Birds, montane forest, state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

Field surveys in montane Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, provided a list of 82 bird species in four sites visited. Our protocol relied on standardized use of mist nets and observations. The birds recorded include 40 Atlantic forest endemics, three globally and two nationally Vulnerable species, and two regionally Endangered species. Data on species elevation are included and discussed. This work enhances baseline knowledge of these species to assist future studies in these poorly understood, but biologically important areas

\uc1caros de penas e carrapatos (Acari) associados a Turdus albicollis Vieillot (Aves, Muscicapidae) em uma \ue1rea de Mata Atl\ue2ntica da Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

O parasitismo é um importante mecanismo que afeta populações e comunidades. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a fauna de ectoparasitos que habita o corpo do sabiá-de-coleira, Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1818 e avaliar se a massa corporal do hospedeiro é afetada por estes parasitos. Os indivíduos de T. albicollis foram mensalmente capturados na Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, no período de julho de 1999 a junho de 2000, em uma área de Floresta Atlântica. As aves foram individualmente marcadas, pesadas e examinadas para registrar e quantificar a presença de ectoparasitos. A abundância e a localização dos parasitos no corpo do hospedeiro foram registradas. Em 54 indivíduos de T. albicollis amostrados, foram encontrados duas espécies de ectoparasitos. A prevalência de ácaros de penas, Pterodectes turdinus Berla, 1959, foi de 72,2% enquanto que a de carrapatos, Amblyomma longirostre Koch, 1844, foi de 27,8%. A abundância mensal de P. turdinus foi significativamente relacionada com os meses do ano, sendo maior nos meses com menor freqüência de chuva. Não houve relação estatisticamente significativa entre a massa corporal do hospedeiro (g) e a abundância total de ácaros de penas e carrapatos.<br>Parasitism is an important mechanism affecting populations and communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ectoparasites fauna living on the body of the white-necked trush, Turdus albicollis Vieillot, 1818, and to evaluate if the host body mass is affected by these parasites. Turdus albicollis were monthly captured at Ilha Grande, Rio de Janeiro, from July 1999 to June 2000 in an area of Atlantic Forest. The birds were individualy marked, weighed and carefully checked to record and quantify the presence of ectoparasites. Parasite abundance and location on the bird's body were recorded. In 54 individuals of T. albicollis sampled, two ectoparasite species were found. The prevalence of the feather mite Pterodectes turdinus Berla, 1959, and the tick Amblyomma longirostre Koch, 1844 was 72,2% and 27,8%, respectively. The monthly abundance of P. turdinus was related to the dry and wet months, and it was significantly higher in the dry months than in the wet months. There was no significant relationship between hosts body mass (g) and total abundance of feather mites and ticks

Rhodoxanthin as a characteristic keto-carotenoid of manakins (Pipridae)

Manakins are small suboscine passerines renowned for elaborate courtship displays and pronounced sexual dichromatism. We extracted and identified the carotenoid pigments found in the bright yellow to red feathers of 15 Neotropical manakin species. Rhodoxanthin (4',5'-didehydro-4,5'-retro-β,β- carotene-3,3'-dione) of a deep red hue was widely found in the plumages of these birds. The 4-keto-carotenoids typically found in red plumages (α-doradexanthin, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, etc.) were found in only the Flame-crested Manakin (Heterocercus linteatus) and the Red-headed Manakin (Pipra rubrocapilla). Rhodoxanthin was recently identified in the Pin-tailed Manakin (Ilicura militaris). Hudon et al. (2007) suggested that the Pin-tailed Manakin produces rhodoxanthin endogenously from dietary carotenoids, and this suggestion now finds some support in the pigment's wide and specific distribution in manakins. It is possible that this capacity arose in a common ancestor of manakins and cotingas, given that rhodoxanthin also occurs in the feathers of red cotingas (Phoenicircus spp.). Feathers with rhodoxanthin absorbed longer wavelengths of light than those with 4-ketocarotenoids, but not in Pipra, which has species with one or the other type of keto-carotenoids. We found that feathers with rhodoxanthin also contained e, e-caroten-3(3')-ones (e.g., canary-xanthophyll B and the recently described piprixanthin), which are believed to be intermediates along the rhodoxanthin pathway. Manakins thus have the capability to produce a wide range of carotenoid pigments and bright yellow to red colors, on which natural and sexual selection may act. © The American Ornithologists' Union, 2012. Printed in USA

Birds, montane forest, state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

Field surveys in montane Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, provided a list of 82 bird species in four sites visited. Our protocol relied on standardized use of mist nets and observations. The birds recorded include 40 Atlantic forest endemics, three globally and two nationally Vulnerable species, and two regionally Endangered species. Data on species elevation are included and discussed. This work enhances baseline knowledge of these species to assist future studies in these poorly understood, but biologically important areas

Birds, montane forest, state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

Field surveys in montane Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, provided a list of 82 bird species in four sites visited. Our protocol relied on standardized use of mist nets and observations. The birds recorded include 40 Atlantic forest endemics, three globally and two nationally Vulnerable species, and two regionally Endangered species. Data on species elevation are included and discussed. This work enhances baseline knowledge of these species to assist future studies in these poorly understood, but biologically important areas

Birds, montane forest, state of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil

Field surveys in montane Atlantic forest of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, provided a list of 82 bird species in four sites visited. Our protocol relied on standardized use of mist nets and observations. The birds recorded include 40 Atlantic forest endemics, three globally and two nationally Vulnerable species, and two regionally Endangered species. Data on species elevation are included and discussed. This work enhances baseline knowledge of these species to assist future studies in these poorly understood, but biologically important areas