Temperature and precipitation at migratory grounds influence demographic trends of an Arctic‐breeding bird

Anthropogenic climate disruption, including temperature and precipitation regime shifts, has been linked to animal population declines since the mid‐20th century. However, some species, such as Arctic‐breeding geese, have thrived during this period. An increased understanding of how climate disruption might link to demographic rates in thriving species is an important perspective in quantifying the impact of anthropogenic climate disruption on the global state of nature. The Greenland barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) population has increased tenfold in abundance since the mid‐20th century. A concurrent weather regime shift towards warmer, wetter conditions occurred throughout its range in Greenland (breeding), Ireland and Scotland (wintering) and Iceland (spring and autumn staging). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between weather and demographic rates of Greenland barnacle geese to discern the role of climate shifts in the population trend. We quantified the relationship between temperature and precipitation and Greenland barnacle goose survival and productivity over a 50 year period from 1968 to 2018. We detected significant positive relationships between warmer, wetter conditions on the Icelandic spring staging grounds and survival. We also detected contrasting relationships between warmer, wetter conditions during autumn staging and survival and productivity, with warm, dry conditions being the most favourable for productivity. Survival increased in the latter part of the study period, supporting the possibility that spring weather regime shifts contributed to the increasing population trend. This may be related to improved forage resources, as warming air temperatures have been shown to improve survival rates in several other Arctic and northern terrestrial herbivorous species through indirect bottom‐up effects on forage availability

2024 pest management guide for grapes in Washington

The Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington presents various chemicals and their uses against pest problems in Washington vineyards. While the recommendations are based on eastern Washington conditions, the information may often be applied to similar pest problems found throughout the state. Specific and more detailed information on pests and diseases can be found in the Field Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest Vineyards (PNW644). Recommendations are suggested guidelines. They are not intended to represent pest control programs. The use of other materials and varying rates and treatments for control of particular pests depends on individual circumstances

Moulting season corticosterone correlates with winter season bodyweight in an Arctic migrant bird

In vertebrates, the endocrine system translates environmental changes into physiological responses on which natural selection can act to regulate individual fitness and, ultimately, population dynamics. Corticosterone (CORT) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are important regulators of the avian endocrine system but relatively few studies have investigated their downstream effects on key morphological fitness‐related traits in free‐living populations. This study quantified endocrine–morphology relationships in free‐living Greenland Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis that breed in the high Arctic. CORT and DHEA were extracted from feather and blood samples and tested for relationships with three morphological traits associated with survival and reproduction: bodyweight, body size and facial plumage coloration. We expected CORT concentration to be higher in birds with less favourable morphological traits (i.e. lighter, smaller and less attractive) and DHEA to be higher in birds with more favourable traits (i.e. heavier, bigger and more attractive). As expected, individuals with higher CORT during the post‐breeding moult (July/August) had significantly lower bodyweight during the following winter (November–April). In contrast, we found no robust DHEA–morphology relationships and no statistically significant relationship between CORT and body size or facial plumage. Overall, this study provides evidence of a negative relationship between CORT and bodyweight extending across different seasons of the annual cycle in a long‐distance migrant. This is of particular interest because bodyweight fluctuates rapidly in response to environmental resources and is closely linked to both survival and reproductive success in this species. Understanding the relationship between CORT and key morphological traits is important because endocrine‐disrupting contaminants in the Arctic increasingly interfere with CORT function in birds, including Barnacle Geese, and based on the results of this study may have consequences for bodyweight regulation

Diet of the Omani Owl, Strix butleri, near Nakhal, Oman

The diet of the Omani Owl, Strix butleri, was studied for the first time based on re- cently collected pellets. A total of 22 individual prey items represented three mam- mals (all rodents), at least two undetermined gecko species and one scorpion. By fre- quency, Acomys cahirinus constituted 31.8% and lizards 27.3%, while Gerbillus nanus and G. dasyurus were the least consumed prey items (4.5% each).Scopu

2016 pest management guide for grapes in Washington

The Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington presents various chemicals and their uses against pest problems in Washington vineyards. While the recommendations are based on eastern Washington conditions, the information may often be applied to similar pest problems found throughout the state. Specific and more detailed information on pests and diseases can be found in the Field Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest Vineyards (PNW644). Recommendations are suggested guidelines. They are not intended to represent pest control programs. The use of other materials and varying rates and treatments for control of particular pests depends on individual circumstances

2017 pest management guide for grapes in Washington

The Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington presents various chemicals and their uses against pest problems in Washington vineyards. While the recommendations are based on eastern Washington conditions, the information may often be applied to similar pest problems found throughout the state. Specific and more detailed information on pests and diseases can be found in the Field Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest Vineyards (PNW644). Recommendations are suggested guidelines. They are not intended to represent pest control programs. The use of other materials and varying rates and treatments for control of particular pests depends on individual circumstances

2018 pest management guide for grapes in Washington

The Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington presents various chemicals and their uses against pest problems in Washington vineyards. While the recommendations are based on eastern Washington conditions, the information may often be applied to similar pest problems found throughout the state. Specific and more detailed information on pests and diseases can be found in the Field Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest Vineyards (PNW644). Recommendations are suggested guidelines. They are not intended to represent pest control programs. The use of other materials and varying rates and treatments for control of particular pests depends on individual circumstances

2019 pest management guide for grapes in Washington

The Pest Management Guide for Grapes in Washington presents various chemicals and their uses against pest problems in Washington vineyards. While the recommendations are based on eastern Washington conditions, the information may often be applied to similar pest problems found throughout the state. Specific and more detailed information on pests and diseases can be found in the Field Guide for Integrated Pest Management in Pacific Northwest Vineyards (PNW644). Recommendations are suggested guidelines. They are not intended to represent pest control programs. The use of other materials and varying rates and treatments for control of particular pests depends on individual circumstances