Integrity and Size of Green Spaces Are Critical for the Functional Di-versity of Birds:Evidence from the Eastern and Northwestern Regions of China

Urbanization often changes bird species richness and affects the functional diversity.Therefore,understanding these changes helps city planners improve green space design and land use planning.Our study used multiple datasets to explore the effects of land-scape patterns and natural environments on the functional diversity of birds in urban parks and campuses in the eastern and northwest-ern regions of China.Firstly,we used the data to calculate birds of the functional richness(FRic),functional evenness(FEve),and func-tional divergence(FDiv)of 68 urban spaces in the eastern and northwestern regions of China.Further,we established generalized linear models of natural factors,human factors,and functional diversity.Results showed more bird species with unique traits were in the north-western region.This may be because the earlier urbanization in the eastern region filtered out urban-sensitive species,leaving behind urban adapters.Moreover,we found that the fractal dimension index was the most significant positive factor of FRic in the eastern re-gion but the most significant negative factor of FDiv.Elevation was the most significant negative influence factor of FEve in the eastern region,but it was the most potent positive influence factor of FRic in the northwestern region.Population density had a significant posit-ive effect on FDiv in the northwestern region.However,green space areas significantly negatively impacted FEve in the northwestern region.In addition,birds in parks in both regions had more functional traits than those on campuses,possibly because of the larger green space in parks,which may contain more fragments of native vegetation and reduce human interference.Our study suggests that pre-serving more original vegetation and reducing human disturbance in cities can increase the functional diversity of urban birds and im-prove urban ecosystem functions.

Deterministic processes drive turnover-dominated beta diversity of breeding birds along the central Himalayan elevation gradient

Beta diversity,the variation of community composition among sites,bridges alpha and gamma diversity and can reveal the mechanisms of community assembly through applying distance-decay models and/or partitioning beta diversity into turnover and nestedness components from functional and phylogenetic perspectives.Mountains as the most natural experiment system provide good opportunities for exploring beta diversity patterns and the underlying ecological processes.Here,we simultaneously consider distance-decay models and multiple di-mensions of beta diversity to examine spatial variations of bird communities,and to evaluate the relative importance of niche-based and neutral community assembly mechanisms along a 3600-m elevational gradient in the central Himalayas,China.Our results showed that species turnover dominates taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity.We observed strongest evidence of spatial distance decays in taxonomic similarities of birds,followed by its phylogenetic and functional analogues.Turnover component was highest in taxonomic beta diversity,while nestedness component was highest in functional beta diversity.Further,all correlations of assemblage similarity with climatic distance were higher than that with spatial distances.Standardized values of overall taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic beta diversity and their turnover components increase with increasing elevational distance,while the standardized values of taxonomic and phylogenetic nestedness decreased with increasing elevational distance.Our results highlighted the niche-based deterministic processes in shaping elevational bird diversity patterns that were determined by the relative roles of decreasing trend of environmental filtering and increasing trend of limiting similarity along elevation distances.

Can urban forests provide acoustic refuges for birds?Investigating the influence of vegetation structure and anthropogenic noise on bird sound diversity

As a crucial component of terrestrial ecosystems,urban forests play a pivotal role in protecting urban biodiversity by providing suitable habitats for acoustic spaces.Previous studies note that vegetation structure is a key factor influencing bird sounds in urban forests;hence,adjusting the frequency composition may be a strategy for birds to avoid anthropogenic noise to mask their songs.However,it is unknown whether the response mechanisms of bird vocalizations to vegetation structure remain consistent despite being impacted by anthropogenic noise.It was hypothesized that anthropogenic noise in urban forests occupies the low-frequency space of bird songs,leading to a possible reshaping of the acoustic niches of forests,and the vegetation structure of urban forests is the critical factor that shapes the acoustic space for bird vocalization.Passive acoustic monitoring in various urban forests was used to monitor natural and anthropogenic noises,and sounds were classified into three acoustic scenes(bird sounds,human sounds,and bird-human sounds)to determine interconnections between bird sounds,anthropogenic noise,and vegetation structure.Anthropogenic noise altered the acoustic niche of urban forests by intruding into the low-frequency space used by birds,and vegetation structures related to volume(trunk volume and branch volume)and density(number of branches and leaf area index)significantly impact the diversity of bird sounds.Our findings indicate that the response to low and high frequency signals to vegetation structure is distinct.By clarifying this relationship,our results contribute to understanding of how vegetation structure influences bird sounds in urban forests impacted by anthropogenic noise.

Use of evergreen and deciduous plants by nocturnal-roosting birds:A case study in Beijing

With continually increasing urbanization,the land cover in urban areas continues to change,resulting in the loss of biodiversity.Birds are highly sensitive to changes in habitat.Most forest birds perch on plants that provide increased safety to reduce the risk of predation,and small birds may also consider insulation when using roosting plants in winter because of cold weather.Landscaping plants thus shape the nocturnal roosting environment of urban birds,and proper planting is essential for the survival of birds at night.The use of roosting plants by urban birds should therefore be studied to provide a reference for landscaping.In the current study,we observed 1865 nocturnal roosting birds in Beijing from 2021 to 2022,with 23 species of birds from 12 families and 45 species of plants from 22 families recorded.Juniperus chinensis exhibited the highest bird rarity-weighted richness,followed by Fraxinus pennsylvanica,Phyllostachys propinqua,Pinus tabuliformis,and Ulmus pumila.The diameter at breast height,tree height,and crown width of plants used by birds was largest in summer and smallest in winter,and the perch height of birds was the highest in spring and summer and the lowest in winter.Birds used the highest proportion of deciduous plants in summer and the highest proportion of evergreen plants in winter.A significant seasonal difference in the use of evergreen and deciduous plants by small birds was noted,with a preference for deciduous plants in summer and evergreen plants in winter,while this preference was not found in large birds.These findings indicate that evergreen plants provide a vital nocturnal roosting environment for small birds in winter.To provide a better nocturnal roosting habitat for urban birds,we recommend paying attention to the combination of evergreen and deciduous plants when carrying out landscape construction.

Review of the Cretaceous avian diversity of Antarctica:a changing scenario for the evolution of early Neornithine birds

The worldwide record of Cretaceous Neornithes and Neornithine-like birds is both controversial and poorly understood.However,in recent years,the Antarctic continent has yielded a substantial number of Maastrichtian avian specimens,contributing significantly to our understanding of the early evolution of this group.Simultaneously,the keen interest and collaborative efforts of various paleornithologists have resulted in a wealth of knowledge,which we have thoroughly reviewed,updated,and discussed in the context of recent discoveries.

Birds’Diversity in Kalfou Forest Reserve and Its Peripheral Zone, Far North, Cameroon

The Far North Region of Cameroon is home to a great diversity of bird species, which unfortunately remains very little explored. This work was initiated to establish an inventory of birds and the factors affecting their diversity and distribution for sustainable management in the Kalfou Forest Reserve (KFR) and its periphery. Two methods were used for sampling, linear strip transects from which direct counts and indirect observations were made and the mist netting to complement the first. In total, 2525 birds were observed, including 149 species, belonging to 20 orders and 55 families. Accipitridae had the greatest number of species (11). The species richness was greater in the KFR (117 species) compared to the periphery (95 species). The specific richness was higher in wooded savannah compared to other habitats. Shannon index was significantly higher in the KFR (3.99) compared to that obtained in the periphery (3.80). The value of the Simpson index was higher on the outskirts of the KFR than on the periphery. The indices of species diversity were greater in the wooded savannah compared to other vegetation types. The seasons had no influence on bird diversity. Among the human activities encountered, the pressure indices were more important for grazing (7.3 contacts/km). Human activities have resulted in a significant decrease in specific richness. Six endangered species were encountered, four belonging to the Accipitridae family. The greater bird diversity in the reserve compared to the periphery shows that protected areas are a long-term solution for biodiversity conservation.

A Comparative Study of Chinese Translations of Tagore’s Stray Birds From the Perspective of the“Three Beauties Theory”

For more than 60 years,Mr.Xu Yuanchong has been devoted to education.He has not only made remarkable achievements in translating from and into Chinese,English,French and other languages,but has also developed his own unique concept of translation.Since 1950,he has always adhered to the“Three Beauties Theory”,believing that translation should not only rely on the original text,but also realize the“beauty of meaning”,“beauty of sound”,and“beauty of form”.Based on Xu Yuanchong’s“Three Beauties Theory”,this paper takes Zheng Zhenduo’s and Feng Tang’s Chinese translations of Stray Birds as an example to explore in depth the specifics of poetry translation theory.The study summarizes the similarities and differences between these two translations in embodying the“three beauties”,providing insights into the Chinese translation techniques of philosophical prose poems.This endeavor seeks to offer valuable insights for the comparative study of Stray Birds translations。

Investigating how different classes of nest predators respond to the playback of the begging calls of nestling birds

Begging brings benefits and costs for nestling birds:it can indicate their needs to their parents,but it can also be a cue used by predators to find the nest.The costs,like many variables related to nest predation,can be specific to what kinds of predators are present and their auditory capabilities.These costs and benefits could also be affected by human noise,as noise could disrupt communication to parents and eavesdropping by predators,although human-produced noise might be easily ignored if predators can hear high-frequency components of the begging.We studied nest predation on a generalist bird,the Red-whiskered Bulbul(Pycnonotus jocosus),in a tropical forest in which there are many kinds of nest predators,including birds,mammals and reptiles.In 20 natural nests in which artificial eggs were placed,and subsequently in 140 artificial nests,we broadcast recordings of begging nestlings,with and without traffic noise,at two volume levels.We hypothesized that playback would increase predation relative to a silent control,and that mixing in traffic noise with the begging would decrease predation,as the begging signal was masked.However,we hypothesized that some predators,particularly small mammals with sensitive high-frequency hearing,might ignore the traffic noise.We found that predation was lowest for the control treatment,and lower for treatments mixed with traffic noise than for those without it.Small mammals,however,showed an unexpected pattern,displaying less nest predation in the treatments with traffic noise.Our results demonstrate the human-associated noise can disturb nest predators and influence which kinds of predators use begging to locate nests.

Altitudinal migration behavior patterns of birds on the eastern slope of Mt.Gongga,China

Many bird species in montane regions exhibit altitudinal migration behavior;however,altitudinal migration of birds is still understudied,especially in Asia.Mt.Gongga(7556 m) is the highest peak of the Hengduan Mountains in Southwest China.The steep elevation gradient and the high bird diversity make the eastern slope of Mt.Gongga(Hailuo Valley) an ideal place for studying the altitudinal migration behavior patterns of birds.We synchronously recorded the local bird diversity,temperature and humidity at two sites(1800 and 3000 m a.s.l.) during three migration seasons from September 2020 to June 2021 to identify birds exhibiting altitudinal migration behavior.During our surveys,we recorded 146 bird species in total and 20 passerine bird species were altitudinal migrants according to our altitudinal migration formula.Among those 20 altitudinal migrant species,eight bird species displayed a typical altitudinal migration pattern(upward migration during the breeding season and downward migration during the non-breeding season).Moreover,temperature was correlated with the daily number of individuals(DNI) at each study site.Therefore,increasing temperatures possibly caused upward migration of birds(DNI decreased at 1800 m and increased at 3000 m) and vice versa.To further elaborate,the Rufousgorgeted Flycatcher(Ficedula strophiata),the species with the most prominent altitudinal migration behavior,initiated upward migration at a temperature of 11-12℃ at 1800 m and initiated downward migration at a temperature of 12-13℃ at 3000 m.Besides,humidity was positively correlated with the DNI.Therefore,increasing humidity(equals to increasing rainfall or snow) possibly caused downward migration of birds(DNI increased) and vice versa.Furthermore,bird species exhibiting a typical altitudinal migration behavior pattern are feeding on insects.Thus,the spatial and temporal changes of the invertebrate biomass might be an important ecological driver for the altitudinal migration of invertivorous(birds eating invertebrates) birds.This study provides fundamental data for the altitudinal migration of birds in the Hengduan Mountains and shows how altitudinal migration is seasonally dynamic across an elevational gradient in a subtropical mountain region.

Short-term night lighting disrupts lipid and glucose metabolism in Zebra Finches:Implication for urban stopover birds

Night lighting has been shown to affect wild animals.To date,the effects of night lighting on the metabolic homeostasis of birds that spend short time in urban environments remain unclear.Using model bird species Zebra Finch(Taeniopygia guttata),we investigated the effects of short-term night lighting on liver transcriptome,blood glucose,triglyceride,and thyroxine(T4 and T3)levels in birds exposed to two different night lighting duration periods(three days and six days).After three days of night lighting exposure,the expression of genes involved in fat synthesis in the liver was upregulated while the expression of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and triglyceride decomposition was downregulated.There was also a reduction in blood triglyceride,glucose,and T3 concentrations.However,after six days of night lighting,the expression of genes associated with fatty acid decomposition and hyperglycemia in the liver was upregulated,while the expression of genes involved in fat synthesis was downregulated.Simultaneously,blood glucose levels and T3 concentration increased.These findings indicate that short-term exposure to night lighting can disrupt the lipid and glucose metabolism of small passerine birds,and longer stopovers in urban area with intense night lighting may cause birds to consume more lipid energy.

Mongolian Lark as an indicator of taxonomic,functional and phylogenetic diversity of steppe birds

Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate.Many grassland species have been lost and are now of conservation concern.Identifying efficient biodiversity indicators is a key pillar of the global conservation strategy.Mongolian Lark(Melanocorypha mongolica) is a charismatic bird species abound in Mongolian steppes,and recent studies demonstrated that this species share similar habitat requirements an d likely co-occur with other grassland birds.We tested the hypothesis that Mongolian Lark would make a suitable indicator for different aspects of avian biodiversity.We made a large-scale bird survey in Inner Mongolia,and classified point counts into three groups based on different taxonomic,functional,and phylogenetic biodiversity measures.We identified species indicators of each group using the indicator value(IndVal) analysis,and examined the bird compositional difference among groups.Linear models were used for studying the patterns of occurrence of Mongolian Lark in relation to various biodiversity measures.Mon golian Lark showed the highest indicator value in comparison with other potential species indicators.Bird species richness is significantly higher at sites with Mongolian Lark,an d its occurrence was negatively correlated with species abundance,functional richness,Rao’s quadratic entropy and phylogenetic diversity.Mongolian Lark is therefore a suitable indicator species for avian biodiversity in Mongolian steppes.It is highly distinctive in flight and usually seen singly.The widespread distribution and charismatic appearance make it easy to monitor and adequate for citizen science,and may provide useful information on the paradigm of surrogacy in conservation ecology.

Smarter birds, smaller eggs, and less parental care time

DEAR EDITOR,Natural selection favors encephalization(i.e., enlargement of relative brain size) not only because it ultimately enhances the survival of organisms but also because it does not impair reproductive success. However, little is known regarding how encephalization does not impact the reproductive success of organisms. Here, by analyzing a dataset of more than 1 000 modern bird species.

The value of community science data to analyze long-term avian trends in understudied regions:The state of birds in Türkiye

Recent studies have revealed concerning declines in bird populations in Europe and other parts of the world.In understudied but biodiverse regions,especially those that are located along key migratory flyways,there is an unmet need to evaluate the status of resident and migratory birdlife for avian conservation ecology.This is especially urgent at a time when recent regional studies have highlighted the scale of the decline of the European and Palearctic avifauna.Rapidly growing community science datasets may help bridge the gaps in our understanding of long-term regional avifaunal trends.In this study,we used eBird data submitted by observers in Türkiye to undertake the first long-term assessment of the state of the country’s birds from 2001 to 2022.We evaluated population trends based on presence-absence data of species to determine if any birds have significantly increased or decreased in the country so far this century.We provide a list of trends for 418 bird species that had large enough sample sizes of eBird observations from Türkiye,and highlight which species have significantly declined or increased.We found that 63 species have significantly declined in detection while 120 have significantly increased during the study period.Our findings provide a baseline for the future monitoring of Türkiye’s birds and help contextualize population changes of birds in Türkiye against those occurring at the continental(Palearctic)scale.Additionally,we include movement classifications for all of the bird species in this study.We also provide a framework to effectively use eBird data to assess long-term avifaunal changes at the country-level in other understudied regions.Finally,we highlight ways in which eBirders in Türkiye and elsewhere can strengthen the quality and value of community ornithology data for population assessments and avian conservation ecology.

Checklist of the Birds of the Gaza Strip—Palestine

Bird fauna checklists are important tools in ecology, biology, and conservation planning for scientists, stakeholders, and decision-makers. Despite its small area, the Gaza Strip (365 km2) has a relatively large variety of resident and migratory bird fauna. Therefore, the current study aimed to provide an updated checklist of all bird fauna living in or inhabiting the Gaza Strip. Direct field observations using binoculars, continuous visits to zoos, pet stores and biology museums, discussion with bird hunters, follow-up of news and social networking sites, review of scientific publications and photography were the main tools to satisfy the purpose of the study. At least 250 bird species collected from different sources occur in the Gaza Strip and are included in the checklist. This list will not be static, but is inevitably subject to additions and changes in the face of times. The current 250 bird species of the Gaza Strip represent 45.4% of the 551 species of birds living in Palestine. The bird species were found to belong to 21 orders and 61 families. The Passeriformes (passerines) represented the largest order with 96 species of birds (38.4%), followed by the Charadriiformes 54 (21.6%), the Accipitriformes 18 (7.2%), Anseriformes 17 (6.8%) and Pelecaniformes 14 (5.6%), while the other orders represented the remaining percentage (20.4%). With regard to families, the Scolopacidae represented the largest family with 22 species of birds (8.8%), followed by the Anatidae and Accipitridae 17 for each (6.8%), the Muscicapidae 16 (6.4%) and Chariidridae and Fringillidae 11 for each (4.4%), while the other families represented the remaining percentage (62.4%). According to the IUCN regional threat categories, 226 species (90.4%) were Least Concern (LC), 12 (4.8%) were Near Threatened (NT), 6 (2.4%) were Vulnerable (VU), 4 (1.6%) were Endangered (EN) and 2 (0.8%) were Critically Endangered (CR). In conclusion, the study recommends a sustainable control of bird hunting and trafficking in addition to building prestigious centers and museums for studying and documenting birds in the Gaza Strip.

Female Ethical Images in The Thorn Birds

Titled as the name of the main characters,the seven parts in The Thorn Birds together tell the story of the three generations of the Cleary family from 1915 to 1969.Fiona and Paddy are the first generation,Meggie and Ralph are the second generation,and Justine and Dane are the third generation.Although they are both thorny birds,they have different personal characteristics and life pursuits.Fiona,Meggie,and Justine,as women,are more and more rebellious from generation to generation.They are more and more daring to fight against the Almighty God and their cruel fates.But at the same time,in the process of pursuing self-happiness,there are also dislocations of ethical identity of these women who inevitably make wrong ethical choices.The author of this thesis tries to analyze the ethical identity of the three generations of women in The Thorn Birds from a relatively comprehensive perspective based on literary ethics,and then analyzes the round ethical image of these female characters.

基于BIRD的路由处理模块在高通量卫星网络中的应用

在高通量卫星(High Throughput Satellite,HTS)通信系统中,路由处理模块负责系统与地面网络的互联互通。通过分析HTS网络架构,总结路由处理功能需求,提出了一种基于BIRD的路由处理模块方案,通过静态路由与开放式最短路径优先(Open Shortest Path First,OSPF)动态路由相结合的方式,将用户侧路由向地面网络扩散传递,实现高通量用户与地面网络的互联互通。针对实际网络部署中HTS用户网络作为OSPF域外部路由的应用缺陷,进行了研究分析,并提供了基于虚拟接口的解决方法,增强了方案的适用性。

A Review of Impacts of Climate Change on Birds:Implications of Long-term Studies

It is generally accepted that climate has changed greatly on a global scale, and that the earth＇s climate has already wanned by some degrees over the past century. Ample evidence shows that there have been apparent changes in avian population dynamics, life-history traits and geographic ranges in response to global climate change. This paper briefly reviews the possible effects of climate change on avian biology and ecology all over the world, with emphasis on new findings from several long-term studies in Europe and North America, which provide unique opportunities to investigate how long-term changes in climate affect birds at both individual and population levels. The implications of such long-term studies for future bird studies in China is discussed with hope that this review can contribute to the preparation and plan for studies of climatic effects on birds in China in the future.

An Updated Checklist of the Birds of Jiangxi,China

Complete checklist records are essential to understand regional bird diversity.We update the checklist of the bird species of Jiangxi,China based on numerous reported documents.The updated checklist of the bird species of Jiangxi shows that there are 536 bird species in Jiangxi,which belong to 21 orders,74 families,246 genera.And 48.7% of them are Passeriformes species and 12.3% are Charadriiformes species.Fifty species are classified as threatened.Fourteen of these species are grade I nationally protected wild animals,and 72 species are grade II nationally protected wild animals.In addition,fauna analyses indicate that the Palearctic realm（47.7%） is dominant.As for distribution type,the Oriental type is dominant.Considering the fauna of resident birds,the Oriental realm is dominant.Additionally,the distribution of several species was revised in the checklist.

Basal birds from China:a brief review

We use the term 'basal birds' for a relatively small number of primitive fossil birds that fall outside the major clade Ornithothoraces,which includes both modern birds and enantiorni-thines. Eight genera and twelve valid species have been reported from China in the last 15 years,whereas Archaeopteryx lithographica remains the only basal bird to have been described from non-Chinese specimens(although confuciusornithid material is apparently present in North Korea).Here we briefly review the Chinese basal birds and their anatomy,phylogeny and ecology.Chinese fossils have contributed extensively to scientific understanding of early avian evolution,demon-strating collectively that basal birds were generally relatively large and morphologically and eco-logically quite diverse.Although some significant uncertainties remain,particularly with respect to the relative phylogenetic positions of Jeholornis,Sapeornis and Zhongornis,an increasingly clear picture of the first stages of avian evolution is emerging from the Chinese fossil record.

Patterns of species diversity and functional diversity of breeding birds in Hangzhou across an urbanization gradient

Given the rapid rise in human population and increasing urbanization,it is important to understand their potential impacts on biodiversity.From March 2007 to August 2007,we conducted bird surveys in 90 strip transects,each 3 km long and 100 m wide,along a gradient of urbanization in Hangzhou,China.This gradient spanned a range of urbanization levels including urban areas,rural-urban continuum areas,farming areas,mixed forest/farming areas and forested areas.We recorded 96 breeding bird species and classified them into nine functional groups based on nesting requirements.The nine functional groups consisted of canopy nesters,shrub nesters,canopy/shrub nesters,natural cavity nesters,building nesters,natural cavity/building nesters,ground nesters,water surface nesters and parasitic nesters.Species and functional diversities were estimated based on the Shannon-Wiener index.Environmental data of each transect as human disturbance,vegetation cover and building index were also measured,and a synthetic urbanization index of each transect was introduced based on these data.We used regression analyses to model the relationship of species abundance,species diversity,functional abundance and functional diversity with this synthetic index.The results show that urbanization significantly reduces species richness,species diversity,functional richness and functional diversity,but the specific patterns differed.The relationship between species abundance/species diversity and urbanization is linear.In contrast,the relationship between functional diversity and urbanization was quadratic.In other words,with increased urbanization,functional diversity declined only slightly at first but then dropped at an accelerating rate.This implies that,although moderate urbanization reduces species diversity of breeding birds,it affects functional diversity of breeding birds only slightly in Hangzhou.The regression analysis of species diversity and functional diversity suggests a quadratic relationship between species diversity and functional diversity,i.e.,a linear relationship between species diversity and functional diversity can only exist at low diversity levels across urbanization gradients and increasing species abundance does not lead to an increase in functional diversity at the highest diversity levels.