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Juan Moreno - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the extent of white plumage patches in female pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca is negatively associated with corticosterone concentration in partly unpigmented feathers
Journal of Ornithology, 2021Co-Authors: Juan Moreno, Jimena LopezarrabeAbstract:Sexually and socially selected signals are predicated to express the present and past condition of individuals and thereby their capacity to cope with environmental challenges. The concentration of corticosterone in feathers (CORTf) has been validated as a marker of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in birds during feather development. Measurements of CORTf can thus express the physiological stress of migratory birds during non-breeding periods of the annual cycle when feathers moulted in the wintering range are analysed. Thus, negative trends of ornament expression with CORTf may be predicted. Unpigmented plumage patches may constitute signals of phenotypic quality and are used in many species in social interactions by both sexes. Pied Flycatchers of both sexes Ficedula hypoleuca show white forehead and wing patches during the breeding season, of which the forehead and part of the wing patch (tertials) are moulted on the wintering grounds before spring migration. These patches are used as signals in social and sexual interactions and their expression has been previously related to several indicators of physiological status. We collected tertials of females during nestling provisioning in a Spanish population and determined their CORTf in the laboratory. CORTf was thus measured in some of the prenuptially moulted feathers used as signals of social dominance by breeding females. According to AICc model selection, CORTf turned up in all the best models explaining forehead patch size and in most best models for wing patch size when controlling for age and size. Both forehead and wing patch sizes were negatively related to CORTf, although the trend for wing patch size was not significant. This indicates that breeding females expressing large unpigmented patches experienced low levels of stress during the prenuptial moult in their winter quarters, or that strongly signalling individuals present a lower level of activation of the HPA axis.
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effects of food availability and parental risk taking on nestling period duration a field experiment on the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Ardeola, 2020Co-Authors: Juan MorenoAbstract:espanolEl abandono del nido es una transicion clave entre etapas de la vida en aves nidicolas ya que afecta a la probabilidad de supervivencia de la descendencia y, por tanto, a la eficacia biologica tanto de reproductores como de la propia nidada. La elevada vulnerabilidad de los volantones a la depredacion en los primeros dias despues de abandonar el nido puede inducir un conflicto entre padres e hijos que afecta a la edad de abandono del nido, ya que los adultos se beneficiaran mas que sus hijos de una reduccion del periodo de vulnerabilidad de la nidada completa antes del abandono. Los reproductores se benefician tambien de un abandono temprano a traves de la reduccion de costes de transporte de alimento al nido y de su propia exposicion a depredadores. Un recurso alimentario fiable cerca del nido podria por tanto favorecer una reduccion de los impulsos parentales a inducir el abandono del nido y con ello a una aproximacion a la edad optima de abandono desde la perspectiva de los pollos. En una poblacion de una especie que cria en cavidades, el papamoscas cerrojillo Ficedula hypoleuca, ofreci suplementos de alimento (gusanos de harina vivos) junto al nidal a parejas seleccionadas al azar durante el transcurso de la estancia de los pollos en el nido, y compare las edades de abandono con las de nidadassin suplemento de alimento. Tambien capture a los adultos mediante trampas en los nidales para estimar su predisposicion a incurrir riesgos por medio de su facilidad de captura (tiempo desde la colocacion de la trampa a la captura). Las edades de abandono del nido variaron entre 15 y 20 dias. El abandono del nido se retraso en los nidos suplementados (n = 21) con respecto a los nidos control (n = 20) con un dia en promedio, una diferencia significativa. Ello no se debio a diferencias en tamano y peso de los pollos a los 13 dias de edad, que fueron similares en ambos tratamientos. Ademas, la edad de abandono estuvo positivamente asociada a la facilidad de captura de los adultos reproductores. Adultos con facil acceso al alimento cerca del nido, y aquellos mas dispuestos a arriesgarse a ser atrapados, fueron aquellos cuyos volantones abandonaron el nido a edades mas avanzadas. Los adultos ajustan el abandono del nido de sus pollos a sus costes de alimentacion EnglishThe timing of fledging is critical in altricial birds as it affects offspring survival probability and thereby both parental and offspring fitness. The high vulnerability of offspring to predation soon after fledging may induce a parent-offspring conflict with respect to the age of fledging, as parents would benefit more than offspring from reducing the period of whole-brood vulnerability before fledging. Parents also benefit from inducing early fledging through reduced commuting costs and a decreased exposure to predators. A reliable food resource near the nest could thus favour a relaxation of parental drives to induce fledging and enable an approach to the optimal fledging age from the offspring point of view. A population of a cavity nester, the European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, was offered food supplements (live mealworms) at the nest-box to randomly selected pairs throughout the nestling period and fledging ages were compared with those at nests without supplements. Provisioning parents were also trapped at the nest-box to estimate their willingness to incur predation risks in terms of easiness of capture (trappability). Fledging ages ranged from 15 to 20 days. Fledging was delayed in food-supplemented nests (n = 21) compared with control nests (n = 20) by one day on average, a significant difference. This was not due to the size and mass of nestlings at 13 days, which were similar under both treatments. Moreover, fledging age was positively related to parental trappability. Parents with easy access to food near the nest and those more willing to risk predation were those whose nestlings fledged at older ages. Parents apparently adjust the timing of offspring fledging to their foraging costs.
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decline of a montane mediterranean pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca population in relation to climate
Journal of Avian Biology, 2017Co-Authors: Sonia Gonzalezbraojos, Juan José Sanz, Juan MorenoAbstract:Certain populations of long-distance migratory birds are suffering declines, which may be attributed to effects of climate change. In this article, we have analysed a long-term (1991-2015) data set on a Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) population breeding in nest-boxes in a Mediterranean montane oak forest, exploring the trends in population size due to changes in nestling recruitment, female survival and female immigration. We have related these changes in population parameters to local climate, winter NAO index and to breeding density. During the last 25 years the population has declined by half, mainly in association with a decrease in nestling mass and structural size which had repercussions on the probability of nestling recruitment to the population. Lower local nestling recruitment in certain years was linked to lower female immigration rate in the same years. On the other hand, the local survival of females remained stable throughout the study period. Laying date and breeding success were negatively affected by local temperatures while breeding, recruitment rate likewise by minimum temperature prior to breeding in April. As minimum April temperatures have increased across the study period, this may have affected recruitment and immigration rates negatively. On the other hand, tarsus length and body mass of nestlings were positively associated with winter NAO index, pointing to more global climatic links. Moreover, there was also a negative temporal trend in body mass of adults, implying increasingly difficult conditions for breeding. Declining recruit production in the study area could be attributed to a mismatch between the timing of arrival and breeding in the population, and the peak of food availability in this area.
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a spring cold snap is followed by an extreme reproductive failure event in a mountain population of pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca
Bird Study, 2015Co-Authors: Juan Moreno, Sonia Gonzalezbraojos, Rafael RuizdecastanedaAbstract:Capsule Very low and anomalous temperatures in early spring of 2010 were followed by the only massive reproductive failure event recorded in 24 years in a population of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca breeding at 1200 m altitude in central Spain.Aim To estimate the effects of an extreme climatic event on reproductive success in a montane population of a long-distance migratory bird.Methods We compared nestling growth and mortality in nests of different brood sizes in the context of a brood manipulation experiment.Results Total failure affected 36% of the broods and only 2.5 nestlings on average were raised to fledging age. Most mortality affected broods in the second week of nestling life. Fledglings attained very low values for mass and wing length compared with long-term averages. Subsequent local recruitment was the lowest for any cohort in 24 years. The typical date-dependent decrease in breeding success in the population was inverted.Conclusion Breeding success was markedly affected by a weather ...
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the incidence of clutch replacements in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca is related to nest box availability evidence of female female competition
Ardeola, 2015Co-Authors: Juan MorenoAbstract:Clutch destruction and replacement are sometimes observed during studies of cavitynesting birds. This could be due to abandonment by the first female to lay, with subsequent replacement by another female, or to male infanticide. Clutch replacement is accompanied in some cases by evidence of aggressive competition between females and of destruction of eggs/hatchlings immediately prior to a new clutch being laid. This may indicate that clutch replacements are in fact nest take-overs by females after eviction of incumbent females. In the course of long-term studies of pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca iberiae in central Spain, I have found evidence of clutch destruction through egg burial and ejection and replacement during laying or incubation, as well as of female-female aggression. No male involvement has been detected. Clutch replacements occur with a frequency that depends on the density of available nest-boxes and is positively associated with the rate of nest-box occupation by the same or other species. Moreover, clutch replacements can be accompanied by female wounds or death and involve clutch destruction in all cases. Putative replacers within the area of highest occupation frequently display the white forehead patch that is more typical of males, which may thus be associated with social dominance in females in Iberian populations. Clutch replacements in cavity-nesters should be studied in detail to confirm whether they represent cases of nest take-overs by competing females.
Tapio Eeva - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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long term recovery of clutch size and egg shell quality of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in a metal polluted area
Environmental Pollution, 2015Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Esa LehikoinenAbstract:We explored if breeding parameters and egg shell quality of an insectivorous passerine, pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, have fully recovered after c.a. 99% decrease in dust emissions from a non-ferrous smelter in the course of the 23 year study period. Some potentially important population characteristics (density, phenology, age) and environmental variables (habitat, inter-specific competition) were taken into account in the analysis. We found marked increase in reproductive parameters (egg shell quality, clutch size, hatchability, and fledgling number) in the metal polluted area especially in 1990's when metal-rich dust emissions from the smelter were markedly reduced. Still clutch sizes and fledgling numbers remain below the levels of the reference area. There is currently very little evidence of direct toxic effects of metals in our study population but full recovery of breeding parameters may not be reached until the full recovery of food chains, which is likely to be a slow process.
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Geographical trends in the yolk carotenoid composition of the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Oecologia, 2011Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Suvi Ruuskanen, Indrikis Krams, Juan Moreno, Antero Jarvinen, Eugen Belskii, Anvar Kerimov, Juha-pekka Salminen, Erkki Korpimäki, Chiara MorosinottoAbstract:Carotenoids in the egg yolks of birds are considered to be important antioxidants and immune stimulants during the rapid growth of embryos. Yolk carotenoid composition is strongly affected by the carotenoid composition of the female’s diet at the time of egg formation. Spatial and temporal differences in carotenoid availability may thus be reflected in yolk concentrations. To assess whether yolk carotenoid concentrations or carotenoid profiles show any large-scale geographical trends or differences among habitats, we collected yolk samples from 16 European populations of the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca. We found that the concentrations and proportions of lutein and some other xanthophylls in the egg yolks decreased from Central Europe northwards. The most southern population (which is also the one found at the highest altitude) also showed relatively low carotenoid levels. Concentrations of β-carotene and zeaxanthin did not show any obvious geographical gradients. Egg yolks also contained proportionally more lutein and other xanthophylls in deciduous than in mixed or coniferous habitats. We suggest that latitudinal gradients in lutein and xanthophylls reflect the lower availability of lutein-rich food items in the northern F. hypoleuca populations and in montane southern populations, which start egg-laying earlier relative to tree phenology than the Central European populations. Similarly, among-habitat variation is likely to reflect the better availability of lutein-rich food in deciduous forests. Our study is the first to indicate that the concentration and profile of yolk carotenoids may show large-scale spatial variation among populations in different parts of the species’ geographical range. Further studies are needed to test the fitness effects of this geographical variation.
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effects of pollution on land snail abundance size and diversity as resources for pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Science of The Total Environment, 2010Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Kalle Rainio, Otso SuominenAbstract:Passerine birds need extra calcium during their breeding for developing egg shells and proper growth of nestling skeleton. Land snails are an important calcium source for many passerines and human-induced changes in snail populations may pose a severe problem for breeding birds. We studied from the bird's viewpoint how air pollution affects the shell mass, abundance and diversity of land snail communities along a pollution gradient of a copper smelter. We sampled remnant snail shells from the nests of an insectivorous passerine, the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, to find out how the availability of land snails varies along the pollution gradient. The total snail shell mass increased towards the pollution source but declined abruptly in the vicinity of the smelter. This spatial variation in shell mass was evident also within a single snail species and could not be wholly explained by spatially varying snail numbers or species composition. Instead, the total shell mass was related to their shell size, individuals being largest at the moderately polluted areas. Smaller shell size suggests inferior growth of snails in the most heavily polluted area. Our study shows that pollution affects the diversity, abundance (available shell mass) and individual quality of land snails, posing reproductive problems for birds that rely on snails as calcium sources during breeding. There are probably both direct pollution-related (heavy metal and calcium levels) and indirect (habitat change) effects behind the observed changes in snail populations.
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pollution related effects on immune function and stress in a free living population of pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Journal of Avian Biology, 2005Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Mikko Nikinmaa, Dennis Hasselquist, Asa Langefors, Lea Tummeleht, Petteri IlmonenAbstract:We investigated whether exposure to heavy metal pollution affected the immune function of individuals in a free living population of a small insectivorous passerine bird, the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca. We measured humoral immune responses in two study areas: a polluted area in the vicinity of a copper smelter and a control area far from the smelter. Plasma corticosterone level and blood heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L) were used as more general physiological measures of stress. The immune response of F hypoleuca was not suppressed by pollution stress. In contrast, we found that F hypoleuca males showed stronger Immoral immune responses to a novel antigen (tetanus toxoid) in the polluted environment than in the unpolluted one. After the immunization of males, numbers of lymphocytes rose significantly more in the polluted area, leading to a smaller H/L ratio than in males from the control area. Females showed no pollution related effects on their immune responses. Corticosterone levels of males and nestlings were not related to pollution levels. Nestlings showed somewhat higher H/L ratios and lower fledging success in the polluted area, both factors indicating increased stress levels in a polluted area. Our results suggest that Immoral immune response of male F hypoleuca may be enhanced under moderate levels of heavy metal Pollution. Enhanced immune function may, however, also be costly for birds and the higher humoral immune responses in polluted areas may thus have negative effects on the birds' breeding performance and survival. (Less)
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growth and mortality of nestling great tits parus major and pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca in a heavy metal pollution gradient
Oecologia, 1996Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Esa LehikoinenAbstract:We studied nestling growth, growth abnormalities, mortality and breeding success of two hole-nesting passerines, the great tit (Parus major) and the pied fly-catcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), at 14 study sites around a copper smelter complex in Harjavalta, south-west Finland in 1991–1993. The main pollutants in the area are heavy metals and sulphuric oxides. Exposure of birds to heavy metals was shown by measuring their faecal concentrations. Copper, nickel and lead contents of nestling faeces were high near the factory and decreased with distance away from the pollution source. F. hypoleuca nestlings suffered high mortality very close to the factory complex, but did relatively well at all other sites. Breeding success of P. major was below background levels up to 3–4 km from the pollution source and nestlings grew poorly close to the factory. Growth abnormalities of legs and wings in F. hypoleuca nestlings were significantly more common near the factory than farther away. In contrast, F. hypoleuca nestlings grew equally well at all distances. The poor breeding success of F. hypoleuca close to the factory complex is probably related to the high amount of heavy metals in its diet, and low availability of calcium-rich food items may enhance this effect. We suggest that the poor breeding success of P. major is related to habitat changes that have taken place around the factory. The different responses of these two bird species are probably due to their different diet. Our results show convincingly that species-specific differences in response should be carefully considered when planning schemes for air pollution monitoring.
Esa Lehikoinen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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long term recovery of clutch size and egg shell quality of the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in a metal polluted area
Environmental Pollution, 2015Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Esa LehikoinenAbstract:We explored if breeding parameters and egg shell quality of an insectivorous passerine, pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca, have fully recovered after c.a. 99% decrease in dust emissions from a non-ferrous smelter in the course of the 23 year study period. Some potentially important population characteristics (density, phenology, age) and environmental variables (habitat, inter-specific competition) were taken into account in the analysis. We found marked increase in reproductive parameters (egg shell quality, clutch size, hatchability, and fledgling number) in the metal polluted area especially in 1990's when metal-rich dust emissions from the smelter were markedly reduced. Still clutch sizes and fledgling numbers remain below the levels of the reference area. There is currently very little evidence of direct toxic effects of metals in our study population but full recovery of breeding parameters may not be reached until the full recovery of food chains, which is likely to be a slow process.
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Long-lasting effects of yolk androgens on phenotype in the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 2013Co-Authors: Suvi Ruuskanen, Esa Lehikoinen, Heli Siitari, Wolfgang Waser, Mikko Nikinmaa, Toni LaaksonenAbstract:The hormonal environment during early development, such as maternally derived androgens in bird eggs, shapes the development of the offspring in ways that may have important long-term consequences for phenotype and behavior and, ultimately, fitness. We studied the long-term effects of yolk androgens on several phenotypic and physiological traits in male and female pied flycatchers ( Ficedula hypoleuca ) by experimentally elevating yolk androgen levels and rearing birds in common-garden environment in captivity. We found that high yolk androgen levels increased the basal metabolic rates in both females and males in adulthood. High yolk androgen levels did not affect male melanin coloration or plumage ornaments, or timing or speed of moult in either sex. No effect of androgen treatment on cell-mediated or humoral immune response was found in either sex. Covariation among the measured phenotypic traits was further not altered by androgen treatment. Our results suggest that exposure to high androgen levels can have long-lasting effects on some offspring traits, but do not seem to lead to different phenotypes. Furthermore, the role of yolk androgens affecting sexually selected male traits in our study species seems to be minor. The fitness consequences of yolk androgen-induced higher metabolic rates remain to be studied.
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growth and mortality of nestling great tits parus major and pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca in a heavy metal pollution gradient
Oecologia, 1996Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Esa LehikoinenAbstract:We studied nestling growth, growth abnormalities, mortality and breeding success of two hole-nesting passerines, the great tit (Parus major) and the pied fly-catcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), at 14 study sites around a copper smelter complex in Harjavalta, south-west Finland in 1991–1993. The main pollutants in the area are heavy metals and sulphuric oxides. Exposure of birds to heavy metals was shown by measuring their faecal concentrations. Copper, nickel and lead contents of nestling faeces were high near the factory and decreased with distance away from the pollution source. F. hypoleuca nestlings suffered high mortality very close to the factory complex, but did relatively well at all other sites. Breeding success of P. major was below background levels up to 3–4 km from the pollution source and nestlings grew poorly close to the factory. Growth abnormalities of legs and wings in F. hypoleuca nestlings were significantly more common near the factory than farther away. In contrast, F. hypoleuca nestlings grew equally well at all distances. The poor breeding success of F. hypoleuca close to the factory complex is probably related to the high amount of heavy metals in its diet, and low availability of calcium-rich food items may enhance this effect. We suggest that the poor breeding success of P. major is related to habitat changes that have taken place around the factory. The different responses of these two bird species are probably due to their different diet. Our results show convincingly that species-specific differences in response should be carefully considered when planning schemes for air pollution monitoring.
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egg shell quality clutch size and hatching success of the great tit parus major and the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca in an air pollution gradient
Oecologia, 1995Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Esa LehikoinenAbstract:Egg shell thickness, egg volume, clutch size and hatching success of Parus major and Ficedula hypoleuca were studied at 14 study sites around a copper smelter complex in Harjavalta, south-west Finland, in 1991–1993. In 1991–1992 unhatched eggs were collected to measure shell quality. F. hypoleuca was more susceptible to pollutants than P. major, the response of which was weaker in all aspects studied. Egg shells of F. hypoleuca were about 17% thinner and eggs were about 8% smaller in volume near the factory than at a distance of 10 km. The clutch size of F. hypoleuca was significantly smaller and hatching success markedly lower at a study site next to the factory complex than at all other sites. In P. major, variation in shell thickness and egg volume was not significantly related to the distance from the pollution source. Clutch size and hatching success of P. major did not significantly differ among study sites, although the trend in hatching success was in the same direction as in F. hypoleuca. Clutches of both species contained less shell material and both species had more nests without eggs near the factory than further away. The surface structure of the eggshells was studied by scanning electron microscope. Especially in F. hypoleuca, the egg shell surface was more rough and porous near the factory. The roles of Ca and heavy metals in shell thinning are discussed.
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effects of ectoparasites on breeding success of great tits parus major and pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca in an air pollution gradient
Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1994Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Esa Lehikoinen, Jorma NurmiAbstract:Numbers of ectoparasitic blow fly (Protocalliphora azurea) larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae), adult and larval hen fleas, Ceratophyllus gallinae (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae), and other nest-dwelling insects were counted from the nests of the great tit, Parus major, and the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca, in southwestern Finland around a factory complex emitting large quantities of sulphuric oxides and heavy metals. Protocalliphora azurea larvae were more frequently found in the nests of P. major than in those of F. hypoleuca. The prevalence of P. azurea larvae tended to be lower in polluted areas. The number of P. azurea larvae correlated positively with nest size and brood size of P. major. This may be caused by difficulties in sanitation of large and crowded nests. The numbers of fleas and their larvae were negatively affected by moisture in the nests. Nests of F. hypoleuca contained more adult fleas in polluted areas. This may indicate reduced resistance of birds exposed to heavy metals, but othe...
Jaime Potti - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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tres decadas de crimenes y usurpaciones de nidos en la vida en los nidales del papamoscas cerrojillo Ficedula hypoleuca
Ardeola, 2021Co-Authors: Jaime Potti, Carlos Camacho, David Canal, Jesus MartinezpadillaAbstract:Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca are known to be victims of nest killings in contexts of competition for nest boxes. However, there is only anecdotal information on their opposite role as perpetrators of nest takeovers and occasional killings of other songbirds. Over 31 years we examined whether competition with Great Tits Parus major over nest box ownership is a significant source of mortality for Pied Flycatchers and whether the increase in Pied Flycatcher populations affected the use of nest boxes by the smallest tit species, the Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus and Coal Tit Periparus ater, in two forests in the central Iberian Mountain Range. We found 31 Pied Flycatchers killed inside nest boxes. The Great Tit was the most frequent species to which the killings were attributed. Followed by Pied Flycatchers themselves and Nuthatches Sitta europaea. We confirmed the killing by Pied Flycatchers of at least two conspecific males and one incubating female Coal Tit, with one killer male identified. Large increases in population densities of flycatchers after nest box deployment in the two study areas seem to have triggered an intensification of agonistic interactions among their potential occupants, resulting in an increase of takeovers by Pied Flycatchers of nest boxes initially owned by the smallest tit species. Great Tits are not a serious threat for Pied Flycatchers breeding in the study area, most likely due to their preference for natural holes over the nest box types most frequently installed. The interactions of Pied Flycatchers with Blue and Coal Tits for the ownership of nest boxes do not seem to cause significant mortality in the species involved. However, aggressive usurpations of nest boxes by Pied Flycatchers surely have negative impacts on the reproductive success of the victims through their eviction from suitable nesting sites.—Potti, J., Camacho, C., Canal, D. & Martinez-Padilla, J. (2021). Three decades of crimes and misdemeanours in the nest box life of European Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca. Ardeola, 68: 315-333.
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nest dwelling ectoparasites reduce begging effort in pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca nestlings
Ibis, 2016Co-Authors: Gregorio Morenorueda, Carlos Camacho, David Canal, Tomas Redondo, David Ochoa, Jaime PottiAbstract:Parasitized nestlings might be expected to increase begging effort to obtain additional resources to compensate for those sequestered by their parasites. However, begging is costly and chicks harbouring parasites may find it more difficult to attain high begging levels. Consequently, we predicted that, for the same level of nutritional need, nestlings that are parasitized will invest less in begging than those that are not parasitized. We tested this prediction by measuring begging in Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca nestlings parasitized with haematophagous mites Dermanyssus gallinoides and Dermanyssus gallinae and blowfly larvae Protocalliphora azurea, and subjected to different levels of food deprivation in order to control for short‐term nutritional need. Nestlings from nests with ectoparasites spent less time begging than those from nests without parasites, especially when very hungry, although there was no association with latency to beg or begging intensity. Our results suggest that time invested in begging may indicate not only the level of need, but also nestling parasitism status.
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morphological and sexual traits in atlas and iberian pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca speculigera and f h iberiae a comparison
Bird Study, 2016Co-Authors: Jaime Potti, Jose Luis Copete, Carlos Gutierrezexposito, Carlos CamachoAbstract:ABSTRACTCapsule: There are significant biometric differences between Pied Flycatchers from Iberian and north African populations which are consistent with proposals to classify the two forms into separate species.Aims: To determine the similarities and differences in the main biometrical and plumage sex traits between populations of the Iberian Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca iberiae and the Atlas Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca speculigera.Methods: Biometric and plumage traits of 193 breeding individuals of Iberian Pied Flycatchers and 43 Atlas Flycatchers were measured in 2014 with standardized protocols.Results: Both sexes of Atlas Flycatchers were larger than Iberian Pied Flycatchers in skeletal (tarsus) and wing size and also differed in bill morphology, which was wider but shallower in speculigera than iberiae, with females (but not males) having shorter bills than iberiae females. Males differed in mantle colour and forehead patch size, with speculigera males being darker and displaying larger for...
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ontogenetic variation in the plumage colour of female european pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca
Ibis, 2014Co-Authors: Jaime Potti, David Canal, Carlos CamachoAbstract:Although variation in the dorsal plumage colour of male European Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca has received a great deal of attention, females of the species have been usually considered to be nearly uniformly monochromatic brown. Using reflectance spectrophotometry, we explore the age-dependent variation of plumage colour in females. We disentangle the within- and between-individual effects of this pattern and show a within-individual darkening of the mantle colour with age, whereas differences between individuals in structural colour expression may underlie the trend for a more reflective white in the females' breast plumage with advancing age. The darkening of the dorsal plumage as females age reflects the most common pattern of age-related variation in males in most European populations of the species.
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towards the simplification of mhc typing protocols targeting classical mhc class ii genes in a passerine the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
BMC Research Notes, 2010Co-Authors: David Canal, Miguel Alcaide, Jarl Andreas Anmarkrud, Jaime PottiAbstract:Background: Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) has drawn the attention of evolutionary biologists due to its importance in crucial biological processes, such as sexual selection and immune response in jawed vertebrates. However, the characterization of classical MHC genes subjected to the effects of natural selection still remains elusive in many vertebrate groups. Here, we have tested the suitability of flanking intron sequences to guide the selective exploration of classical MHC genes driving the co-evolutionary dynamics between pathogens and their passerine (Aves, Order Passeriformes) hosts. Findings: Intronic sequences flanking the usually polymorphic exon 2 were isolated from different species using primers sitting on conserved coding regions of MHC class II genes (b chain). Taking the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca as an example, we demonstrate that careful primer design can evade non-classical MHC gene and pseudogene amplification. At least four polymorphic and expressed loci were co-replicated using a single pair of primers in five non-related individuals (N = 28 alleles). The cross-amplification and preliminary inspection of similar MHC fragments in eight unrelated songbird taxa suggests that similar approaches can also be applied to other species. Conclusions: Intron sequences flanking the usually polymorphic exon 2 may assist the specific investigation of classical MHC class II B genes in species characterized by extensive gene duplication and pseudogenization. Importantly, the evasion of non-classical MHC genes with a more specific function and non-functional pseudogenes may accelerate data collection and diminish lab costs. Comprehensive knowledge of gene structure, polymorphism and expression profiles may be useful not only for the selective examination of evolutionarily relevant genes but also to restrict chimera formation by minimizing the number of co-amplifying loci.
Antero Jarvinen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Large-scale geographical variation in eggshell metal and calcium content in a passerine bird (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2014Co-Authors: Suvi Ruuskanen, Toni Laaksonen, Juan Moreno, Antero Jarvinen, Judith Morales, Eugen Belskii, Rafael Mateo, Andrey Bushuev, Anvar Kerimov, Indrikis KramsAbstract:Birds have been used as bioindicators of pollution, such as toxic metals. Levels of pollutants in eggs are especially interesting, as developing birds are more sensitive to detrimental effects of pollutants than adults. Only very few studies have monitored intraspecific, large-scale variation in metal pollution across a species' breeding range. We studied large-scale geographic variation in metal levels in the eggs of a small passerine, the pied flycatcher ( Ficedula hypoleuca ), sampled from 15 populations across Europe. We measured 10 eggshell elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Se, Sr, and Ca) and several shell characteristics (mass, thickness, porosity, and color). We found significant variation among populations in eggshell metal levels for all metals except copper. Eggshell lead, zinc, and chromium levels decreased from central Europe to the north, in line with the gradient in pollution levels over Europe, thus suggesting that eggshell can be used as an indicator of pollution levels. Eggshell lead levels were also correlated with soil lead levels and pH. Most of the metals were not correlated with eggshell characteristics, with the exception of shell mass, or with breeding success, which may suggest that birds can cope well with the current background exposure levels across Europe.
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Geographical trends in the yolk carotenoid composition of the pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
Oecologia, 2011Co-Authors: Tapio Eeva, Suvi Ruuskanen, Indrikis Krams, Juan Moreno, Antero Jarvinen, Eugen Belskii, Anvar Kerimov, Juha-pekka Salminen, Erkki Korpimäki, Chiara MorosinottoAbstract:Carotenoids in the egg yolks of birds are considered to be important antioxidants and immune stimulants during the rapid growth of embryos. Yolk carotenoid composition is strongly affected by the carotenoid composition of the female’s diet at the time of egg formation. Spatial and temporal differences in carotenoid availability may thus be reflected in yolk concentrations. To assess whether yolk carotenoid concentrations or carotenoid profiles show any large-scale geographical trends or differences among habitats, we collected yolk samples from 16 European populations of the pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca. We found that the concentrations and proportions of lutein and some other xanthophylls in the egg yolks decreased from Central Europe northwards. The most southern population (which is also the one found at the highest altitude) also showed relatively low carotenoid levels. Concentrations of β-carotene and zeaxanthin did not show any obvious geographical gradients. Egg yolks also contained proportionally more lutein and other xanthophylls in deciduous than in mixed or coniferous habitats. We suggest that latitudinal gradients in lutein and xanthophylls reflect the lower availability of lutein-rich food items in the northern F. hypoleuca populations and in montane southern populations, which start egg-laying earlier relative to tree phenology than the Central European populations. Similarly, among-habitat variation is likely to reflect the better availability of lutein-rich food in deciduous forests. Our study is the first to indicate that the concentration and profile of yolk carotenoids may show large-scale spatial variation among populations in different parts of the species’ geographical range. Further studies are needed to test the fitness effects of this geographical variation.
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clutch size variation in the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Ibis, 2008Co-Authors: Antero JarvinenAbstract:Variation in clutch-size of the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca was studied simultaneously in relation to latitude, longitude, altitude, laying date and habitat, using data from 103 areas from north Africa to north Norway (latitudinal range about 3900 km). Clutch-size variation was significantly related to altitude and habitat, small clutches being laid at high altitude and in coniferous forests. In contrast to some earlier studies, latitudinal or longitudinal clutch-size trends were not found.
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a meta analytic study of the effects of female age on laying date and clutch size in the great tit parus major and the pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca
Ibis, 2008Co-Authors: Antero JarvinenAbstract:The effects of age (1 year-old vs older females) on laying-date and clutch-size of the Great Tit Parus major (in eight independent study areas) and the Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca (five areas) were meta-analysed using both published and unpublished records. To standardize comparisons between areas and species, the standardized difference between the means of the two age groups was used as a measure of the magnitude of the age-effect (effect size). In Great Tits the laying-date of ‘young’ females was 0.30 standard deviation units later and clutch-size 0.31 units smaller than that of ‘old’ females. In the Pied Flycatcher the corresponding figures were 0.45 and 0.81, respectively. All the effect size measures were highly significant but for clutch-size the effect size of the Pied Flycatcher was significantly greater than that of the Great Tit. In the Great Tit the effect size of clutch-size was heterogeneous across the different study areas. It was estimated that the following numbers of unpublished studies showing null results would have to have accumulated in file-drawers before we could say that the results concerning effect sizes are due to sampling bias: for Great Tits 121 studies of laying-date and 196 studies of clutch-size; and for Pied Flycatchers 45 studies of laying-date and 139 studies of clutch-size.