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Liu Y, Jiang Y, Xu J, Liao W. Evolution of Avian Eye Size Is Associated with Habitat Openness, Food Type and Brain Size. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101675. [PMID: 37238105 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The eye is the primary sensory organ that obtains information from the ecological environments and specifically bridges the brain with the extra environment. However, the coevolutionary relationships between eye size and ecological factors, behaviours and brain size in birds remain poorly understood. Here, we investigate whether eye size evolution is associated with ecological factors (e.g., habitat openness, food type and foraging habitat), behaviours (e.g., migration and activity pattern) and brain size among 1274 avian species using phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses. Our results indicate that avian eye size is significantly associated with habitat openness, food type and brain size. Species living in dense habitats and consuming animals exhibit larger eye sizes compared to species living in open habitats and consuming plants, respectively. Large-brained birds tend to possess larger eyes. However, migration, foraging habitat and activity pattern were not found to be significantly associated with eye size in birds, except for nocturnal birds having longer axial lengths than diurnal ones. Collectively, our results suggest that avian eye size is primarily influenced by light availability, food need and cognitive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Liu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ying Jiang
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jiliang Xu
- School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Wenbo Liao
- Key Laboratory of Southwest China Wildlife Resources Conservation (Ministry of Education), China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Propagation and Utilization in Anurans of Nanchong City, China West Normal University, Nanchong 637009, China
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Swaddle JP, Brewster B, Schuyler M, Su A. Window films increase avoidance of collisions by birds but only when applied to external compared with internal surfaces of windows. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14676. [PMID: 36751632 PMCID: PMC9899435 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Window collisions are one of the largest human-caused causes of avian mortality in built environments and, therefore, cause population declines that can be a significant conservation issue. Applications of visibly noticeable films, patterns, and decals on the external surfaces of windows have been associated with reductions in both window collisions and avian mortality. It is often logistically difficult and economically prohibitive to apply these films and decals to external surfaces, especially if the windows are above the first floor of a building. Therefore, there is interest and incentive to apply the products to internal surfaces that are much easier to reach and maintain. However, there is debate as to whether application to the internal surface of windows renders any collision-reduction benefit, as the patterns on the films and decals may not be sufficiently visible to birds. To address this knowledge gap, we performed the first experimental study to compare the effectiveness of two distinct window films when applied to either the internal or external surface of double-glazed windows. Specifically, we assessed whether Haverkamp and BirdShades window film products were effective in promoting the avoidance of window collisions (and by inference, a reduction of collisions) by zebra finches through controlled aviary flight trials employing a repeated-measures design that allowed us to isolate the effect of the window treatments on avoidance flight behaviors. We chose these two products because they engage with different wavelengths of light (and by inference, colors) visible to many songbirds: the BirdShades film is visible in the ultraviolet (shorter wavelength) range, while the Haverkamp film includes signals in the orange (longer wavelength) range. We found consistent evidence that, when applied to the external surface of windows, the BirdShades product resulted in reduced likelihood of collision and there was marginal evidence of this effect with the Haverkamp film. Specifically, in our collision avoidance trials, BirdShades increased window avoidance by 47% and the Haverkamp increased avoidance by 39%. However, neither product was effective when the films were applied to the internal surface of windows. Hence, it is imperative that installers apply these products to exterior surfaces of windows to render their protective benefits and reduce the risk of daytime window collision.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P. Swaddle
- Institute for Integrative Conservation, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Blythe Brewster
- Institute for Integrative Conservation, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Maddie Schuyler
- Institute for Integrative Conservation, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America
| | - Anjie Su
- Institute for Integrative Conservation, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA, United States of America
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Goller B, Baumhardt P, Dominguez-Villegas E, Katzner T, Fernández-Juricic E, Lucas JR. Selecting auditory alerting stimuli for eagles on the basis of auditory evoked potentials. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 10:coac059. [PMID: 36134144 PMCID: PMC9486983 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coac059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Development of wind energy facilities results in interactions between wildlife and wind turbines. Raptors, including bald and golden eagles, are among the species known to incur mortality from these interactions. Several alerting technologies have been proposed to mitigate this mortality by increasing eagle avoidance of wind energy facilities. However, there has been little attempt to match signals used as alerting stimuli with the sensory capabilities of target species like eagles. One potential approach to tuning signals is to use sensory physiology to determine what stimuli the target eagle species are sensitive to even in the presence of background noise, thereby allowing the development of a maximally stimulating signal. To this end, we measured auditory evoked potentials of bald and golden eagles to determine what types of sounds eagles can process well, especially in noisy conditions. We found that golden eagles are significantly worse than bald eagles at processing rapid frequency changes in sounds, but also that noise effects on hearing in both species are minimal in response to rapidly changing sounds. Our findings therefore suggest that sounds of intermediate complexity may be ideal both for targeting bald and golden eagle hearing and for ensuring high stimulation in noisy field conditions. These results suggest that the sensory physiology of target species is likely an important consideration when selecting auditory alerting sounds and may provide important insight into what sounds have a reasonable probability of success in field applications under variable conditions and background noise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Goller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Patrice Baumhardt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Todd Katzner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, 230 N Collins Rd., Boise, ID 83702, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey R Lucas
- Corresponding author: Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA. Tel: 765-494-8112.
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Darby J, Clairbaux M, Bennison A, Quinn JL, Jessopp MJ. Underwater visibility constrains the foraging behaviour of a diving pelagic seabird. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220862. [PMID: 35858070 PMCID: PMC9277241 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the sensory ecology of species is vital if we are to predict how they will function in a changing environment. Visual cues are fundamentally important for many predators when detecting and capturing prey. However, many marine areas have become more turbid through processes influenced by climate change, potentially affecting the ability of marine predators to detect prey. We performed the first study that directly relates a pelagic seabird species's foraging behaviour to oceanic turbidity. We collected biologging data from 79 foraging trips and 5472 dives of a visually dependent, pursuit-diving seabird, the Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus). Foraging behaviour was modelled against environmental variables affecting underwater visibility, including water turbidity, cloud cover and solar angle. Shearwaters were more likely to initiate area-restricted search and foraging dives in clearer waters. Underwater visibility also strongly predicted dive rate and depth, suggesting that fine-scale prey capture was constrained by the detectability of prey underwater. Our novel use of dynamic descriptors of underwater visibility suggests that visual cues are vital for underwater foraging. Our data indicate that climate change could negatively impact seabird populations by making prey more difficult to detect, compounded by the widely reported effects of reduced prey populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Darby
- School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 N73K, Ireland,MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork P43 C573, Ireland
| | - M. Clairbaux
- School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 N73K, Ireland,MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork P43 C573, Ireland
| | - A. Bennison
- British Antarctic Survey, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK
| | - J. L. Quinn
- School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 N73K, Ireland
| | - M. J. Jessopp
- School of Biological, Environmental and Earth Sciences, University College Cork, Cork T23 N73K, Ireland,MaREI Centre for Energy, Climate and Marine, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork P43 C573, Ireland
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Impact of Broad-Spectrum Lighting on Recall Behaviour in a Pair of Captive Blue-Throated Macaws (Ara glaucogularis). JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jzbg3020015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Many birds, including macaws, are highly visual animals able to detect a wide band of light wavelengths ranging into ultraviolet A, but in captivity, full-spectrum lighting is not universally employed. Where purpose-made bird lighting is used, this is typically made with the provision of ultraviolet B radiation and vitamin D3 synthesis in mind. Limited research in this field suggests behavioural and physiological benefits of broad-spectrum lighting provision, but more work is needed to broaden the taxonomic scope and to investigate its impacts on understudied areas of husbandry, including behavioural management. We compared the duration of time a bonded pair of blue-throated macaws at ZSL London Zoo opted to remain in an inside den after being recalled from an outdoors flight aviary, with and without the presence of artificial lighting in the form of High Output T5 Fluorescent lamps, which are rich in UVA and UVB wavelengths as well as those visible to humans. We hypothesized that the birds would remain inside for longer when T5 lighting was on, as they would be more visually comfortable. Using randomization analyses, we show that, over 54 trials split between winter and spring, the mean duration spent inside after recall increased from 81.04 to 515.13 s with the presence of the lighting unit, which was highly statistically significant. Our results are likely to be explained by much higher visibility of indoor surroundings creating a more hospitable indoor environment for the birds and will have implications for captive macaw management.
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Thomas KN, Gower DJ, Streicher JW, Bell RC, Fujita MK, Schott RK, Liedtke HC, Haddad CFB, Becker CG, Cox CL, Martins RA, Douglas RH. Ecology drives patterns of spectral transmission in the ocular lenses of frogs and salamanders. Funct Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.14018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kate N. Thomas
- Department of Life Sciences The Natural History Museum London UK
| | - David J. Gower
- Department of Life Sciences The Natural History Museum London UK
| | | | - Rayna C. Bell
- Department of Herpetology California Academy of Sciences San Francisco CA USA
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Washington DC USA
| | - Matthew K. Fujita
- Department of Biology Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center The University of Texas at Arlington Arlington TX USA
| | - Ryan K. Schott
- Department of Vertebrate Zoology National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Washington DC USA
- Department of Biology York University Toronto ON Canada
| | - H. Christoph Liedtke
- Ecology, Evolution and Development Group, Department of Wetland Ecology Estación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC) Sevilla Spain
| | - Célio F. B. Haddad
- Departamento de Biodiversidade and Centro de Aquicultura (CAUNESP) I.B. Universidade Estadual Paulista Rio Claro Brazil
| | - C. Guilherme Becker
- Department of Biology The Pennsylvania State University University Park PA USA
| | - Christian L. Cox
- Department of Biological Sciences Institute for the Environment Florida International University Miami FL USA
| | - Renato A. Martins
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Conservação da Fauna Universidade Federal de São Carlos São Carlos Brazil
| | - Ron H. Douglas
- Division of Optometry & Visual Science, School of Health Sciences City, University of London London UK
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