scholarly journals A Chromosome-level Genome Assembly of the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Lo Cascio Sætre ◽  
Fabrice Damien Eroukhmanoff ◽  
Katja Rönkä ◽  
Edward Kluen ◽  
Rose Thorogood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Reference Genome ◽  
Chromosomal Rearrangements ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Phenotypic Change ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Acrocephalus Scirpaceus

The reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) is a long-distance migrant passerine with a wide distribution across Eurasia. This species has fascinated researchers for decades, especially its role as host of a brood parasite, and its capacity for rapid phenotypic change in the face of climate change. Currently, it is expanding its range northwards in Europe, and is altering its migratory behaviour in certain areas. Thus, there is great potential to discover signs of recent evolution and its impact on the genomic composition of the reed warbler. Here we present a high-quality reference genome for the reed warbler, based on PacBio, 10X and Hi-C sequencing. The genome has an assembly size of 1,075,083,815 bp with a scaffold N50 of 74,438,198 bp and a contig N50 of 12,742,779 bp. BUSCO analysis using aves_odb10 as a model showed that 95.7% of genes in the assembly were complete. We found unequivocal evidence of two separate macrochromosomal fusions in the reed warbler genome, in addition to the previously identified fusion between chromosome Z and a part of chromosome 4A in the Sylvioidea superfamily. We annotated 14,645 protein-coding genes, of which 97.5% were complete BUSCO orthologs. This reference genome will serve as an important resource, and will provide new insights into the genomic effects of evolutionary drivers such as coevolution, range expansion, and adaptations to climate change, as well as chromosomal rearrangements in birds.

scholarly journals A Chromosome-Level Genome Assembly of the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Lo Cascio Sætre ◽  
Fabrice Eroukhmanoff ◽  
Katja Rönkä ◽  
Edward Kluen ◽  
Rose Thorogood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Reference Genome ◽  
Chromosomal Rearrangements ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Phenotypic Change ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Acrocephalus Scirpaceus

Abstract The reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) is a long-distance migrant passerine with a wide distribution across Eurasia. This species has fascinated researchers for decades, especially its role as host of a brood parasite, and its capacity for rapid phenotypic change in the face of climate change. Currently, it is expanding its range northwards in Europe, and is altering its migratory behaviour in certain areas. Thus, there is great potential to discover signs of recent evolution and its impact on the genomic composition of the reed warbler. Here we present a high-quality reference genome for the reed warbler, based on PacBio, 10X and Hi-C sequencing. The genome has an assembly size of 1,075,083,815 bp with a scaffold N50 of 74,438,198 bp and a contig N50 of 12,742,779 bp. BUSCO analysis using aves_odb10 as a model showed that 95.7% of BUSCO genes were complete. We found unequivocal evidence of two separate macrochromosomal fusions in the reed warbler genome, in addition to the previously identified fusion between chromosome Z and a part of chromosome 4A in the Sylvioidea superfamily. We annotated 14,645 protein-coding genes, and a BUSCO analysis of the protein sequences indicated 97.5% completeness. This reference genome will serve as an important resource, and will provide new insights into the genomic effects of evolutionary drivers such as coevolution, range expansion, and adaptations to climate change, as well as chromosomal rearrangements in birds.

scholarly journals Egg Mimicry in Cuckoos Parasitizing Four Sympatric Species of Acrocephalus Warblers

The Condor ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 829-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Edvardsen ◽  
Arne Moksnes ◽  
Eivin Røskaft ◽  
Ingar J. Øien ◽  
Marcel Honza
Keyword(s):  
Host Species ◽  
Sympatric Species ◽  
Great Reed Warbler ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Cuculus Canorus ◽  
Garden Warbler ◽  
Sedge Warbler ◽  
Acrocephalus Scirpaceus ◽  
Sylvia Borin

AbstractThe Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) is an interspecific brood parasite that mimics the eggs of its hosts. In this study we tested the resemblance between Cuckoo and host eggs in four host species breeding in sympatry: the Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Great Reed Warbler (A. arundinaceus), Sedge Warbler (A. schoenobaenus), and Marsh Warbler (A. palustris). According to the “gentes theory,” individual Cuckoos lay eggs that mimic those of a single host species, and they parasitize only that species. We therefore expected the Cuckoo eggs to more closely resemble the eggs of their respective host species than eggs of sympatric hosts. However, analyses showed no such resemblance; test subjects were not able to distinguish Cuckoo eggs taken from nests of different host species. The most common Cuckoo egg type resembled the eggs of the Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin), a frequent European Cuckoo host which, however, has not been found parasitized in the study area. A possible evolutionary origin for this resemblance is discussed. Results from radio-tracking of Cuckoo females in the study area have shown that host preference does exist. This preference has not yet been manifested in the evolution of clear Cuckoo egg morphs adapted to the different host species.Imitación de Huevos por Cuculus canorus que Parasitan Cuatro Especies Simpátricas de AcrocephalusResumen. El cuco (Cuculus canorus) parasita los nidos de varias especies imitando los huevos de sus especies hospederas. En este estudio cotejamos la similitud entre los huevos de cucos y los huevos de cuatro especies hospederas que crían en simpatría: Acrocephalus scirpaceus, A. arundinaceus, A. schoenobaenus, A. palustris. De acuerdo a la “teoría de gentes” los huevos que pone un individuo de cuco imitan sólo a los huevos de una especie hospedera, y por lo tanto parasita sólo a esa especie. Debido a esto esperábamos que los huevos de cucos fueran más similares a los huevos de sus respectivas especies hospederas que a los huevos de las demás especies hospederas simpátricas. Sin embargo, los análisis no mostraron dicha similitud; los individuos testeados no fueron capaces de distinguir entre huevos de cucos tomados de nidos de diferentes especies hospederas. El tipo de huevo más común de cuco se asemeja a los huevos de Sylvia borin, una especie hospedera frecuente para los cucos europeos, la cual, sin embargo, no ha sido encontrada parasitada en el área de estudio. Se discute el posible origen evolutivo de dicha similitud. Los resultados de telemetría de hembras de cucos en el área de estudio han mostrado que la preferencia de hospedadores existe. Esta preferencia no se ha manifestado aún en la evolución del morfo claro de huevo de cuco adaptado a las diferentes especies hospederas.

scholarly journals No immediate or future extra costs of raising a virulent brood parasite chick

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1020-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Samaš ◽  
Tomáš Grim ◽  
Václav Jelínek ◽  
Marek M Abraham ◽  
Michal Šulc ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Brood Parasite ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Return Rates ◽  
Levels Of Care ◽  
Acrocephalus Scirpaceus ◽  
Breeding Attempt ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Host Parasite

AbstractParental care is an adaptive behavior increasing the survival of a young. Virulent brood parasites, like the common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, avoid the parental care and leave the care for their nestlings to hosts. Although raising a cuckoo is always costly because it kills host’s progeny, to date it is not known whether raising of a brood parasite itself represents any extra cost affecting host’s fitness, that is, a cost above the baseline levels of care that are expended on raising the host own young anyway. We quantified costs of rearing a cuckoo nestling in the most frequent host, the reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus. We measured changes in the host physical (body mass) and physiological conditions (stress levels quantified via heterophils/lymphocytes ratio) within the 1 breeding attempt (immediate cost) and retrapped some of these adults in the next breeding season to estimate return rates as a measure of their survival (future cost). In contrast to universal claims in the literature, raising a cuckoo nestling did not entail any extra immediate or future costs for hosts above natural costs of care for own offsprings. This counterintuitive result might partly reconcile theoretical expectations in the hosts with surprisingly low levels of counter-defences, including the reed warbler. Unexpectedly low raising costs of parasitism may also help explain a long-term maintenance of some host–parasite systems.

Wing lengths of Clamorous Reed Warblers Acrocephalus stentoreus in Israel

Ring ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-92
Author(s):  
John Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Wing Length ◽  
First Year ◽  
Comparable Data ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Acrocephalus Scirpaceus ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
A Site ◽  
Made In ◽  
New Discovery

Wing lengths of Clamorous Reed Warblers Acrocephalus stentoreus in Israel Wing length measurements taken from first-year, pre- and post-moulting (annual, complete) Clamorous Reed Warblers were recorded at a site in northern Israel. The resulting data set was examined using a time-series of residuals (CUSUM). Results from this analysis can explain the reported heterogeneity found in a comparable data set by Merom et al. (1999). Further observations made in their paper are rebutted: (1) an implied assumption that Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) spring migration in Israel ends by 1 May is contrary to other publications; (2) the late autumn occurence in N Israel of longer-winged 1st cal. yr. Reed Warblers, unconvincingly explained as either delayed migration by larger individuals or post fledging feather growth, is most likely due to birds from different provenances origins moving at different seasons; (3) growth during adulthood in Reed Warbler is not a new discovery, though presented as such.

scholarly journals Birds facing climate change: a qualitative model for the adaptive potential of migratory behaviour

2015 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelangelo Morganti
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Qualitative Model ◽  
Migratory Behaviour ◽  
Adaptive Potential ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Genetic Determination ◽  
Recent Climate

Recent climate change is altering the migratory behaviour of many bird species. An advancement in the timing of spring events and a shift in the geographical distribution have been detected for birds around the world. In particular, intra-Palearctic migratory birds have advanced arrivals in spring and shortened migratory distances by shifting northward their wintering grounds. These changes in migratory patterns are considered adaptive responses facilitating the adjustment of the life cycle to the phenological changes found in their breeding areas. However, in some cases, populations exposed to the same selective pressures do not show any appreciable adaptive change in their behaviour. Basing on the comparison of realized and non-realized adaptive changes, I propose here the formulation of a qualitative model that predicts the potential of migratory birds populations to change adaptively their migratory behaviour. The model assumes that the adaptive potential of migratory behaviour is fuelled by both genetic diversity and phenotypic plasticity. Populations of long-distance migrants are exposed to strong environmental canalization that largely eroded their phenotypic plasticity and reduced genetic variability, so that they show a very low amount of adaptive potential regarding migratory behaviour. On the contrary, partial-migrant populations have a highly varied genetic profile and are more plastic at the phenotypic level, and consequently show the highest amount of adaptive potential. Species with mainly social and mainly genetic determination of the migratory behaviour are separately treated in the model. Specific empirical models to foresee the adaptive strategies of wild bird populations that face to climate change can be derived from the general theoretical model. As example, a specific model about the shortening of migratory distances in Western European migratory bird is presented. Finally, a number of future research lines on the topic of adaptive potential of migratory behaviour are discussed, including some examples of concrete study cases. In conclusion, partial-migration emerge as the less known system and future research efforts on this topic are expected to be especially fruitful.

scholarly journals Role of sustainomics and external climate forcing mechanism in biodiversity extinction : An overview

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-226
Author(s):  
Neerja Upadhyaya ◽  
Ruchi Jain ◽  
R. Upadhyaya
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Climate Forcing ◽  
Sensitive Issue ◽  
The Government ◽  
Social Scientific ◽  
Living Organisms

Over millions of years, physiology and anatomy of the living organisms has been changed due to internal climate forcing mechanism. This has influenced the world wide distribution of species. External climate forcing mechanism has caused rapid rise in earth’s temperature and it is expected to rise by 2-4 °C by the end of the century. It has now been recognised as the most complex problem of present scenario and being concerned in almost every field of science. Climate change is the most sensitive issue which is a challenge not only for the government and society but also for each individual. In the present communication impact of external climate forcing mechanism on biodiversity and its extinction is being analysed and role of sustainomics for the same is overviewed. Studies reveal that the rate of speciation of flora and fauna is not in the accordance with the rate of externally enforced climate change. Thus, the increased rate of climate change has caused catastrophic mass extinction threat for plants, animals and insects in the anthrapocene era. The pattern of extinction and threatened species are not yet known. Various solutions for the problem have been suggested by the multidisciplinary researches, rooted by the sustainomics. These suggestions include to diverge from fossil fuel, to use renewables, to make and apply rules for 3Rs etc. Only cooperative involvement of social, scientific and industrial bodies may resolve the problem.

scholarly journals Assessment of the American Flamingo distribution, trends, and important breeding areas

PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0244117
Author(s):  
Leopoldo Torres-Cristiani ◽  
Salima Machkour-M’Rabet ◽  
Sophie Calmé ◽  
Holger Weissenberger ◽  
Griselda Escalona-Segura
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Wide Distribution ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Range Extension ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Science Data ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
American Flamingo ◽  
Phoenicopterus Ruber

The American Flamingo, Phoenicopterus ruber, is a charismatic bird distributed throughout the Caribbean, North and South America. Its wide distribution, the complexity of international monitoring due to its capacity for long-distance flying, and a focus mostly on local populations, make it difficult to understand the dynamics between sites. Here, we took advantage of the citizen eBird science project to present a global perspective on the distribution of the American Flamingo, and identify the potentially most important countries for breeding. We obtained 16,930 records for the Americas from the 1960s until October 2018, of which 9,283 could be used for our objectives. The eBird database indicated a considerable increase in the total number of records over the last decade (2010s), probably reflecting an increase in tourism facilities, research investment, technological advancement, interest in conservation, and the worldwide availability of eBird. We also observed a range extension in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States and a significant recolonization in the Florida Peninsula. The apparent range extension to the South is more likely to be linked to biases in the data; for example, in any given country the number of records might reflect either reporting efforts or actual numbers. eBird data confirmed that six countries host the main breeding colonies (Bahamas, Bonaire, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, and Venezuela). We suggest three additional countries as potential breeding areas for the species (Colombia, Curaçao, Turks and Caicos Islands) for which more field observations are necessary to support this possibility. This global appraisal of the distribution of the American Flamingo using citizen science data provides valuable information for national and international management and conservation programs such as the need to verify the species breeding status in areas where it appears to be expanding its distribution.

Autumn and spring migration of the Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus in Egypt—some interesting aspects and questions

Ostrich ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Ożarowska ◽  
Katarzyna Stępniewska ◽  
Wed Abdel Latif Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Spring Migration ◽  
Reed Warbler ◽  
Acrocephalus Scirpaceus

scholarly journals Flight range, fuel load and the impact of climate change on the journeys of migrant birds

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1873) ◽  
pp. 20172329 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Howard ◽  
Philip A. Stephens ◽  
Joseph A. Tobias ◽  
Catherine Sheard ◽  
Stuart H. M. Butchart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Climate Impact ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Migratory Species ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Avian Flight ◽  
Flight Range ◽  
Combine Information ◽  
The Impact

Climate change is predicted to increase migration distances for many migratory species, but the physiological and temporal implications of longer migratory journeys have not been explored. Here, we combine information about species' flight range potential and migratory refuelling requirements to simulate the number of stopovers required and the duration of current migratory journeys for 77 bird species breeding in Europe. Using tracking data, we show that our estimates accord with recorded journey times and stopovers for most species. We then combine projections of altered migratory distances under climate change with models of avian flight to predict future migratory journeys. We find that 37% of migratory journeys undertaken by long-distance migrants will necessitate an additional stopover in future. These greater distances and the increased number of stops will substantially increase overall journey durations of many long-distance migratory species, a factor not currently considered in climate impact studies.

Impact of climate change and industrialization on remote Lake Bolshoe Toko, Siberia 

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boris K. Biskaborn ◽  
Biljana Narancic ◽  
Kathleen R. Stoof-Leichsenring ◽  
Lyudmila A. Pestryakova ◽  
Peter G. Appleby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Deep Water ◽  
Boreal Lakes ◽  
Sediment Geochemistry ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Lake Ecosystems ◽  
Planktonic Diatoms ◽  
Recent Climate Change ◽  
Recent Climate ◽  
Remote Lake

<p>To test if recent climate change and pollution affected remote lake ecosystems without direct human influence, we used paleolimnological methods on lake sediments from a large, prestine, and deep lake in Yakutia, Russia. We compared diatoms and sediment-geochemistry from before and after the onset of industrialization in the mid-nineteenth century, at water depths between 12.1 and 68.3 m in Lake Bolshoe Toko. We analyzed diatom species changes and geochemical changes including mercury concentrations. Chronologies were established using <sup>210</sup>Pb and <sup>137</sup>Cs revealing sedimentation rates between 0.018 and 0.033 cm y<sup>-1</sup> at shallow- and deep-water sites, respectively. Increase in light planktonic diatoms (<em>Cyclotella</em>) and decrease in heavily silicified euplanktonic <em>Aulacoseira</em> through time at deep-water sites can be related to warming air temperatures and shorter periods of lake-ice cover, causing pronounced thermal stratification. Diatom beta diversity changed only significantly in shallow-water communities which can be related to the development of new habitats with macrophyte growth. Mercury concentrations increased by a factor of 1.6 as a result of atmospheric fallout. Increases in the chrysophyte <em>Mallomonas</em> indicates a trend towards acidification. We conclude that also remote boreal lakes are susceptible to human-induced long-distance pollution and recent climate change.</p>

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