Half a world apart? overlap in nonbreeding distributions of Atlantic and Indian ocean thin-billed prions

Distant populations of animals may share their non-breeding grounds or migrate to distinct areas, and this may have important consequences for population differentiation and dynamics. Small burrow-nesting seabirds provide a suitable case study, as they are often restricted to safe breeding sites on islands, resulting in a patchy breeding distribution. For example, Thin-billed prions Pachyptila belcheri have two major breeding colonies more than 8,000 km apart, on the Falkland Islands in the south-western Atlantic and in the Kerguelen Archipelago in the Indian Ocean. We used geolocators and stable isotopes to compare at-sea movements and trophic levels of these two populations during their non-breeding season, and applied ecological niche models to compare environmental conditions in the habitat. Over three winters, birds breeding in the Atlantic showed a high consistency in their migration routes. Most individuals migrated more than 3000 km eastwards, while very few remained over the Patagonian Shelf. In contrast, all Indian Ocean birds migrated westwards, resulting in an overlapping nonbreeding area in the eastern Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean. Geolocators and isotopic signature of feathers indicated that prions from the Falklands moulted at slightly higher latitudes than those from Kerguelen Islands. All birds fed on low trophic level prey, most probably crustaceans. The phenology differed notably between the two populations. Falkland birds returned to the Patagonian Shelf after 2-3 months, while Kerguelen birds remained in the nonbreeding area for seven months, before returning to nesting grounds highly synchronously and at high speed. Habitat models identified sea surface temperature and chlorophyll a concentration as important environmental parameters. In summary, we show that even though the two very distant populations migrate to roughly the same area to moult, they have distinct wintering strategies: They had significantly different realized niches and timing which may contribute to spatial niche partitioning

Genetic evidence of extra-pair paternity and intraspecific brood parasitism in the monk parakeet

Introduction: The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) is a widespread invasive species native to southern South America that has become established in many regions of the world. Monk parakeets breed in a large, fully enclosed structure built from twigs, which consist of one to many individual brooding chambers. The species has been considered to be socially and genetically monogamous. However, genetic relatedness of adults to juveniles in the native area was found to be lower than expected for monogamy. To assess the significance of this discrepancy, we examined individual and population genetic patterns of microsatellite loci at two sites in Córdoba province, Argentina. Results: We sampled 154 nestlings and 42 adults in Córdoba, Argentina. Mean value of pairwise relatedness of nestlings within chambers was about 0.40. Contrarily, relatedness of nestlings between chambers was close to zero. We found a considerable degree of variation in nestling pairwise relatedness and parentage within chambers, including chambers with combinations of unrelated, half-sib, and full-sib nestlings. The proportion of sibling relatedness indicated monogamy in 47% and extra pair-paternity in 40% of the chambers. We also found intra-brood parasitism in 3% of the chambers. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the monk parakeet is sexually polygamous in its native range in Argentina, which is consistent with the observed mean value of relatedness of adults to juveniles of about 0.4. We also confirm the existence of intra-brood parasitism. High density of monk parakeets may favor occurrence of extra-pair paternity and intra-brood parasitism in the native sites.Fil: Martinez, Juan Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina;Fil: de Aranzamendi, Maria Carla. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnol.conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; Argentina;Fil: Masello, Juan Francisco. Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Alemania; Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnol.conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; Argentina;Fil: Bucher, Enrique Hugo. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnol.conicet - Cordoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecologia Animal; Argentina

1,1′-Fc(4-C6H4CO2Et)2and its unusual salt derivative withZ′ = 5,catena-[Na+]2[1,1′-Fc(4-C6H4CO2−)2]·0.6H2O [1,1′-Fc = (η5-(C5H4)2Fe]

The neutral diethyl 4,4'-(ferrocene-1,1'-diyl)dibenzoate, Fe[[eta]5-(C5H4)(4-C6H4CO2Et)]2 (I), yields (II) (following base hydrolysis) as the unusual complex salt poly[disodium bis[diethyl 4,4'-(ferrocene-1,1'-diyl)dibenzoate] 0.6-hydrate] or [Na+]2[Fe{[eta]5-(C5H4)-4-C6H4CO_2^-}2]·0.6H2O with Z' = 5. Compound (I) crystallizes in the triclinic system, space group P\bar 1, with two molecules having similar geometry in the asymmetric unit (Z' = 2). The salt complex (II) crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pbca, with the asymmetric unit comprising poly[decasodium pentakis[diethyl 4,4'-(ferrocene-1,1'-diyl)dibenzoate] trihydrate] or [Na+]10[Fe{[eta]5-(C5H4)-4-C6H4CO_2^-}2]5·3H2O. The five independent 1,1'-Fc[(4-C6H4CO2)-]2 dianions stack in an offset ladder (stepped) arrangement with the ten benzoates mutually oriented cisoid towards and bonded to a central layer comprising the ten Na+ ions and three water molecules [1,1'-Fc = [eta]5-(C5H4)2Fe]. The five dianions differ in the cisoid orientations of their pendant benzoate groups, with four having their -C6H4- groups mutually oriented at interplanar angles from 0.6 (3) to 3.2 (3)° (as [pi]...[pi] stacked C6 rings) and interacting principally with Na+ ions. The fifth dianion is distorted and opens up to an unprecedented -C6H4- interplanar angle of 18.6 (3)° through bending of the two 4-C6H4CO2 groups and with several ionic interactions involving the three water molecules (arranged as one-dimensional zigzag chains in the lattice). Overall packing comprises two-dimensional layers of Na+ cations coordinated mainly by the carboxylate O atoms, and one-dimensional water chains. The non-polar Fc(C6H4)2 groups are arranged perpendicular to the layers and mutually interlock through a series of efficient C-H...[pi] stacking contacts in a herringbone fashion to produce an overall segregation of polar and non-polar entities

High prevalence of Trichomonas gallinae in wild columbids across western and southern Europe

Avian trichomonosis is known as a widespread disease in columbids and passerines, and recent findings have highlighted the pathogenic character of some lineages found in wild birds. Trichomonosis can affect wild bird populations including endangered species, as has been shown for Mauritian pink pigeons Nesoenas mayeri in Mauritius and suggested for European turtle doves Streptopelia turtur in the UK. However, the disease trichomonosis is caused only by pathogenic lineages of the parasite Trichomonas gallinae. Therefore, understanding the prevalence and distribution of both potentially pathogenic and non-pathogenic T. gallinae lineages in turtle doves and other columbids across Europe is relevant to estimate the potential impact of the disease on a continental scale

L’Uruguay entre la francophilie et l’instabilité : le rôle incontournable de l’Université dans la permanence du français

Dans cet article, je commencerai par une brève présentation des circonstances qui ont marqué l’évolution de la présence du français à l’Universidad de la República ; par la suite je ciblerai plus concrètement les actions d’enseignement, de formation permanente et de production scientifique des dix dernières années pour enfin voir quelle est la situation actuelle de l’enseignement du français à l’université dans son dialogue avec les contextes national et international

Possibilities and Challenges of Teaching Reading in a Multi-Grade Classroom

In South Africa instruction frequently occurs in multi-grade settings where, due to lack of teachers and space, two to three teachers teach six classes. Many teachers lack the knowledge and skills to manage multi-grade classes effectively as they have been trained for single-grade teaching. A qualitative research design was chosen for this study because the methodology best allowed the collection of data to answer the research question, namely What are possibilities and challenges of teaching reading in a multi-grade classroom? A case study was used for this study. Yin (2003: 1) states that “case studies are the preferred strategy when 'how or 'why' questions are being posed, when the investigator has little control over events, and when the focus is on a contemporary phenomenon within some real life context‟. This descriptive and interpretive study took place within a bounded context; it focused on possibilities and challenges of teaching reading in a multi-grade classroom? Based on the findings of the study, this paper argues that multi-grade strategies and techniques received from observation and interviews have positive impact upon the teaching and learning practices of the school. However, government has to play a key role in sustaining the implementation and impact of multi-grade course strategies and techniques. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p35

Brasil descabralizado: narrativas contemporáneas desde la visión oswaldiana

Las representaciones de lo identitario brasileño, en tanto construcciones discursivas, son el reflejo de los diferentes contextos culturales e ideológicos a los cuales responden, desde el discurso eurocéntrico reduccionista y el discurso nacionalista-ufanista del romanticismo hasta el concepto de sociedad plurirracial brasileña adoptado por el Modernismo. Pero ¿en qué medida los brasileños podrían sentirse representados por amazonas, caníbales y holandeses? Las obras de Darcy Ribeiro y João Ubaldo Ribeiro estudiadas en este trabajo postulan el cuestionamiento del “carácter nacional” como definición identitaria, oponiéndole la recuperación del pensamiento salvaje como fuente de valores y la metáfora oswaldiana de la devoración como resistencia y estrategia de descolonización. Mediante la desacralización de episodios e imágenes pertenecientes a la Historia oficial y a la cultura nacional, estos autores proponen una visión “descabralizada” de Brasil, como propone Oswald, cuestionando la visión hegemónica sobre la sociedad brasileña

La traza y la letra

Capítulo 1. El discurso contrahegemónico en Concierto barroco de Alejo Carpentier / Laura Médica Ameijenda -- Capítulo 2. La interrupción y el mestizaje del archivo -- Estrategias del creole y subversión del territorio -- El caballo de Troya haitiano / Marcelo Damonte -- Capítulo 3. «Le Voyage en Haïti» o cuerpos que hablan / María Noel Tenaglia -- Capítulo 4. Ansina, el cambá / Kildina Veljacic -- Capítulo 5. Portugués del Uruguay y literatura -- Las formas de la escritura en Chito de Mello y Fabián Severo / Alejandra Rivero Ramborger -- Capítulo 6. Iguales pero diferentes. Una nueva mirada sobre la identidad cultural riverense a través de etnotextos locales / Rossana Cottens -- Capítulo 7. Entre etnocentrismo y descentración : ¿Alencar mediador-traductor de lo indígena? / Laura Masello -- Capítulo 8. Macunaíma de Mário de Andrade: lengua, héroe y los entrelugares de la identidad nacional / Rodrigo Viqueira -- Capítulo 9. Etnografía y alteridad: de las pesquisas de Stoll a la etnografía caucásica uruguaya / L. Nicolás Guigou y Marcelo Rossal -- Anexos -- i. Le Voyage en Haïti -- ii. Bobiando -- Una carta -- Piedra mora -- Sobre los autore

Are haematological parameters related to body condition, ornamentation and breeding success in wild burrowing parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus

Haematology and plasma biochemistry values are useful tools for ecological research. They have been used to investigate the physiological state and the adaptation of individuals to their habitat, changes in nutritional state of birds, body condition, the level of parasite infestation, male quality, the physical condition of nestlings, etc. In the present study we tested the role of haematological and plasma biochemistry values in burrowing parrots Cyanoliseus patagonus (Aves, Psittaciformes) for determining individual quality and condition. We measured triglyceride levels, plasma protein levels, plasma hue and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of nestlings and breeding adults in a colony in the north of Patagonia, Argentina. We found that plasma triglyceride levels strongly relate to changes in individual condition. Plasma levels of triglycerides were found to be strongly related to mass change, hatching order and brood size in nestlings. Levels of triglycerides were found to reflect reproductive effort in adults: males fledging larger broods had decreased levels of triglycerides. Adults with lower body condition had increased erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Plasma hue showed a strong relationship with an ornamental trait, the red abdominal patch of male adults, and with parameters of structural body size. Thus, we have shown that haematological and plasma biochemistry values, especially plasma levels of triglycerides, are good indicators of individual quality and condition in nestlings and breeding birds