passerine birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraão Barros-Leite
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz km 235 , São Carlos, SP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Mercival R Francisco
- Departamento de Ciências Ambientais, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, campus de Sorocaba. Rodovia João Leme dos Santos km 110 , Sorocaba, SP 18052-780, Brazil
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2
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Schield DR, Brown CE, Shakya SB, Calabrese GM, Safran RJ, Sheldon FH. Phylogeny and historical biogeography of the swallow family (Hirundinidae) inferred from comparisons of thousands of UCE loci. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2024; 197:108111. [PMID: 38801965 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Swallows (Hirundinidae) are a globally distributed family of passerine birds that exhibit remarkable similarity in body shape but tremendous variation in plumage, sociality, nesting behavior, and migratory strategies. As a result, swallow species have become models for empirical behavioral ecology and evolutionary studies, and variation across the Hirundinidae presents an excellent opportunity for comparative analyses of trait evolution. Exploiting this potential requires a comprehensive and well-resolved phylogenetic tree of the family. To address this need, we estimated swallow phylogeny using genetic data from thousands of ultraconserved element (UCE) loci sampled from nearly all recognized swallow species. Maximum likelihood, coalescent-based, and Bayesian approaches yielded a well-resolved phylogenetic tree to the generic level, with minor disagreement among inferences at the species level, which likely reflect ongoing population genetic processes. The UCE data were particularly useful in helping to resolve deep nodes, which previously confounded phylogenetic reconstruction efforts. Divergence time estimates from the improved swallow tree support a Miocene origin of the family, roughly 13 million years ago, with subsequent diversification of major groups in the late Miocene and Pliocene. Our estimates of historical biogeography support the hypothesis that swallows originated in the Afrotropics and have subsequently expanded across the globe, with major in situ diversification in Africa and a secondary major radiation following colonization of the Neotropics. Initial examination of nesting and sociality indicates that the origin of mud nesting - a relatively rare nest construction phenotype in birds - was a major innovation coincident with the origin of a clade giving rise to over 40% of extant swallow diversity. In contrast, transitions between social and solitary nesting appear less important for explaining patterns of diversification among swallows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew R Schield
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA; Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
| | - Clare E Brown
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Subir B Shakya
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gina M Calabrese
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Rebecca J Safran
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Frederick H Sheldon
- Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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3
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Fang YT, Kuo HC, Chen CY, Chou SJ, Lu CW, Hung CM. Brain Gene Regulatory Networks Coordinate Nest Construction in Birds. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae125. [PMID: 38916488 PMCID: PMC11223658 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Nest building is a vital behavior exhibited during breeding in birds, and is possibly induced by environmental and social cues. Although such behavioral plasticity has been hypothesized to be controlled by adult neuronal plasticity, empirical evidence, especially at the neurogenomic level, remains limited. Here, we aim to uncover the gene regulatory networks that govern avian nest construction and examine whether they are associated with circuit rewiring. We designed an experiment to dissect this complex behavior into components in response to pair bonding and nest material acquisition by manipulating the presence of mates and nest materials in 30 pairs of zebra finches. Whole-transcriptome analysis of 300 samples from five brain regions linked to avian nesting behaviors revealed nesting-associated gene expression enriched with neural rewiring functions, including neurogenesis and neuron projection. The enriched expression was observed in the motor/sensorimotor and social behavior networks of female finches, and in the dopaminergic reward system of males. Female birds exhibited predominant neurotranscriptomic changes to initiate the nesting stage, while males showed major changes after entering this stage, underscoring sex-specific roles in nesting behavior. Notably, major neurotranscriptomic changes occurred during pair bonding, with minor changes during nest material acquisition, emphasizing social interactions in nest construction. We also revealed gene expression associated with reproductive behaviors and tactile sensing for nesting behavior. This study presents novel neurogenomic evidence supporting the hypothesis of adult neural plasticity underlying avian nest-construction behavior. By uncovering the genetic toolkits involved, we offer novel insights into the evolution of animals' innate ability to construct nests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ting Fang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Chih Kuo
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Yu Chen
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shen-Ju Chou
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ming Hung
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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4
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Chia SY, Fang YT, Su YT, Tsai PY, Hsieh C, Tsao SH, Juang JY, Hung CM, Tuanmu MN. A global database of bird nest traits. Sci Data 2023; 10:923. [PMID: 38129417 PMCID: PMC10739861 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02837-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The reproductive success of birds is closely tied to the characteristics of their nests. It is crucial to understand the distribution of nest traits across phylogenetic and geographic dimensions to gain insight into bird evolution and adaptation. Despite the extensive historical documentation on breeding behavior, a structured dataset describing bird nest characteristics has been lacking. To address this gap, we have compiled a comprehensive dataset that characterizes three ecologically and evolutionarily significant nest traits-site, structure, and attachment-for 9,248 bird species, representing all 36 orders and 241 out of the 244 families. By defining seven sites, seven structures, and four attachment types, we have systematically classified the nests of each species using information from text descriptions, photos, and videos sourced from online databases and literature. This nest traits dataset serves as a valuable addition to the existing body of morphological and ecological trait data for bird species, providing a useful resource for a wide range of avian macroecological and macroevolutionary research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Yuan Chia
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Yi-Ting Fang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ting Su
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yu Tsai
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia Hsieh
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
- Program in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Shu-Han Tsao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Yang Juang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Program in Nanoengineering and Nanoscience, Graduate School of Advanced Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ming Hung
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Mao-Ning Tuanmu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
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5
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Whittaker BA, Nolet-Mulholland L, Nevoit A, Yun D, Lambert CT, Blunk SC, Guillette LM. Zebra finches have style: Nest morphology is repeatable and associated with experience. iScience 2023; 26:108194. [PMID: 37965145 PMCID: PMC10641255 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated whether birds build nests in repeatable styles and, if so, whether styles were associated with past nest-building experience. Laboratory, captive bred zebra finches in an Experimental group were given nest-building experience, whereas, birds in a Control group were not. Each pair (n = 20) then built four nests that underwent image analyses for nest size, geometric shape and entrance orientation. Birds built nests in repeatable styles, with lower morphometric variation among nests built by the same pair and higher morphometric variation among nests built by different pairs. Morphology was not associated with construction time, body weight, nor age of birds. We found lower morphometric variation among nests built by the Experimental group, which also used less material to build nests compared to the Control group. Prior experience may therefore have been advantageous, as learning to reduce material usage while achieving a similar product (nest) may have lowered building costs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anna Nevoit
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Deborah Yun
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Connor T. Lambert
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Sara C. Blunk
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
| | - Lauren M. Guillette
- Department of Psychology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada
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6
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Mainwaring MC, Medina I, Tobalske BW, Hartley IR, Varricchio DJ, Hauber ME. The evolution of nest site use and nest architecture in modern birds and their ancestors. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220143. [PMID: 37427466 PMCID: PMC10331912 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of nest site use and nest architecture in the non-avian ancestors of birds remains poorly understood because nest structures do not preserve well as fossils. Nevertheless, the evidence suggests that the earliest dinosaurs probably buried eggs below ground and covered them with soil so that heat from the substrate fuelled embryo development, while some later dinosaurs laid partially exposed clutches where adults incubated them and protected them from predators and parasites. The nests of euornithine birds-the precursors to modern birds-were probably partially open and the neornithine birds-or modern birds-were probably the first to build fully exposed nests. The shift towards smaller, open cup nests has been accompanied by shifts in reproductive traits, with female birds having one functioning ovary in contrast to the two ovaries of crocodilians and many non-avian dinosaurs. The evolutionary trend among extant birds and their ancestors has been toward the evolution of greater cognitive abilities to construct in a wider diversity of sites and providing more care for significantly fewer, increasingly altricial, offspring. The highly derived passerines reflect this pattern with many species building small, architecturally complex nests in open sites and investing significant care into altricial young. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Bret W. Tobalske
- Field Research Station at Fort Missoula, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, MT 59802, USA
| | - Ian R. Hartley
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
| | - David J. Varricchio
- Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Mark E. Hauber
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
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7
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Sheard C, Street SE, Evans C, Lala KN, Healy SD, Sugasawa S. Beak shape and nest material use in birds. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220147. [PMID: 37427471 PMCID: PMC10331908 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The evolution of behaviour can both influence, and be influenced by, morphology. Recent advances in methods and data availability have facilitated broad-scale investigations of physical form and behavioural function in many contexts, but the relationship between animal morphology and object manipulation-particularly objects used in construction-remains largely unknown. Here, we employ a new global database of nest materials used by 5924 species of birds together with phylogenetically informed random forest models to evaluate the link between beak shape and these nest-building materials. We find that beak morphology, together with species diet and access to materials, can predict nest-material use above chance and with high accuracy (68-97%). Much of this relationship, however, is driven by phylogenetic signal and sampling biases. We therefore conclude that while variation in nest material use is linked with that of beak shape across bird species, these correlations are modulated by the ecological context and evolutionary history of these species. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Sheard
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Life Sciences Building, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Sally E. Street
- Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Dawson Building, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Caitlin Evans
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews KY16 9TJ, UK
| | - Kevin N. Lala
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews KY16 9TJ, UK
| | - Susan D. Healy
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews KY16 9TJ, UK
| | - Shoko Sugasawa
- School of Biology, University of St Andrews, Harold Mitchell Building, St Andrews KY16 9TJ, UK
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8
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Fischer EK. Form, function, foam: evolutionary ecology of anuran nests and nesting behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220141. [PMID: 37427468 PMCID: PMC10331914 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphibians exhibit an incredible diversity of reproductive and life-history strategies, including various forms of nest construction and nesting behaviour. Although anuran amphibians (frogs and toads) are not known for their nests, nesting behaviour in this clade-broadly defined as a location chosen or constructed for eggs and young-is tightly linked to the amphibious lifestyle of this group. Transitions to increasingly terrestrial living have driven reproductive diversity in anurans, including the repeated, independent evolution of nests and nesting. Indeed, a core feature of many notable anuran adaptations-including nesting behaviour-is the maintenance of an aquatic environment for developing offspring. The tight link between increasingly terrestrial reproduction and morphological, physiological and behavioural diversity in anurans provides inroads for studying the evolutionary ecology of nests, their architects and their contents. This review provides an overview of nests and nesting behaviour in anurans, highlighting areas where additional work may be particularly fruitful. I take an intentionally broad view of what constitutes nesting to highlight what we can learn from thinking and researching comparatively across anurans and vertebrates more broadly. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva K. Fischer
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL 61801, USA
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9
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Perez DM, Manica LT, Medina I. Variation in nest-building behaviour in birds: a multi-species approach. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220145. [PMID: 37427476 PMCID: PMC10331906 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Researchers have long suggested that animals with greater behavioural flexibility will be more likely to survive in face of environmental changes. However, it is unknown how this varies across species. Nest building is a behaviour directly related to the reproduction and survival of species by conferring protection from external environmental conditions. The study of nests offers a window into the behaviour of birds, and variation in nest morphology is necessarily linked to variation in building behaviours. We test whether variation in nest morphology is phylogenetically conserved by using data on nest morphology from 55 passerine species (>700 specimens) and measuring intraspecific variability in nest structure. We found that species mean and within-species variation in nest morphology are phylogenetically conserved, and that species with domed nests presented higher levels of nest morphology variation than cup nest species. We also revealed that the capacity of species to present innovative behaviours is not linked with how they vary nest morphology. Moreover, we revealed that nests from species with larger variation in clutch size and that are built by single parents are more variable. Our results help in the understanding of how behaviour and extended phenotypes evolve, and highlight the importance of exploring the phylogenetic history of behavioural flexibility when trying to predict the capacity of species to respond to novel challenges. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M. Perez
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Universitätsstraße 10, Konstanz, 78464, Germany
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Lilian T. Manica
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3056, Australia
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10
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Ocampo D, De Silva TN, Sheard C, Stoddard MC. Evolution of nest architecture in tyrant flycatchers and allies. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220148. [PMID: 37427478 PMCID: PMC10331913 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Innovations in nest design are thought to be one potential factor in the evolutionary success of passerine birds (order: Passeriformes), which colonized new ecological niches as they diversified in the Oligocene and Miocene. In particular, tyrant flycatchers and their allies (parvorder: Tyrannida) are an extremely diverse group of New World suboscine passerines occupying a wide range of habitats and exhibiting substantial extant variation in nest design. To explore the evolution of nest architecture in this clade, we first described nest traits across the Tyrannida phylogeny and estimated ancestral nest conditions. We then quantified macroevolutionary transition rates between nest types, examined a potential coevolutionary relationship between nest type and habitat, and used phylogenetic mixed models to determine possible ecological and environmental correlates of nest design. The Tyrannida ancestor probably built a cup nest in a closed habitat, and dome nests independently evolved at least 15 times within this group. Both cup- and dome-nesting species diversified into semi-open and open habitats, and we did not detect a coevolutionary relationship between nest type and habitat. Furthermore, nest type was not significantly correlated with several key ecological, life-history and environmental traits, suggesting that broad variation in Tyrannida nest architecture may not easily be explained by a single factor. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolutionary ecology of nests: a cross-taxon approach'.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ocampo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Thilina N. De Silva
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Catherine Sheard
- Palaeobiology Research Group, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Mary Caswell Stoddard
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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11
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Fan S, Zhang J, Duan Y, Luo X. First Description of the Breeding Biology of the Spectacled Fulvetta ( Fulvetta ruficapilla sordidior) in Southwest China. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2157. [PMID: 37443954 DOI: 10.3390/ani13132157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Spectacled Fulvetta (Fulvetta ruficapilla sordidior) is an endemic bird species to the southwest mountains of China, distributing from 1250 to 2500 m in the widespread broadleaved evergreen forest and occasionally in secondary scrubs. The present study describes its breeding biology for the first time. Fieldwork was conducted in the springs of 2017 and 2018 on Humashan Mountain, a hill mainly covered by secondary forest located at the eastern marginal of Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province in Southwest China. This bird was found to initiate egg-laying mainly in March, and most nestlings fledged in late April and May. There were 16 nests found in total, which were located mainly in the dense shrubs at a height of 0.99 ± 0.40 m (n = 15). Of the 11 active nests, clutch size averaged 2.73 ± 0.45 (n = 11). Focal observations were made on nests; the incubation lasted for 13.67 ± 0.47 days (n = 3) with a notably high nest attendance, i.e., eggs were incubated 84.23% of the observation time. Nestlings fledged at 13.00 ± 0.71 days (n = 4), and parents feeding frequency increased as the nestlings grew. Overall, the cumulative hatching and fledgling rates were 71.43% and 35.71%, resulting in a nesting success rate of 45.45%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixiang Fan
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Jiansong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
- Asian Elephant Research Center of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Southwest Survey and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650216, China
| | - Yubao Duan
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Xu Luo
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
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12
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Anholt RRH, Mackay TFC. The genetic architecture of behavioral canalization. Trends Genet 2023:S0168-9525(23)00033-1. [PMID: 36878820 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
Behaviors are components of fitness and contribute to adaptive evolution. Behaviors represent the interactions of an organism with its environment, yet innate behaviors display robustness in the face of environmental change, which we refer to as 'behavioral canalization'. We hypothesize that positive selection of hub genes of genetic networks stabilizes the genetic architecture for innate behaviors by reducing variation in the expression of interconnected network genes. Robustness of these stabilized networks would be protected from deleterious mutations by purifying selection or suppressing epistasis. We propose that, together with newly emerging favorable mutations, epistatically suppressed mutations can generate a reservoir of cryptic genetic variation that could give rise to decanalization when genetic backgrounds or environmental conditions change to allow behavioral adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R H Anholt
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA.
| | - Trudy F C Mackay
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, 114 Gregor Mendel Circle, Greenwood, SC 29646, USA
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13
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Nests and nest building in birds. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R1121-R1126. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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14
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Does ecology and life history predict parental cooperation in birds? A comparative analysis. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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15
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Pigeault R, Chevalier M, Cozzarolo CS, Baur M, Arlettaz M, Cibois A, Keiser A, Guisan A, Christe P, Glaizot O. Determinants of haemosporidian single- and co-infection risks in western palearctic birds. Int J Parasitol 2022; 52:617-627. [PMID: 35760376 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the drivers of infection risk helps us to detect the most at-risk species in a community and identify species whose intrinsic characteristics could act as potential reservoirs of pathogens. This knowledge is crucial if we are to predict the emergence and evolution of infectious diseases. To date, most studies have only focused on infections caused by a single parasite, leaving out co-infections. Yet, co-infections are of paramount importance in understanding the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions due to the wide range of effects they can have on host fitness and on the evolutionary trajectories of parasites. Here, we used a multinomial Bayesian phylogenetic modelling framework to explore the extent to which bird ecology and phylogeny impact the probability of being infected by one genus (hereafter single infection) or by multiple genera (hereafter co-infection) of haemosporidian parasites. We show that while nesting and migration behaviors influenced both the probability of being single- and co-infected, species position along the slow-fast life-history continuum and geographic range size were only pertinent in explaining variation in co-infection risk. We also found evidence for a phylogenetic conservatism regarding both single- and co-infections, indicating that phylogenetically related bird species tend to have similar infection patterns. This phylogenetic signal was four times stronger for co-infections than for single infections, suggesting that co-infections may act as a stronger selective pressure than single infections. Overall, our study underscores the combined influence of hosts' evolutionary history and attributes in determining infection risk in avian host communities. These results also suggest that co-infection risk might be under stronger deterministic control than single infection risk, potentially paving the way toward a better understanding of the emergence and evolution of infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Pigeault
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Laboratoire EBI, Equipe EES, UMR CNRS 7267, 86000 Poitiers, France.
| | - Mathieu Chevalier
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ifremer, Centre de Bretagne, DYNECO-LEBCO, CS 10070, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - Camille-Sophie Cozzarolo
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Biogéosciences, UMR 6282 CNRS, université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 6 boulevard Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France
| | - Molly Baur
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Alice Cibois
- Natural History Museum of Geneva, C.P. 6434, CH-1211 Genève 6, Switzerland
| | - André Keiser
- Musée cantonal de zoologie, CH-1014 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Antoine Guisan
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philippe Christe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Glaizot
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Musée cantonal de zoologie, CH-1014 Lausanne, Switzerland
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16
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Medina I, M Perez D, Silva ACA, Cally J, León C, Maliet O, Quintero I. Nest architecture is linked with ecological success in songbirds. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1365-1375. [PMID: 35343052 PMCID: PMC9311449 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nests are essential constructions that determine fitness, yet their structure can vary substantially across bird species. While there is evidence supporting a link between nest architecture and the habitat a species occupies, we still ignore what ecological and evolutionary processes are linked to different nest types. Using information on 3175 species of songbirds, we show that-after controlling for latitude and body size-species that build domed nests (i.e. nests with a roof) have smaller ranges, are less likely to colonise urban environments and have potentially higher extinction rates compared to species with open and cavity nests. Domed nests could be a costly specialisation, and we show that these nests take more time to be built, which could restrict breeding opportunities. These diverse strands of evidence suggest that the transition from domed to open nests in passerines could represent an important evolutionary innovation behind the success of the largest bird radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Daniela M Perez
- Graduate Program in Ecology and Conservation, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, State of Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Justin Cally
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Constanza León
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Odile Maliet
- Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSLResearch University, Paris, France
| | - Ignacio Quintero
- Institut de biologie de l'Ecole normale supérieure (IBENS), Ecole normale supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, PSLResearch University, Paris, France
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17
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Hung CM, Tsao SH, Chiang PL, Wu SP, Tuanmu MN, Juang JY. Functional connections between bird eggshell stiffness and nest characteristics through risk of egg collision in nests. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1421-1431. [PMID: 35291055 PMCID: PMC9315002 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Eggs and nests are two critical traits for the ecological success of birds. Their functional interactions, however, remain unclear. Here, we examined the functional connections between egg stiffness and nest attachment, site and structure for 1350 avian species. We revealed high eggshell stiffness for eggs in nests with a pensile attachment, located on non-tree vegetation or having a domed shape, suggesting that birds produce stiffer eggs in response to higher egg-collision risk in unstable or enclosed nests. Interdependence models suggested that the evolution of eggshell stiffness was more likely to be driven by than drive that of nest characters. Our results implied a trade-off between investment in competing for established nesting niches and producing stiff eggs to explore novel niches with high collision risk, possibly mediated by predation or thermoregulation. This study highlights an overlooked connection between nests and eggshells that may have broadened the ecological niches of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Ming Hung
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Han Tsao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Lin Chiang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Ping Wu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Mao-Ning Tuanmu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Thematic Center for Systematics and Biodiversity Informatics, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Yang Juang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Program in Nanoengineering and Nanoscience, Graduate School of Advanced Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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18
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Montgomerie R, Hemmings N, Thompson JE, Birkhead TR. The Shapes of Birds' Eggs: Evolutionary Constraints and Adaptations. Am Nat 2021; 198:E215-E231. [PMID: 34762571 DOI: 10.1086/716928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWe studied the shapes of eggs from 955 extant bird species across the avian phylogeny, including 39 of 40 orders and 78% of 249 families. We show that the elongation component of egg shape (length relative to width) is largely the result of constraints imposed by the female's anatomy during egg formation, whereas asymmetry (pointedness) is mainly an adaptation to conditions during the incubation period. Thus, egg elongation is associated with the size of the egg in relation to both the size of the female's oviduct and her general body conformation and mode of locomotion correlated with pelvis shape. Egg asymmetry is related mainly to clutch size and the structure of the incubation site, factors that influence thermal efficiency during incubation and the risk of breakage. Importantly, general patterns across the avian phylogeny do not always reflect the trends within lower taxonomic levels. We argue that the analysis of avian egg shape is most profitably conducted within taxa where all species share similar life histories and ecologies, as there is no single factor that influences egg shape in the same way in all bird species.
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19
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Wang JS, Tuanmu MN, Hung CM. Effects of artificial light at night on the nest-site selection, reproductive success and behavior of a synanthropic bird. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 288:117805. [PMID: 34351282 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how artificial light at night (ALAN) impacts wildlife is increasingly important because more and more species are colonizing urban areas. As most of the bird studies on ALAN use controlled light set inside or around nest-boxes, the ecological effect of ALAN resulting from in situ streetlight on birds remains contentious. The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) often builds open nests on buildings, which are directly exposed to varying intensity of ALAN, and thus provides a good system to examine the effect of in situ ALAN on birds. By examining the nest-site selection, reproductive success and behavior of barn swallows under various ALAN intensity in Taipei City, we found a positive effect of ALAN on their fledging success; nonetheless, such effect was only found in the swallows' first brood, but not second one. We also found that parent birds in the nests with higher ALAN intensity had higher feeding rates and more extended feeding time past sunset, which were likely stimulated by the increased begging behavior of their chicks. The night-feeding behavior might contribute to the increased fledging success, especially at the early breeding season. Interestingly, despite of the reproductive benefits obtained from ALAN, we found that the barn swallows did not select nest sites regarding ALAN intensity. The weak nest-site selection perhaps result from the complex life history interactions involving ALAN and/or confounding factors associated with ALAN in cities. This study improves our understanding of how urban birds, especially open-nesting ones, respond to in situ ALAN and provides useful information for developing urban conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhih-Syuan Wang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Mao-Ning Tuanmu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Ming Hung
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
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20
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Liang D, Liu Y, Gao G, Luo X. Breeding biology of a high altitudinal Aethopyga sunbird in southwestern China. J NAT HIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2020.1845408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dan Liang
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences & School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences & School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ge Gao
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
- Longyang Management Bureau, Gaoligong National Nature Reserve, Baoshan, China
| | - Xu Luo
- Faculty of Biodiversity and Conservation, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
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21
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Perez DM, Gardner JL, Medina I. Climate as an Evolutionary Driver of Nest Morphology in Birds: A Review. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.566018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian nests are critical for successful reproduction in birds. Nest microclimate can affect egg development, chick growth and fledgling success, suggesting that nest building behavior should be under strong selective pressure to nesting conditions. Given that the internal microclimate of the nest is critical for avian fitness, it is expected that nest morphology is shaped by the local environment. Here we review the relationship between nest morphology and climate across species’ distributions. We collate growing evidence that supports a link between environmental conditions and particular nest traits, within species and across species. We discuss the degree to which phenotypic plasticity in nesting behavior can contribute to observed variation in nest traits, the role of phylogenetic history in determining nest morphology, and which nest traits are likely to be influenced by climatic conditions. Finally, we identify gaps in our understanding of the evolution of nest morphology and suggest topics for future research. Overall, we argue that nests are part of the extended phenotype of a bird, they play a crucial role in their reproductive success, and may be an important factor in determining which species will be able to persist in the face of ongoing climate change.
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22
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Deeming DC, Dickinson AM, Broughton RE, Locke E, Gray LA, Bennett SL, Gilchrist R, Muniz S, Goodman AM, Biddle LE. Factors Affecting Thermal Insulation of Songbird Nests as Measured Using Temperature Loggers. Physiol Biochem Zool 2020; 93:488-504. [PMID: 33180684 DOI: 10.1086/711959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
AbstractBird nests represent an extended phenotype that is variable among and within species in terms of nest location and construction materials. It has also been suggested that nests indicate niche construction, although empirical evidence to support this is lacking. The nest wall is often considered to confer some insulation because this would help minimize the energetic expenditure by the incubating adult. However, it has been previously suggested that nests are constructed primarily for their structural role rather than for insulation, but to date, studies have used a variety of techniques to investigate the insulation of nest walls but only for relatively few species. This study used temperature loggers to determine insulatory values of nests for 16 previously undescribed species and to replicate values for eight previously described species. In addition, data for nest wall insulation that were determined using temperature loggers have been collated for a total of 32 different passerine species. The effects of nest dimensions, mass, and composition on these values were examined. Base thickness, but not wall thickness, and nest mass significantly positively affected insulatory values. This study found that the proportions of feathers and moss in the nest wall significantly positively correlated with insulatory values. This suggests that there is a key role for nest materials in determining insulation, which provides empirical evidence that nest building constitutes niche construction. The data will also help us interpret data from future studies of the thermal properties of nests. Ultimately, we need to develop our understanding of the role of insulatory values in the evolution of nest function.
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23
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Cicero C, Mason NA, Benedict L, Rising JD. Behavioral, morphological, and ecological trait evolution in two clades of New World Sparrows ( Aimophila and Peucaea, Passerellidae). PeerJ 2020; 8:e9249. [PMID: 32596039 PMCID: PMC7307569 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The New World sparrows (Passerellidae) are a large, diverse group of songbirds that vary in morphology, behavior, and ecology. Thus, they are excellent for studying trait evolution in a phylogenetic framework. We examined lability versus conservatism in morphological and behavioral traits in two related clades of sparrows (Aimophila, Peucaea), and assessed whether habitat has played an important role in trait evolution. We first inferred a multi-locus phylogeny which we used to reconstruct ancestral states, and then quantified phylogenetic signal among morphological and behavioral traits in these clades and in New World sparrows more broadly. Behavioral traits have a stronger phylogenetic signal than morphological traits. Specifically, vocal duets and song structure are the most highly conserved traits, and nesting behavior appears to be maintained within clades. Furthermore, we found a strong correlation between open habitat and unpatterned plumage, complex song, and ground nesting. However, even within lineages that share the same habitat type, species vary in nesting, plumage pattern, song complexity, and duetting. Our findings highlight trade-offs between behavior, morphology, and ecology in sparrow diversification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Cicero
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States of America
| | - Nicholas A Mason
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States of America.,Current affiliation: Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lauryn Benedict
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO, United States of America
| | - James D Rising
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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24
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Tsai PY, Ko CJ, Hsieh C, Su YT, Lu YJ, Lin RS, Tuanmu MN. A trait dataset for Taiwan's breeding birds. Biodivers Data J 2020; 8:e49735. [PMID: 32508508 PMCID: PMC7250946 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.8.e49735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Species traits affect how a species interacts with the environment and other species and thus determine the role of the species in an ecosystem. They affect not only population dynamics of a species across space and over time, but also community structure and function through their key role in the community assembly processes. Information on species traits is also highly relevant for conservation planning as they determine the adaptive ability of a species in the face of environmental changes. However, information on species traits is usually scarce and sparsely distributed amongst diverse types of literature and sources. Difficulty in accessing comprehensive information on species traits has formed an essential knowledge gap, limiting our understanding of biodiversity patterns and ecosystem functioning and preventing effective conservation. Even for birds, a well-studied taxon, comprehensive trait information is still unavailable or distributed across different sources for many species. New information In this study, we compiled information from a variety of sources on 23 traits for all breeding birds, including 157 resident and 14 summer visiting species, in Taiwan and surrounding islands. The 23 traits include those related to the movement patterns, morphology, geographic distributions, activity patterns, feeding behaviour, habitat use, and breeding behaviour and strategies of the species. The trait information was obtained, not only from published literature and datasets, but also from unpublished banding records and specimen measurements. The dataset also contains derived traits, including the elevation and temperature boundaries of species distribution ranges in Taiwan. In addition, structured information on nest characters, which is seldom compiled in trait datasets, has been made available, for the first time, for the breeding birds in Taiwan. Therefore, the most comprehensive trait dataset to date on breeding birds in Taiwan will allow trait-based research and applications in diverse topics and thus enhance our understanding of the patterns and dynamics of breeding bird diversity and its functions in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yu Tsai
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
| | - Chie-Jen Ko
- Endemic Species Research Institute, Jiji, Nantou, Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute Jiji, Nantou Taiwan.,Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, National Taiwan University Taipei Taiwan
| | - Chia Hsieh
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, United States of America BioSciences Department, Rice University Houston United States of America
| | - Yi-Ting Su
- Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng Kung University Tainan Taiwan
| | - Ya-Jung Lu
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
| | - Ruey-Shing Lin
- Endemic Species Research Institute, Jiji, Nantou, Taiwan Endemic Species Research Institute Jiji, Nantou Taiwan
| | - Mao-Ning Tuanmu
- Thematic Center for Systematics and Biodiversity Informatics, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan Thematic Center for Systematics and Biodiversity Informatics, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
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25
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Anholt RRH. Evolution of Epistatic Networks and the Genetic Basis of Innate Behaviors. Trends Genet 2020; 36:24-29. [PMID: 31706688 PMCID: PMC6925314 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Instinctive behaviors are genetically programmed behaviors that occur independent of experience. How genetic programs that give rise to the manifestation of such behaviors evolve remains an unresolved question. I propose that evolution of species-specific innate behaviors is accomplished through progressive modifications of pre-existing genetic networks composed of allelic variants. I hypothesize that changes in frequencies of one or more constituent allelic variants within the network leads to changes in gene network connectivity and the emergence of a reorganized network that can support the emergence of a novel behavioral phenotype and becomes stabilized when key allelic variants are driven to fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert R H Anholt
- Department of Genetics and Biochemistry and Center for Human Genetics, Clemson University, Greenwood, SC, 29646, USA.
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26
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Nagy J, Hauber ME, Hartley IR, Mainwaring MC. Correlated evolution of nest and egg characteristics in birds. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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27
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A modeling algorithm for exploring the architecture and construction of bird nests. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14772. [PMID: 31611582 PMCID: PMC6791838 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51478-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The wide variety of nest architectural designs exhibited by passerine birds allowed them to diversify into a wide variety of ecological niches and terrestrial habitats. At present, very little is known about the mechanics of building these structures. Digitizing natural biological structures such as bird nests provides the opportunity to explore their structural properties and behavior under specific conditions by means of computational manipulations, simulations, and analyses. This study describes a generic algorithm for the digitization and exploration of complex interlocked bird nests, and validates it on nests built by the Dead-Sea Sparrow (Passer moabiticus) in branches of trees using stiff dry branches. This algorithm takes as input computerized tomographic scans of the nest, identifies and isolates each branch entity within the three-dimensional data, and finally extracts the characteristics of each branch. The result is a reliable three-dimensional digital model of the nest that contains a complete geometric dataset per each of its components, e.g. dimensions and contact points with neighboring components, as well as global properties, e.g. density distribution and network structure. Based on these, we were able to simulate various models of the nest construction process. Altogether, the described algorithm and possible derivatives thereof could be a valuable tool in studying the structure-function relationships of similarly complex biological objects, and may provide further insights into the potential selective mechanisms underlying historical evolution of this distinct nest form.
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28
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Mouton JC, Martin TE. Nest structure affects auditory and visual detectability, but not predation risk, in a tropical songbird community. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James C. Mouton
- Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Montana Missoula MT
| | - Thomas E. Martin
- U. S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit University of Montana Missoula MT
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29
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Medina I. The role of the environment in the evolution of nest shape in Australian passerines. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5560. [PMID: 30944374 PMCID: PMC6447541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41948-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian nests present great variation in structure but, after excluding cavity nesters, probably the most obvious difference is that between open and domed nests. Some species lay their eggs in open structures, exposed to environmental variables, while other species build domed, enclosed nests with a roof, which are suggested to protect eggs and nestlings from weather conditions, high radiation levels, and predation. To date it is unclear which variables drove the evolution of different nest types. In this study, environmental and nest type information was extracted for continental Australian passerines, showing that species with open and closed nests are distributed in similar climates. However, species with open nests have larger ranges and are distributed in a wider variety of climatic conditions, suggesting open nests could be an evolutionary key innovation. This analysis was complemented with a detailed study of the evolution of particular nest traits in the largest Australasian avian radiation (Meliphagoidea), confirming that adult body size - but not environment - is an important factor in nest architecture, and larger species tend to build nests that are shallow and supported from underneath. Nest structure is a multidimensional trait that has probably evolved to match the phenotype of the nest owner, but that could also constrain or facilitate establishment in different environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Medina
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, VIC, Australia.
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