Filling the gap - COI barcode resolution in eastern Palearctic birds

© 2009 Kerr et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

The future distribution of wetland birds breeding in Europe validated against observed changes in distribution

Wetland bird species have been declining in population size worldwide as climate warming and land-use change affect their suitable habitats. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to predict changes in range dynamics for 64 non-passerine wetland birds breeding in Europe, including range size, position of centroid, and margins. We fitted the SDMs with data collected for the first European Breeding Bird Atlas and climate and land-use data to predict distributional changes over a century (the 1970s-2070s). The predicted annual changes were then compared to observed annual changes in range size and range centroid over a time period of 30 years using data from the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. Our models successfully predicted ca. 75% of the 64 bird species to contract their breeding range in the future, while the remaining species (mostly southerly breeding species) were predicted to expand their breeding ranges northward. The northern margins of southerly species and southern margins of northerly species, both, predicted to shift northward. Predicted changes in range size and shifts in range centroids were broadly positively associated with the observed changes, although some species deviated markedly from the predictions. The predicted average shift in core distributions was ca. 5 km yr(-1) towards the north (5% northeast, 45% north, and 40% northwest), compared to a slower observed average shift of ca. 3.9 km yr(-1). Predicted changes in range centroids were generally larger than observed changes, which suggests that bird distribution changes may lag behind environmental changes leading to 'climate debt'. We suggest that predictions of SDMs should be viewed as qualitative rather than quantitative outcomes, indicating that care should be taken concerning single species. Still, our results highlight the urgent need for management actions such as wetland creation and restoration to improve wetland birds' resilience to the expected environmental changes in the future

The future distribution of wetland birds breeding in Europe validated against observed changes in distribution

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.Wetland bird species have been declining in population size worldwide as climate warming and land-use change affect their suitable habitats. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to predict changes in range dynamics for 64 non-passerine wetland birds breeding in Europe, including range size, position of centroid, and margins. We fitted the SDMs with data collected for the first European Breeding Bird Atlas and climate and land-use data to predict distributional changes over a century (the 1970s-2070s). The predicted annual changes were then compared to observed annual changes in range size and range centroid over a time period of 30 years using data from the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. Our models successfully predicted ca. 75% of the 64 bird species to contract their breeding range in the future, while the remaining species (mostly southerly breeding species) were predicted to expand their breeding ranges northward. The northern margins of southerly species and southern margins of northerly species, both, predicted to shift northward. Predicted changes in range size and shifts in range centroids were broadly positively associated with the observed changes, although some species deviated markedly from the predictions. The predicted average shift in core distributions was ca. 5 km yr-1 towards the north (5% northeast, 45% north, and 40% northwest), compared to a slower observed average shift of ca. 3.9 km yr-1. Predicted changes in range centroids were generally larger than observed changes, which suggests that bird distribution changes may lag behind environmental changes leading to 'climate debt'. We suggest that predictions of SDMs should be viewed as qualitative rather than quantitative outcomes, indicating that care should be taken concerning single species. Still, our results highlight the urgent need for management actions such as wetland creation and restoration to improve wetland birds' resilience to the expected environmental changes in the future.Peer reviewe

Simple Route to Increase Electrical Conductivity and Optical Transmittance in Graphene/Silver Nanoparticles Hybrid Suspensions

Electrical and optical properties of graphene/silver nanoparticles hybrid suspensions intended for use in inkjet printing technologies were studied. Few-layered graphene particles were manufactured via a direct ultrasonic-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation route in water/surfactant system, whereas silver nanoparticles were synthetized using a polyol process. Hybrid suspensions for graphene/silver nanoparticles mixtures showed significant reduction in mean particle size while electrical conductivity remained almost intact even after thorough centrifugation. Structuring effects in mixed colloids were very pronounced as both electrical conductivity and optical transmission showed maxima at 65 wt.% graphene. Suspensions with conductivities above 300 μSm/cm, much higher than previously reported, were obtained, and resulted in the manufacturing of films with less than 10% optical absorption throughout the visible region. These samples did not demonstrate absorption peaks attributed to silver nanoparticles’ surface plasmon resonance, which is suitable for transparent electrode applications. Suspension properties at optimal composition (65 wt.% graphene) are very promising for printed electronics as well as transparent conductive coating applications. In the paper, we establish that the optimal suspension composition matches that of the film; therefore, more attention should be paid to carefully studying electrically conductive suspensions

Simple Route to Increase Electrical Conductivity and Optical Transmittance in Graphene/Silver Nanoparticles Hybrid Suspensions

Electrical and optical properties of graphene/silver nanoparticles hybrid suspensions intended for use in inkjet printing technologies were studied. Few-layered graphene particles were manufactured via a direct ultrasonic-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation route in water/surfactant system, whereas silver nanoparticles were synthetized using a polyol process. Hybrid suspensions for graphene/silver nanoparticles mixtures showed significant reduction in mean particle size while electrical conductivity remained almost intact even after thorough centrifugation. Structuring effects in mixed colloids were very pronounced as both electrical conductivity and optical transmission showed maxima at 65 wt.% graphene. Suspensions with conductivities above 300 μSm/cm, much higher than previously reported, were obtained, and resulted in the manufacturing of films with less than 10% optical absorption throughout the visible region. These samples did not demonstrate absorption peaks attributed to silver nanoparticles’ surface plasmon resonance, which is suitable for transparent electrode applications. Suspension properties at optimal composition (65 wt.% graphene) are very promising for printed electronics as well as transparent conductive coating applications. In the paper, we establish that the optimal suspension composition matches that of the film; therefore, more attention should be paid to carefully studying electrically conductive suspensions

Integrative taxonomy of the Plain-backed Thrush (Zoothera mollissima) complex (Aves, Turdidae) reveals cryptic species, including a new species

Background: The Plain-backed Thrush Zoothera mollissima breeds in the Himalayas and mountains of central China. It was long considered conspecific with the Long-tailed Thrush Zoothera dixoni, until these were shown to be broadly sympatric. Methods: We revise the Z. mollissima–Z. dixoni complex by integrating morphological, acoustic, genetic (two mitochondrial and two nuclear markers), ecological and distributional datasets. Results: In earlier field observations, we noted two very different song types of “Plain-backed” Thrush segregated by breeding habitat and elevation. Further integrative analyses congruently identify three groups: an alpine breeder in the Himalayas and Sichuan, China (“Alpine Thrush”); a forest breeder in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan (at least), China (“Himalayan Forest Thrush”); and a forest breeder in central Sichuan (“Sichuan Forest Thrush”). Alpine and Himalayan Forest Thrushes are broadly sympatric, but segregated by habitat and altitude, and the same is probably true also for Alpine and Sichuan Forest Thrushes. These three groups differ markedly in morphology and songs. In addition, DNA sequence data from three non-breeding specimens from Yunnan indicate that yet another lineage exists (“Yunnan Thrush”). However, we find no consistent morphological differences from Alpine Thrush, and its breeding range is unknown. Molecular phylogenetic analyses suggest that all four groups diverged at least a few million years ago, and identify Alpine Thrush and the putative “Yunnan Thrush” as sisters, and the two forest taxa as sisters. Cytochrome b divergences among the four Z. mollissima sensu lato (s.l.) clades are similar to those between any of them and Z. dixoni, and exceed that between the two congeneric outgroup species. We lectotypify the name Oreocincla rostrata Hodgson, 1845 with the Z. mollissima sensu stricto (s.s.) specimen long considered its type. No available name unambiguously pertains to the Himalayan Forest Thrush. Conclusions: The Plain-backed Thrush Z. mollissima s.l. comprises at least three species: Alpine Thrush Z. mollissima s.s., with a widespread alpine breeding distribution; Sichuan Forest Thrush Z. griseiceps, breeding in central Sichuan forests; and Himalayan Forest Thrush, breeding in the eastern Himalayas and northwest Yunnan (at least), which is described herein as a new species. “Yunnan Thrush” requires further study