Microsatellites underestimate genetic divergence in the Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus)

Although a growing number of both sequence-based and microsatellite nuclear loci have been used to infer genetic structures, their relative efficiencies remain poorly understood. In our study, we used the Green-backed Tit (Parus monticolus) to explore the resolving ability of these two types of markers. The south-western and central mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogroups were divergent to some extent in sequence-based nuclear data, while mixed together in microsatellites data. The F ST values among clades were about four times lower in microsatellite loci than those in sequence-based nuclear loci. We are of the opinion that size homoplasy may have contributed to the inability of microsatellites to uncover differentiation. Our results suggest that sequence-based nuclear loci outperformed microsatellite loci in detecting population structures, especially those focused on populations with large effective population sizes. There was no significant correlation between F ST values and allelic size variability, which suggested that the efficiency of microsatellite loci in detecting genetic structure may be independent of their polymorphism. F ST is better than R ST in detecting intraspecific divergence due to the high variance of R ST . In agreement with sequence-based nuclear loci, microsatellite loci did resolve the genetic distinctness of the Taiwan Residents phylogroup. The genetic differentiation between the Taiwan Residents and continental clades may involve allopatric divergence without gene flow.

Egg recognition in Cinereous Tits(Parus cinereus):eggshell spots matter

Background:Brood parasitic birds such as cuckoos(Cuculus spp.)can reduce their host’s reproductive success.Such selection pressure on the hosts has driven the evolution of defense behaviors such as egg rejection against cuckoo parasitism.Studies have shown that Cinereous Tits(Parus cinereus)in China have a good ability for recognizing foreign eggs.However,it is unclear whether egg spots play a role in egg recognition.The aims of our study were to investigate the egg recognition ability of two Cinereous Tit populations in China and to explore the role of spots in egg recognition.Methods:To test the effect of eggshell spots on egg recognition,pure white eggs of the White-rumped Munia(Lonchura striata)and eggs of White-rumped Munia painted with red brown spots were used to simulate experimental parasitism.Results:Egg experiments showed that Cinereous Tits rejected 51.5%of pure white eggs of the White-rumped Munia,but only 14.3%of spotted eggs of the White-rumped Munia.There was a significant difference in egg recognition and rejection rate between the two egg types.Conclusions:We conclude that eggshell spots on Cinereous Tit eggs had a signaling function and may be essential to tits for recognizing and rejecting parasitic eggs.

Habitat selection by nestbox-breeding birds and Roe Deer are incongruent within a heterogeneous woodland landscape

Conserving species relies upon acquiring an understanding of their use of habitat,yet our understanding of the use of habitat by co-existing species of different guilds at microgeographic scales remains poor.In particular,the use of habitat by woodland species is of conservation concern because of widespread declines in woodland biodiversity.Woodland bird declines have been ascribed,in part,to high deer densities because their browsing reduces the availability of nesting sites and food.We quantify the microgeographic use of habitat by Roe Deer(Capreolus capreolus)and of Great Tits(Parus major),Blue Tits(Cyanistes caeruleus)and Pied Flycatchers(Ficedula hypoleuca)in a heterogenous woodland landscape.We examined the use of habitat at microgeographic scales by the deer and the three bird species in relation to whether the local habitat was flat or wet or had a path,fence or wall within a 25-m radius of 206 randomly selected locations.We first examined if the occupancy rates of nestboxes in those locations were correlated with the number of Roe Deer lays and second,examined if the use of habitat by the Roe Deer and the bird species were associated with each of the habitat features that we quantified.We begin by showing that the use of habitat by Roe Deer is incongruent with the use of habitat by Great Tits,Blue Tits and Pied Flycatchers during the breeding season.Also,whilst all three bird species showed no,or weak,habitat preferences,the Roe Deer preferred daytime lay sites that were in flat areas of wet woodland close to paths,whilst there were no significant effects of the presence of fences and walls.These findings show that the Roe Deer and the three bird species differ in the use of habitat within a heterogenous woodland landscape,meaning that their use of habitat did not overlap at microgeographic scales.Meanwhile,the deer showed preferences for flat areas of wet woodland,whilst none of the bird species exhibited such preferences,and we discuss the implications of our findings for the management of woodlands.

Two new bird records for China

Two new bird records for China of the Himalayan Black-lored Tit (Parus xanthogenys) and the Nepal Wren-Babbler (Pnoepyga immaculata) were established at Zhangmu,a small town in Tibet bordering on Nepal,in two birding trips in 2010,respectively.

Seasonal change in sexual differences in nestling size and survival： a framework to evaluate sex-dependent environmental sensitivity in the wild

Background: Sexual size dimorphism(SSD) occurs in a wide range of species in birds and other animals, but the magnitude of SSD often varies with environmental conditions. In general, in the developmental stages, the larger sex is more vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions because the larger sex requires more energy than the smaller sex. However, this may not hold true for birds with large brood sizes; the larger sex can acquire more food by suppressing the smaller sex. In addition, most previous studies have been experimental, such as by manipulating clutch size and ectoparasites, which may not reflect natural conditions.Methods: In the present study, we propose a general framework to assess sexual differences in environmental sensitivity in natural populations. Because environmental conditions change throughout the breeding season, seasonal changes of nestling SSD and sex ratio should reflect sexual differences in environmental sensitivity. We applied this approach to a large dataset(1555 nestlings over 5 years) of Japanese Tits(Parus minor). In this population, the male nestling is generally larger than the female(5% SSD in body weight).Results: We found that the magnitude of SSD(weight, tarsus, wing) and fledgling sex ratio increased both in the beginning and the end of the breeding season.Conclusion: Our study suggested that female nestlings are more valuable to poor environmental conditions in the relatively fecund species. This study underscores the importance of brood size on sexual differences in environmental stochasticity and our framework encourages comparative analysis among different bird species.

Attractive egg color?Red eggs facilitate egg acceptance in a cavity-nesting host

Hosts evolve defensive strategies to minimize the reproductive costs of brood parasitism,in turn,the hosts'defense promote the optimization of cuckoo parasitism strategies(Soler 2017).Recognizing foreign eggs and selectively removing them from the nest can minimize the fitness costs associated with rearing parasitic fledglings(Soler 2017).Since Rothstein(1971)first experimented with the addition of a model egg to a host nest in the early incubation period to study host egg recognition,the use of model eggs has become one of the most important methods for testing the egg recognition abilities of hosts(Hauber et al.2019).Some studies have looked at various egg colors and their effect on host egg rejection and found differential responses to egg colors(for more details,see Supplementary Materials),highlighting that more work needs to examine the effect of model egg color on host egg rejection behavior.

千岛湖栖息地片段化对大山雀营巢资源利用的影响

为了解栖息地片段化对次级洞巢鸟营巢资源利用的影响,我们于2008年2-8月,在千岛湖地区选取21个岛屿,采用悬挂人工巢箱方法进行大山雀(Parus major)招引实验。通过测定岛屿面积、岛屿隔离度、捕食者活动率、人工巢箱周围植被盖度和人工巢箱巢向等5种参数,分析大山雀人工巢箱利用与上述参数间的关系。实验期间,共悬挂443个人工巢箱,其中有72个(16.3%)被大山雀利用。大山雀倾向于选择捕食者活动率低、植被盖度低、巢口向东或向南的人工巢箱;岛屿面积和隔离度对大山雀利用人工巢箱不存在显著的直接影响,但岛屿面积可通过影响捕食者的活动率,对大山雀利用人工巢箱产生间接影响。因此,我们认为在栖息地片段化后,应更多关注对洞巢鸟营巢资源利用有直接影响的栖息地特征因素,以及片段化效应的间接影响。

Breeding ecology of ground tits in northeastern Tibetan plateau, with special reference to cooperative breeding system

Data on breeding ecology of a color-band marked population of the ground tit Parus humilis were collected in north Qinghai on the Tibetan plateau, during 2008 and 2009. In spring the birds excavated 0.8-3.2 m long nesting burrows under the ground. First-egg laying occurred between late April and late June during which a pair produced one brood. Incubation was done by female alone for 15-16 days and nestling-feeding by both sexes and helpers in any for 23-25 days. Average brood size at fledging was 5.8 （＋ 1.4 SD, 3-8） and all the 27 observed nesting attempts fledged at least one young. At the population level, brood sex ratio did not differ from 1：1. The birds are a territory-living resident, with annual resight rates being 48% （22 of 46） in adult breeders and 10% （7 of 67） in yearlings. Pairs were socially monogamous, of which 23% （9 of 40） contained one and some- times two male helpers, most likely being philopatric sons of the breeders. The formation of cooperative groups is similar to the population in central Tibet but differs from that in south Guansu where breeding ground tits exhibit a high level of annual turnover