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 av...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.展开更多
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 ...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。展开更多
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...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.展开更多
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 the...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.展开更多
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 Mountai...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.展开更多
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 Zebr...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.展开更多
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...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.展开更多
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 ...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.展开更多
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 str...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.展开更多
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...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.展开更多
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 km<sup>2</sup>) has a...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 km<sup>2</sup>) 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.展开更多
《For The Birds》是一部经典的奥斯卡获奖动画短片,在有限的时间里,它可以让观众发自内心的愉悦。对于一部动画短片来说,根据时长以及剧情需要选择合适的时间推进方式,逐步将观众带入剧情、塑造性格鲜明的角色,让观众通过事件慢慢了解...《For The Birds》是一部经典的奥斯卡获奖动画短片,在有限的时间里,它可以让观众发自内心的愉悦。对于一部动画短片来说,根据时长以及剧情需要选择合适的时间推进方式,逐步将观众带入剧情、塑造性格鲜明的角色,让观众通过事件慢慢了解短片中的角色性格、在设置悬念的时候选择合适的时机,给观众营造他们自己的期待,然后再扭转局面,能激起观众的兴趣,制造一个出人意料的结局,这些在剧情叙事中的节奏控制可以有效地吸引观众的注意力,这对于一部动画短片的成败来说是至关重要的。展开更多
The Thorn Birds and Scarlet Letter both explore the theme of love and religion, and both show the skilful use of imagism and symbolism. This essay analyzes the common images of the two novels and compares their simila...The Thorn Birds and Scarlet Letter both explore the theme of love and religion, and both show the skilful use of imagism and symbolism. This essay analyzes the common images of the two novels and compares their similarities and differences.展开更多
Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global health challenge in human and veterinary medicine. Wild animals are not directly exposed to clinically relevant antibiotics; however, antibacterial resistance in wild anima...Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global health challenge in human and veterinary medicine. Wild animals are not directly exposed to clinically relevant antibiotics; however, antibacterial resistance in wild animals has been increasingly reported worldwide in parallel to the situation in human and veterinary medicine. This underlies the complexity of bacterial resistance in wild animals and the possible interspecies transmission between humans, domestic animals, the environment, and wildlife. This review summarizes the current data on expandedspectrum β-lactamase(ESBL), AmpC β-lactamase, carbapenemase, and colistin resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolates of wildlife origin. The aim of this review is to better understand the important role of wild animals as reservoirs and vectors in the global dissemination of crucial clinical antibacterial resistance. In this regard, continued surveillance is urgently needed worldwide.展开更多
Multi-manned assembly line,which is broadly utilized to assemble high volume products such as automobiles and trucks,allows a group of workers to assemble different tasks simultaneously in a multi-manned workstation.T...Multi-manned assembly line,which is broadly utilized to assemble high volume products such as automobiles and trucks,allows a group of workers to assemble different tasks simultaneously in a multi-manned workstation.This additional characteristic of parallel operators increases the complexity of the traditional NP-hard assembly line balancing problem.Hence,this paper formulates the Type-I multi-manned assembly line balancing problem to minimize the total number of workstations and operators,and develops an efficient migrating birds optimization algorithm embedded into an idle time reduction method.In this algorithm,a new decoding mechanism is proposed which reduces the sequence-dependent idle time by some task assignment rules;three effective neighborhoods are developed to make refinement of existing solutions in the bird improvement phases;and temperature acceptance and competitive mechanism are employed to avoid being trapped in the local optimum.Comparison experiments suggest that the new decoding and improvements are effective and the proposed algorithm outperforms the compared algorithms.展开更多
Objective:To present results of virological study of wild birds inhabiting Western Mongolia. Methods:Over a period of 2003-2008,we isolated 13 influenza A viruses:H1N1,H3N6, H13N8 and H4N6 subtypes.We did not isolate ...Objective:To present results of virological study of wild birds inhabiting Western Mongolia. Methods:Over a period of 2003-2008,we isolated 13 influenza A viruses:H1N1,H3N6, H13N8 and H4N6 subtypes.We did not isolate any H5N1 subtype,that still cause epizooty in wild birds and poultry.Results:We revealed taxonomic and ecological heterogeneity of the birds involved in maintenance of circulation of influenza viruses in the given territory.Influenza viruses were isolated from birds of 6 orders;among them there are species preferring water and semi-aquatic biotopes,one species preferring dry plain region,and also one species which can inhabit both dry and water biotopes.Conclusions:Representatives of all main orders of Western Mongolia avifauna are involved in support of influenza A virus circulation,highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses were registered in Mongolia thus it’s necessary to continue permanent influenza virus surveillance in wild birds’ populations.展开更多
Plastic waste and debris have caused substantial environmental pollution globally in the past decades,and they have been accumulated in hundreds of terrestrial and aquatic avian species.Birds are susceptible and vulne...Plastic waste and debris have caused substantial environmental pollution globally in the past decades,and they have been accumulated in hundreds of terrestrial and aquatic avian species.Birds are susceptible and vulnerable to external environments;therefore,they could be used to estimate the negative effects of environmental pollution.In this review,we summarize the effects of macroplastics,microplastics,and plastic-derived additives and plastic-absorbed chemicals on birds.First,macroplastics and microplastics accumulate in different tissues of various aquatic and terrestrial birds,suggesting that birds could suffer from the macroplastics and microplastics-associated contaminants in the aquatic and terrestrial environments.Second,the detrimental effects of macroplastics and microplastics,and their derived additives and absorbed chemicals on the individual survival,growth and development,reproductive output,and physiology,are summarized in different birds,as well as the known toxicological mechanisms of plastics in laboratory model mammals.Finally,we identify that human commensal birds,long-life-span birds,and model bird species could be utilized to different research objectives to evaluate plastic pollution burden and toxicological effects of chronic plastic exposure.展开更多
Background: China has a relative high degree of endemism of birds due to its large area, diversified topography, and varied climates and habitats. Among the 77 Chinese endemic birds, 29 species are classified as threa...Background: China has a relative high degree of endemism of birds due to its large area, diversified topography, and varied climates and habitats. Among the 77 Chinese endemic birds, 29 species are classified as threatened according to the officially released China Biodiversity Red List in 2015. Chinese endemic birds should be the focus of conservation because their local extinction in China means complete global extinction. However, to date, no study has explicitly examined the patterns and processes of extinction and threat in Chinese endemic birds. Methods: We obtained eleven biological traits and four extrinsic factors that are commonly hypothesized to influence extinction risk. After phylogenetic correction, these factors were used separately and in combination to assess their associations with extinction risk. Results: We found that 37.7% of Chinese endemic birds were listed as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered). Small range size, high hunting vulnerability, and high human population density were important predictors of high extinction risk in Chinese endemic birds. Conclusions: Our study is the first to systematically investigate the patterns and processes of extinction risk in Chinese endemic birds. We suggest that endemic species with small range size and living in area with high human densities require conservation priorities. Conservation efforts should also focus on the reduction of human threats, such as human hunting and habitat degradation, for the effective preservation of Chinese endemic birds.展开更多
基金To the Universidad Nacional de La Plata PID N955,ANPCyT PICT 20170607,and CONICET PIP 0096 for partial support.
文摘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.
文摘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。
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201338)Science Technology Program from the Forestry Administration of Guangdong Province(2021KJCX017)+1 种基金Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Bureau Program(2023A04J0086)Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Southern Subtropical Plant Diversity。
文摘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.
文摘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.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32270454)the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(No.2019QZKK0501).
文摘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.
基金supported by grants from Key laboratory of Ecology and Environment in Minority Area,National Ethnic Affairs Commission(KLEEMA202207)the Graduate Research and Practice Projects of Minzu University of China(BZKY2022042).
文摘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.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32125005)National Science and Technology Innovation 2030 Major Program(2021ZD0204101)+1 种基金Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS)(2020086)to S.K.P.CAS Pioneer Hundred Talents Program to D.P.W。
文摘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.
文摘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.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.32201304)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(No.2412022QD026).
文摘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.
文摘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.
文摘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 km<sup>2</sup>) 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.
文摘《For The Birds》是一部经典的奥斯卡获奖动画短片,在有限的时间里,它可以让观众发自内心的愉悦。对于一部动画短片来说,根据时长以及剧情需要选择合适的时间推进方式,逐步将观众带入剧情、塑造性格鲜明的角色,让观众通过事件慢慢了解短片中的角色性格、在设置悬念的时候选择合适的时机,给观众营造他们自己的期待,然后再扭转局面,能激起观众的兴趣,制造一个出人意料的结局,这些在剧情叙事中的节奏控制可以有效地吸引观众的注意力,这对于一部动画短片的成败来说是至关重要的。
文摘The Thorn Birds and Scarlet Letter both explore the theme of love and religion, and both show the skilful use of imagism and symbolism. This essay analyzes the common images of the two novels and compares their similarities and differences.
基金partially supported by grants from the National Key Basic Research Program of China(2013CB127200)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81661138002)
文摘Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent global health challenge in human and veterinary medicine. Wild animals are not directly exposed to clinically relevant antibiotics; however, antibacterial resistance in wild animals has been increasingly reported worldwide in parallel to the situation in human and veterinary medicine. This underlies the complexity of bacterial resistance in wild animals and the possible interspecies transmission between humans, domestic animals, the environment, and wildlife. This review summarizes the current data on expandedspectrum β-lactamase(ESBL), AmpC β-lactamase, carbapenemase, and colistin resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae isolates of wildlife origin. The aim of this review is to better understand the important role of wild animals as reservoirs and vectors in the global dissemination of crucial clinical antibacterial resistance. In this regard, continued surveillance is urgently needed worldwide.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51875421,61803287).
文摘Multi-manned assembly line,which is broadly utilized to assemble high volume products such as automobiles and trucks,allows a group of workers to assemble different tasks simultaneously in a multi-manned workstation.This additional characteristic of parallel operators increases the complexity of the traditional NP-hard assembly line balancing problem.Hence,this paper formulates the Type-I multi-manned assembly line balancing problem to minimize the total number of workstations and operators,and develops an efficient migrating birds optimization algorithm embedded into an idle time reduction method.In this algorithm,a new decoding mechanism is proposed which reduces the sequence-dependent idle time by some task assignment rules;three effective neighborhoods are developed to make refinement of existing solutions in the bird improvement phases;and temperature acceptance and competitive mechanism are employed to avoid being trapped in the local optimum.Comparison experiments suggest that the new decoding and improvements are effective and the proposed algorithm outperforms the compared algorithms.
文摘Objective:To present results of virological study of wild birds inhabiting Western Mongolia. Methods:Over a period of 2003-2008,we isolated 13 influenza A viruses:H1N1,H3N6, H13N8 and H4N6 subtypes.We did not isolate any H5N1 subtype,that still cause epizooty in wild birds and poultry.Results:We revealed taxonomic and ecological heterogeneity of the birds involved in maintenance of circulation of influenza viruses in the given territory.Influenza viruses were isolated from birds of 6 orders;among them there are species preferring water and semi-aquatic biotopes,one species preferring dry plain region,and also one species which can inhabit both dry and water biotopes.Conclusions:Representatives of all main orders of Western Mongolia avifauna are involved in support of influenza A virus circulation,highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza viruses were registered in Mongolia thus it’s necessary to continue permanent influenza virus surveillance in wild birds’ populations.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC,31971413)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(NSFHB,C2020205038)to DL+3 种基金the NSFHB(C2020205005)the Foundation of Hebei Normal University(17116027)the Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China(PRFC,2020M670685)to LWthe PRFC(2020M680902)to LY。
文摘Plastic waste and debris have caused substantial environmental pollution globally in the past decades,and they have been accumulated in hundreds of terrestrial and aquatic avian species.Birds are susceptible and vulnerable to external environments;therefore,they could be used to estimate the negative effects of environmental pollution.In this review,we summarize the effects of macroplastics,microplastics,and plastic-derived additives and plastic-absorbed chemicals on birds.First,macroplastics and microplastics accumulate in different tissues of various aquatic and terrestrial birds,suggesting that birds could suffer from the macroplastics and microplastics-associated contaminants in the aquatic and terrestrial environments.Second,the detrimental effects of macroplastics and microplastics,and their derived additives and absorbed chemicals on the individual survival,growth and development,reproductive output,and physiology,are summarized in different birds,as well as the known toxicological mechanisms of plastics in laboratory model mammals.Finally,we identify that human commensal birds,long-life-span birds,and model bird species could be utilized to different research objectives to evaluate plastic pollution burden and toxicological effects of chronic plastic exposure.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31100394,31471981 and 31770462 to WY)Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation(LZ18C030002 to WY)China Scholarship Council(201506320019 to CC)
文摘Background: China has a relative high degree of endemism of birds due to its large area, diversified topography, and varied climates and habitats. Among the 77 Chinese endemic birds, 29 species are classified as threatened according to the officially released China Biodiversity Red List in 2015. Chinese endemic birds should be the focus of conservation because their local extinction in China means complete global extinction. However, to date, no study has explicitly examined the patterns and processes of extinction and threat in Chinese endemic birds. Methods: We obtained eleven biological traits and four extrinsic factors that are commonly hypothesized to influence extinction risk. After phylogenetic correction, these factors were used separately and in combination to assess their associations with extinction risk. Results: We found that 37.7% of Chinese endemic birds were listed as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered and Critically Endangered). Small range size, high hunting vulnerability, and high human population density were important predictors of high extinction risk in Chinese endemic birds. Conclusions: Our study is the first to systematically investigate the patterns and processes of extinction risk in Chinese endemic birds. We suggest that endemic species with small range size and living in area with high human densities require conservation priorities. Conservation efforts should also focus on the reduction of human threats, such as human hunting and habitat degradation, for the effective preservation of Chinese endemic birds.
