Sibling competition and not maternal allocation drives differential offspring feeding in a sexually size-dimorphic bird

Sex allocation models still fail to predict the complex sex ratio patterns in broods of vertebrates. A major problem when studying mother–brood interactions is the difficulty in disentangling hypotheses involving maternal preferences from processes that do not imply maternal manipulation. We studied maternal resource allocation in mixed-sex, same-sex and single-chick broods in the great bustard, Otis tarda. Females normally rear a single chick, and previous work has shown that maternal investment influences male more than female breeding success. Therefore, mothers of two-chick broods were assumed to be in good condition and candidates to show a preference for sons. Results showed that male chicks of mixed-sex broods remained close to the mother for twice as long as their sisters, and received double the number of maternal feedings. However, sex differences in maternal feeding rate disappeared when considering only simultaneous begging approaches from both siblings. Proximity to the mother and its interaction with begging approach intensity were the factors determining the higher begging success of male chicks. In single-chick broods, females did not receive fewer maternal feedings than males. Overall, our results suggest that female chicks of mixed-sex broods become outcompeted by their larger brothers, which remain close to the mother much longer, preventing their sisters from taking a larger share of maternal feedings. We conclude that mothers do not show a preference for feeding male over female chicks, and that the sex differences in feeding rate are determined by the higher food requirements of male chicks due to their sexually selected, much faster growth rates. The higher mortality of females in mixed-sex broods contrasts with the pattern of male-biased mortality typical in this species, and supports our interpretation of an asymmetric competitive ability of male offspring as the mechanism responsible for the sex bias in maternal expenditure.This work was supported by the Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica (projects PB91-0081 and PB94-0068, with contributions from other projects awarded to J.C.A. for marking and radiotracking birds 1987–2013); the Instituto Nacional para la Conservación de la Naturaleza; and the Junta de Castilla y León. During the study, E.M. benefitted from a predoctoral fellowship of the Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica. Research by J.C.A. and J.A.A. was supported by project CGL2012-36345 during the writing of the pape

Notas nomenclaturales sobre anfibios actuales y fósiles

A review of extinct and living amphibians known from fossils (Allocaudata, Anura and Caudata) has revealed several cases that require nomenclatural changes in order to stabilize the taxonomy of the group. Nomenclatural changes include homonym replacements, corrections of spelling variants and authorships, name availabilities, and in particular, the proposal of new combinations. These changes will allow the incorporation of some palaeontological taxa to the current evolutionary models of relationship of modern forms based on molecular phylogenies. Rana cadurcorum for Rana plicata Filhol, 1877, Rana auscitana for Rana pygmaea Lartet, 1851, and Rana sendoa for Rana robusta Brunner, 1956. Anchylorana Taylor, 1942 is considered a new synonym of Lithobates Fitzinger, 1843. New combinations proposed are: Anaxyrus defensor for Bufo defensor Meylan, 2005; Anaxyrus hibbardi for Bufo hibbardi Taylor, 1937; Anaxyrus pliocompactilis for Bufo pliocompactilis Wilson, 1968; Anaxyrus repentinus for Bufo repentinus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus rexroadensis for Bufo rexroadensis Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus spongifrons for Bufo spongifrons Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus suspectus for Bufo suspectus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus tiheni for Bufo tiheni Auffenberg, 1957; Anaxyrus valentinensis for Bufo valentinensis Estes et Tihen, 1964; Ichthyosaura wintershofi for Triturus wintershofi Lunau, 1950; Incilius praevius for Bufo praevius Tihen, 1951; Lithobates bucella for Rana bucella Holman, 1965; Lithobates dubitus for Anchylorana dubita Taylor, 1942; Lithobates fayeae for Rana fayeae Taylor, 1942; Lithobates miocenicus for Rana miocenica Holman, 1965; Lithobates moorei for Anchylorana moorei Taylor, 1942; Lithobates parvissimus for Rana parvissima Taylor, 1942; Lithobates rexroadensis for Rana rexroadensis Taylor, 1942; Lithobates robustocondylus for Anchylorana robustocondyla Taylor, 1942; Ommatotriton roehrsi for Triturus roehrsi Herre, 1955; Pelophylax barani for Rana barani Rückert-Ülkumen, 1980; Pelophylax meriani for Rana meriani Meyer, 1853; Pelophylax pueyoi for Rana pueyoi Navás, 1922a; Pelophylax quellenbergi for Rana quellenbergi Navás, 1922; Philoria borealis for Kyarranus borealis Tyler, 1991; Pseudepidalea belogorica for Bufo belogoricus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea plana for Bufo planus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea prisca for Bufo priscus Spinar, Klembara et Meszáros, 1993, and Pseudepidalea stranensis for Bufo stranensis Nemec, 1972. The names Geyeriellinae Brame, 1958, Palaeurodelidae Brame, 1958, Prosalamandridae Stefano, 1903, Lipelucidae Huene, 1956, Rana temporaria fossilis Stefanov, 1951, Salteniidae Kuhn, 1962, Vieraellidae Reig, 1961, and Voigtiellinae Brame, 1958 are nomenclaturally deemed unavailable. The family name based on Scapherpeton Cope, 1876 is Scapherpetidae and not Scapherpetonidae nor Scapherpetontidae.Una revisión de anfibios extintos y actuales en estado fósil (Allocaudata, Anura y Caudata) ha permitido detectar diversos casos que precisan cambios nomenclaturales a fin de estabilizar la taxonomía del grupo. Los cambios nomenclaturales incluyen homonimias, correcciones de variantes gramaticales y autorías, disponibilidad de nombres, y en especial la propuesta de nuevas combinaciones, necesarias para ajustar algunos taxones paleontológicos a los modelos de relaciones evolutivas entre formas vivientes, fundamentados en filogenias moleculares. Las nuevas combinaciones que se proponen son: Anaxyrus defensor para Bufo defensor Meylan, 2005; Anaxyrus hibbardi para Bufo hibbardi Taylor, 1937; Anaxyrus pliocompactilis para Bufo pliocompactilis Wilson, 1968; Anaxyrus repentinus para Bufo repentinus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus rexroadensis para Bufo rexroadensis Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus spongifrons para Bufo spongifrons Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus suspectus para Bufo suspectus Tihen, 1962; Anaxyrus tiheni para Bufo tiheni Auffenberg, 1957; Anaxyrus valentinensis para Bufo valentinensis Estes et Tihen, 1964; Ichthyosaura wintershofi para Triturus wintershofi Lunau, 1950; Incilius praevius para Bufo praevius Tihen, 1951; Lithobates bucella para Rana bucella Holman, 1965; Lithobates dubitus para Anchylorana dubita Taylor, 1942; Lithobates fayeae para Rana fayeae Taylor, 1942; Lithobates miocenicus para Rana miocenica Holman, 1965; Lithobates moorei para Anchylorana moorei Taylor, 1942; Lithobates parvissimus para Rana parvissima Taylor, 1942; Lithobates rexroadensis para Rana rexroadensis Taylor, 1942; Lithobates robustocondylus para Anchylorana robustocondyla Taylor, 1942; Ommatotriton roehrsi para Triturus roehrsi Herre, 1955; Pelophylax barani para Rana barani Rückert-Ülkumen, 1980; Pelophylax meriani para Rana meriani Meyer, 1853; Pelophylax pueyoi para Rana pueyoi Navás, 1922a; Pelophylax quellenbergi para Rana quellenbergi Navás, 1922; Philoria borealis para Kyarranus borealis Tyler, 1991; Pseudepidalea belogorica para Bufo belogoricus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea plana para Bufo planus Ratnikov, 1993; Pseudepidalea prisca para Bufo priscus Spinar, Klembara et Meszáros, 1993, y Pseudepidalea stranensis para Bufo stranensis Nemec, 1972. Los nombres Geyeriellinae Brame, 1958, Palaeurodelidae Brame, 1958, Prosalamandridae Stefano, 1903, Lipelucidae Huene, 1956, Rana temporaria fossilis Stefanov, 1951, Salteniidae Kuhn, 1962, Vieraellidae Reig, 1961, y Voigtiellinae Brame, 1958 se consideran nomenclaturalmente no disponibles. El nombre de familia basado en Scapherpeton Cope, 1876 es Scapherpetidae y no Scapherpetonidae ni Scapherpetontidae

Migration Patterns in Male Great Bustards (Otis tarda)

5 paginas, 1 figura y 1 tableThe Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is distributed from Iberia and Morocco in the west to China in the east and has been considered sedentary in all but the northern and eastern parts of its range (Gewalt 1959, Glutz et al. 1973, Cramp and Simmons 1980). However, some studies have reported seasonal changes in population numbers in different areas in the Iberian Peninsula (Hidalgo and Carranza 1990, Alonso et al. 1995), suggesting that the species is a partial migrant (sensu Terrill and Able 1988) in this region. We describe seasonal movements of marked adult male Great Bustards and discuss observed patterns in relation to the following questions: (1) Do migratory males display interannual fidelity to breeding and postbreeding areas? (2) Do males travel significantly farther than females in their seasonal movements? We also suggest several hypotheses that could explain patterns of partial and differential migration in male Great Bustards.This study is a contribution to DGICYT-project PB94–0068.Peer reviewe

Evaluation of captive breeding as a method to conserve threatened Great Bustard populations.

6 paginas y 1 tableThe recent Great Bustard Action Plan summarizes de main recommended lines of action to preserve current populations and their habitats in Europe. Among others, captive breeding is mentioned as a method to save clutches found in the field whose hatching success probability is suspected to be low for any reason. Birds hatched from these clutches have been used to either build up small captive-breeding flocks that ensure preservation of the genetic pool of seriously threatened populations once these may be extinct, or to be released into the natural populations as juveniles. In this paper we evaluate the viability of captive breeding in the light of new results of a recent study of juvenile Great Bustards during their maternal dependence period, family break-up and dispersal. The few data available on survival of captive-bred young after being released suggest that they suffer a high mortality, probably due to the lack of the experience acquired in natural conditions from their mothers. The negative effects of imprinting by their human keepers, particularly in relation with display and mating, has not been sufficiently investigated. These and other aspects make captive breeding questionable as an effective method, as compared with habitat protection measures.PB94-0068 of the Dirección General de Investigacion Cientifica y TecnicaPeer reviewe

Migration Patterns in Male Great Bustards (Otis tarda)

5 paginas, 1 figura y 1 tableThe Great Bustard (Otis tarda) is distributed from Iberia and Morocco in the west to China in the east and has been considered sedentary in all but the northern and eastern parts of its range (Gewalt 1959, Glutz et al. 1973, Cramp and Simmons 1980). However, some studies have reported seasonal changes in population numbers in different areas in the Iberian Peninsula (Hidalgo and Carranza 1990, Alonso et al. 1995), suggesting that the species is a partial migrant (sensu Terrill and Able 1988) in this region. We describe seasonal movements of marked adult male Great Bustards and discuss observed patterns in relation to the following questions: (1) Do migratory males display interannual fidelity to breeding and postbreeding areas? (2) Do males travel significantly farther than females in their seasonal movements? We also suggest several hypotheses that could explain patterns of partial and differential migration in male Great Bustards.This study is a contribution to DGICYT-project PB94–0068.Peer reviewe

Nutritional Status of Non-Institutionalized Adults Aged over 65. Study of Weight and Health in Older Adults (PYSMA)

Background. A significant increase in the prevalence of malnourishment, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity has been observed in developed countries over the last few decades. In Spain, this especially happens in populations over 65 who are not institutionalized. Differences in lifestyle, medication, and economic capacity partially explain this increase. Objective. To study the nutritional status of a population of 65 year-olds and subjects who are not institutionalized, in the Cadiz region (Spain). Methods. Observational, transversal study carried out on 2621 subjects who are 65 years old and over, with a direct weight and height measurement, in 150 pharmacy offices from 44 locations. A mobile application was designed for homogeneous data collection in all the pharmacy offices. The data required from all subjects was gender, age, postal code, social security contribution regime, if the patient lives alone, type of food consumed as the main meals, level of physical activity, polypharmacy, weight, and height. Results. The prevalence of overweight and obesity amounts to 82.2% of the population (43.2% overweight and 39% obese). We found an inverse relationship between the prevalence of overweight and obesity with carrying out physical activity and having full dinners. Conclusion. We identify the need to reinforce the messages to the elderly aimed at maintaining adequate physical activity and assessing the quality and quantity of dinners, as well as reducing, as much as possible, the treatments that may lead to weight gain

Predictability of prototype flash flood events in the Western Mediterranean under uncertainties of the precursor upper-level disturbance

International audienceThe HYDROPTIMET case studies 9-10/06/2000 Catalogne, 8-9/09/2002 Cévennes and 24-26/11/2002 Piémont encompass prototype flash-flood situations in the western Mediterranean, attending to the relevant synoptic and mesoscale signatures identified on the meteorological charts. A prominent mid-tropospheric trough or cut-off low can be identified in all events prior and during the period of heavy rains, which clearly served as the precursor agent for the onset of the flash-flood conditions and the cyclogenesis at low levels. Being aware of the uncertainty in the representation of the upper-level disturbance and the necessity to cope with it within the operational context when attempting to issue short to mid-range numerical weather predictions of these high impact weather events, a systematic exploration of the predictability of the three selected case studies, subject to uncertainties in the representation of the upper-level precursor disturbance, is carried out in this paper by means of numerical simulations

Predictability of prototype flash flood events in the Western Mediterranean under uncertainties of the precursor upper-level disturbance: the HYDROPTIMET case studies

International audienceThe HYDROPTIMET case studies (9?10 June 2000 Catalogne, 8?9 September 2002 Cévennes and 24?26 November 2002 Piémont) appear to encompass a sort of prototype flash-flood situations in the western Mediterranean attending to the relevant synoptic and mesoscale signatures identified on the meteorological charts. In Catalogne, the convective event was driven by a low-pressure system of relatively small dimensions developed over the mediterranean coast of Spain that moved into southern France. For Cévennes, the main circulation pattern was a synoptic-scale Atlantic low which induced a persistent southerly low-level jet (LLJ) over the western Mediterranean, strengthened by the Alps along its western flank, which guaranteed continuous moisture supply towards southern France where the long-lived, quasistationary convective system developed. The long Piémont episode, very representative of the most severe alpine flash flood events, shares some similarities with the Cévennes situation during its first stage in that it was controlled by a southerly moist LLJ associated with a large-scale disturbance located to the west. However, these circulation features were transient aspects and during the second half of the episode the situation was dominated by a cyclogenesis process over the Mediterranean which gave place to a mesoscale-size depression at surface that acted to force new heavy rain over the slopes of the Alps and maritime areas. That is, the Piémont episode can be catalogued as of mixed type with regard to the responsible surface disturbance, evolving from a large-scale pattern with remote action (like Cévennes) to a mesoscale pattern with local action (like Catalogne). A prominent mid-tropospheric trough or cut-off low can be identified in all events prior and during the period of heavy rain, which clearly served as the precursor agent for the onset of the flash-flood conditions and the cyclogenesis at low-levels. Being aware of the uncertainty in the representation of the upper-level disturbance and the necessity to cope with it within the operational context when attempting to issue short to mid-range numerical weather predictions of these high impact weather events, a systematic exploration of the predictability of the three selected case studies subject to uncertainties in the representation of the upper-level precursor disturbance is carried out in this paper. The study is based on an ensemble of mesoscale numerical simulations of each event with the MM5 non-hydrostatic model after perturbing in a systematic way the upper-level disturbance, in the sense of displacing slightly this disturbance upstream/downstream along the zonal direction and intensifying/weakening its amplitude. These perturbations are guided by a previous application of the MM5-adjoint model, which consistently shows high sensitivities of the dynamical control of the heavy rain to the flow configuration about the upper-level disturbance on the day before, thus confirming the precursor characteristics of this agent. The perturbations are introduced to the initial conditions by applying a potential vorticity (PV) inversion procedure to the positive PV anomaly associated with the upper-level disturbance, and then using the inverted fields (wind, temperature and geopotential) to modify under a physically consistent balance the model initial fields. The results generally show that the events dominated by mesoscale low-level disturbances (Catalogne and last stage of the Piémont episode) are very sensitive to the initial uncertainties, such that the heavy rain location and magnitude are in some of the experiments strongly changed in response to the "forecast errors" of the cyclone trajectory, intensity, shape and translational speed. In contrast, the other situations (Cévennes and initial stage of the Piémont episode), dominated by a larger scale system wich basically acts to guarantee the establishment and persistence of the southerly LLJ towards the southern France-north Italy orography, exhibit much higher predictability. That is, the slight modifications in the LLJ direction and intensity encompassed by the ensemble of perturbed forecasts are less critical with respect to the heavy precipitation potential and affected area

A model for the doped copper oxide compounds

We present a relativistic spin-fermion model for the cuprates, in which both the charge and spin degrees of freedom are treated dynamically. The spin-charge coupling parameter is associated with the doping fraction. The model is able to account for the various phases of the cuprates and their properties, not only at low and intermediate doping but also for (highly) over-doped compounds. In particular, we acquire a qualitative understanding of high-T_c superconductivity through Bose-Einstein condensation of bound charge pairs. The mechanism that binds these pairs does not require a Fermi sea.Comment: 9 pages, 2 postscript figures. Version accepted for publication in Europhys. Let