Showing papers on "Streptopelia published in 2017"

Urban Bird Feeders Dominated by a Few Species and Individuals

Abstract: The practice of garden bird feeding is a global phenomenon, involving millions of people and vast quantities of food annually. Many people engage in the practice of feeding assuming that birds gain some benefit from the food they provide, yet recent studies have revealed the potential for detrimental impacts as well. However, there is still a paucity of information on the impacts of feeding, including the ubiquity of these impacts among and within feeder-visiting species. Consistency in feeder use among birds is likely an important determinant of this. Individual birds and species that make frequent use of feeders are more likely to experience both the benefits and detrimental impacts of supplementary food. We investigated patterns of feeder use by garden birds visiting experimental feeding stations in Auckland, New Zealand, with the specific aim of determining whether use of supplementary food was consistent or variable among individuals and species. We used camera traps as well as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to examine intra- and interspecific feeder visitation patterns and to discern species associations. Eleven bird species were detected using feeding stations, however, two introduced species (house sparrow Passer domesticus and spotted dove Streptopelia chinensis) dominated visitation events. These species were present at feeders most frequently, with the largest conspecific group sizes. Significant associations were detected among a number of species, suggesting interspecific interactions are important in determining feeder use. We also found within-species differences in feeder use for all focal species, with individual variation greatest in house sparrows. Furthermore, season had an important influence on most visitation parameters. The observed individual and species-specific differences in supplementary food resource use imply that the impacts of garden bird feeding are not universal. Crucially, particularly given the avifaunal context in New Zealand, resource dominance by introduced species could have potential negative outcomes for native species conservation in cities.

High prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae in wild columbids across western and southern Europe

Abstract: Avian trichomonosis is known as a widespread disease in columbids and passerines, and recent findings have highlighted the pathogenic character of some lineages found in wild birds. Trichomonosis can affect wild bird populations including endangered species, as has been shown for Mauritian pink pigeons Nesoenas mayeri in Mauritius and suggested for European turtle doves Streptopelia turtur in the UK. However, the disease trichomonosis is caused only by pathogenic lineages of the parasite Trichomonas gallinae. Therefore, understanding the prevalence and distribution of both potentially pathogenic and non-pathogenic T. gallinae lineages in turtle doves and other columbids across Europe is relevant to estimate the potential impact of the disease on a continental scale. We examined 281 samples from four wild columbid species for Trichomonas infection and determined the genetic lineages. The overall prevalence was 74%. There were significant differences between the species (P = 0.007). The highest prevalence was found in stock doves Columba oenas (86%, n = 79) followed by wood pigeons Columba palumbus (70%, n = 61) and turtle doves (67%, n = 65), while three of five collared doves Streptopelia decaocto (60%) were infected. We found seven different lineages, including four lineages present in columbids in the UK, one lineage already described from Spain and three new lineages, one of those found in a single turtle dove migrating through Italy and another one found in a breeding stock dove. Stock doves from Germany and collared doves from Malta were infected with a potentially pathogenic lineage (lineage A/B), which is known to cause lesions and mortality in columbids, raptors and finches. Generally, turtle doves showed high prevalence of Trichomonas infection. Furthermore, the potentially pathogenic lineage A/B (or genotype B according to previous literature) was found in a recovering stock dove population. Both findings are worrying for these columbid species due to the occasional epidemic character of trichomonosis, which can have severe negative effects on populations.

Predictable invasion dynamics in North American populations of the Eurasian collared dove Streptopelia decaocto.

Abstract: Species invasions represent a significant dimension of global change yet the dynamics of invasions remain poorly understood and are considered rather unpredictable. We explored interannual dynamics of the invasion process in the Eurasian collared dove ( Streptopelia decaocto ) and tested whether the advance of the invasion front of the species in North America relates to centrality (versus peripherality) within its estimated fundamental ecological niche. We used ecological niche modelling approaches to estimate the dimensions of the fundamental ecological niche on the Old World distribution of the species, and then transferred that model to the New World as measures of centrality versus peripherality within the niche for the species. Although our hypothesis was that the invasion front would advance faster over more favourable (i.e. more central) conditions, the reverse was the case: the invasion expanded faster in areas presenting less favourable (i.e. more peripheral) conditions for the species as it advanced across North America. This result offers a first view of a predictive approach to the dynamics of species9 invasions, and thereby has relevant implications for the management of invasive species, as such a predictive understanding would allow better anticipation of coming steps and advances in the progress of invasions, important to designing and guiding effective remediation and mitigation efforts.

Impact of Wild Birds on Agriculture at Desert Reclaimed Lands With an Evaluation of Some Safe Damage Preventive Methods

Abstract: Survey of wild bird species was done in El-Wady El-Gadid Governorate during years 2014 and 2015. Evaluation of some environmentally safe bird damage-prevention methods were carried out in rice, sorghum and wheat fields. The survey results showed that 15 bird species "Resident (Re) and Visitor (Vi)" were recorded; Bubulcus ibis (Cattle egret) (Re), Vanellus spinosus (Spur winged lapwing) (Re), Spilopelia senegalensis (Laughing dove) (Re), Streptopelia decaocto (Eurasian collared dove) (Re), Motacilla alba (White wagtail) (Vi)and Passer domesticus (house sparrow) (Re), were found in El-Kharga, El- Dakhla and El-Farafra, Elanus caeruleus (Black-winged kite) (Re), Athene noctua (Little owl) (Re), Gallinula chloropus (Moorhen) (Vi), Ardeola ralloides (The squacco heron) (Vi), Merops persicus (Blue-cheeked bee-eater) (Vi), Egretta garzetta (Little egret) (Vi), Himantopus himantopus (Black-winged stilt) (Re) and Pycnonotus goiavier (yellow-vented bulbul) were found in El- Dakhla. While Coturnix ypsilophora (The brown quail) (Re) was found in El-Kharga. Results also revealed that damage in rice by thehouse sparrow was high in Gharb-El-Mawhob. While laughing dove caused high damage in sorghum crop, but it did not cause damage in wheat, in El-Dakhla. There was significant decrease in house sparrow damage to rice by using three methods of bird scaring methods, i.e. balloon, metallic-coloured stripes and aluminium reflective stripes at three different hights. The damage of laughing dove to sorghum crop was also significantly decreased by the use of these scaring devises at different heights compared with control. It could be concluded that the best bird environmentally scaring method was the aluminium reflective stripes, at

Behavioural and morphological characteristics of white doves in Osmaniye, Turkey identify the population as Laughing Doves (Streptopelia senegalensis)

Abstract: Observation of an unusual population of white-plumaged doves in Osmaniye suggests that these birds are conspecific with the Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis, Linnaeus, 1766) population in the town. The white-morph is not found outside the urban area. Aside from colouration, the white doves shared identical morphological characteristics with wild-type brown Laughing Doves. Additionally, the white doves and wild-type Laughing Doves formed mixed flocks and readily paired. Based on the observations of four inter-morph pairings, the white morph appears to be a recessive, single autosomal locus mutation. It appears that the white colouration may have originated from one or more hybridization events between Laughing Doves and feral white Barbary Doves (Streptopelia risoria). This study not only identifies an anomalous population of birds in an urban setting, but highlights the importance of traditional knowledge in understanding biodiversity.

A review of the invasive eurasian collared dove and possible research methods in the future

Abstract: The Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto is one of the most successfuly expanding vertebrate species in the world; therefore, it has attracted special scientific focus. This review summarises the species’ achievements related to its rapid expansion and the ecological consequences with regard to the population genetic assessments. It also highlights the expansion dynamics of the species and the ecosystems to which it is most adapted. Finally, the effects of this species on the newly colonised ecosystems are illustrated. The study of the genetic structure between populations to make inferences about expansion dynamics has been neglected so far. Thus, we survey the opportunities of using molecular markers for genetic analysis in populations of Eurasian Collared Dove as a possible means for future studies. This work is important given the lack of information on the mentioned fields, and it calls attention to the importance of further interdisciplinary studies from different scientific fields using this species. .

Color variation of streptopelia decaocto (avis, columbidae) with some notes on endoparasites

Abstract: The present paper includes a study of color variation in Iraqi Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto. Three different populations have been recognized: the southern population which belongs to the Indian race, the northern population to the Eurasian race; the dark and light color variation occurs in the Baghdad population because of hybridisation between the two races, found infected with two cestodes, Raillietina echinobothrida found in most of our specimens, while the dark face found beside R. echinobothrida infected with Idiogenes sp. getting it probably from vertebrate sources. We believe that most of the Baghdad population was intermediate between north and south races. Reduction of population density of this dove in Baghdad area was caused by diseases, hybridization and competition.