A5026174358- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Marine animal studies overview
- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Climate variability and models
- Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Marine and fisheries research
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Simon Fraser University
2016-2025
Max Planck Institute for Ornithology
2021
University of Exeter
2021
University of Sheffield
2014
Roslin Institute
2014
University of Edinburgh
2014
Bridge University
2011
University of Victoria
2010
Dalhousie University
2010
Wright State University
2010
Terry Burke, Mark Blaxter, David Lank and colleagues report a reference genome sequence of the ruff analysis three distinct male morphs this bird species. They identify 'supergene' consisting fixed inversion in two candidate reproductive trait genes region. Three strikingly different alternative mating (aggressive 'independents', semicooperative 'satellites' female-mimic 'faeders') coexist as balanced polymorphism ruff, Philomachus pugnax, lek-breeding wading bird1,2,3. Major differences...
Androgens are pleiotropic and play pivotal roles in the formation variation of sexual phenotypes. We show that differences circulating androgens between three male mating morphs ruff sandpipers linked to 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 2 (HSD17B2), encoded by a gene within supergene determines morphs. Low-testosterone males had higher HSD17B2 expression blood than high-testosterone males, as well brain areas related social behaviors testosterone production. Derived isozymes, which...
(1) The effect of environmental factors on annual body size variation was investigated in a breeding population lesser snow geese (Anser caerulescens L.) La Perouse Bay, Manitoba, using data from 1969 to the present. has increased approximately 2000 10 000 pairs during this period (Cooch et al. 1989). (2) Annual mean gosling mass, tarsus and culmen length (measured at fledging) declined significantly by 16% (240 g), 4% (3.4 mm), 2% (0.93 mm) respectively cohorts hatching between 1976 1988....
We develop an evolutionary model that predicts characters selected to signal individual identity will have properties differing from those expected for indicator signals of quality. Traits signaling should be highly variable, often display polymodal distributions, not condition dependent (i.e., cheap produce and/or maintain), associated with fitness differences, exhibit independent assortment component characters, and occur as fixed phenotypes a high degree genetic determination. illustrate...
We examine the potential selective importance of predation danger on evolution migration strategies arctic‐breeding calidrid sandpipers. Adult calidrids truncate parental care for reasons not obviously related to levels food abundance breeding areas or at migratory stopover sites, suggesting that a different trade‐off occurs between providing additional and adult survivorship. The southward migrations western sandpipers precede those peregrine falcons by almost month. By moving early...
We examined the influence of timing reproduction and brood size on growth rates goslings nidifugous Lesser Snow Geese (Anser caerulescens) using data collected at La Perouse Bay, Manitoba from 1978 to present, Gosling declined significantly during season, declines were independent parental genotype. Goslings larger broods grew faster, but there was no significant annual variation in seasonal rate patterns with either hatch date or size. The effects could not be accounted for by systematic...
The presence of top predators can affect prey behaviour, morphology and life history, thereby produce indirect population consequences greater further reaching than direct depredation would have alone. Raptor species in the Americas are recovering since restrictions on use dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) implementation conservation measures, effect constituting a hemisphere-wide predator-reintroduction experiment, profound effects populations their to be expected. Here, we document...
Telomeres are highly conserved regions of DNA that protect the ends linear chromosomes. The loss telomeres can signal an irreversible change to a cell's state, including cellular senescence. Senescent cells no longer divide and damage nearby healthy cells, thus potentially placing them at crossroads cancer ageing. While epidemiology, molecular biology well studied, newer field exploring telomere in context ecology evolution is just emerging. With work date focusing on how shortening relates...
Western sandpipers Calidris mauri on southward migration fly over the Gulf of Alaska to Strait Georgia, British Columbia, where they stop for a few days replenish reserves before continuing. In Strait, individuals captured extensive tidal mudflats Fraser estuary (∼25000 ha) are significantly heavier (2.71 g, or >10% lean body mass) than those small (<100 mudflat nearby Sidney Island. Previous work has shown that difference cannot be attributed seasonal timing, size, age gender effects,...
Abstract Avian studies are often interpreted using dual (e.g. 13C, 15N) isotope models, assuming turnover of both isotopes occur at similar rates, but only a few have quantified rates for more than one those simultaneously. To test the generality previous and fractionation estimates assumption synchronous C N patterns we captured Dunlin (Calidris alpina pacifica) wintering in Fraser River Delta, British Columbia, derived isotopic diet-tissue factors by experimentally manipulating diet. Birds...
Seasonal declines in breeding performance are widespread wild animals, resulting from temporal changes environmental conditions or individual variation. might drive selection for early breeding, with implications other stages of the annual cycle. Alternatively, on phenology nonbreeding could constrain timing season and lead to seasonal reproductive performance. We studied 25 taxa migratory shorebirds (including five subspecies) at 16 arctic sites Russia, Alaska, Canada. investigated four...
Geolocators are useful for tracking movements of long-distance migrants, but potential negative effects on birds have not been well studied. We tested geolocators (0.8–2.0 g total, representing 0.1–3.9 % mean body mass) 16 species migratory shorebirds, including five with 2–4 subspecies each a total 23 study taxa. Study spanned range sizes (26–1091 g) and eight genera, were tagged at breeding nonbreeding sites. compared performance return rates to control groups while controlling confounding...
Abstract Responses to climate change can vary across functional groups and trophic levels, leading a temporal decoupling of interactions or “phenological mismatches.” Despite growing number single‐species studies that identified phenological mismatches as nearly universal consequence change, we have limited understanding the spatial variation in intensity this phenomenon what influences variation. In study, tested for geographic patterns between six species shorebirds their invertebrate prey...
(1) A population of lesser snow geese (Chen caerulescens L.) has been studied at the breeding colony La Perouse Bay, Manitoba, from 1968 to present. (2) Annual mean clutch size, when adjusted for annual variation in laying date and intraspecific nest parasitism, declined significantly by 0.72 eggs, or 16% initial mean, over period study. rates egg loss due predation, hatchability, fledging success have remained unchanged. (3) The rate long-term decline size was independent female age...
Abstract A color-banded population of Spotted Sandpipers (Actitis macularia) was studied over a 10-yr period on Little Pelican Island, Leech Lake, Minnesota. total 75 females and 107 males bred for 144 ♀ yr 200 ♂ yr. The observed skew in the sex ratio due primarily to behavioral exclusion inexperienced females. Density appeared limit size productivity. Locally hatched chicks accounted 31% 40% breeding final 2 Females laid eggs 1.35-2.06 per year. Experienced had significantly more mates,...
Raptors have long been known to prey on avianmigrants (Rudebeck 1950, 1951, Dekker 1980), andseveral studies estimate significant mortality rates formigrants (Lindstro¨m 1989, Kerlinger Mooreet al. 1990, Sillett and Holmes 2002). These findingsamply justify Alerstam Lindstro¨m’s (1990) identi-fication of safety as one the prime selective forcesshaping evolution avian migration strategies andbehaviour. However, shown by a survey recentvolumes ecology avianmigration, has garnered much less...
Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) populations have undergone significant declines at core nonbreeding sites in northeastern South America. Breeding also declined the eastern North American Arctic, but appear to be stable or increasing central and western Arctic. To identify vulnerable sites, we documented migratory connectivity of Sandpipers using light-level geolocators, deploying 250 8 Arctic across species' breeding range from 2011 2015, plus 87 a single wintering site Brazil 2013...