Preface. Section 1: Introduction to the Study of Birds in Urban Environments. 1. A historical perspective on urban bird research: trends, terms, and approaches J.M. Marzluff, R. Bowman, R. Donnelly. 2. Worldwide urbanization and its effects on birds J.M. Marzluff. 3. Synanthropic birds of North America R.F. Johnston. 4. Human perception and appreciation of birds: A motivation for wildlife conservation in urban environments of France P. Clergeau, G. Mennechez, A. Sauvage, A. Lemoine. 5. Quantifying the urban gradient: linking urban planning and ecology M. Alberti, E. Botsford, A. Cohen. 6. Urbanization, avian communities, and landscape ecology J.R. Miller, J.M. Fraterrigo, N. Thompson Hobbs, D.M. Theobald, J.A. Wiens. 7. The importance of multi-scale analyses in avian habitat selection studies in urban environments M. Hostetler. Section 2: Processes Affecting Birds in Urban Environments. 8. Urban birds: Population, community, and landscape approaches D. Bolger. 9. Interactions among non-native plants and birds S. Hayden Reichard, L. Chalker-Scott, S. Buchanan. 10. Urban sprawl and juniper encroachment effects on abundance of wintering passerines in Oklahoma B.R. Coppedge, D.M. Engle, S.D. Fuhlendorf, R.E. Masters, M.S. Gregory. 11. Nest predator abundance and urbanization D.G. Haskell, A.M. Knupp, M.C. Schneider. 12. Bird tolerance to human disturbance in urban parks of Madrid (Spain): Management implications E. Fernandez-Juricic, M.D. Jiminez, E. Lucas. 13. Settlement of breeding European Starlings in urban areas: importance oflawns vs. anthropogenic wastes G. Mennechez, P. Clergeau. 14. Variation in the timing of breeding between suburban and wildland Florida Scrub-Jays: Do physiologic measures reflect different environments? S.J. Schoech, R. Bowman. Section 3: Bird Populations in Urban Environments. 15. The ecology of Western Gulls in habitats varying in degree of urban influence R. Pierotti, C. Annett. 16. Causes and consequences of expanding American Crow populations J.M. Marzluff, K.J. McGowan, R. Donnelly, R.L. Knight. 17. Demographic and behavioral comparisons of suburban and rural American Crows K. McGowan. 18. Nest success and the timing of nest failure of Florida Scrub-Jays in suburban and wildland habitats R. Bowman, G.E. Woolfenden. 19. Synurbanization of the Magpie in the Palearctic L. Jerzak. 20. Maccaw abundance in relation to human population density in the western Amazon basin D.M. Brooks, A.J. Begazo. 21. Waterbird production in an urban center in Alaska M.R. North. Section 4: Bird Communities in Urban Environments. 22. Creating a homogeneous avifauna R.B. Blair. 23. Avian community characteristics of urban greenspaces in St. Louis, Missouri J.M. Azerrad, C.H. Nilon. 24. The importance of the Chicago region and the 'Chicago Wilderness' initiative for avian conservation J.D. Brawn, D.F. Stotz. 25. Do temporal trends in Christmas Bird Counts reflect the spatial trends of urbanization in southwestern Ohio? N.A. Crosby, R.B. Blair. 26. Survey techniques and habitat relationships of breeding birds in residential areas of Toronto, Canad

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Avian ecology and conservation in an urbanizing world

Social behavior functions and related anatomical characteristics of vasotocin/vasopressin systems in vertebrates.

Introduction Walter D Koenig and Janis L Dickinson 1 Evolutionary origins J David Ligon and D Brent Burt 2 Delayed dispersal Jan Ekman, Janis L Dickinson, Ben J Hatchwell and Michael Griesser 3 Fitness consequences of helping Janis L Dickinson and Ben J Hatchwell 4 Parental care, load-lightening and costs Robert G Heinsohn 5 Matings systems and sexual conflict Andrew Cockburn 6 Sex-ratio manipulation Jan Komdeur 7 Physiological ecology Morne Du Plessis 8 Endocrinology Steven J Schoech, S James Reynolds and Raoul K Boughton 9 Incest and incest avoidance Walter D Koenig and Joseph Haydock 10 Reproductive skew Robert D Magrath, Rufus A Johnstone and Robert G Heinsohn 11 Joint-laying systems Sandra L Vehrencamp and James S Quinn 12 Conservation biology Jeffrey R Walters, Caren B Cooper, Susan J Daniels, Gilberto Pasinelli and Karen Schiegg 13 Mammalian contrasts and comparisons Andrew F Russell Summary Steven J Pruett-Jones Names of bird and mammal species mentioned in the text References Index

Ecology and evolution of cooperative breeding in birds

Previous studies have demonstrated that central administration of vasopressin but not oxytocin facilitates pair bonding in the monogamous male prairie vole. This study tested vasopressin and oxytocin in the formation of the female vole's preference for a particular male partner. Initial studies showed that in monogamous female prairie voles (but not in nonmonogamous congeners), mating was followed by a partner preference that endured for at least 2 weeks. Nonmating prairie vole females developed a partner preference following oxytocin infusions, but not after vasopressin or cerebrospinal fluid infusions. Females given a selective oxytocin antagonist showed normal mating behavior, yet failed to develop a partner preference. The vasopressin antagonist failed to block partner preference formation in mated females. These results suggest that oxytocin, released with mating, may be critical to formation of a partner preference in the female prairie vole; this contrasts to vasopressin, which appears to be more important for pair bonding in the male of this species.

A gender-specific mechanism for pair bonding: oxytocin and partner preference formation in monogamous voles.

Greater than 70% of the world's amphibian species are in decline. We propose that there is probably not a single cause for global amphibian declines and present a three-tiered hierarchical approach that addresses interactions among and between ultimate and proximate factors that contribute to amphibian declines. There are two immediate (proximate) causes of amphibian declines: death and decreased recruitment (reproductive failure). Although much attention has focused on death, few studies have addressed factors that contribute to declines as a result of failed recruitment. Further, a great deal of attention has focused on the role of pathogens in inducing diseases that cause death, but we suggest that pathogen success is profoundly affected by four other ultimate factors: atmospheric change, environmental pollutants, habitat modification and invasive species. Environmental pollutants arise as likely important factors in amphibian declines because they have realized potential to affect recruitment. Further, many studies have documented immunosuppressive effects of pesticides, suggesting a role for environmental contaminants in increased pathogen virulence and disease rates. Increased attention to recruitment and ultimate factors that interact with pathogens is important in addressing this global crisis.

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Zoeller Rt

Papers

Stress-induced inhibition of reproduction: evidence of suppressed secretion of LH-RH in an amphibian

Multiple forms of gonadotropin-releasing hormone in amphibian brains.

Endocrine control of amphibian sexual behavior: Evidence for a neurohormone-androgen interaction

Brain arginine vasotocin concentrations related to sexual behaviors and hydromineral balance in an amphibian.

Duration of androgen treatment modifies behavioral response to arginine vasotocin in Taricha granulosa.