A5037459130- Avian ecology and behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Bacteriophages and microbial interactions
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Forest Management and Policy
- Renal cell carcinoma treatment
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Forensic Entomology and Diptera Studies
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
Queen's University
2014-2024
State University of Semarang
2017-2021
Western University
2009-2018
London Health Sciences Centre
2018
Google (United States)
2015-2016
Institute of Avian Research
2013
University of Washington
2004-2008
Queens University
2008
Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad
2007
The University of Queensland
1993-2004
The impact of anthropogenic climate change on terrestrial organisms is often predicted to increase with latitude, in parallel the rate warming. Yet biological rising temperatures also depends physiological sensitivity temperature change. We integrate empirical fitness curves describing thermal tolerance insects from around world projected geographic distribution for next century estimate direct warming insect across latitude. results show that tropics, although relatively small magnitude,...
The evolutionary causes of small clutch sizes in tropical and Southern Hemisphere regions are poorly understood. Alexander Skutch proposed 50 years ago that higher nest predation the south constrains rate at which parent birds can deliver food to young thereby size by limiting number parents feed. This hypothesis for explaining differences parental behaviors between latitudes has remained untested. Here, a detailed study bird species Arizona Argentina shows Skutch's explains variation within...
Urbanization dramatically changes the composition and diversity of biotic communities. The characteristics distinguishing species that persist in urban environments, however, are poorly understood. Here we test hypothesis broadly adapted organisms better able to tolerate urbanization, using a phylogenetically controlled, global comparison birds. We compared elevational latitudinal distributions 217 birds found 73 world's largest cities with 247 rural congeners possess broader environmental...
Summary Virulence of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa involves coordinate expression a wide range virulence factors including type IV pili which are required for colonization host tissues and associated with form surface translocation termed twitching motility. Twitching motility in P. is controlled by complex signal transduction pathway shares many modules common chemosensory systems controlling flagella rotation bacteria composed, part, previously described proteins PilG,...
—The increase in biological diversity with decreasing latitude is widely appreciated but the cause of pattern unknown. This reflects latitudinal variation both origin new species (cladogenesis) and number that coexist. Here we address origination, by examining population genetic processes influence speciation. Previous data suggest a greater speciation events at lower latitudes. If occur more frequently latitudes, predicted divergence among populations within species, an important component...
The vast majority of species are excluded from human-dominated landscapes, but some persist and appear to thrive, despite facing challenges they would not encounter in less disturbed habitat. Corticosteroid (cort) secretion may play a significant role enabling an animal cope with urban breeding habitat because it helps mediate physiological behavioral responses environmental challenges. Here we present tests 3 hypotheses relating cort animals: 1) vary between rural habitat, as reflected...
Traits that converge in appearance under similar environmental conditions among phylogenetically independent lineages are thought to represent adaptations local environments. We tested for convergence nest morphology and composition of birds breeding two ecologically different locations Canada: Churchill northern Manitoba Elgin southeastern Ontario. examined nests from four families passerine (Turdidae: Turdus, Parulidae: Dendroica, Emberizidae: Passerculus Fringillidae: Carduelis) where...
Begging by nestling birds can be conspicuous and loud. Such displays are thought to function in signalling condition securing parental care, but they also may inadvertently attract the attention of predators. We compared structure begging calls risk predation among 24 species breeding a forest community central Arizona. After controlling for body size phylogeny, we found that subject greater nest had with higher frequency (pitch) lower amplitude (loudness) than rates predation. As these...
Local guilds define groups of species that share common resources and coexist in space time. have historically been a major focus community ecology; however, studies local rarely measure consequences coexistence for fitness-related traits or test predictions alternative hypotheses how may interact. We studied Orange-crowned Warblers (Vermivora celata) Virginia's (V. virginiae), which overlapping breeding territories central Arizona. used reciprocal removal experiments to examine (1) whether...
ABSTRACT Members of the family Pasteurellaceae are classified in part by whether or not they require an NAD supplement for growth on laboratory media. In this study, we demonstrate that phenotype can be determined a single gene, nadV , whose presence allows NAD-independent Haemophilus influenzae and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae . This gene was cloned from 5.2-kb plasmid which previously shown to responsible independence ducreyi When transformed into A. allowed complex media utilization...
In 1990 and 1991, we determined the proportion of Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) territorial males that were paired in a 25-ha plot an extensive forest (>350 km2) Québec, compared it to pairing success populations breeding nearby fragments (4.5-53.0 ha) Québec Ontario. We tested hypotheses would increase with population density, decrease degree fragmentation habitat. Pairing was higher both years, although difference only marginally significant (P < 0.10) (82.4 vs. 58.6%), not > 0.25) 1991...
Summary Type 4 fimbriae are produced by a variety of pathogens, in which they appear to function adhesion epithelial cells, and form surface translocation called twitching motility. Using transposon mutagenesis Pseudomonas aeruginosa , we have identified new locus required for fimbrial assembly. This contains the gene pilQ encodes 77 kDa protein with an N ‐terminal hydro‐phobic signal sequence characteristic secretory proteins, mutants lack spreading colony morphology motility, devoid...
When fitness benefits of investment in sons and daughters differ, animals are predicted to manipulate the sex ratio their offspring. Sex manipulation occurs many taxa, but mechanisms underlying phenomenon vertebrates remain largely unknown. Factors favoring skewed ratios, such as reduced maternal condition or food availability, also induce elevated corticosteroids. Recent experimental studies support a causal relationship between corticosteroids ratio. Evidence natural correlation offspring...
Latitudinal variation in patterns of evolution has fascinated biologists for over a century, but our understanding latitudinal differences evolutionary processes-such as selection and drift-remains limited. Here, we test for, find, accelerated color bird taxa that breed at higher latitudes compared with those breeding the tropics, analyzing data from seven diverse avian families. Most important, show extent overlap species' ranges (degree sympatry) explains elevated rate pattern latitudes....
In addition to the observed high diversity of species in tropics, divergence among populations same exists over short geographic distances both phenotypic traits and neutral genetic markers. Divergence suggests great potential for evolution reproductive isolation eventual speciation. birds, song can evolve quickly through cultural transmission result regional dialects, which be a critical component variation female preference. We examined male behavioral responses local nonlocal dialects two...
Body size has long been recognized to play a key role in shaping species interactions. For example, while small thrive diversity of environments, they typically lose aggressive contests for resources with larger species. However, numerous examples exist smaller dominating during interactions, suggesting that the evolution traits can allow overcome competitive disadvantage size. If these accumulate as lineages diverge, then advantage large interspecific interactions should decline increased...
Significance Urban environments are expanding worldwide, impacting the populations of many organisms. Understanding how and why species affected by urbanization is thus an important goal. We examined role direct competitive interactions among on response bird to urbanization. found evidence that urban-adapted, subordinate were less widespread in cities than closely related dominant species, but only when live together, which suggests reduce ability persist cities. This result depended level...
Summary The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces type 4 fimbriae which promote adhesion to epithelial cells and are associated with a form of surface translocation called twitching motility. Transposon mutagenesis was used identify loci required for fimbrial assembly or function by screening mutants that lack the spreading colony morphology characteristic Six were isolated contain transposon insertions upstream previously characterized gene pilQ. This region contains four...
Closely related species of birds often differ markedly in their color patterns. Here we examine the influence breeding-range overlap (breeding sympatry) on evolution pattern differences a sample closely bird species. We used sister-lineage method to analyze 73 phylogenetically independent comparisons among 246 and 39 families worldwide. found that divergence patterns was greater between sympatric than allopatric lineages, but only at intermediate levels sympatry (50%-80% overlap). This...
Aggressive interactions among closely related species are common, and can play an important role as a selective pressure shaping traits assemblages. The nature of this depends on whether the outcomes aggressive contests asymmetric between (i.e., one is consistently dominant), yet few studies have estimated prevalence versus symmetric to contests. Here we use previously published data involving 26,212 270 pairs birds from 26 taxonomic families address question: How often bird asymmetric? We...
Understanding how the abundance of species varies across geographical ranges is central to ecology; however, few studies test hypotheses using detailed estimates full on a continental scale. Here, we use unprecedented, breeding for North American birds (eBird) two species' ranges. We find widespread support rare-edge hypothesis—where declines near range edge—reflecting both reduced occurrence and lower local edges. By contrast, mixed abundant-centre peaks in centre towards edges—with limited...