Publications

TitleAbstractYear
Filter
PMID
Filter
is the "mammalian" brown fat-specific mitochondrial uncoupling protein present in adipose tissues of birds?1. mitochondria were isolated from the furcular, subcutaneous, abdominal, nape and lateral adipose tissue depots of five species of bird (pheasant, japanese quail, pigeon, house sparrow and great tit) acclimatized to the northern winter. 2. mitochondrial proteins were separated by sds-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, blotted onto nitrocellulose membranes, and probed for the presence of the 32,000-33,000 mr uncoupling protein characteristic of "mammalian" brown adipose tissue, using an anti-(g ...19911756620
seasonal changes in body weight, fat depots, and plasma levels of thyroxine and growth hormone in free-living great tits (parus major) and willow tits (p. montanus).annual changes in body weight, fat depots, and plasma levels of thyroxine (t4) and growth hormone (gh) were studied in free-living great tits and willow tits. birds were collected during six ecologically well-defined periods of the year. special attention was given to the nonreproductive part of the year. t4 showed simple unimodal cycles in both species and both sexes, with high levels during the warmer part of the year, and low levels during the winter and spring periods. although increasing le ...19892925079
genetic variability in mitochondrial dna in a regional population of the great tit (parus major).genetic variation of mitochondrial dna (mtdna) in 18 great tits (parus major) from three neighboring localities in sweden was investigated with eight tetranucleotide restriction endonucleases. the 18 individuals could be separated into 13 different maternal lineages. the high number of female lineages present in this regional population contrasts with a low level of sequence divergence between the different mtdna clones, with a mean of 0.19% sequence divergence between all individuals. there was ...19873034235
circannual plasma androgen levels in free-living male great tits (parus major major l.).seasonal variations of plasma androgen levels in free-living adult and juvenile male great tits (parus major major l.) were measured by radioimmunoassay over a period of 5 years. in 4 of the 5 years a peak of androgen concentrations was observed during the breeding season (in 1 year during the prebreeding season, followed by a nadir during winter. besides these circannual fluctuations, considerable variations in plasma androgen levels between comparable behavioral periods of successive years wer ...19854018565
low temperatures affect the photoperiodically induced lh and testicular cycles differently in closely related species of tits (parus spp.).photosensitive great tits (parus major) and willow tits (p. montanus) were exposed to long days (20l:4d) under three different temperature conditions (4+, +10, and +20 degrees c) in early winter. the two species showed significant differences in their lh and testicular reaction patterns to low temperatures. testes showed pronounced growth cycles under all temperature regimes. for the willow tit, testes in birds kept at +20 degrees c reached maximum size about 2 weeks earlier than testes in birds ...19947814001
paternal investment affects prevalence of malaria.both reproduction and parasite defense can be costly, and an animal may face a trade-off between investing in offspring or in parasite defense. in contrast to the findings from nonexperimental studies that the poorly reproducing individuals are often the ones with high parasite loads, this life-history view predicts that individuals with high reproductive investment will show high parasite prevalence. here we provide an experimental confirmation of a positive association between parental investm ...19957862659
a radioimmunoassay for recombinant-derived chicken prolactin suitable for the measurement of prolactin in other avian species.a homologous radioimmunoassay for chicken prolactin is described. the assay is based on recombinant-derived chicken prolactin that has been used to raise an antibody and produce 125i-labeled tracer and assay standards. the radioimmunoassay measures a minimum of 0.03 +/- 0.01 ng of the recombinant prolactin with 50% displacement of binding by 0.6 +/- 0.1 ng. chicken plasma and pituitary immunoreactivity dilute in parallel with the standard curve. the mean (+/- se) concentrations of plasma prolact ...19947883142
small passerines can discriminate ultraviolet surface colours.hollow-dwelling passerine birds were tested for uv surface colour discrimination by using the instinct to bring food to nestlings that makes a bird search for the nest under changing conditions. the experiments were carried out on breeding pairs of pied flycatcher (muscicapa hypoleuca), great tit (parus major) and tree sparrow (passer montanus) in the wild by the method of alternative choice of entrance into a double nesting-box with the nestlings in one or the other section. the entrances were ...19948023465
a study of the ciliar tracheal epithelium on passerine birds and small mammals subjected to air pollution: ultrastructural study.a study was made of the ciliar tracheal epithelium on passerine birds and small mammals subjected to nox, so2 emissions and particulates from a coal-fired power plant. the results were compared to those of a non-polluted area, very similar in vegetation, relief, and climatology. we studied carduelis carduelis (goldfinch), emberiza cia (rock bunting), parus major (great tit), turdus merula (blackbird), and apodemus sylvaticus (wood mouse). all animals were captured in the wild. we also used goldf ...19948024317
effects of air pollution on passerine birds and small mammals.the effects produced by emissions from coal-fired power plants, including mainly so2, nox and particulates, on natural populations and caged specimens of birds and small mammals were studied. the field-captured species used to evaluate these effects were passerine birds: parus major (coal tit) and emberiza cia (rock bunting), and the rodent apodemus sylvaticus (wood mouse). in parallel to this study on animals captured in the field, we used other animals, mus musculus (house mouse) and carduelis ...19938466292
thyroid hormones in nestling great tits (parus major).plasma concentrations of thyroid hormones (t4 and t3) were examined in nestlings of the altricial great tit (parus major), from hatching to when young birds left the nest at 16 days of age. t4 levels were approximately 1-2 ng/ml during the first 2 days after hatching and increased to reach maximal levels (9-10 ng/ml) 12 days after hatching, a time at which nestlings reach maximum body weight. both sexes showed the same pattern. t3 levels showed a quite different pattern. levels were at all times ...19968812352
the development of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in juvenile great tits.the development of the hypolamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in free-living nestling great tits (parus major) was studied from the day of hatching until about 40 days of age. the hypothalamic content of gnrh was low during the entire nestling period, although a significant increase was noted between 6 and 9 days of age. thereafter there was no further increase. the pituitary content of lh was low in 1- to 6-day-old nestlings, but increased significantly at 9 days of age; this increase was only tempor ...19968812358
borreliae in immature ixodes ricinus (acari:ixodidae) ticks parasitizing birds in the czech republic.of 411 forest birds of 33 species examined near valtice, czech republic, 29% were infested with ixodes ricinus (l.); 2.2% were parasitized by haemaphysalis concinna koch. borreliae were detected in 5.1 and 11.7% of larval and nymphal i. ricinus, respectively. none of the 13 h. concinna tested was infected. in total, 3.2% of the birds examined were parasitized by i. ricinus immatures infected by borreliae. borreliae-containing ticks parasitized european robin, erithacus rubecula (l.); eurasian bl ...19968840682
ectoparasite infestation and sex-biased local recruitment of hosts.dispersal patterns of organisms are a fundamental aspect of their ecology, modifying the genetic and social structure of local populations. parasites reduce the reproductive success and survival of hosts and thereby exert selection pressure on host life-history traits, possibly affecting host dispersal. here we test experimentally whether infestation by hen fleas, ceratophyllus gallinae, affects sex-related recruitment of great tit, parus major, fledglings. using sex-specific dna markers, we sho ...199910403248
feather mites, pectoral muscle condition, wing length and plumage coloration of passerines.i compared the feather mite (acari, proctophyllodidae) loads of moulting birds with features of the new plumage that they were growing. i examined 21 samples, each sample containing individuals of the same species, sex and age class (juvenile, yearling or adult). i used nine species: wren, troglodytes troglodytes; dunnock, prunella modularis; robin, erithacus rubecula; blue tit, parus caeruleus; great tit, p. major; chaffinch, fringilla coelebs; greenfinch, carduelis chloris; linnet, c. cannabin ...199910479371
host specificity in avian blood parasites: a study of plasmodium and haemoproteus mitochondrial dna amplified from birds.a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of avian malaria (genera haemoproteus and plasmodium) was amplified from blood samples of 12 species of passerine birds from the genera acrocephalus, phylloscopus and parus. by sequencing 478 nucleotides of the obtained fragments, we found 17 different mitochondrial haplotypes of haemoproteus or plasmodium among the 12 bird species investigated. only one out of the 17 haplotypes was found in more than one host species, this exception being a hapl ...200011007335
can excrement and feathers of nestling songbirds be used as biomonitors for heavy metal pollution?although birds have been frequently used as indicators of heavy metal pollution, few studies have examined pollutant levels in nestling passerines. in this paper we determined the levels of two essential (zinc and copper) and three nonessential heavy metals (lead, cadmium, and arsenic) in the excrement and feathers of great (parus major) and blue tit (parus caeruleus) nestlings at a polluted site (near a metallurgic factory) and a reference site (4 km farther east). the excrement of both great a ...200011031316
immune challenge affects basal metabolic activity in wintering great tits.the costs of exploiting an organism's immune function are expected to form the basis of many life-history trade-offs. however, there has been debate about whether such costs can be paid in energetic and nutritional terms. we addressed this question in a study of wintering, free-living, male great tits by injecting them with a novel, non-pathogenic antigen (sheep red blood cells) and measuring the changes in their basal metabolic rates and various condition indices subsequent to immune challenge. ...200111375106
the costs of egg production and incubation in great tits (parus major).the costs of egg production and incubation may have a crucial effect on avian reproductive decisions, such as clutch size and the timing of reproduction. we carried out a brood-size enlargement experiment on the great tit (parus major), in which the birds had to lay and incubate extra eggs (full costs), only incubate extra eggs (free eggs) or did not pay any extra cost (free chicks) in obtaining a larger brood. we used female fitness (half the recruits produced plus female survival) as a fitness ...200111410154
species-specific bird functions in a forest-canopy food web.bird functions in a forest-canopy food web were evaluated by a large-scale field experiment using 'canopy' enclosures. by controlling the presence of two bird species, great tits (parus major; foliage gleaner) and nuthatches (sitta europaea; trunk gleaner), in the enclosures, their effect on predatory insects (ants), herbivorous insects (lepidoptera larvae) and producers (oak trees) was quantified. great tits reduced the density of lepidoptera larvae and, indirectly, leaf damage, but had no impa ...200011467421
sight of a predator can stimulate a corticosterone response in the great tit (parus major).the corticosterone response to the sight of a natural predator was investigated in free-living and captive great tits (parus major). free-living great tits responded to the sight of a stuffed, slowly moving tengmalm's owl, a major predator of great tits, with warning calls and a change in behaviour around a feeder. great tits returned to the feeder within a few minutes and began to approach the owl, and there was no increase in plasma corticosterone levels in birds sampled 30-50 min after they f ...200211884070
leptin depresses food intake in great tits (parus major).food availability for wild organisms typically varies both in time and space, requiring a mechanism that regulates the storage of excess energy and makes it possible to use stores during energy shortfall. leptin, a protein hormone encoded by an obesity gene, has been suggested to be the signal mediator for this flux of energy. in a controlled laboratory experiment on caged great tits (parus major) we evaluated the effect of leptin on food intake and behaviour. experimental birds were given an in ...200312620247
threat displays are not handicaps.within a general framework of handicap signalling it was proposed that threat displays are handicaps, they can work only if they put the signaller at a disadvantage, which is only acceptable to honest signallers. the aim of the present article is to investigate this proposal with the help of a simple game-theoretical model. it was found: (1) that the use of cost-free signals is an ess against the invasion of handicapped signals even if cheating is played as part of a mixed strategy in the popula ...200312642112
the distribution of octachlorostyrene (ocs) in environmental samples from europe.although octachlorostyrene (ocs) was never used as a commercial product, it may be produced during incineration and combustion processes involving chlorinated compounds. its environmental spreading was evaluated through the analysis of several representative samples. ocs could not be measured in soil samples collected from urban and rural areas or sediments, but was present (up to 5.41 ng/g dry weight) in industrial soil collected near chemically polluted areas. for aquatic biota samples, the oc ...200312948238
the role of birds in a natural focus of tick-borne encephalitis. ii. experimental infection of great tits (parus major l.) with tick-borne encephalitis virus. 196213950330
proximate mechanisms of variation in the carotenoid-based plumage coloration of nestling great tits (parus major l.).many vertebrates use carotenoid-based signals in social or sexual interactions. honest signalling via carotenoids implies some limitation of carotenoid-based colour expression among phenotypes in the wild, and at least five limiting proximate mechanisms have been hypothesized. limitation may arise by carotenoid-availability, genetic constraints, body condition, parasites, or detrimental effects of carotenoids. an understanding of the relative importance of the five mechanisms is relevant in the ...200314635884
high genetic variability of esterase loci in natural populations of parus major, p. caeruleus, and p. ater.in parus major, p. caeruleus, and p. ater the genetic variation of 16 isozyme loci was determined. the focus was on esterases that show high phenotypic variation in natural populations of these species. the degree of heterozygosity of the "non-esterase" loci was 0.029 +/- 0.008 (p. major); 0.023 +/- 0.012 (p. caeruleus), and 0.034 +/- 0.034 (p. ater). including the esterase loci with up to six alleles per locus the overall degree of heterozygosity increased to 0.130 +/- 0.056 (p. major); 0.143 + ...200415168724
heavy metal exposure affects the humoral immune response in a free-living small songbird, the great tit (parus major).although many studies have investigated possible effects of heavy metal contamination on components of the immune system in captive birds, studies on the effects of chronic exposure to heavy metals on the immune system of free-living birds are rare. therefore we studied the effect of heavy metal exposure on the humoral immune responsiveness in free-living great tit (parus major) populations from four study sites along a pollution gradient near a metallurgic smelter. although there were no differ ...200415195812
a strong association between immune responsiveness and natal dispersal in a songbird.because parasite faunas typically show considerable spatio-temporal variation, and because parasites can have important fitness consequences, host defence mechanisms, including the immune system, can be expected to coevolve with natal dispersal, i.e. the movement of a newborn individual from its site of birth to its first site of reproduction. we demonstrate that immigrant individuals show a significantly higher humoral immune response towards a novel antigen than do local recruits in two indepe ...200415252983
analysis and comparison of the 4b core protein gene of avipoxviruses from wild birds: evidence for interspecies spatial phylogenetic variation.avipoxviruses have been isolated from a wide variety of avian hosts, and yet little is known regarding the host-virus species variation of the genus avipoxvirus. we have investigated the variations in the viral 4b core protein gene from six different avipoxviruses based on pcr, southern blot and nucleotide sequence analysis to evaluate the suitability of this region for differentiation between avipoxvirus isolates. southern blot and nucleotide sequence analysis revealed considerable interspecies ...200415290371
ectoparasite-modulated deposition of maternal androgens in great tit eggs.maternal yolk androgens can promote growth and competitive abilities of nestling birds but are also suggested to increase susceptibility to parasites or suppress immune function. we tested the hypothesis that females exposed to ectoparasites during egg formation will adjust the content of androgens in the yolk. we predicted that when anticipating high levels of parasitism, females deposit (i) less androgens into all eggs of their clutch and (ii) smaller amounts of androgens in eggs late in the l ...200415306335
predation by sparrowhawks decreases with increased breeding density in a songbird, the great tit.predators may regulate prey populations if predation rate increases with prey density. alternatively, if space-limited (e.g. territorial) predators become 'satiated' when prey exceed a certain density, increased prey abundance may lead to reduced predation rate. these alternatives have been difficult to test experimentally for mobile prey in the wild. we present such a test, manipulating the density of great tits (parus major) by adding nest boxes in territories of sparrowhawks (accipiter nisus) ...200515480803
do sibling tits (parus major, p. caeruleus) disperse over similar distances and in similar directions?we studied dispersal movements by sibling pairs of great tits, parus major, and blue tits, p. caeruleus, in a patchy environment, in order to test whether siblings are more similar in dispersal than expected by chance. because of possible common environmental effects due to the heterogeneity and finiteness of the study area, we compared the similarity among siblings with the similarity between each sibling and an unrelated bird that fledged in the same patch and year, as close to the siblings' n ...200415578228
gene flow maintains a large genetic difference in clutch size at a small spatial scale.understanding the capacity of natural populations to adapt to their local environment is a central topic in evolutionary biology. phenotypic differences between populations may have a genetic basis, but showing that they reflect different adaptive optima requires the quantification of both gene flow and selection. good empirical data are rare. using data on a spatially structured island population of great tits (parus major), we show here that a persistent difference in mean clutch size between ...200515635410
avian personalities: characterization and epigenesis.the work presented here aims at understanding the nature, epigenesis and function of personality types (here called behavioral profiles) in birds, focusing on a wild bird species, the great tit (parus major). lines bidirectionally selected for exploration show a wide array of social and non-social behavioral differences, and also some differences in physiological parameters. line differences in these characteristics and their relationships show significant temporal consistency. the results show ...200415652261
background-matching and disruptive coloration, and the evolution of cryptic coloration.cryptic prey coloration typically bears a resemblance to the habitat the prey uses. it has been suggested that coloration which visually matches a random sample of the background maximizes background matching. we studied this previously untested hypothesis, as well as another, little studied principle of concealment, disruptive coloration, and whether it could, acting in addition to background matching, provide another plausible means of achieving camouflage. we presented great tits (parus major ...200515817442
experimental removal of the male parent negatively affects growth and immunocompetence in nestling great tits.given the available empirical evidence on the benefits and costs associated with immune defence, a role for the immune system in the trade-off between current and future reproduction has been predicted. this hypothesis was studied in a free-living population of great tits (parus major) by examining the effects of male removal on the immunocompetence, body condition, and recapture probability in the widowed females and their nestlings. furthermore, we investigated whether growth and its relation ...200515891821
evaluation of biochemical effects related to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid exposure in organohalogen-contaminated great tit (parus major) and blue tit (parus caeruleus) nestlings.a perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (pfos) biomonitoring survey was conducted on great tit (parus major) and blue tit (parus caeruleus) nestlings from blokkersdijk, a bird reserve in the proximity of a fluorochemical plant in antwerp (belgium) and fort iv, a control area. pfos, together with 11 organochlorine pesticides, 20 polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and 7 polybrominated diphenyl ethers were measured in liver tissue. the hepatic pfos concentrations at blokkersdijk (86-2788 and 317-3322 ng/g ...200515982707
vertebrate host specificity of two avian malaria parasites of the subgenus novyella: plasmodium nucleophilum and plasmodium vaughani.the susceptibility of wild-caught european passeriform birds to naturally isolated malaria parasites, plasmodium (novyella) nucleophilum and plasmodium (novyella) vaughani, was studied by means of intramuscular subinoculation of infected citrated blood. plasmodium nucleophilum of the great tit, parus major, was transmitted to 3 great tits, but 3 blackcaps (sylvia atricapilla) were not susceptible. plasmodium vaughani of the robin, erithacus rubecula, was transmitted to 1 robin and 1 blackcap, bu ...200515986631
pollution-related changes in diets of two insectivorous passerines.insectivorous birds living in polluted areas are not only exposed to pollutants but they may also be affected by changes in their invertebrate food. the populations of many invertebrate species are affected by environmental pollution and such changes may lead to differences in the diet of insectivorous birds. we examined nestling food quality (invertebrate composition and heavy metal levels) and breeding performance of two cavity-nesting passerines, the great tit, parus major, and the pied flyca ...200516044352
heavy metal pollution affects dawn singing behaviour in a small passerine bird.although several studies have suggested that behavioural measures may be more comprehensive than other biomarkers for indicating an organism's health or welfare, this has rarely been investigated in free-living terrestrial vertebrates. here we examine the expression of dawn singing behaviour in a free-living small songbird in relation to environmental pollution. we compared the singing behaviour of male great tits parus major inhabiting an area extremely polluted with heavy metals with that of m ...200516133189
local adaptation to winter conditions in a passerine spreading north: a common-garden approach.sedentary passerine birds living in temperate and boreal regions need a high metabolic capacity for thermogenesis to survive winter conditions. as a consequence of the increased thermogenic capacity, basal energetic demands rise at a time when resources and time to acquire them decrease. in a previous study, great tits (parus major) from two localities in fennoscandia with contrasting winter conditions differed in their metabolic response to ambient temperature. to investigate the physiological ...200516153046
parasites shape the optimal investment in immunity.the evolution of optimal functioning and maintenance of the immune system is thought to be driven by the costs arising from the allocation of resources to immune functions rather than to growth and reproduction and by the benefits arising from higher defence if an infection occurs. in young animals there is a high premium for fast growth and competitiveness and a parasite-mediated trade-off is thus predicted between the allocation of resources to growth versus immune function. in a field study o ...200616790410
pfos levels in the blood and liver of a small insectivorous songbird near a fluorochemical plant.perfluorooctane sulfonate (pfos) is the stable end product of the degradation of various perfluorinated compounds and is the predominant compound found in the environment and biota. pfos is a widespread environmental contaminant that is found in a great diversity of wildlife species with more elevated tissue concentrations in animals from populated and industrialized areas. in this study we determined the pfos accumulation in blood and livers of a small songbird, the great tit (parus major), in ...200717188355
trace metal concentration in great tit (parus major) and greenfinch (carduelis sinica) at the western mountains of beijing, china.we examined the concentrations of 11 trace metals in tissues from 10 body parts of great tits and greenfinches collected at badachu park in the western mountains of beijing, china to assess the metal accumulation level, distribution among body parts, and species and gender related variations. the highest concentrations of hg, ni, zn, and mn were found in the feather; pb and co in the bone; cd, cr, and se in the kidney, and cu in the liver and heart. metal concentrations had substantial interspec ...200717240025
great tits (parus major) reduce caterpillar damage in commercial apple orchards.alternative ways to control caterpillar pests and reduce the use of pesticides in apple orchards are in the interest of the environment, farmers and the public. great tits have already been shown to reduce damage under high caterpillar density when breeding in nest boxes in an experimental apple orchard. we tested whether this reduction also occurs under practical conditions of integrated pest management (ipm), as well as organic farming (of), by setting up an area with nest boxes while leaving ...200717285148
biomagnification of pbdes in three small terrestrial food chains.eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbde) congeners (iupac nos. 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, 183, and 209) were measured in passerines (great tits--parus major), wood mice (apodemus sylvaticus), and bank voles (clethrionomys glareolus). these data were combined with previously obtained data on pbdes in common buzzards (buteo buteo), sparrowhawks (accipiter nisus), and red fox (vulpes vulpes). this enabled estimation of the biomagnification potential of pbdes in the following three terrestrial fo ...200717310700
drd4 gene polymorphisms are associated with personality variation in a passerine bird.polymorphisms in several neurotransmitter-associated genes have been associated with variation in human personality traits. among the more promising of such associations is that between the human dopamine receptor d4 gene (drd4) variants and novelty-seeking behaviour. however, genetic epistasis, genotype-environment interactions and confounding environmental factors all act to obscure genotype-personality relationships. such problems can be addressed by measuring personality under standardized c ...200717472912
poxvirus infection in a great tit (parus major).four great tits (parus major) with nodular lesions suggestive of poxvirus infections were observed in a garden in vienna, austria. one of the birds was submitted for examination. because of its poor condition, the bird had to be euthanatized and was subsequently necropsied. an avipoxvirus infection was confirmed by histopathology, electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reaction and sequencing. this is the second report of naturally occurring poxvirus infection in great tits and the first of i ...200717626497
variation, levels and profiles of organochlorines and brominated flame retardants in great tit (parus major) eggs from different types of sampling locations in flanders (belgium).small-scale geographical variation in the occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), organochlorine pesticides (ocps) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes) was investigated using the eggs of a terrestrial residential songbird species, the great tit (parus major). in addition, we investigated the influence of the type of sampling location on the presence of these pollutants. to achieve this, 10 different sampling locations in flanders (belgium) were classified into 3 groups based on the ...200817765970
birdsong and anthropogenic noise: implications and applications for conservation.the dramatic increase in human activities all over the world has caused, on an evolutionary time scale, a sudden rise in especially low-pitched noise levels. ambient noise may be detrimental to birds through direct stress, masking of predator arrival or associated alarm calls, and by interference of acoustic signals in general. two of the most important functions of avian acoustic signals are territory defence and mate attraction. both of these functions are hampered when signal efficiency is re ...200817784917
sex-related effects of maternal egg investment on offspring in relation to carotenoid availability in the great tit.1. maternal carotenoids in the egg yolk have been hypothesized to promote maturation of the immune system and protect against free radical damages. depending on availability, mothers may thus influence offspring quality by depositing variable amounts of carotenoids into the eggs. sex allocation theory predicts that in good quality environments, females should invest into offspring of the sex that will provide larger fitness return, generally males. 2. in a field experiment we tested whether fema ...200818177329
cuckoo-hawk mimicry? an experimental test.the similarity between many old world parasitic cuckoos (cuculinae) and accipiter hawks, in size, shape and plumage, has been noted since ancient times. in particular, hawk-like underpart barring is more prevalent in parasitic than in non-parasitic cuckoos. cuckoo-hawk resemblance may reflect convergent evolution of cryptic plumage that reduces detection by hosts and prey, or evolved mimicry of hawks by parasitic cuckoos, either for protection against hawk attacks or to facilitate brood parasiti ...200818467298
investigation on the frequency of chlamydia sp. infections in tits (paridae).a total of 788 cloacal and pharyngeal swabs were taken from 399 free-living, clinically healthy tits. ten nestlings were examined by cloacal swabs only. additionally, six dead tits were necropsied and various organs were collected for testing. all swabs and organ samples were tested for chlamydia chlamydia sp. was detected by immunofluorescence with fitc-conjugated monoclonal antibodies after 90 h incubation on buffalo-green-monkey (bgm) cell cultures at 37 degrees c. fifty-four per cent of 399 ...199718483944
environmental pollution affects the plumage color of great tit nestlings through carotenoid availability.birds need to acquire carotenoids for their feather pigmentation from their diet, which means that their plumage color may change as a consequence of human impact on their environment. for example, the carotenoid-based plumage coloration of great tit, parus major, nestlings is associated with the degree of environmental pollution. breast feathers of birds in territories exposed to heavy metals are less yellow than those in unpolluted environments. here we tested two hypotheses that could explain ...200818704585
carotenoids in a food chain along a pollution gradient.carotenoids are synthesized by plants, therefore insects and birds must obtain them from their diet. they function in pigmentation and as antioxidants. we studied the carotenoid profiles in a model food chain (plant-insect-bird) in an air pollution gradient to find out whether heavy metal pollution affects the transfer of carotenoids across the trophic levels. birch leaves showed higher beta-carotene and, one of the birch species (betula pendula), higher total carotenoids levels in the polluted ...200818789813
interspecific differences in concentrations and congener profiles of chlorinated and brominated organic pollutants in three insectivorous bird species.we investigated the accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (pcbs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (pbdes) and organochlorine pesticides (ocps) in eggs of three insectivorous bird species, the great tit (parus major), the northern lapwing (vanellus vanellus) and the mediterranean gull (larus melanocephalus), near the harbour of antwerp (belgium). our results show that lapwing eggs had the highest median concentrations of pcbs (4358 ng/g lw) and pbdes (109 ng/g lw). mediterranean gulls feed dur ...200918947874
sex-specific effects of altered competition on nestling growth and survival: an experimental manipulation of brood size and sex ratio.1. an increase of competition among adults or nestlings usually negatively affects breeding output. yet little is known about the differential effects that competition has on the offspring sexes. this could be important because it may influence parental reproductive decisions. 2. in sexual size dimorphic species, two main contradictory mechanisms are proposed regarding sex-specific effects of competition on nestling performance assuming that parents do not feed their chicks differentially: (i) t ...200919054223
the impact of urban environment on oxidative damage (tbars) and antioxidant systems in lungs and liver of great tits, parus major.a direct negative link between human health and urban pollution levels generated by increased internal levels of oxyradicals is well established. the impact of urban environment on the physiology of wild birds is however, poorly investigated. here we compare oxidative damage (i.e., lipid peroxidation, measured as tbars) and different antioxidant enzymes (glutathione reductase (gr), glutathione-s-transferase (gst), and catalase (cat)) in lungs of urban and rural great tits, parus major. in additi ...200919054507
differential role of passerine birds in distribution of borrelia spirochetes, based on data from ticks collected from birds during the postbreeding migration period in central europe.borrelia spirochetes in bird-feeding ticks were studied in the czech republic. during the postbreeding period (july to september 2005), 1,080 passerine birds infested by 2,240 ixodes ricinus subadult ticks were examined. borrelia garinii was detected in 22.2% of the ticks, borrelia valaisiana was detected in 12.8% of the ticks, borrelia afzelii was detected in 1.6% of the ticks, and borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was detected in 0.3% of the ticks. after analysis of infections in which the bl ...200919060160
poxvirus infection in hungarian great tits (parus major): case report.from a total of 1819 great tits (parus major) ringed in 2007 in pilis mountains, hungary, 15 birds presented nodular proliferative lesions on different areas of the head and eyelids, suggesting a poxvirus infection. three birds were submitted for analysis. the presence of avipoxvirus infection was confirmed by histopathology, electron microscopy (em) and a polymerase chain reaction (pcr) based technique. nucleotide sequence analysis of a 428 base pairs (bp) fragment of the viral 4b core protein ...200819149108
decline in the frequency and benefits of multiple brooding in great tits as a consequence of a changing environment.for multiple-brooded species, the number of reproductive events per year is a major determinant of an individual's fitness. where multiple brooding is facultative, its occurrence is likely to change with environmental conditions, and, as a consequence, the current rates of environmental change could have substantial impacts on breeding patterns. here we examine temporal population-level trends in the proportion of female great tits (parus major) producing two clutches per year ('double brooding' ...200919324765
corticosterone responses in birds: individual variation and repeatability in adelie penguins (pygoscelisadeliae) and other species, and the use of power analysis to determine sample sizes.plasma corticosterone concentrations increase when birds experience a stressor, and in this study we quantified variation in corticosterone responses for the first time in a species of free-living bird. adelie penguins (pygoscelisadeliae) nesting at cape bird on ross island in antarctica were sampled on three occasions. penguins with relatively low or high corticosterone responses on the first occasion had consistently low or high responses, as previously found for great tits and chickens. a mod ...200919351536
does anthropogenic metal pollution affect carotenoid colouration, antioxidative capacity and physiological condition of great tits (parus major)?although several studies have shown that carotenoid-based signals are negatively affected by (metal) pollution, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. there are two possible, not mutually exclusive, hypotheses to explain the metal-induced fading of carotenoid colouration. metal pollution could affect oxidative stress levels and/or the diet. we assessed the expression of the yellow breast of adult and nestling great tits (parus major) and related this to physiological parameters in pl ...200919394439
effects of laying order and experimentally increased egg production on organic pollutants in eggs of a terrestrial songbird species, the great tit (parus major).in this study, concentrations and profiles of organic pollutants were investigated in a passerine species with a large clutch size, the great tit (parus major). in the first clutches, mean egg concentrations decreased significantly in relation to the laying order from 3025+/-416 ng/g lw to 2267+/-386 ng/g lw for sum pcbs and from 989+/-339 ng/g lw to 695+/-320 ng/g lw for sum ddts. sum pbde concentrations also decreased in relation to the laying order from 68+/-10 ng/g lw to 53+/-11 ng/g lw, but ...200919447471
solar activity affects avian timing of reproduction.avian timing of reproduction is strongly affected by ambient temperature. here we show that there is an additional effect of sunspots on laying date, from five long-term population studies of great and blue tits (parus major and cyanistes caeruleus), demonstrating for the first time that solar activity not only has an effect on population numbers but that it also affects the timing of animal behaviour. this effect is statistically independent of ambient temperature. in years with few sunspots, b ...200919574283
how climate change might influence the starvation-predation risk trade-off response.climate change within the uk will affect winter starvation risk because higher temperatures reduce energy budgets and are likely to increase the quality of the foraging environment. mass regulation in birds is a consequence of the starvation-predation risk trade-off: decreasing starvation risk because of climate change should decrease mass, but this will be countered by the effects of predation risk, because high predation risk has a negative effect on mass when foraging conditions are poor and ...200919625317
mosquito blood-meal analysis for avian malaria study in wild bird communities: laboratory verification and application to culex sasai (diptera: culicidae) collected in tokyo, japan.we conducted laboratory experiments to verify molecular techniques of avian malaria parasite detection distinguishing between an infected mosquito (oocysts on midgut wall) and infective mosquito (sporozoites in salivary glands) in parallel with blood-meal identification from individual blood-fed mosquitoes prior to application to field survey for avian malaria. domestic fowl infected with plasmodium gallinaceum was exposed to a vector and non-vector mosquito species, aedes aegypti and culex pipi ...200919629522
[maintaining of the morphological specificity and genetic introgression in populations of the great tit parus major and the japanese tit p. minor in the middle amur region].the ranges of the great tit parus major and the japanese tit p. minor overlap in the middle amur region, where hybridization of these two species occur. these species have contacted for nearly a century on the western slope of the malyi khingan ridge (the central part of the sympatry zone), but the great tit has colonized territories to the east of the ridge only in the last two decades. the percentage of the p. minor's allele of intron 2 of the mioglobin gene has significantly increased from 8. ...200919705738
lack of resistance against the tick ixodes ricinus in two related passerine bird species.although many wild bird species may act as reservoir hosts for tick-transmitted diseases and/or support long-distance dispersal of infected ticks, to date no research has been done on the extent to which songbirds may acquire resistance to ixodid ticks. here we investigate whether two passerine species belonging to the family paridae, the blue tit (cyanistes caeruleus) and the great tit (parus major), are able to acquire resistance after repeated infestations with ixodes ricinus nymphs. as blue ...201019747483
[correlation between trace element content of eggshell and breeding characteristics of three bird species in northeast china].the contents of trace elements in the eggshells of emberiza jankowskii, parus major and passer montanus were examined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (faas), and the correlations between these trace elements of eggshell and breeding characteristics of the three bird species were studied. in the meantime, the optimum parameters of faas were studied, and no cross effect were observed among the five trace elements. the recovery rates of standard addition of mn, mg, cu, fe and zn were 9 ...200919798988
intraspecific variation and interspecific differences in the bacterial and fungal assemblages of blue tit (cyanistes caeruleus) and great tit (parus major) nests.although interest in the relationship between birds and microorganisms is increasing, few studies have compared nest microbial assemblages in wild passerines to determine variation within and between species. culturing microorganisms from blue tit (cyanistes caeruleus) and great tit (parus major) nests from the same study site demonstrated diverse microbial communities with 32 bacterial and 13 fungal species being isolated. dominant bacteria were pseudomonas fluorescens, pseudomonas putida, and ...201019830477
recognition and partial genome characterization by non-specific dna amplification and pcr of a new siadenovirus species in a sample originating from parus major, a great tit.a seemingly novel siadenovirus species was detected by pcr and sequencing in the sample of a great tit (parus major) found dead in hungary. since the genus siadenovirus has very few known members so far, further study of the virus was intriguing not only from epizootiological but also from taxonomical aspects. the sample, which had been tested in another pcr survey previously, consisted of less than 50 microl of extracted nucleic acid. to ensure sufficient target dna for an extended study, the v ...201019854219
personality predicts spatial responses to food manipulations in free-ranging great tits (parus major).personality differences measured under standardized lab-conditions are assumed to reflect differences in the way individuals cope with spatio-temporal changes in their natural environment, but few studies have examined how these are expressed in the field. we tested whether exploratory behaviour in a novel environment predicts how free-living individual great tits (parus major) react to a change in food supply. we temporarily removed food at feeding stations during two summers and recorded the b ...201019906682
the misuse of blup in ecology and evolution.best linear unbiased prediction (blup) is a method for obtaining point estimates of a random effect in a mixed effect model. over the past decade it has been used extensively in ecology and evolutionary biology to predict individual breeding values and reaction norms. these predictions have been used to infer natural selection, evolutionary change, spatial-genetic patterns, individual reaction norms, and frailties. in this article we show analytically and through simulation and example why blup ...201019922262
haematological status of wintering great tits (parus major) along a metal pollution gradient.in the long-term biomonitoring of wild populations inhabiting polluted areas, the use of non-destructive biomarkers as markers of condition is very important. we examined the possible effects of metal pollution on the haematological status of adult great tits (parus major) along a well-established pollution gradient near a non-ferrous smelter in belgium. we measured blood and feather metal concentrations and assessed the haematological status (amount of red blood cells, haemoglobin concentration ...201019959206
contrasting detachment strategies in two congeneric ticks (ixodidae) parasitizing the same songbird.in non-permanent parasites the separation from the host should take place in suitable habitats that allow the continuation of their life cycle. furthermore, detachment strategies determine the parasites' dispersal capability, a characteristic on which epidemiological dynamics and the evolution of host specificity centre. in this study we experimentally investigate in the laboratory how 2 congeneric tick species, with contrasting habitat requirements, time detachment from one of their current son ...201020025822
association between drd4 gene polymorphism and personality variation in great tits: a test across four wild populations.polymorphisms in the dopamine receptor d4 gene (drd4) have been related to individual variation in novelty-seeking or exploratory behaviour in a variety of animals, including humans. recently, the human drd4 orthologue was sequenced in a wild bird, the great tit (parus major) and a single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 3 of this gene (snp830) was shown to be associated with variation in exploratory behaviour of lab-raised individuals originating from a single wild population. here we test the g ...201020070517
changing climate and the phenological response of great tit and collared flycatcher populations in floodplain forest ecosystems in central europe.this study is based on 47 years of observations (1961-2007) on two common bird species, the great tit (parus major) and the collared flycatcher (ficedula albicollis), and a dominant tree species in their habitat, the english oak (quercus robur). the study took place at four research sites in the czech republic located in full-grown, multi-aged floodplain forests with no forestry management. an increase in air temperature over the evaluated period clearly influenced the length of phenological pha ...201020099374
dissecting carotenoid from structural components of carotenoid-based coloration: a field experiment with great tits (parus major).carotenoid-based yellowish to red plumage colors are widespread visual signals used in sexual and social communication. to understand their ultimate signaling functions, it is important to identify the proximate mechanism promoting variation in coloration. carotenoid-based colors combine structural and pigmentary components, but the importance of the contribution of structural components to variation in pigment-based colors (i.e., carotenoid-based colors) has been undervalued. in a field experim ...201020470031
specific appetite for carotenoids in a colorful bird.since carotenoids have physiological functions necessary for maintaining health, individuals should be selected to actively seek and develop a specific appetite for these compounds.201020502717
detection of babesia sp. eu1 and members of spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks collected from migratory birds at curonian spit, north-western russia.to reveal the prevalence of spotted fever group (sfg) rickettsiae and babesia sp. in ixodes ricinus (l.) ticks from migratory birds, 236 specimens represented 8 species of passeriformes and were collected at curonian spit in kaliningrad enclave of north-western russia. the ticks (total 126) being detached from four bird species, turdus philomelos, fringilla coelebs, parus major, and sturnus vulgaris, were investigated by pcr using the primers rp cs.877p/rp cs.1258n for the detection of rickettsi ...201120553110
variation in innate immunity in relation to ectoparasite load, age and season: a field experiment in great tits (parus major).it remains largely unknown which factors affect the innate immune responses of free-living birds. nevertheless, the degree of innate immunity may play a crucial role in an individual's survival as it procures the first defence against pathogens. we manipulated the ectoparasite load of great tit (parus major) nests by infesting them with hen fleas (ceratophyllus gallinae) before egg laying. we subsequently quantified natural antibody (nab) concentration and complement activation in nestlings and ...201020709930
in vitro tests of natural allelic variation of innate immune genes (avian β-defensins) reveal functional differences in microbial inhibition.allelic variation in immune genes might result from, and contribute to, host-pathogen evolution. functional allelic variation in the innate immune system has received little attention. here, we investigate whether naturally occurring allelic variation within the avian innate immune system (β-defensins) is associated with variation in antimicrobial activity. we tested differences in in vitro antimicrobial properties of the synthesized products of two alleles of avian β-defensin 7, both of which o ...201021121085
metal pollution indirectly increases oxidative stress in great tit (parus major) nestlings.metals can cause oxidative stress by increasing the formation of reactive oxygen species (ros), when there are insufficient amount of antioxidants to defend against the growing amount of free radicals. we aimed to find out the most reliable biomarkers to detect pollution-related oxidative stress in wild birds by comparing oxidative stress status in great tit (parus major) nestlings at populations in polluted and unpolluted areas. we also studied with experimental manipulations whether dietary ca ...201121295293
the importance of ixodes arboricola in transmission of rickettsia spp., anaplasma phagocytophilum, and borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the czech republic, central europe.abstract wild birds are known to be a reservoir of infectious disease agents and disseminatory hosts of ticks. the purpose of this work was to obtain information about the occurrence of rickettsial, anaplasmal, and borrelial infections in some ticks that parasitize wild birds in the czech republic. a total of 549 subadult ticks of three species ixodes arboricola (75.0%), ixodes ricinus (23.1%), and haemaphysalis concinna (1.8%) were collected from 20 species of birds (passeriformes). rickettsiae ...201121612531
characterisation of the transcriptome of a wild great tit parus major population by next generation sequencing.abstract: background: the recent development of next generation sequencing technologies has made it possible to generate very large amounts of sequence data in species with little to no genome information. combined with the vast phenotypic databases available for wild and non-model species, these data will provide an unprecedented opportunity to "genomicise" ecological model organisms and establish the genetic basis of quantitative traits in natural populations. results: this paper describes the ...201121635727
differential virulence in two congeneric ticks infesting songbird nestlings.virulence is part of the proximate base to the understanding of host-parasite interactions, and therefore it is crucial to interpret parasite-induced damage as an outcome of co-evolution between parasite and host. we experimentally investigated the impact of 2 congeneric ticks with contrasting transmission modes and host specificity, on the health of songbird nestlings (parus major). the nidicolous ixodes arboricola lives in tree holes where it obtains blood from adult birds and their nestlings, ...201121733259
Spring phenology does not affect timing of reproduction in the great tit (Parus major).Many seasonal breeders adjust the timing of reproduction in response to year-to-year variations in supplementary environmental cues, amongst which ambient temperature is thought to be most influential. However, it is possible that for species such as the great tit (Parus major L.), phenological cues from sprouting vegetation and the consequent abundance of invertebrate prey, although dependent on temperature, may provide supplementary environmental cues per se. This hypothesis was investigated i ...201121993796
Sleeping birds do not respond to predator odour.During sleep animals are relatively unresponsive and unaware of their environment, and therefore, more exposed to predation risk than alert and awake animals. This vulnerability might influence when, where and how animals sleep depending on the risk of predation perceived before going to sleep. Less clear is whether animals remain sensitive to predation cues when already asleep.201122110676
Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 August 2011-30 September 2011.This article documents the addition of 299 microsatellite marker loci and nine pairs of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) EPIC primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources (MER) Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alosa pseudoharengus, Alosa aestivalis, Aphis spiraecola, Argopecten purpuratus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Garra gotyla, Hippodamia convergens, Linnaea borealis, Menippe mercenaria, Menippe adina, Parus major, Pinus densiflora, Portunus trituberculatus, Procontar ...201222136175
differences in culturable microbial communities in bird nestboxes according to orientation and influences on offspring quality in great tits (parus major).although bird-microbial interactions have become a topic of increasing research, the influence of nest-site characteristics, such as cavity orientation, on nest microbial communities in free-living passerines has not, to our knowledge, been investigated. this is despite the possibility of microbial differences explaining non-random patterns in nest-site selection and offspring quality, such as those exhibited by great tits (parus major). we swabbed great tit nestboxes that faced either south-sou ...201122183046
on the equivalence of host local adaptation and parasite maladaptation: an experimental test.abstract in spatiotemporally varying environments, host-parasite coevolution may lead to either host or parasite local adaptation. using reciprocal infestations over 11 pairs of plots, we tested local adaptation in the hen flea and its main host, the great tit. flea reproductive success (number of adults at host fledging) was lower on host individuals from the same plot compared with foreign hosts (from another plot), revealing flea local maladaptation. host reproductive success (number of fled ...201222218315
[sense organs on palps and fore tarsi of gamasid mites (parasitiformes, rhinonyssidae), parasites of the nasal cavity of the great tit, the rock dove, and the eurasian coot].the main sensory organs (the palpal organ and the tarsal sensory complex) were examined by scanning electron microscopy method in parasites of the nasal cavity of the great tit parus major (ptilonyssus sairae, ptilonyssus pari), the rock dove columba livia (mesonyssus melloi), and the eurasian coot fulica atra (rallinyssus caudistigmus). it was shown that differences in the topography of sensilla within the tarsal complex correspond to the taxonomic relations between species and genera, whereas ...201223458012
transmission dynamics of borrelia burgdorferi s.l. in a bird tick community.we examined the borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato circulation in a tick community consisting of three species (ixodes ricinus, i. frontalis, i. arboricola) with contrasting ecologies, but sharing two european songbird hosts (parus major and cyanistes caeruleus). parus major had the highest infestation rates, primarily due to larger numbers of i. ricinus, and probably because of their greater low-level foraging. the prevalence of borrelia in feeding ticks did not significantly differ between the tw ...201223279105
tick-borne pathogens in ticks feeding on migratory passerines in western part of estonia.during southward migration in the years 2006-2009, 178 migratory passerines of 24 bird species infested with ticks were captured at bird stations in western estonia. in total, 249 nymphal ticks were removed and analyzed individually for the presence of borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), tick-borne encephalitis virus (tbev), and anaplasma phagocytophilum. the majority of ticks were collected from acrocephalus (58%), turdus (13%), sylvia (8%), and parus (6%) bird species. tick-borne pathogens ...201323590318
virulence of recurrent infestations with borrelia-infected ticks in a borrelia-amplifying bird.lyme disease cases caused by borrelia burgdorferi s.l. bacteria is increasing steadily in europe, in part due to the expansion of the vector, ixodes ricinus. wild reservoir hosts are typically recurrently infested. understanding the impact of these cumulative parasite exposures on the host's health is, therefore, central to predict the distribution of tick populations and their pathogens. here, we have experimentally investigated the symptoms of disease caused by recurrent infestations in a comm ...201526553505
high prevalence and lineage diversity of avian malaria in wild populations of great tits (parus major) and mosquitoes (culex pipiens).avian malaria studies have taken a prominent place in different aspects of evolutionary ecology. despite a recent interest in the role of vectors within the complex interaction system of the malaria parasite, they have largely been ignored in most epidemiological studies. epidemiology of the disease is however strongly related to the vector's ecology and behaviour, and there is a need for basic investigations to obtain a better picture of the natural associations between plasmodium lineages, vec ...201222506060
inefficient co-feeding transmission of borrelia afzelii in two common european songbirds.the spirochete bacterium borrelia afzelii is the most common cause of lyme borreliosis in europe. this tick-borne pathogen can establish systemic infections in rodents but not in birds. however, several field studies have recovered larval ixodes ricinus ticks infected with b. afzelii from songbirds suggesting successful transmission of b. afzelii. we reviewed the literature to determine which songbird species were the most frequent carriers of b. afzelii-infected i. ricinus larvae and nymphs. we ...201728054584
testing local adaptation in a natural great tit-malaria system: an experimental approach.finding out whether plasmodium spp. are coevolving with their vertebrate hosts is of both theoretical and applied interest and can influence our understanding of the effects and dynamics of malaria infection. in this study, we tested for local adaptation as a signature of coevolution between malaria blood parasites, plasmodium spp. and its host, the great tit, parus major. we conducted a reciprocal transplant experiment of birds in the field, where we exposed birds from two populations to plasmo ...201526555892
Displaying items 1 - 100 of 858