Does social information affect the settlement decisions of resident birds in their second breeding attempt?A case study of the Japanese Tit(Parus minor)

Individuals may gather information about environmental conditions when deciding where to breed in order to maximize their lifetime fitness.They can obtain social information by observing conspecifics and heterospecifics with similar ecological needs.Many studies have shown that birds can rely on social information to select their nest sites.The location of active nests and the reproductive success of conspecifics and heterospecifics can provide accurate predictions about the quality of the breeding habitat.Some short-lived species can facultatively reproduce two and/or more times within a breeding season.However,few studies have focused on how multiplebrooding individuals select nest sites for their second breeding attempts.In this study,we use long-term data to test whether the Japanese Tit(Parus minor)can use social information from conspecifics and/or heterospecifics(the Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea,the Daurian Redstart Phoenicurus auroreus and the Yellow-rumped Flycatcher Ficedula zanthopygia)to select a nest site for the second breeding attempt.Our results showed that the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt tended to be surrounded by more breeding conspecific nests,successful first nests of conspecifics,and fewer failed first nests of conspecifics than the nest boxes that remained unoccupied(the control group).However,the numbers of breeding heterospecific nests,successful heterospecific nests,and failed heterospecific nests did not differ between the nest boxes occupied by tits on their second breeding attempt and the unoccupied nest boxes.Furthermore,the tits with local successful breeding experience tended to choose areas with more successful first nests of conspecifics than those without successful breeding experience.Thus,we suggest that conspecifics'but not heterospecifics'social information within the same breeding season is the major factor influencing the nest site selection of Japanese Tits during second breeding attempts.

Hard life for sons in the nest?Sex-dependent offspring mortality in Great Tits in urban and forest areas

Sex-biased mortality can occur in birds during development,for example due to sexual differences in energy requirement and/or environmental sensitivity,or the effects of sex hormones or sex differences in the expression of mutations linked to sex chromosomes.The extent of sex-bias in mortality may also be related to environmental conditions that influence offspring development and survival.Urban areas often provide poorer conditions for nestling development resulting in higher offspring mortality compared to natural areas,which may accelerate sex differences in offspring mortality in cities.To test this hypothesis,we examined the sex ratio of dead offspring in Great Tits(Parus major),using 427 samples of unhatched eggs and dead nestlings collected in two urban and two forest sites between 2013 and 2019.The ratio of males in the whole sample of dead offspring(56.9%)was significantly higher than expected by an 1:1 ratio,and the strongest sex biases were detected in urban areas(57.6%males)and in young nestlings(<14 days old,59.0%males).However,the sex ratios of dead offspring did not differ significantly among study sites and between offspring developmental stages.29.3%of unhatched eggs contained a visible embryo,and the proportion of embryo-containing unhatched eggs did not differ significantly between urban and forest study sites.These results suggest male-biased offspring mortality in Great Tits,and highlight the need of large datasets to detect subtle differences between habitats and developmental stages.

Periodontitis as a promoting factor of T2D: current evidence and mechanisms

Periodontitis is an infectious disease caused by an imbalance between the local microbiota and host immune response.Epidemiologically,periodontitis is closely related to the occurrence,development,and poor prognosis of T2D and is recognized as a potential risk factor for T2D.In recent years,increasing attention has been given to the role of the virulence factors produced by disorders of the subgingival microbiota in the pathological mechanism of T2D。

Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits(Parus major)in eucalypt plantations

Providing nest-boxes as surrogate tree cavities can be of great importance to increase the breeding populations of cavity-nesting birds in managed forests.However,the exact placement of nest-boxes should be taken into consideration to enhance their occupancy according to species-specific preferences.In this study,we investigated which factors can better predict nest-box occupancy by the Great Tit(Parus major)in eucalypt plantations.We used generalised linear mixed-effects models to analyse the influence of topography,nest-box positioning,vegetation cover and landscape variables on three-year occupancy records from 80 newly provided nest-boxes.Non-random patterns of nest-box occupancy were found with respect to all categories except topography.Results suggest that Great Tits prefer to occupy high-placed nest-boxes,close to areas that can provide them with supplementary resources either within or in the vicinity of the stand(i.e.,trees other than eucalypts,riparian vegetation,and large patches of adjacent habitats).Overall,this study provides important recommendations for nest-box placement and spatial distribution in managed forests and enhances the potential of nest-box interventions as a biodiversity offset and management tool.

公路养护中TIT嵌固抗滑封层技术运用分析

在现代社会经济发展背景下,公路养护里程快速增长,需要应用先进的养护技术对公路进行高效养护,以保证公路运行安全。基于此,文章就公路养护中的TIT嵌固抗滑封层技术运用进行了详细研究和分析,阐述了其技术内涵,并通过具体工程应用对公路养护中TIT嵌固防滑封层技术的施工准备、技术要点、质量控制和质量检测进行了详细说明,进一步明确了TIT嵌固防滑封层技术对公路养护的重要作用和意义,从而从整体上提高公路质量、延长公路运行时限。

TIT双羔素免疫提高辽宁绒山羊繁殖力的研究

500只3～4岁纯种辽宁绒山羊适繁母羊被随机分为2组,试验组396只,注射双胎素,对照组104只,注射等量生理盐水。结果表明,试验组母羊总发情率与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05),但第一情期发情率极显著(P<0.01)高于对照组,第二情期发情率极显著(P<0.01)低于对照组;试验组的双羔率高于对照组34.4个百分点(P<0.01),差异极显著;试验组与对照组在受胎率上和羔羊成活率上的差异不显著(P>0.05)。表明:双胎素(TIT)免疫辽宁绒山羊的效果良好。

青藏高原不同品种绵羊应用TIT双羔素效果试验

1996— 1998年连续三年在青海东部农业区和环青海湖地区用TIT对不同品种绵羊进行了免疫试验 ,共免疫母羊 3 448只。试验结果表明 :1.青海细毛羊双羔率 14 .8% ,双羔成活率 80 .2 7% ,与半细毛羊差异不显著 (14 .3 6%、88.89% ) (P >0 .0 5 ) ;2 .半细毛羊双羔率 18.3 9% ,极显著高于藏羊 (4 .2 9% ) (P <0 .0 1) ,半细毛羊双羔成活率 5 6.2 5 % ,与藏羊差异不显著 (66.67% ) (P >0 .0 5 ) ;3 .农区半细毛羊双羔率 16.67%、双羔成活率 81.2 5 % ,与牧区半细毛羊差异不显著 (18.3 9%、5 6.2 5 % ) (P >0 .0 5 )。

The spatial distribution and breeding behavior of neighbors affect the reproductive success of tits

The spatial distribution and breeding behavior of neighboring birds(conspecific and heterospecific)may influence reproduction and the effects differ across species.In this study,we investigated intra-and inter-specific spatial distribution of breeding via artificial nestboxes and examined whether overlap with neighbors affected reproductive success of the focal breeding pair.Regarding spatial distribution,Varied Tits(Sittiparus varius)and Cinereous Tits(Parus cinereus)showed similar pattern:distances of nestboxes containing conspecific tits were greater than those with heterospecific ones.In terms of breeding behavior,reproductive success was not significantly related to the distance from their neighbor’s nest.The reproductive success of Varied Tits was significantly related to that of their neighbors,while in Cinereous Tits,no strong link was found to any recorded reproductive behavior of the neighbors.These findings explain spatial variation in nest site selection of Varied Tits and Cinereous Tits.Reproductive success rate of Varied Tits is affected by that of the neighbors while that of Cinereous Tits is not.The results highlight that there are differences in reproductive outcome among related species and offer suggestions on the use of artificial nestboxes in experiment and conservation programs.

基于Tit-for-Tat的BitTorrent网络经济模型

针对Bit Torrent网络中节点的"搭便车"行为会严重影响正常节点的下载进度以及整个网络性能的问题,提出了一种基于"以牙还牙"机制的经济模型.类比于现实社会的商品交易以及信用体系,在考虑了节点的上传下载行为的周期性表现以及文件块在节点中的动态分布状况后,设计了由节点财富值、文件块的定价以及节点透支额度组成的Bit Torrent经济模型;并将该经济模型应用到"以牙还牙"机制中.在提出的经济模型中,节点间的资源传播作为一种交易,在未达到透支额度条件下节点按照文件块的定价进行交易,从而使得节点的财富值发生变化.仿真实验结果表明:在相似的资源传播速度下,该经济模型对free-rider节点的屏蔽效果要明显优于单纯的"以牙还牙"机制.

Function of note strings in Japanese Tit alarm calls to the Common Cuckoo:a playback experiment

Background: Birds produce alarm calls to convey information about threats. Some Passerine alarm calls consist of several note strings, but few studies have examined their function. Previous studies have shown that Japanese Tits(Parus minor) can alter the calling rate and number and combination of notes in response to predators. We previously found the combinations of note types in Japanese Tit alarm calls to be significantly different in response to the Sparrowhawk(Accipiter nisus) and Common Cuckoo(Cuculus canorus).Methods: Through playback experiments, we tested whether the note strings in Japanese Tit alarm calls to the Common Cuckoo have different functions in conveying information. The note strings of selected alarm calls were divided into the categories of C and D, and different calls were then constructed separately based on the two note string categories. Original alarm calls(C–D), C calls and D calls were played back to male Japanese Tits during the incubation period.Results: Male Japanese Tits had a significantly stronger response to C calls than to C–D calls, and they showed a significantly stronger response to both C and C–D calls than to D calls, suggesting that Japanese Tits discriminated between the C and D calls.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the C-and D-category note strings of Japanese Tit alarm calls to the Common Cuckoo have different functions, which supports the previous finding that different note strings in an alarm call can provide different information to receivers. However, the exact meanings of these note strings are not yet known, and further investigation is therefore required.

Influence of forest road on breeding of tits in artificial nest boxes

A study was conducted to determine the influence of forest road on breeding of tits in artificial nest boxes in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests in the Gwanak Arboretum （37° 25′ 05＂ N, 126° 56′ 85＂ E） of Seoul National University, Anyang, Korea from November 2002 to June 2003. Three tits species, varied tit （Parus varius）, marsh tit （P. palustris） and great tit （P. major）, breeding in artificial t nest boxes were investigated on number of breeding pairs, cultch size, and egg measurement. Resuls showed that the breeding pairs of varied tit was more in 75-150 m area than in 0-75m area from forest road for all the three study sites, and the clutch size and egg measurements （weight, Major axis and Minor axis） of varied tit was also higher in the area of 75-150 m than in the area of 0-75 m, while no differences in number of breeding pairs and clutch size were found for marsh tit and great tit between the two areas. Egg measurement of great tit was also higher in forest interior area than in forest edge area. It is concluded that varied tit were most significantly influenced by forest road, followed by great tit, whereas marsh tit were not influenced by forest road. Artificial nest box is roved to be good for cavity nester in disturbed areas by human activities. Supply of artificial nest can help population protection and management of bird species.

Diurnal brooding behavior of long-tailed tits （Aegithalos caudatus glaucogularis）

Brooding is a major breeding investment of parental birds during the early nestling stage, and has important effects on the development and survival of nestlings. Investigating brooding behavior can help to understand avian breeding investment strategies. From January to June in 2013 and 2014, we studied the brooding behaviors of long-tailed tits （Aegithalos caudatus glaucogularis） in Dongzhai National Nature Reserve, Henan Province, China. We analyzed the relationships between parental diurnal brooding duration and nestling age, brood size, temperature, relative breeding season, time of day and nestling frequencies during brooding duration. Results showed that female and male long-tailed tit parents had different breeding investment strategies during the early nestling stage. Female parents bore most of the brooding investment, while male parents performed most of the nestling feedings. In addition, helpers were not found to brood nestlings at the two cooperative breeding nests. Parental brooding duration was significantly associated with the food delivered to nestlings （F=86.10, dr=l, 193.94, P〈0.001）, and was longer when the nestlings received more food. We found that parental brooding duration declined significantly as nestlings aged （F=5.99, dr=-1, 50.13, P=0.018）. When nestlings were six days old, daytime parental brooding almost ceased, implying that long- tailed tit nestlings might be able to maintain their own body temperature by this age. In addition, brooding duration was affected by both brood size （F=12.74, dr=-1,32.08, P=0.001） and temperature （F=5.83, df=-l, 39.59, P=-0.021）, with it being shorter in larger broods and when ambient temperature was higher.

Egg recognition abilities of tit species in the Paridae family:do Indomalayan tits exhibit higher recognition than Palearctic tits?

DEAR EDITOR,Recent studies have shown that the closely related cinereous tit(Parus cinereus)and green-backed tit(P.monticolus)in China display strong egg recognition ability in contrast to tit species in Europe,which lack such ability.However,egg recognition in other populations of cinereous and greenbacked tits and additional Paridae species still requires further research.

Temperature effect on luteinizing hormone secretion of Eurasian Skylark(Alauda arvensis) and Great Tit(Parus major) in China

Background: Global warming caused trophic mismatch has affected the breeding success, and even the survival, of some bird species.The ability of birds to accelerate their reproduction onset in the warmer spring could be critical to the survival of some species.The activation of the reproductive endocrine axis in birds is a key physiological process that determines the onset of reproduction.Could birds change the HPG axis endocrine rhythm under the temperature rising condition?Methods: Using plasma LH level as an indicator of initiation of the reproductive endocrine and artificially controlling temperature, we compared variations in the timing of activation of the reproductive endocrine axis in response to temperature in two Chinese bird species, the Eurasian Skylark(Alauda arvensis) and the Great Tit(Parus major) at both the population and individual levels.Results: At the population level, temperature only significantly influenced LH level in the Eurasian Skylark, and had no significant effect on the LH levels in the Great Tit.Mean LH level of Eurasian Skylarks in the 20 ℃ group was higher than that of those in the 15 ℃ group throughout the experiment.Large individual variations in the timing of peak LH levels were observed in the high and the low temperature groups of both Eurasian Skylarks and Great Tits.Conclusions: These results indicate that the effects of temperature differ among species.Meanwhile, there appears to be a degree of within population polymorphism in the timing of reproductive endocrine axis activation in some species.This polymorphism could provide the variation required for bird populations to cope with the possible change of their food peak under the climate warming condition.

TIT－双胎素提高绵羊繁殖力的试验

ＴＩＴ－双胎素提高绵羊繁殖力的试验贾世明，刘炫，（执笔）管永平，卓娅（新疆巴州畜科所８４１０００）谭正斌，买买提（新疆库尔勒市普惠农场）前言利用活性免疫技术提高绵羊双羔率是近年来新兴的一种生物繁殖技术。ＴＩＴ－双胎素是中国农科院兰州畜牧所近年在国内率...

High level of extra-pair paternity in the socially monogamous Marsh Tits(Poecile palustris)

Background:Extra-pair copulation behavior has been widely studied among socially monogamous birds.Many species revealed high rates of extra-pair paternity.But few of the studies have been carried out in the Asian population.Methods:From 2012 to 2019,we explored the extra-pair paternity of Marsh Tits(Poecile palustris)in Xianrendong National Nature Reserve,Liaoning Province,China.During the study,adult Marsh Tits were captured with mist nets and parental birds,with nest-box traps.Blood samples were taken from the brachial vein.Parentage analyses were carried out using nine highly variable microsatellite loci through Cervus 3.0 software and maximum likelihood approach.Results:Forty-nine offspring(15.08%)from 20 nests(45.45%)were the results of extra-pair fertilization out of a total of 325 offspring in 44 nests.The average extra-pair offspring ratio was 33.54%,with a set varying from 11.11 to 71.43%.Nine extra-pair fathers had been successfully identified,four of whom were the close neighbors of the focus nest while the nests of the remaining five were relatively far.No significant difference was found in the genetic similarity between the social and extra-pair mates of the female,nor in the heterozygosis among the maternal half-siblings.Conclusions:In general,our study proved that the extra-pair paternity in Marsh Tits and its extra-pair mating is independent of the genetic compatibility hypothesis.This complements the understudied bird's extra-pair paternity in Asian area and contributes to the comprehensive insight of birds'extra-pair paternity behaviors.

TIT嵌固抗滑封层技术在高速公路养护中的应用探析

随着高速公路养护里程的增加,养护技术的进步也进展飞快,通过阐述TIT嵌固抗滑封层技术的内涵,通过实际工程应用,分析在进行高速公路的TIT嵌固抗滑封层技术养护时的施工准备、组织施工流程,并提出此项技术在施工中的质量保证措施,最后对施工质量进行了结果检测,表明应用TIT嵌固抗滑封层技术进行高速公路养护可以有效提高公路质量。

TIT嵌固抗滑封层在路面改造工程中的应用

文章针对某三级公路由于抗滑性能差导致经常出现交通事故的问题,结合项目特点,采用“加铺TIT嵌固抗滑封层”方案,并介绍了TIT嵌固抗滑封层技术特点和施工流程,可为类似路面改造项目提供参考。

论高速公路TIT嵌固封层施工

TIT嵌固封层施工技术是一种行之有效的创新型路面预防性养护技术,不仅适用于旧路面表面的功能性提升从而改善行车的安全性和舒适性,而且同样适用于新建路面的整体预防性养护。TIT嵌固封层材料明显区别于传统的路面养护材料,并且弥补了传统材料表现在粘结强度不足、容易剥落、耐久性差等方面的问题。