Song divergence of chipping sparrows in mixed forest and open habitats: testing the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis

ABSTRACT The Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis has been studied in the context of many different songbirds with varying results. It predicts that songbirds will alter their song frequency and trill rate to maximize transmission, with lower frequencies and faster trill rates exhibiting better sound propagation in forest habitats. In order to further test this hypothesis, we studied the song of the chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) in both forest and open grassland habitats in northern Michigan. Chipping sparrow song is simplistic, enabling thorough analysis. Eight individuals were recorded at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) and five were recorded within ten miles of the station. Songs were analyzed for maximum and minimum frequency, frequency range and trill rate. Results indicate that frequency and trill rate measurements show trends inverse to those predicted by the AAH, though no values were significant. There is a variety of potential causes of the unexpected results. Small sample size could play a significant role. Habitats were also variable and thus different characterization of each recording site as forest or open habitat could produce more expected results. Though unlikely, it is also possible that forest chipping sparrows are exhibiting character displacement in the presence of pine warblers. We also must consider the possibility that chipping sparrow song does not follow the AAH

Song divergence of Chipping Sparrows in mixed forest and open habitats: testing the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis

Natural History & EvolutionThe Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis has been studied in the context of many different songbirds with varying results. It predicts that songbirds will alter their song frequency and trill rate to maximize transmission, with lower frequencies and faster trill rates exhibiting better sound propagation in forest habitats. In order to further test this hypothesis, we studied the song of the chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) in both forest and open grassland habitats in northern Michigan. Chipping sparrow song is simplistic, enabling thorough analysis. Eight individuals were recorded at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) and five were recorded within ten miles of the station. Songs were analyzed for maximum and minimum frequency, frequency range and trill rate. Results indicate that frequency and trill rate measurements show trends inverse to those predicted by the AAH, though no values were significant. There is a variety of potential causes of the unexpected results. Small sample size could play a significant role. Habitats were also variable and thus different characterization of each recording site as forest or open habitat could produce more expected results. Though unlikely, it is also possible that forest chipping sparrows are exhibiting character displacement in the presence of pine warblers. We also must consider the possibility that chipping sparrow song does not follow the AAH.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57458/1/Burns_Melissa_2007.pd

The Scent of Change: A Case Study

Decisions about entering into a new business venture involve a variety of considerations, despite the level of experience an entrepreneur has. This case presents the story of a business owner Bennett Gage and his decisions concerning whether or not he should enter into a business where canines are used to detect bed bugs in hotels. This case study gives the reader an opportunity to wrestle with some of the many questions that are part of entering into the creation of a new service

Removing the Undesirables: A Case Study

The lodging industry has been particularly challenged by the bed bug’s resurgence. Bed bugs are primarily associated with places where people sleep and most of these places are properties associated with the lodging industry such as hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts. In the United States, this industry is massive

Coccidioidomycosis in pregnancy: Case report and literature review of associated placental lesions

AbstractBackgroundCoccidioidomycosis is an endemic fungal infection found most commonly in the Southwestern United States, Northwestern Mexico, and parts of Central and South America. Although infection is relatively uncommon during pregnancy, it is imperative to have an index of suspicion in order to diagnose and begin timely treatment to prevent dissemination and dire consequences.Case reportA 33-year-old Hispanic female was evaluated after she was involved in an automobile accident. Radiographic evaluation showed a 3.2×3.2cm cavitary thick-walled lesion. A biopsy was negative for malignancy. Evaluation was positive for coccidioidomycosis by complement fixation reaction. Four months later, the patient presented 7weeks into a pregnancy with massive hemoptysis. Bronchoscopy revealed bleeding from the right upper lobe and emergency embolization was performed. The patient had a spontaneous abortion 9days after admission. The right upper and middle lobes of the lung were resected due to continuous bleeding. A subsequent pregnancy was un-eventful. Coccidioidomycosis titers remained negative throughout the second pregnancy.DiscussionThis case demonstrates the potential for severe pulmonary coccidioidomycosis and vascular strain of pregnancy-associated vascular expansion in the first trimester of pregnancy and the possibility of a favorable pregnancy outcome in subsequent pregnancies after appropriate treatment. The route of feto-maternal transmission and placental lesions in coccidioidomycosis are discussed

Francisella tularensis Transmission by Solid Organ Transplantation, 20171.

In July 2017, fever and sepsis developed in 3 recipients of solid organs (1 heart and 2 kidneys) from a common donor in the United States; 1 of the kidney recipients died. Tularemia was suspected only after blood cultures from the surviving kidney recipient grew Francisella species. The organ donor, a middle-aged man from the southwestern United States, had been hospitalized for acute alcohol withdrawal syndrome, pneumonia, and multiorgan failure. F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (clade A2) was cultured from archived spleen tissue from the donor and blood from both kidney recipients. Whole-genome multilocus sequence typing indicated that the isolated strains were indistinguishable. The heart recipient remained seronegative with negative blood cultures but had been receiving antimicrobial drugs for a medical device infection before transplant. Two lagomorph carcasses collected near the donor's residence were positive by PCR for F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (clade A2). This investigation documents F. tularensis transmission by solid organ transplantation

The 3rd Fermi GBM Gamma-Ray Burst Catalog: The First Six Years

Since its launch in 2008, the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM) has triggered and located on average approximately two gamma-ray bursts (GRB) every three days. Here we present the third of a series of catalogs of GRBs detected by GBM, extending the second catalog by two more years, through the middle of July 2014. The resulting list includes 1405 triggers identified as GRBs. The intention of the GBM GRB catalog is to provide information to the community on the most important observables of the GBM detected GRBs. For each GRB the location and main characteristics of the prompt emission, the duration, peak flux and fluence are derived. The latter two quantities are calculated for the 50-300~keV energy band, where the maximum energy release of GRBs in the instrument reference system is observed, and also for a broader energy band from 10-1000 keV, exploiting the full energy range of GBM's low-energy NaI(Tl) detectors. Using statistical methods to assess clustering, we find that the hardness and duration of GRBs are better fitted by a two-component model with short-hard and long-soft bursts, than by a model with three components. Furthermore, information is provided on the settings and modifications of the triggering criteria and exceptional operational conditions during years five and six in the mission. This third catalog is an official product of the Fermi GBM science team, and the data files containing the complete results are available from the High-Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC).Comment: 225 pages, 13 figures and 8 tables. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Supplement 201

Multi-Messenger Astronomy with Extremely Large Telescopes

The field of time-domain astrophysics has entered the era of Multi-messenger Astronomy (MMA). One key science goal for the next decade (and beyond) will be to characterize gravitational wave (GW) and neutrino sources using the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes (ELTs). These studies will have a broad impact across astrophysics, informing our knowledge of the production and enrichment history of the heaviest chemical elements, constrain the dense matter equation of state, provide independent constraints on cosmology, increase our understanding of particle acceleration in shocks and jets, and study the lives of black holes in the universe. Future GW detectors will greatly improve their sensitivity during the coming decade, as will near-infrared telescopes capable of independently finding kilonovae from neutron star mergers. However, the electromagnetic counterparts to high-frequency (LIGO/Virgo band) GW sources will be distant and faint and thus demand ELT capabilities for characterization. ELTs will be important and necessary contributors to an advanced and complete multi-messenger network.Comment: White paper submitted to the Astro2020 Decadal Surve