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opencc-zeroOct 2020View details →

Phenotypic divergence in two sibling species of shorebird: Common Snipe and Wilson's Snipe (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae)

Natural selection and social selection are among the main shapers of biological diversity, but their relative importance in divergence remains understudied. Additionally, although neutral evolutionary processes may promote phenotypic divergence, their potential contribution in speciation is often overlooked in studies of comparative morphology. In this study, we investigated phenotypic differentiation in two allopatric shorebirds: the Palearctic Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and the Nearctic Wilson's Snipe G. delicata. Specimens of Common Snipe (n = 355 skins, n = 163 skeletons) and Wilson's Snipe (n = 403 skins, n = 141 skeletons) in natural history collections, were examined to quantify differences in skeletal and external measurements, and measures on wing and tail plumage variables. The species did not differ in skeletal variables except for the relatively larger sternum of the Common Snipe. The two species do not differ in multivariate wing size or shape (pointedness). Previously known plumage differences between these species were confirmed: the Common Snipe has fewer rectrices, longer and wider outermost rectrices, more extensive white on tips of the secondary feathers, and more white in the axillaries. Between-species variance in skeleton, primary length, and plumage variables was greater than expected if drift was mainly responsible for phenotypic divergence, suggesting a role of selective processes. However, drift could not be rejected after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Differences in plumage traits were greater than in skeletal or external measurements. Because snipe use plumage traits in signalling, the results suggest a faster divergence between these species in socially selected traits than in those related to resource use.

Figure 5 in Breeding biology review of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

Figure 5. Footprints records of possible predators and cattle trampling near nests of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park. (A) Footprints of domestic dogs and trampling of cattle in the Visgueiro lagoon (2018). (B) crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous) footprints, and (C) crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus) footprints in adjacent area (2020). Photos: Lucas R.M. Porto.

Figure 4 in Breeding biology review of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

Figure 4. Predated/degraded eggs of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park in October 2018. A, B and C: Colony 1 (Visgueiro), D: Colony 2 (Maria Menina). Photos: Lucas R.M. Porto.

Figure 3 in Breeding biology review of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

Figure 3. Frequency of occurrence of the materials used to build the nests of the White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park and adjacent area.

Figure 2 in Breeding biology review of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

Figure 2. Nests of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus monitored in Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park and adjacent area. A = Nest built with saltmarsh plant Sesuvium portulacastrum L. and suspended over cattle feces; B = Nest with dry saltmarsh plant and mud fragments; C = Nest with shells, saltmarsh plant and mud; D = Nest with mud and dry saltmarsh plant fragments. Photos: Lucas R.M. Porto.

Figure 6 in Breeding biology review of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

Figure 6. Successful nesting records of the White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park and adjacent area. (A) White-backed Stilt chicks found in Visgueiro lagoon (September 2018); (B) Hatchling and eggs in the Maria Menina Lagoon (October 2018); (C and D) Chicks in the nests in Ubatuba lagoon (September 2019). Photos: Lucas R.M. Porto.

Figure 1 in Breeding biology review of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil and a case study in the largest restinga protected area (Aves, Charadriiformes, Recurvirostridae)

Figure 1. Breeding records of White-backed Stilt Himantopus melanurus in Brazil (WikiAves – blue, eBird – orange and literature – yellow, Table 2) and this study area (red) with colonies identified in the Restinga de Jurubatiba National Park and adjacent area, in 2018, 2019 and 2020, in the northern coast of Rio de Janeiro state. *Colonies: 1 = Visgueiro/2018; 2 = Maria Menina/2018; 3 = Robalo/2018; 4 = Ubatuba/2019; 5 = Visgueiro/2020; 6 = Adjacent Area/2020.

Figure 9 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 9. Plumage development of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) chick from Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. (A) Camouflaged down plumage (Day 3); (B) appearance of dorsal pinfeathers and primaries (Day 7); (C) dorsal pinfeathers opened (Day 11); (D) primaries opened (Day 15); (E) completely developed immature plumage (Day 21). Photos: CO. BRA/INAU.

Figure 8 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 8. Mensural data of the single Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) chick surveyed in August-September 2015 that reached the fledging phase at Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil (n = 1; accuracy = ± 0.01 cm). (A) Development of bill length (BL), bill width (BW), and tarsus length (TS) as a function of age (days). (B) Development of total body length (TL) and wing length (WL) as a function of age (days).

Figure 5 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 5. Developmental stages of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) clutch (nest 4S) at Praia doTotelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, from July to September 2015, with three fertilized eggs revealed by thermal imaging (right); with maximum (Max), minimum (Min), and mean temperature (Ds) inside the nest (white outline). Stages: (A) Day 8, (B) Day 14, and (C) Day 18 (two days before hatching). Note the well-camouflaged eggs inside the nest depression exhibiting some variation in shell pattern (left), with narrow corrugations caused by adults' bills when relocating the eggs. Photos by CO. BRA/INAU.

Figure 4 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 4. Mean surface temperatures (Te) of 25 eggs (n = 7 nests) of the Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) at Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, during incubation from July to September 2015; not all eggs reached hatching. Confidence intervals are indicated by bars; the regression line (dotted) represents a significant increase between Day 1 and hatching (R² = 0.098, p <0.01, LME).

Figure 3 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 3. Thermal images of a Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) nest (12N, white rectangles) at Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, taken on the same day (6 September 2015) in the early (05:59 h, A) and late morning (11.45 h, B), showing the mean (Ds), minimum, and maximum nest temperature, surface ground temperature (crosses), and egg surface temperature (within rectangles). Scale on right: color scale associated with the respective temperatures. With a special optical filter water drops were visualized (Blue and red circles outside the nest and next to the three clutch contours) which were taken to the nest by both adults. Note in Fig. B the sand surface temperature of 53.7℃. Photos by CO.BRA/INAU.

Figure 2 in Incubation parameters, offspring growth, and behavioral adaptations to heat stress of Black Skimmers (Rynchops niger) in a Neotropical inland colony (Aves, Charadriiformes, Laridae)

Figure 2. Egg mass development in three surveyed Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) nests (n = 7 eggs, 84 measurements) until hatching at Praia do Totelão, Pantanal, Mato Grosso, Brazil, throughout the incubation period in July- September 2015. Note that the number of eggs decreased to three toward the end of incubation due to predation. The regression line indicates a negative trend (R² = 0.043, p <0.05, LME) of egg mass over incubation time.

opencc-zeroAug 2023View details →

Data for: Early Eocene fossils elucidate the evolutionary history of the Charadriiformes (shorebirds and allies)

We report charadriiform and charadriiform-like birds from the early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze (Essex, UK). A partial skeleton of a small modern-type charadriiform is described as a new species, Charadriisimilis essexensis, gen. et sp. nov. and most closely resembles taxa of the Charadrii (plovers, stilts, oystercatchers, and other "wader-like" shorebirds). Affinities to this clade were also supported by phylogenetic analyses, which placed the fossil as the sister taxon of either the Burhinidae or all crown group Charadrii. In addition, we identify specimens of the charadriiform-like taxon Scandiavis, which was before only known from the early Eocene Fur Formation in Denmark. Associated limb elements of two individuals are classified as Scandiavis cf. mikkelseni, and remains of two further individuals are tentatively assigned to Scandiavis. The presence of a processus supracondylaris dorsalis on the previously unknown humerus corroborates charadriiform affinities of Scandiavis, whereas a plesiomorphic hypotarsus morphology indicates a position outside crown group Charadriiformes. Charadriisimilis essexensis is one of the earliest modern-type charadriiforms, and the holotype of the species is the most substantial early Paleogene fossil record of a charadriiform bird. Together with Scandiavis, as the best-represented taxon to be considered as a stem group charadriiform, it provides the basis for an improved understanding of the evolutionary history of charadriiform birds.

publicOct 2020View details →

Phenotypic divergence in two sibling species of shorebird: Common Snipe and Wilson's Snipe (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae)

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