Available now - Wilson Ornithological Society

More documents

Recommendations

Info

WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 14 ABSTRACTS – CONTRIBUTED ORAL PRESENTATIONS Arranged by presentation number. Presenting author is indicated by bold type. Contributions eligible for student presentation awards are indicated by superscript “S” at the start of the title. 01 Short-chain carboxylic acids from Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) uropygial secretions vary with testosterone levels and photoperiod. Rebecca J. Whelan and Tera C. Levin, Depts. Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin OH 44074, Jennifer C. Owen, Dept. Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI 48824, and Mary C. Garvin, Dept. Biology, Oberlin College, Oberlin OH 44074 The uropygial gland of birds produces secretions that are important in maintaining the health and structural integrity of feathers. Non-volatile components of uropygial secretions are believed to serve a number of functions including waterproofing and conditioning the feathers. Volatile components have been characterized in fewer species, but are particularly interesting because of their potential importance in olfactory interactions within and across species. We used solid-phase microextraction headspace sampling with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to detect and identify volatiles in uropygial secretions of Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis), a North American migratory bird. We consistently detected the following carboxylic acids: acetic, propanoic, 2-methylpropanoic, butanoic, and 3-methylbutanoic. We tested for the effect of lengthened photoperiod and/or exogenous testosterone on volatile signal strength and found a negative effect of lengthened photoperiod on the signal strength of propanoic, 2- methylpropanoic, and butanoic acids, suggesting a trade-off between their production and heightened night-time activity associated with lengthened photoperiod. Signal strength of propanoic and 2-methylpropanoic acids was lower in birds treated with exogenous testosterone than in birds treated with placebos. Sex did not affect signal strength of any of the volatile compounds. 02 S Breeding Biology of five species of High elevation Andean Tanagers. Gustavo Adolfo Londoño, Univ. Florida, Dept. Biology, and Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville, FL 32611 The tanagers are a Neotropical group of birds that has the highest number of species in the highlands of South America. There have been a few phylogenetic and behavioral studies conducted on this group, but there is a paucity of information on breeding biology. This is especially true for highland species. Thus, my objective was to describe new nest, building, incubation and feeding behaviors for five species of highland tanagers in the Peruvian Andes. Between 2007 and 2009 I found and monitored more than 30 nest of Scarlet-bellied mountain-tanager (Anisognathus igniventris*), Blue-capped tanager (Thraupis cyanocephala), Grass-green tanager (Chlorosnis rieferii), Hooded mountain-tanager (Buthraupis montana*) and Golden-collared tanager (Iridosornis jelskii*). While I have documented the breeding behavior for the first time for all of these species, three of these nests are also still undescribed*. All of these high elevation mountain tanagers have a clutch size of one egg, which is not common among tropical bird species. The egg mass and size varied across species, A. igniventris (25.6 x 18.4 mm , 4.55 g; n=18), T. cyanocephala ( 27.1 x 18.1 mm, 4.7 g; n=19), C. rieferii (28.8 x 21.5 mm, 7.1g; n=2), B. montana (32.9 x 22.8 mm, 9.3 g; n=5) and I. jelskii (23.5 x 16.5 mm, 3.9g; n=4). Egg coloration and nest location varied among species, however, nest shape and some nest materials are similar. Most nesting traits shared among these species support new relationships suggested in recent studies. Nesting behavior (time on the nest, number and length of trips), feeding behavior, and egg temperatures varied among species. 03 S Nest success of Snowy Plovers in the Southern High Plains of Texas. Sarah T. Saalfeld and Warren C. Conway, Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, Stephen F. Austin State Univ., Nacogdoches, TX 75962, David A. Haukos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Dept. Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries, Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock, TX 79409, and William P. Johnson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept., Canyon TX 79015 Snowy Plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus) have experienced population declines throughout their range. Decreased nest success has been recognized as a primary cause for the decline of the Western Snowy Plover. Although populations west of the Rocky Mountains have been extensively studied, few studies have focused on interior populations. We estimated nest success of Western Snowy Plovers on 3 saline lakes on the Southern High Plains of Texas during 2008 and 2009 and determined causes of nest failures and factors influencing nest success. We monitored 215 nests and Mayfield estimates of nest success ranged from 7 – 32% (mean = 22%) with leading causes of failure being predation (40%) and weather (36%). Nest success was influenced by location, as well as negatively influenced by number of plants within 707cm2 of nest, percentage of dry substrate within lake, and time during nesting season. When compared to 10 years prior (i.e., 1998 – 1999), mean nest success within this region declined by 31%, with greater percentage of failures due to predation. Although nest success was variable from year to year, our results suggest that if nesting Snowy Plovers continue to experience increased predation rates, decreased hydrological integrity, and habitat alterations, populations may decline or continue to decline throughout this region. Because surface water availability is one of the key components for nesting and nest success, it remains important to conserve the entire complex of wetlands within the Southern High Plains of Texas including freshwater springs discharging into saline lakes, the Ogallala aquifer, and playa wetlands.
WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 15 04 S Nesting density an important factor affecting chick growth and survival in the Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). Matthew S. Savoca, David N. Bonter, Benjamin Zuckerberg, and Janis L. Dickinson, Dept. Natural Resources, Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY 14853 and Julie C. Ellis, Dept. Environmental and Population Health, Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, MA 01536 The Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) is one of the largest, most common, and most conspicuous gulls in North America. They are facultative, colonial nesters on Appledore Island, home of the Shoals Marine Laboratory, with pairs nesting both in dense colonies and in more isolated situations. Colonial pairs breed in mixed-species colonies with Great Black-backed Gulls (L. marinus) whereas more isolated, solitary-nesting pairs are found around the buildings of the Shoals Marine Lab campus. As such, Appledore Island offers a unique opportunity to compare reproductive success between pairs nesting in both contexts on the same island. Chicks reared in dense colonies had a significantly higher growth rate than those reared in more isolated settings. A survival analysis in Program MARK determined that a chick’s expected survival is dependent on several factors: hatch weight, hatch date, hatch order, and nesting context (dense colony vs. isolated). Additionally, we found that C (third-hatched) chicks have a significantly higher chance of survival from hatching to fledging if they are born and reared in the dense colony, as opposed to the isolated nest context. We propose several possible explanations for these trends, including agonistic behavioral interactions and proximity to nesting Great Black-backed Gulls. 05 Pennsylvania boreal conifer forests and their bird communities: past, present, and future potential. Douglas A. Gross, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Orangeville, PA 17859 Pennsylvania spruce and hemlock-dominated forests, found primarily on glaciated parts of the Allegheny Plateau, are relicts of former conifer forest and boreal ecosystems. Most of these boreal conifer forests are forested wetlands /peatlands and at headwaters of high quality cold water streams. These forests are islands of habitat, isolated and fairly remote and part of larger blocks of forest. The timber era of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s (as late as 1942) destroyed most of this boreal conifer forest on a large scale, but there has been some recovery of vegetation and delayed recovery of the accompanying avian communities. These forests support the most southerly extent of the current breeding range of Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and Blackpoll Warbler. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was documented nesting in the 1980’s after 50 years of being absent or overlooked, but has been persistent at several locations. Blackpoll Warblers had never been documented as a breeding species until 1993, but have been confirmed nesting most years since. These boreal forests also host numerous other species of more northerly distribution, sometimes in high densities. Historically, Olive-sided Flycatcher was widespread and locally common in the high elevations as late as the 1890’s, but has not been documented nesting since the 1930’s. Many of these species (e.g., Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Red Crossbill) are not easily detected and need specialized surveys for adequate monitoring. Habitat and species structural diversity are important elements of locations that support the rarest and most diverse species assemblage. Some elements of this community are associated with old growth forest characteristics. Recent breeding bird atlas results provide more context for changes. Populations of some species seem to be increasing over time, but there are hints that issues on wintering grounds or migration stopover sites may be limiting some species as much as nesting habitat. Climate change and energy extraction are additional threats. The best boreal conifer sites are fairly well-protected but their isolation, additional threats, and general lack of appreciation and support for this ecosystem presents challenges for conservation. 06 S Integrating species distribution models and genetic data to forecast the effects of climate change on genetic diversity in Boreal birds. Joel Ralston, Dept. Biological Sciences, Univ. Albany, Albany, NY 12222 and New York State Museum, Albany, NY 12230 Many species of Boreal birds breed in disjunct, high-elevation populations south of their contiguous range. As species’ ranges shift in response to climate change, these peripheral populations will decrease in size or be extirpated. The level of genetic variation and number of private alleles held within these populations can be used to measure of the potential risk of climate change on intraspecific genetic diversity. Here, I use GIS-based models to project distributions of 16 Boreal bird species onto future conditions under two carbon emissions scenarios in order to predict how ranges will shift, and whether populations will become extirpated. I use mitochondrial sequences and microsatellite genotype data from one species (Dendroica striata), to determine whether populations predicted to go extinct hold high levels of genetic variation or unique alleles. All species are predicted to shift northward, and most will increase in area. However, disjunct mountain populations of all species are predicted to decrease or be extirpated. Despite high levels of regional gene flow in D.striata, private alleles and haplotypes exist in all mountain populations, and will potentially be lost to climate change by 2080.
Page 1 and 2: Program & Abstracts 91 st Meeting o
Page 3 and 4: Hobart and William Smith Colleges 2
Page 5 and 6: Important Campus Locations for WOS
Page 7 and 8: WOS 2010 ~ SCHEDULE p. 1 Conference
Page 9 and 10: WOS 2010 ~ SCIENTIFIC PAPER SESSION
Page 17 and 18: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 11 S03 Tiss
Page 19: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 13 S10 Effe
Page 23 and 24: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 17 younger
Page 25 and 26: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 19 (negativ
Page 27 and 28: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 21 forest s
Page 29 and 30: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 23 during 2
Page 31 and 32: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 25 Differen
Page 33 and 34: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 27 ABSTRACT
Page 35 and 36: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 29 pusilla)
Page 37 and 38: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 31 individu
Page 39 and 40: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 33 P21 S Ag
Page 41 and 42: WOS 2010 ~ ABSTRACTS p. 35 chicks r
Page 43 and 44: Conference Schedule Thursday, 20 Ma

Available now - Wilson Ornithological Society

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?