Research on Evacuation Path Planning Based on Improved Sparrow Search Algorithm

Reducing casualties and property losses through effective evacuation route planning has been a key focus for researchers in recent years.As part of this effort,an enhanced sparrow search algorithm(MSSA)was proposed.Firstly,the Golden Sine algorithm and a nonlinear weight factor optimization strategy were added in the discoverer position update stage of the SSA algorithm.Secondly,the Cauchy-Gaussian perturbation was applied to the optimal position of the SSA algorithm to improve its ability to jump out of local optima.Finally,the local search mechanism based on the mountain climbing method was incorporated into the local search stage of the SSA algorithm,improving its local search ability.To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm,the Whale Algorithm,Gray Wolf Algorithm,Improved Gray Wolf Algorithm,Sparrow Search Algorithm,and MSSA Algorithm were employed to solve various test functions.The accuracy and convergence speed of each algorithm were then compared and analyzed.The results indicate that the MSSA algorithm has superior solving ability and stability compared to other algorithms.To further validate the enhanced algorithm’s capabilities for path planning,evacuation experiments were conducted using different maps featuring various obstacle types.Additionally,a multi-exit evacuation scenario was constructed according to the actual building environment of a teaching building.Both the sparrow search algorithm and MSSA algorithm were employed in the simulation experiment for multiexit evacuation path planning.The findings demonstrate that the MSSA algorithm outperforms the comparison algorithm,showcasing its greater advantages and higher application potential.

Winter Wheat Yield Estimation Based on Sparrow Search Algorithm Combined with Random Forest:A Case Study in Henan Province,China

Precise and timely prediction of crop yields is crucial for food security and the development of agricultural policies.However,crop yield is influenced by multiple factors within complex growth environments.Previous research has paid relatively little attention to the interference of environmental factors and drought on the growth of winter wheat.Therefore,there is an urgent need for more effective methods to explore the inherent relationship between these factors and crop yield,making precise yield prediction increasingly important.This study was based on four type of indicators including meteorological,crop growth status,environmental,and drought index,from October 2003 to June 2019 in Henan Province as the basic data for predicting winter wheat yield.Using the sparrow search al-gorithm combined with random forest(SSA-RF)under different input indicators,accuracy of winter wheat yield estimation was calcu-lated.The estimation accuracy of SSA-RF was compared with partial least squares regression(PLSR),extreme gradient boosting(XG-Boost),and random forest(RF)models.Finally,the determined optimal yield estimation method was used to predict winter wheat yield in three typical years.Following are the findings:1)the SSA-RF demonstrates superior performance in estimating winter wheat yield compared to other algorithms.The best yield estimation method is achieved by four types indicators’composition with SSA-RF)(R^(2)=0.805,RRMSE=9.9%.2)Crops growth status and environmental indicators play significant roles in wheat yield estimation,accounting for 46%and 22%of the yield importance among all indicators,respectively.3)Selecting indicators from October to April of the follow-ing year yielded the highest accuracy in winter wheat yield estimation,with an R^(2)of 0.826 and an RMSE of 9.0%.Yield estimates can be completed two months before the winter wheat harvest in June.4)The predicted performance will be slightly affected by severe drought.Compared with severe drought year(2011)(R^(2)=0.680)and normal year(2017)(R^(2)=0.790),the SSA-RF model has higher prediction accuracy for wet year(2018)(R^(2)=0.820).This study could provide an innovative approach for remote sensing estimation of winter wheat yield.yield.

Optimizing slope safety factor prediction via stacking using sparrow search algorithm for multi-layer machine learning regression models

The safety factor is a crucial quantitative index for evaluating slope stability.However,the traditional calculation methods suffer from unreasonable assumptions,complex soil composition,and inadequate consideration of the influencing factors,leading to large errors in their calculations.Therefore,a stacking ensemble learning model(stacking-SSAOP)based on multi-layer regression algorithm fusion and optimized by the sparrow search algorithm is proposed for predicting the slope safety factor.In this method,the density,cohesion,friction angle,slope angle,slope height,and pore pressure ratio are selected as characteristic parameters from the 210 sets of established slope sample data.Random Forest,Extra Trees,AdaBoost,Bagging,and Support Vector regression are used as the base model(inner loop)to construct the first-level regression algorithm layer,and XGBoost is used as the meta-model(outer loop)to construct the second-level regression algorithm layer and complete the construction of the stacked learning model for improving the model prediction accuracy.The sparrow search algorithm is used to optimize the hyperparameters of the above six regression models and correct the over-and underfitting problems of the single regression model to further improve the prediction accuracy.The mean square error(MSE)of the predicted and true values and the fitting of the data are compared and analyzed.The MSE of the stacking-SSAOP model was found to be smaller than that of the single regression model(MSE=0.03917).Therefore,the former has a higher prediction accuracy and better data fitting.This study innovatively applies the sparrow search algorithm to predict the slope safety factor,showcasing its advantages over traditional methods.Additionally,our proposed stacking-SSAOP model integrates multiple regression algorithms to enhance prediction accuracy.This model not only refines the prediction accuracy of the slope safety factor but also offers a fresh approach to handling the intricate soil composition and other influencing factors,making it a precise and reliable method for slope stability evaluation.This research holds importance for the modernization and digitalization of slope safety assessments.

Effects of constant light and dark conditions on the locomotor activity,body mass,and body temperature rhythms of Eurasian Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)

Light is an essential environmental cue influencing the endogenous circadian clocks that regulate behavioral and physiological processes in animals.Despite extensive research on the circadian rhythms of avian behavior and physiology,the mechanisms by which they adapt and adjust to abnormal photoperiod conditions,such as artificial light,have yet to be fully elucidated.Here,the circadian rhythms of the body mass,activity,and core and peripheral body temperatures of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus,ETS)-a diurnal passerine-were examined under three different lighting conditions:constant light(LL),constant darkness(DD),and normal light-dark cycles(LD).Our results showed that the activity,body mass,core,tarsometatarsus,and eye temperatures of the ETSs varied significantly with treatment,time,and the interaction between treatment and time;however,there was no significant change in body mass in response to the interaction between time and treatment.Under LD conditions,the ETSs exhibited significant circadian rhythms in activity and core,tarsometatarsus,and eye temperatures.Under LL conditions,only the core temperature exhibited significant rhythmicity.Under DD conditions,there were no significant circadian rhythms in activity,body mass,and eye temperature;however,the core and tarsometatarsus temperatures remained rhythmic.Our results indicate that the core body temperature rhythm of ETS is endogenous and can be maintained under abnormal photoperiods.In contrast,the activity and body surface temperature,uncoupled from the core body temperature under abnormal photoperiod conditions,strongly depend on light.These results differ from those of other diurnal avian species,suggesting a unique coping mechanism of ETS in response to an abnormal photoperiod.

SPARROW模型研究及应用进展

SPARROW(SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes)模型是由美国地质调查局开发的一个基于空间的计算流域营养物质污染负荷的非线性回归模型。它使用机理函数和空间分布模块来计算流域的污染负荷,从而弥补了许多经验回归模型的缺陷。基于模型的特性,其在流域污染负荷核算、水质响应模拟、采样点空间优化、流域最大日最大污染负荷计算与水环境管理等方面有较好的应用前景。对SPARROW模型的机理、结构、输入输出变量、应用现状及在我国的应用发展前景和可能的问题进行了全面阐述和讨论,并对SPARROW模型的改进模型—贝叶斯-SPARROW模型进行简要介绍。以期为该模型在中国水环境管理中的应用提供参考。

流域空间统计模型SPARROW及其研究进展

SPARROW(SPAtially Referenced Regressions On Watershed attributes流域属性基于空间的回归模型)是美国地质调查局(USGS)开发的经验统计和地表过程相结合的流域空间统计模型。模型通过对河流水质数据和流域属性建立空间回归实现污染负荷产生和迁移的定量化。模型的最大特色是其空间特性非常显著,可以将上游的营养盐污染源数据和下游的营养盐负荷数据联系起来,同时可以将河流中的水质监测数据或污染物通量数据和流域的空间属性特征(比如土地利用类型、河网、大气沉降等)联系起来。模型除了一般水质模型所具有的水质模拟和流域污染源的分析功能外,还可在模拟过程中对流域中每个污染源、流域属性和污染物迁移过程对水质监测结果的影响进行显著性检验。文章简要介绍了SPARROW模型的结构和原理、功能和应用发展前景。

SPARROW模型的传输过程研究——以新安江流域总氮为例

建立新安江流域总氮的SPARROW模型,以土-水传输因子(LDF)表示降雨、坡度、气温3个土-水传输变量的影响,结合农业源、林草地源、生活源3个污染源排放系数,分析总氮经过土-水传输之后到达河道的比例(LDR),由此揭示总氮的非点源污染特征。结果显示坡度的影响在整个流域范围内差异相对较大,LDF为0.86~1.06,因而对3类污染源进入河道的传输比差异亦较大。综合考虑3个土-水传输变量作用下,子流域60土-水传输因子最大,而子流域225最小,因此若制定减排措施要求入河减少量相同,管理上会优先考虑子流域60所在的地区。研究采用改进的河流衰减方程同时描述水文和非水文因素的影响,代替河流分级衰减系数,引进传质系数作为模型模拟参数,削减速率与流量呈负相关关系,且大部分河段削减速率均在以往文献研究范围之内,表明改进的传质速率用于新安江流域总氮模型具有可行性。

SPARROW模型在水环境管理中的应用及发展趋势

模型是研究水环境变化、进行水环境管理的重要工具.SPARROW(spatially referenced regressions on watershed attributes)是一个基于质量平衡方法将监测数据与流域特征和污染物来源信息相关联的非线性流域回归模型,具有数据需求量少、结构透明、普适性强等优点.为深刻理解SPARROW模型在水环境管理中的应用现状及未来发展趋势,笔者对SPARROW模型的原理以及其在营养物背景浓度模拟、水质评价、水质目标管理、气候变化对水环境影响等方面应用的国内外研究现状进行了系统梳理.结果表明:①通过选择合适的参考点,SPARROW模型可以有效模拟流域背景营养物通量和浓度,为流域水质标准的制定提供参照依据.②SPARROW模型可将营养物监测获得的数据信息外推至未监测区域,在水质监测数据数量有限的情况下进行水质评价.③SPARROW模型可模拟不同土地使用条件、资源管理等情境下河流营养物负荷,为水质的管理与决策提供支撑.④气候变化情景下,基于SPARROW模型进行气候变化对水环境影响的研究可以支撑水环境管理方案的制定,以应对未来气候变化导致的营养物输出增加.针对SPARROW模型目前在应用中存在的问题进行了分析与讨论,建议未来在应用SPARROW模型时,加强以下几个方面的研究:①进一步开发高锰酸盐指数、化学需氧量(COD)、氨氮等相关模块;②将SPARROW模型与机器学习模型相结合,提高量化模型参数的能力,使模型更好地应用于不同尺度、不同流域的水质相关研究.

仿真流域的总氮模拟——SPARROW模型应用方法研究

SPARROW模型是以非线性回归方程为核心的流域负荷模型,该模型以流域河网结构为基础,通过建立污染源、流域空间属性、水质监测数据之间的内在联系,评估和预测目标流域中不同污染源组成特征对流域水体污染状况的宏观影响。本文应用该模型对构建的中国北方仿真流域进行总氮模拟,结果显示,仿真流域中影响总氮污染的主要污染源为农业源(贡献率为63.7%),其次为生活源(贡献率为19.8%)和工业源(贡献率为16.5%)。

A Chaos Sparrow Search Algorithm with Logarithmic Spiral and Adaptive Step for Engineering Problems

The sparrow search algorithm(SSA)is a newly proposed meta-heuristic optimization algorithm based on the sparrowforaging principle.Similar to other meta-heuristic algorithms,SSA has problems such as slowconvergence speed and difficulty in jumping out of the local optimum.In order to overcome these shortcomings,a chaotic sparrow search algorithm based on logarithmic spiral strategy and adaptive step strategy(CLSSA)is proposed in this paper.Firstly,in order to balance the exploration and exploitation ability of the algorithm,chaotic mapping is introduced to adjust the main parameters of SSA.Secondly,in order to improve the diversity of the population and enhance the search of the surrounding space,the logarithmic spiral strategy is introduced to improve the sparrow search mechanism.Finally,the adaptive step strategy is introduced to better control the process of algorithm exploitation and exploration.The best chaotic map is determined by different test functions,and the CLSSA with the best chaotic map is applied to solve 23 benchmark functions and 3 classical engineering problems.The simulation results show that the iterative map is the best chaotic map,and CLSSA is efficient and useful for engineering problems,which is better than all comparison algorithms.

Relationship Between Organ Masses and Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) in Tree Sparrows (Passer montanus)

BMR （basal metabolic rate）, body mass and organ masses of tree sparrows （Passer montanus） were measured to analyze the correlation between organ masses and BMR in tree sparrows, and to evaluate the underlying physiological causes of difference in BMR. Adult tree sparrows were live-trapped by mist net in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province （47°29′N, 124°02′E）. The closed circuit respirometer was used to measure the metabolic rate （MR）, and controlled the ambient temperature by using a water bath （±0.5℃）. Body masses were measured to the nearest 0.01 g before and after BMR measurements with a Sartorius balance （model BT25S）. The mean value was recorded as body mass. Wet and dry masses of several organs were measured, too. BMR was （4.276± 0.385） mL O2/（g·h） and mean body mass was （18.522±0.110） g. Since not all the variables were normal distributed, a log10- transformation of those variables was employed to linearize them, prior to analyses. Simple regression analyses indicated that most organ masses showed a significant high correlation with body mass. Both the small intestine and rectum masses were notable exception to that trend. The body-mass-adjusted residual analysis showed that only the kidney wet mass, brain mass, stomach mass, small mass and rectum wet mass correlated with BMR. In addition, correlations between several organ masses and BMR were observed. Because of the inter-correlations of organ masses, a principal component analysis （PCA） was performed to redefine the morphological variability. The first four components whose eigenvalues were greater than 1 could explain 75.2% variance of BMR. The first component, whose proportion reached 30.19%, was affected mainly by stomach mass, small intestine mass and rectum mass. Therefore, the results supported the hypothesis that BMR was controlled by some ＂expensive metabolic＂ organs

Coping with extremes:lowered myocardial phosphofructokinase activities and glucose content but increased fatty acids content in highland Eurasian Tree Sparrows

Background:Efficient and selective utilization of metabolic substrates is one of the key strategies in high-altitude animals to cope with hypoxia and hypothermia.Previous findings have shown that the energy substrate utilization of highland animals varies with evolutionary history and phylogeny.The heart is a proxy for the cardiopulmonary system,and the metabolic substrate utilization in the myocardium is also under the strong selective pressure of chronically hypoxic and hypothermic environments.However,little information is available on the physiological adjustments in relation to metabolic substrate utilization in the myocardium for coping with high-altitude environments.Methods:We compared the metabolic enzyme activities,including hexokinase(HK),phosphofructokinase(PFK),pyruvate kinase(PK),citrate synthase(CS),carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1(CPT-1),lactic dehydrogenase(LDH),and creatine kinase(CK),and metabolic substrate contents including glucose(Glu),triglyceride(TG),and free fatty acid(FFA)in the myocardium of a typical human commensal species,Eurasian Tree Sparrows(Passer montanus)between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(the QTP,3230 m)and low altitude population(Shijiazhuang,80 m),and between sexes.Results:Among the seven metabolic enzymes and three substrates investigated,we identified no significant differences in PK,CPT-1,HK,CS,LDH,and CK activities and TG content of the myocardium between high and low altitude populations.However,the QTP sparrows had significantly lower Glu content and PFK activities but higher FFA content relative to their lowland counterparts.In addition,male sparrows had higher myocardial HK and CS activities relative to females,independent of altitude.Conclusions:Our results showed that the QTP sparrows elevated fatty acid utilization rather than glucose preference in the myocardium relative to lowland counterpart,which contributes to uncovering both the physiological adjustments for adapting to the extreme conditions of the QTP,intraspecifically.

Concentrations of copper, zinc and manganese in Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) at Jixi, Heilongjiang Province, China

Concentrations of copper （Cu）, zinc （Zn） and manganese （Mn） were measured in four tissues of Tree Sparrow （Passer montanus） from three sites in Heilongjiang province, China, during four seasons. Among the four measured tissues （primary feathers, liver, heart, and pectoral muscle）, the highest concentrations were found in feathers （Zn） or liver （Cu and Mn）, and the lowest concentrations were in muscle, except Cu. For Mn, mean concentrations of the birds from the three study sites were, in decreasing order： Didao mining area （DMA） 〉 urban district of Jixi （UDJ） 〉 Phoenix Mountain national nature reserve （PMR, the reference site）, but not for Zn and Cu. There were significant differences between metal concentrations at the three sites, but differences were not significant for Mn （in muscle and feathers） and Cu （in feathers）. For most elements, the mean concentrations were greatest in summer.

Seasonal variations in gonad morphology and hypothalamic GnRH-I and GnIH in Eurasian Tree Sparrow,a multi-brooded passerine

The hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal(HPG)axis ubiquitously regulates seasonal reproduction,following the rhythmicity of a suite of environmental cues.Birds display prominent seasonal variations in gonad size regulated by two hypothalamic peptides,gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1(GnRH-I)and gonadotropin-inhibiting hormone(GnIH).How multi-brooded avian species adjust GnRH-I and GnIH to regulate gonadal morphology seasonally remains largely unknown.Here,we studied the variations in the hypothalamic immunoreactivity(ir)of GnRH-I and GnIH,gonadal proliferation,and apoptosis in a typical multi-brooded species,the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus),across the pre-breeding(PB),first breeding(FB),second breeding(SB),pre-basic molt(PM),and wintering stages(WS).Our results showed that both sexes had higher preoptic area(POA)-GnRH-I-ir but lower paraventricular nucleus(PVN)-GnIH-ir neurons during the breeding stages(FB and SB)relative to other life-history stages,with no significant differences between two broods.The testes and ovaries were significantly larger during the breeding stages.Testicular volume increased during the two broods due to anincreased diameter of seminiferous tubules.Furthermore,there were more testicular apoptotic cells in PB and WS stages than in breeding stages,and in PB stage than in PM stage.Males had higher POA-GnRH-I expression than females during the breeding stages,but both sexes had comparable PVN-GnIH expression throughout the annual cycle.Both sexes of the sparrows may undergo a similar pattern of life-history stage-dependent variation in the hypothalamic GnRH-I,GnIH,and gonadal morphology,except that during breeding stages,males may display higher expression of POA-GnRH-I relative to females.The higher expression of POA-GnRH-I-ir in breeding male sparrows may be critical for male-dependent parental care.

Thermogenic responses in Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus)to seasonal acclimatization and temperature-photoperiod acclimation

Background:Small birds in temperate habitats must either migrate,or adjust aspects of their morphology,physiology and behavior to cope with seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod.It is,however,difficult to accurately measure how seasonal changes in temperature and photoperiod affect physiological processes such as basal metabolic rate(BMR)and metabolic activity.To address this problem,we collected data in each month of the year on body mass(Mb)and BMR,and conducted a series of experiments to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Mb,BMR and physiological markers of metabolic activity,in the Eurasian Tree Sparrow(Passer montanus).Methods:In one experiment,we measured monthly change in Mb and BMR in a captive group of birds over a year.In another experiment,we examined the effects of acclimating birds to two different temperatures,10 and 30℃,and a long and a short photoperiod(16 h light:8 h dark and 8 h light:16 h dark,respectively)for 4 weeks.Results:We found that these treatments induced sparrows to adjust their Mb and metabolic rate processes.Acclimation to 30℃for 4 weeks significantly decreased sparrows’Mb,BMR,and energy intake,including both gross energy intake and digestible energy intake,compared to birds acclimated to 10℃.The dry mass of the liver,kidneys and digestive tract of birds acclimated to 30℃also significantly decreased,although their heart and skeletal muscle mass did not change significantly relative to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to 30℃also had lower mitochondrial state-4 respiration(S4R)and cytochrome c oxidase(COX)activity in their liver and skeletal muscle,compared to those acclimated to 10℃.Birds acclimated to the long photoperiod also had lower mitochondrial S4R and COX activity in their liver,compared to those acclimated to the short photoperiod.Conclusions:These results illustrate the changes in morphology,physiology,and enzyme activity induced by seasonal change in temperature and photoperiod in a small temperate passerine.Both temperature and photoperiod probably have a strong effect on seasonal variation in metabolic heat production in small birds in temperate regions.The effect of temperature is,however,stronger than that of photoperiod.

Morphometric Characterization of the Grasshopper Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus savannarum</i>) and Baird’s Sparrow (<i>Ammodramus bairdii</i>) during the Wintering Season

Grassland bird populations have declined more than any other group of bird species in North America. Some species such as the grasshopper (Ammodramus savannarum) and Baird’s sparrows (Ammodramus bairdii) are of particular conservation concern, since they have shown negative trends in their population over the last 50 years. Their winter ecology has only begun to be studied recently and information is limited. The purpose of this study is to achieve the morphometric characterization of these two grassland species during the wintering season. The study is conducted in the Rancho Santa Teresa located in Villa Hidalgo, Durango, Mexico and the Ecological reserve “El Uno”, located in Janos, Chihuahua, Mexico. During winter 2013-2014, 135 birds were captured;banded and zoometric measurements were taken such as total body weight, wing chord, tail length, culmen, and beak depth and width. Two indices of body condition (BCI) are also calculated. All measurements and indices are compared per species and per sex. Both species are sexed with molecular techniques, determining 20 females and 18 males for A. bairdii and 41 females and 56 males for A. savannarum. All variables are significant different between species (p < 0.05). Beak measurements are not significantly different when comparing birds of different sexes (same species), with the exception of beak width of A. bairdii (p < 0.05). Male’s weight, wing chord, tail length, as well as one of the body condition indices (BCI2) are significantly higher (p < 0.05) than females’ for both species. BCI1 shows significant differences (p < 0.05) between species and sexes in A. bairdii. The biometric data obtained in this study can be used as reference values wintering populations of both species.

Last but not the least: effects of laying sequence on egg color variation and embryonic development of Russet Sparrow(Passer cinnamomeus)

Background: Laying sequence has important effects on eggshell color and embryonic development in birds. Some birds can allocate resources unevenly among the eggs within a clutch, prioritizing those at the beginning of the laying sequence, in order to maximize reproductive success. The changes in egg color according to laying sequence may be an adaptation to pressure from predators or brood parasites.Methods: In this study, effects of laying sequence on egg color and embryonic heart rate in Russet Sparrows(Passer cinnamomeus) were investigated using artificial nest boxes. The eggs were divided into three groups: first to be laid, intermediate in the laying sequence, and last to be laid. We maintained the eggs in an incubator and measured embryonic heart rates.Results: Avian visual modeling showed that the background color brightness of the last eggs laid was significantly higher(whiter) than those of the other eggs. All eggs were about the same size and hatched around 13 days, indicating that laying sequence significantly affected embryonic development speed; the last eggs to be laid developed significantly faster than did the first in the clutch.Conclusions: Our study quantified the effect of laying sequence on egg color variation and proved that laying sequence has an important effect on embryonic heart rate in Russet Sparrows.

Preliminary molecular variability among haplotypes of Saudi Arabian house sparrow <i>Passer domesticus</i>

Genetic variability of Passer domesticus from different localities of Saudi Arabia was investigated. Six hundred and fifty nine nucleotides were sequenced from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. There was a slight difference among the studied haplotypes and most substitutions were synonymous. In some haplotypes at the west of Arabian Peninsula (mountainous habitat), two transitions only were non-synonymous. The data were used to construct the relationship of the Arabian house sparrow to its con specific taxa from Europe and America. Neigh-bor-joining (NJ), maximum-par-simony (MP) and maximum-likelihood (ML) analytical methods were used. The three methods showed clustering of the Arabian haplotypes in one group and their sister relationship with the haplotypes from Netherlands and America. A spanish Haplotypes came basal to both groups. Collecting more samples and more DNA data could be of necessary to clearly address the genetic variability of this rapidly propagated species in Arabia.

A high incidence of non-cavity nesting in an introduced population of House Sparrows suggests that the species should not be constrained by cavity-nest site availability

Background: The House Sparrow(Passer domesticus) has undergone dramatic population declines in many parts of Europe.It has been widely hypothesised that a lack of cavity nest sites has contributed to this decline.However the idea of the House Sparrow being nest site limited is somewhat incompatible with the long history of nest site plasticity in the species.Methods: The nest-site selection in a population of non-native House Sparrows introduced to Australia from Europe just over 150 years ago was characterised.The prevalence of non-cavity nesting was quantified,and nest-site selection in terms of landscape and nesting structure were described.Results: Flexible nesting behaviors were reported over a range of different landscapes and a surprisingly high rate of nesting in vegetation(43%) was documented.Most nests found in vegetation were not in cavities,but were woven into the foliage and supported by branches and stems.Conclusion: The high rate of vegetation nesting indicates that in this introduced population,the House Sparrow is unlikely to be constrained by cavity-nest site availability.The high degree of nest site plasticity in the Australian population may suggest that European House Sparrows have the potential to shift away from their proclivity for cavity nests.Future work in Europe should examine the incidence of non-cavity nesting in House Sparrows more closely,and perhaps reconsider the idea that House Sparrows are nest-site constrained.

Experimental evidence for ovarian hypofunction in sparrow hybrids

Background: Postzygotic isolation in the form of reduced viability and/or fertility of hybrids may help maintain species boundaries in the face of interspecific gene flow. Past hybridization events between house sparrows(Passer domesticus) and Spanish sparrows(P. hispaniolensis) have given rise to a homoploid hybrid species, the Italian sparrow(P. italiae). Although genetic incompatibilities are known to isolate these three species, the biological consequences of these incompatibilities are still unknown in early generation hybrids.Methods: We investigated whether F1 hybrids between house and Spanish sparrows experience reduced viability or fertility. More specifically, we generated hybrids through controlled crosses in aviaries, and compared ovaries of female hybrids with female of pure?species sparrows.Results: We found that overall, hybrid ovaries were underdeveloped and that half of all female hybrids exhibited symptoms of ovarian hypofunction(ovarian atrophy and complete absence of developed follicles).Conclusions: Fertility in hybrids is a common consequence or post?zygotic barriers between species. We discuss these results in light of previous findings on genetic incompatibilities between the parent species and the potential role of incompatibilities in hybrid speciation, a rare evolutionary process in birds.