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1
Nhlane, Martin Edwin Darwin. "A comparative study of the Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer griseus L) and the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus L) in Malawi." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005337.
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The House Sparrow Passer domesticus, an introduced species, and the Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus, an indigenous species, are sympatric in Malawi. Their distribution in the country and any possible interactions were studied, principally in southern Malawi. A morphological analysis of museum specimens confirmed that grey-headed sparrows in Malawi belong to the Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus as distinct from the Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus. This species was widely distributed in the, country in association with human dwellings, both in rural areas as well as urban centres. In the northern region Greyheaded Sparrows were more abundant in the urban centres than rural areas, but in the central and southern regions numbers in the rural and urban areas were more or less the same. In Blantyre City, where they are in sympatry with the House Sparrow, they were found in the low density and industrial areas and were absent from the high density areas. The House Sparrow, arrived in Malawi in 1967 at Chileka in the southern region. Since then it has spread northwards, moving from the southern to the central and northern regions. House Sparrow numbers were found to be progressively larger in the southern region and lowest in the northern region. House Sparrows were found at sites where food was readily available, as in the immediate vicinity of houses. In the central and northern regions they were restricted mainly to urban areas. In the southern region, they occur both in rural and urban areas, probably as a reflection of the larger period of colonization in the south. In the northern region their movement has apparently been restricted by geographical barriers. In Blantyre City Grey-headed Sparrows preferred areas where tree density was high and house density was low, while House Sparrows preferred areas where house density was high and tree density was low. There was a positive correlation between Greyheaded Sparrow numbers and tree density and a negative correlation with house density. House Sparrow abundance was negatively correlated with tree density and positively correlated with house density. Grey-headed Sparrows bred in the rainy season, whereas House Sparrows bred throughout the year. There were differences in nest site selection: Grey-headed Sparrows used artificial structures such as fencing poles, and wooden telephone or electricity poles. The House Sparrow used mostly buildings and nested in crevices, holes in walls and between the walls and rafters. Nest height also differed- Grey-headed Sparrows nested at heights ranging from 1 - 8 m while House Sparrow nests were at heights of 1 - 5 m. Moult data suggests that although the House Sparrows breed throughout the year, they moult at a particular time of the year when breeding is less common. Grey-headed Sparrows were found to moult mainly from May to September in southern Africa and from June to September in central Africa. In both cases the breeding season extends over a similar period from about October to April/May of the following year. Peak moult periods differed between the House Sparrows and Grey-headed Sparrows. House Sparrows moulted mainly in the first half of the year, and Greyheaded Sparrows in the second six months. The clutch sizes of the two species were similar (mean 3.9 eggs for the House Sparrow and 3.4 for the Grey-headed Sparrow). The clutch size of the House Sparrow varied seasonally and was larger from November to May. The average incubation period for the House Sparrow was 11.5 days and the fledging period 15.4 days. The Grey-headed Sparrow fledging period was 14.7 days. Chick mortality of the House Sparrow at Chikunda farm was attributed to starvation resulting from brood reduction, abandonment, predation, low birth weight, accidental deaths and parasitism by fly larvae. Both Grey-headed and House Sparrows fed their young on insect food. Male House Sparrows fed actively initially, but their contribution declined from about day five onwards. In the Grey-headed Sparrow, both parents fed their young equally throughout the nestling period. House Sparrows fed on the ground near houses; Grey-headed Sparrows fed both on the ground away from houses and in tree canopies. The Grey-headed Sparrow walked as it fed on the ground as opposed to the House sparrow which hopped. Grey-headed Sparrows fed mainly as pairs and singletons while House Sparrows fed as family groups. Larger feeding groups of Grey-headed Sparrows were seen in the northern region at areas where food was plentiful. Where the two sparrows were seen feeding together, there was no direct competition for food. Where individual distance was violated; male House Sparrows displaced Grey-headed Sparrows which landed too close to them. Overall it appears that the distribution of the two species is determined more by their responses to habitat conditions than by interspecific interactions.
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Griffith, Simon C. "Sexual selection in the house sparrow, Passer domesticus." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/29779.
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(1) This study investigated the maintenance of variation in the black throat patch or 'badge' of the male house sparrow. This sexually dimorphic trait is thought to be a sexually selected ornament, with previous workers providing evidence of a role in both mate choice of males by females and male-male competition. The study was conducted in 1995 and 1996 in a closed population of approximately 40 breeding pairs on Lundy Island, in the Bristol Channel, England. (2) Genetic analysis of paternity using PCR-based microsatellite genotyping revealed a very low level of extra-pair paternity in both years and no intra-specific brood parasitism. Just three extra-pair chicks (1.0% offspring in 2.5% of broods) were discovered among 305 chicks in 112 broods. This low frequency of extra-pair paternity is significantly lower than the rates reported in three other populations of house sparrows and provides further evidence for a low level of extra-pair paternity occurring in isolated populations. (3) The very low frequency of extra-pair paternity in this population allowed an examination of the costs and benefits that may be gained by a female exhibiting a preference for a large-badged male, unconfounded by the effects of extra-pair behaviour. (4) The direct benefits models of sexual selection were tested by assessing male help in provisioning chicks at the nest. Counter to the predictions of these models, large-badged males contributed relatively fewer feeds than males with smaller badges. Similarly, large-badged males, and the females that chose them as maters, had lower annual fecundity and were predicted to recruit significantly less offspring into the breeding population. 5) A female preference might be driven by the indirect benefits of obtaining genes for either viability or attractiveness for the female's offspring. A cross-fostering experiment revealed that variation in badge size had a large environmental component with a strong correlation between offspring badge size and that of their foster father, with no discernible additive genetic variation. This mechanism for the determination of badge size cannot support a process of Fisherian 'runaway' selection and is consistent with those models which require a sexual ornament to be phenotypically plastic and therefore provide an honest signal.
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Winney, Isabel S. "Personality and its repercussions in the house sparrow." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2015. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/9595/.
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The fundamental puzzle of personality is why personality – between-individual differences and within-individual consistency of behaviour – exists. Personality has been measured in many taxa and understanding the origins of personality means understanding a common basis to all behaviours. This study uses the isolated Lundy Island house sparrow Passer domesticus system to give a whole-population overview of how personality is formed, maintained, and may influence fitness. House sparrows are globally successful, and might help us to understand the role of personality – inflexible behaviour – in a highly adaptable species. This research uses cross-fostering, where offspring are exchanged between broods, to separate genetic and environmental effects on personality, and first examines whether cross-fostering has inherent biases. We establish that cross-fostering is linked to spatio-temporal breeding heterogeneity, changes to the rearing environment, and, possibly, observer-based sampling bias, influencing individual survival and potentially study outcomes. Thus, we provide practical guidelines for reducing such bias. Second, this thesis investigates how personality traits develop and might link to fitness by measuring three main personality traits. Our results indicate that heritability varied widely among personality traits. No traits were correlated across contexts, implying no cross-context constraint between these traits. Physiological state, in this case nestling mass, was an important factor shaping personality in nestlings. Social broods also shaped nestling personality, though personality was more similar within social broods, which is contrary to theoretical predictions. Lastly, personality was weakly correlated with fitness in females but not in males, and male behaviour might influence female behaviour and reproductive investment. Therefore, the partner can probably modulate the link between fitness and behaviour. This thesis shows that personality can have stable genetic and physiological bases, but social interactions are associated with more similar personalities between interacting individuals. The fitness consequences of personality might be sex specific and moderated by partners.
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Myhre, Ane Marlene. "Factors Affecting Juvenile Movement in a House Sparrow Metapopulation." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Institutt for biologi, 2012. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-19949.
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Dispersal propensity can vary considerably between individuals in a population. Understanding which individuals disperse- and under what circumstances these individuals disperse is valuable for conservation. Factors influencing juvenile movement and natal dispersal were studied in individually marked house sparrows, Passer domesticus, in an archipelago off the coast of Helgeland, northern Norway. Sex, clutch size, body size and body mass did not significantly explain variation in movement. Movement rate was however negatively related to hatch date on one of the islands. Moreover, there was a decrease in movement rate with increasing patch isolation and hostility of the matrix habitat. This study suggests that habitat configuration is an important factor determining movement of juvenile house sparrows, and that the environment experienced early in life may be related to movement propensity. I strongly recommend incorporating landscape features in further analyses of movement and dispersal rate.
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Jawor, Jodie M. "Aggressive interactions and behaviors in house sparrow (Passer domesticus) flocks." Virtual Press, 1998. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1117106.
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This study addressed aggressive interactions, and some of the behaviors associated with them, in House Sparrow flocks. The evidence suggests that females are the consistently dominant sex, which does not concur with the current idea of alternating dominance in House Sparrows. Another purpose of this study was to determine if predictions concerning the type of interaction and level of aggression displayed could be made for interacting House Sparrows. I feel that accurate predictions can be made when several factors are taken into account: time of year, sex, and the age of birds at the food resource. In this study adult female House Sparrows dominated males from fall through spring, even when males increased their rate of initiating interactions during winter. Across all interaction types, mid-level aggression was used most often and only in male intrasexual interactions was high-level aggression more common than expected. Juvenile birds, mainly males, change flock dynamics in the fall by eliciting aggressive interactions.Department of Biology
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King, Marisa Olson. "Immune function and development in altricial-developing passerine house sparrows (Passer domesticus)." Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University, 2010. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Dissertations/Spring2010/m_king_050210.pdf.
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Stewart, Ian Reuven Keegan. "Aspects of the breeding ecology of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus." Thesis, University of Leicester, 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/29801.
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This study examined the breeding ecology of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, in Kentucky, USA, with particular regard to sexual selection, infidelity and parasitism. These aspects were also examined, to a lesser extent, in an archipelago population in Helgeland, Norway. Male badge size, a character posited to be under sexual selection, did not appear to influence reproductive success. Large-badged males produced more fledglings within a season than small-badged males, although this was not significant after controlling for time of breeding. Large-badged males did not commence breeding earlier than small-badged males, they were not paired to higher quality, more fecund females, and their young did not fledge in better condition. Badge size was not related to an individual's age or condition, and although badges varied in their degree of asymmetry, this was not related to any measures of reproductive success. Badge size did not influence reproductive success in Helgeland. The level of extra-pair in both populations was relatively low [10.3% of young in Kentucky, 4% of young in Helgeland (based on retrospective identification of parents)]. No extra-pair fathers were assigned, although there were no obvious pheotypic differences between males which were cuckolded and those with complete paternity within their broods. There was no association between cuckoldry and either infertility, breeding synchrony or density. Males appeared to rely upon frequent copulation as opposed to mate guarding as their main means of paternity protection. Copulation rates were unrelated to male sperm reserves as measured by the size of their cloacal proturberance. Females did not adjust the sex ratio of their brood in response to their own physical condition or the attractiveness or quality of their mate. Hatching asynchrony and brood reduction were both common in Kentucky, although the two phenomena were not associated.
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Wetton, Jon. "Aspects of the biology of a house sparrow (Passer domesticus) colony." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1990. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/12023/.
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Morphological, biochemical and minisatellite DNA variation was investigated at the colour ringed Brackenhurst House Sparrow population. Measurements and blood samples were collected from 584 nestlings and 692 other birds between 1985 and 1989. Six loci (6PGD, IDH, PEPD2, PEPD3, PEPT and transferrin) which had been the subject of a previous report (Burke, 1984) were investigated by starch gel electrophoresis. All followed Mendelian inheritance patterns, were in Hardy Weinberg equilibria and displayed temporal stability in allele frequencies. No evidence was found of the previously reported segregation distortion at PEPD3 and transferrin but artefact bands were encountered when scoring the latter. Family groups identified by observing colour ringed adults during feeding visits were examined using both enzyme and minisatellite DNA markers. Z chromosome linkage of several fingerprint bands was implicated, though most segregate independently. The probability of detecting an extra-pair fertilization was estimated as 0.5454 using starch gels and 0.9998 by fingerprinting. 51 out of 420 nestlings from 144 broods possessed several bands absent from the attendants' fingerprints. All nestlings with multiple mismatches shared many bands with the attendant female but a number consistent with band sharing between unrelateds with the male, i.e. nonparentage, was the result of cuckoldry. 24% of broods and 37% of males were affected. A correlation between the presence of extra-pair offspring and poor hatching success was noted. Cuckoldry was twice as successful in broods which contained infertile eggs. Metric variation was examined in the confirmed families. Significant heritabilities were demonstrated for weight, tarsus and tail length but environmentally induced variance was considerable. Yearlings were smaller than full adults in plumage length. This may be due to levels of protein reserves at critical growth periods. Some evidence of assortative mating for tail length was found which was unrelated to age associated changes.
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Baalsrud, Helle Tessand. "Population characteristics and estimates of effective population size in a house sparrow metapopulation." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Institutt for biologi, 2011. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-15690.
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Effective population size (Ne) is a fundamental concept within biology and can be defined as the size of an ideal Wright-Fisher population in which the rate of genetic drift is the same as in the observed population. Natural populations are not ideal so that Ne is often < Nc. A low Ne can lead to inbreeding depression and less adaptability in a population, thus it is essential to know Ne for threatened populations. Ne can be estimated using genetic or demographic data. In this study four different genetic estimators (LDNE, ONeSAMP, MLNE and CoNe) and one demographic estimator were compared using data from a natural house sparrow metapopulation. How Ne related to Nc was also examined. All four genetic estimators seemed to be upwardly biased, however, LDNE often produced estimates in the expected range (Ne<N) and thus appeared to be less biased. To understand how characteristics of natural populations may affect the rate of genetic drift it is important to examine what influence the Ne/Nc-ratio. Thus, I investigated whether population characteristics such as population size, sex ratio, immigration rate, variance in population size and population growth rate explained the variation in the Ne/N ratio for the different genetic estimators. A general result was that the immigration rate had a positive effect on the Ne/Nc-ratio. The apparent upward bias of genetic Ne estimates and the positive effect of immigration rate on Ne/Nc-ratio suggest that gene flow between subpopulations within the study metapopulation was of significant importance for the rate of genetic drift. Genetic estimators of Ne seem like promising tools. However, if no knowledge of the ecology of the population in question exists, Ne should be interpreted cautiously. When assumptions underlying estimators are violated this can lead to erroneous conclusions about genetic processes in the population. 
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Liebl, Andrea Lyn. "Physiological and Behavioral Mechanisms of Range Expansion in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)." Scholar Commons, 2013. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4718.
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Introduced species cause both considerable ecological and economic damage every year. However, not much is known about how certain species are able to establish and spread beyond the site of initial introduction, whereas others do not. Species undergoing range expansion following an introduction may prove to be a valuable resource to invasion biology, but may also be informative in light of species' responses to changing environments (i.e. global climate change). Here, I took advantage of an ongoing range expansion of an introduced vertebrate species. House sparrows (Passer domesticus) were introduced to Mombasa, Kenya in the 1950s and have subsequently expanded their range northwest-ward and now occupy most major cities in Kenya. By comparing older, established populations (i.e. those in Mombasa) with more recently colonized populations at the range edge, it might be possible to determine some of the mechanisms that underlie range expansion in some species and/or populations. In Chapter 1, the background and ideas that motivated the rest of the dissertation is summarized. In Chapter 2, I studied how exploration and glucocorticoids (a hormone released in response to stressors) changed throughout the range expansion. Exploration was greater at the range edge, which is likely to ensure greater discovery of novel resources. Glucocorticoids released in response to restraint were also highest at the range edge, which might facilitate resolution of stressors in unpredictable environments. However, chronically elevated levels of glucocorticoids are often considered maladaptive, unless an individual can appropriately cope with them. Therefore, in Chapter 3, I characterized glucocorticoid receptors (i.e. mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR)) in the hippocampus, an area responsible for negative feedback of glucocorticoids as well as induction of behavioral and physiological response to stressors. I found that MR density was lower relative to GR density at the range edge compared to the site of introduction (Mombasa). I speculate this pattern is a mechanism to resolve the elevated levels of glucocorticoids at the range edge. Taken together, these results indicate that individuals at the range edge have a strong glucocorticoid response to stressors to induce a rapid, strong response to resolve stressors. Subsequently, in Chapter 4, I examined the potential mechanisms of phenotypic change among Kenyan house sparrows. Typically, following an introduction event, genetic diversity undergoes a bottleneck and is greatly reduced compared to the source population; as such, genetic evolution as the main driver of changing phenotypes throughout the range expansion is unlikely. We therefore hypothesized that epigenetic mechanisms (e.g. DNA methylation) may compensate for the expected reduced genetic diversity following an introduction. Although there was no pattern of epigenetic variation among cities (i.e. variation did not increase nor decrease further from the site of introduction), epigenetic variation increased as genetic inbreeding increased (a sign of reduced genetic diversity and bottlenecks), suggesting epigenetic modifications may compensate for reduced genetic diversity following an introduction event. Overall, patterns of phenotypic variation emerged dependent on age of the population- these patterns may prove to be important in other vertebrate range expansions as well. Surprisingly, epigenetic diversity did not correlate with phenotypic variation among populations; however, within-individual studies may reveal epigenotypes are related to certain behavioral or physiological phenotypes. In the future, studies should be designed to address how phenotypic differences arise despite relatively low genetic diversity and overall high genetic admixture among individuals. In Kenyan house sparrows, maintenance of high levels of flexibility and differential developmental influences may be important factors that lead to varying phenotypes dependent on time since colonization.
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Neumann, Karsten. "Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus L.)." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.336970.
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Shi, Yuming. "Sex and tissue specific DNA methylation patterns in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus)." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för biologisk grundutbildning, 2021. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-445070.
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DNA methylation patterns are sex and tissue specific in many species, yet many studies useblood samples, due to its accessibility, to establish links between the DNA methylation anddifferent phenotypes. This raises the question of whether DNA methylation in blood samplesreflect the DNA methylation pattern in other tissues that are more relevant to the phenotypebeing studied. In this research, samples were collected from the brain, blood, liver and gonadof 16 house sparrow (Passer domesticus), half of them were female, while the others weremale. Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) was performed to get themethylation profile in each sample. The result showed a tissue specific methylation profile inthe four investigated tissues, a strong and positive correlation between 0.74 – 0.85 was foundbetween tissues, in which a weaker correlation was found between blood and other tissue. Indifferential methylation analysis, most of the differently methylated sites between sexes werefound in gonads, while the fewest was found in blood, and Z chromosome wasoverrepresented place in all four tissues where the majority of the differently methylated sitesbetween sexes were found. Comparison with the house sparrow genome annotation foundabout half of the differentially methylated sites between sexes were within genes and about 20 % of them were in the exon or coding region of a gene. The result suggested that bloodcould be useful in reflecting the general DNA methylation level in other tissues, but it was nota reliable bioindicator for further detailed study in DNA methylation pattern or in geneontology enrichment pathway analysis.
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Pg, Razali Dk Haslina. "Spatial and temporal variation in Mhc class I genes in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus)." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2017. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/16473/.
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Gibson, Tiffany C. M. "The seasonality of parasites in Illinois house sparrows (Passer domesticus) : effect of stress on infection parameters /." View online, 2010. http://repository.eiu.edu/theses/docs/32211131524730.pdf.
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Hole, David G. "The population ecology and ecological genetics of the house sparrow Passer domesticus on farmland in Oxfordshire." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.249476.
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Vincent, Kate E. "Investigating the causes of the decline of the urban house sparrow Passer domesticus population in Britain." Thesis, De Montfort University, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2086/10742.
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In Britain and parts of northwest Europe, House Sparrow Passer domesticus populations have declined markedly in urban-suburban landscapes since the mid-1980s. Little is known about the demographic mechanisms or environmental causes of these population declines, although lack of winter seed has been implicated as a cause of the decline in House Sparrow numbers on English farmland (Hole, 2001). This study focused on factors affecting nesting success and annual productivity of nesting House Sparrows along an urban-suburban-rural gradient centred on the city of Leicester, England. Chick diet (inferred from faecal remains), habitat selection by foraging adults and over-winter survival were also studied. Data were collected during 2001-2003 from 9 study areas spread along the urbanisation gradient. Most sparrows in most study areas nested in or close to domestic gardens. Counts of territorial males declined by 28% between 2001 and 2003, with the largest declines in rural villages (25%) and suburban fringe (16%) and a small increase (4%) in the urban centre. Annual productivity (the estimated number of fledged young/pair/year) was 25% lower in suburban areas and 18% lower in rural areas than that measured during a recent study of farmland House Sparrows in Oxfordshire. The main cause of this lower productivity was starvation of chicks, (usually the first 5-6 days after hatching) during June and July. Chicks were more likely to starve if their diet contained a high proportion of vegetable material (mainly supplementary food) or ants, and less likely to starve if their diet contained a high proportion of spiders. The number of young sparrows successfully fledging, and the aggregate chick biomass, per nesting attempt were greater in home ranges containing relatively high proportions of deciduous shrub, trees and grass, and relatively little concrete. During June and July 2003, more young fledged from home ranges containing a higher density of aphids. Dipteran prey (Tipulids and other flies) constituted a higher proportion of the chick diet in rural localities than in urban-suburban localities, while Homopteran prey (mainly aphids) constituted a higher proportion of chick diet in urban-suburban localities. After allowing for effects of weather, nestling body mass and condition were negatively correlated to local levels of nitrogen dioxide air pollution. Since body mass at fledging is known to be a good predictor of immediate post-fledging survival, I predicted that the lower average body mass at fledging among suburban broods (compared to rural broods) would result in lower survival during the first 10 days after fledging (57% for suburban fledglings, compared to 70% for rural fledglings). The combined effects of lower annual productivity and lower predicted post-fledging survival in suburban localities were large enough to result in rapid predicted population decline, given plausible annual survival rates of adults and first-year sparrows and no net immigration. Under the same set of assumptions, productivity and predicted postfledging survival were high enough in rural localities to maintain and even increase adult population size. Deciduous shrubbery, grassy areas and concrete were the main summer foraging habitats of suburban and rural House Sparrows, with trees being heavily utilised in 2003. Ornamental and evergreen shrubs were strongly avoided by foraging sparrows. Stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ¹⁵N scores) in chick feathers are proposed to constitute a useful integrated measure of the quality of the chick diet. δ¹⁵N scores differed markedly between the vegetable (2.7), herbivorous invertebrate (4.7-6.4) and carnivorous invertebrate (7.1-7.7) components of chick diet. δ¹⁵N scores in sparrow chick feathers averaged 7.7 suggesting that the average δ¹⁵N score of ingested diet was approximately 4.7 (i.e. was probably dominated by vegetable material and herbivorous invertebrates). Feather δ¹⁵N scores were lower in home ranges containing relatively large areas of concrete and evergreen vegetation, and were a positive predictor of chick growth rate and body condition. The data presented in this thesis suggest that the abundance of invertebrate prey within home ranges of House Sparrows breeding within suburban and rural garden habitats limits the quantity and quality of chicks raised to fledging. The combined effects of relatively high rates of chick starvation and low body masses at fledging (and consequently low post-fledging survival) observed in suburban localities are large enough to result in rapid population declines. Invertebrate abundance in suburban areas is probably determined, at least in part, by the availability of suitable habitat including native deciduous shrubbery, tress and grassland. Although there is no evidence that the abundance of key invertebrate prey have declined in urban-suburban landscapes, such declines do provide a plausible mechanism for the observed declines in urban-suburban House Sparrow populations. Management techniques, which increase densities of key invertebrate prey during summer, have the potential to increase the annual productivity and possibly the breeding densities of House Sparrows in urban-suburban landscapes.
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Munoz-Garcia, Agustin. "Epidermal lipids and their relationship to cutaneous water loss in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) from desert and mesic environments." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2008. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1224445516.
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Dadam, Daria. "Is disease an important factor in the decline of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in Greater London?" Thesis, University of Liverpool, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.539725.
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Shaw, Lorna. "Investigating the role of socioeconomic status in determining urban habitat quality for the house sparrow, Passer domesticus." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10036/99876.
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Urban areas are increasingly recognised as an important resource for wildlife, as studies have shown that gardens, parks and brownfield sites can contain high insect and plant diversity. Urban centres can also provide resources for species of conservation concern, and it is therefore important to monitor urban habitat quality and ensure the maintenance of urban biodiversity. However urban habitats are often difficult to monitor effectively due to access and sight restrictions in built up areas. This thesis investigates urban habitat quality in relation to an urban specialist species, the House Sparrow Passer domesticus. After considering the importance of urban habitats for biodiversity in general, I review the current status and distribution of the house sparrow in urban areas, with particular reference to the possibility that human socioeconomic status has influenced the decline of the species in some urban areas. I then consider which features of urban houses and gardens may provide a potential explanation for inter-city variation in habitat quality for urban birds. I present evidence that the age of houses; the prevalence of roof repairs; and the presence of extensive paved areas such as driveways are linked to areas with low levels of socioeconomic deprivation. I then use nationwide data to establish that house sparrows in English cities are more likely to occur in areas that are relatively deprived. Furthermore, analysis of land use data confirms that house sparrow occurrence decreases with increasing levels of building and paving, and increases with the area of green space available. However, house sparrow occurrence also appears to decrease with increasing garden area, a surprising finding given that gardens are important foraging habitats for urban birds. By radio tracking house sparrows in urban Bristol, I show that gardens are heavily utilised by house sparrows, but that those with a high proportion of paving are avoided. It appears that changes to areas with low levels of socioeconomic deprivation, notably an increase in paved areas, may have contributed to the urban decline of house sparrows in less deprived parts of English urban areas. These findings are discussed in relation to future urban planning requirements, and the need to mitigate for the detrimental effects of urban development on species of conservation concern. The contribution of large, nationwide datasets to the monitoring of urban habitats, and the implications of these findings for other urban species, including humans, are also highlighted.
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Riley, Cyrena. "The arthropod nest fauna of house sparrows and tree swallows in southern Quebec /." Thesis, McGill University, 2000. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=31530.
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The diversity and abundance of the arthropod nest fauna of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus (L.)) and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot)) in southern Quebec were studied. Over 90,000 arthropods were extracted from the nests, including at least 71 species (50 families) of insects and at least 11 species (8 families) of mites. There were no significant differences in the species richness or diversity of nest arthropods from year to year (1997--1998), or from nest to nest within either host species. There was no significant difference in the overall species richness or diversity between House Sparrows and Tree Swallows. Cluster analyses of species richness and three diversity indices for all nests showed no clustering according to bird species. However, there were some significant differences in the abundance and diversity of particular arthropod taxa between the two bird species, with different ectoparasitic and non-ectoparasitic species dominant in the nests of each host species.
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Riyahi, Sepand. "Local adaptation by birds to human-altered habitats: the great tit and the house sparrow as model species." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/456899.
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Human-altered environments have expanded rapidly in the past decades and made a huge impact on living organisms. Inhabiting in such a habitat can modify different traits in animals, allowing for a better adaptation to these human-altered environments. In the first part of this thesis I investigated patterns of recent (contemporary) adaptation to urban habitats, focusing on the role of behavioural, genetic and epigenetic variation in great tits. In the second part of the thesis I investigated patterns of adaptation to human-made habitats in a larger time-scale, focusing on the origin and expansion of the house sparrow, which has been for ages a human commensalism. I additionally checked the effect of methylation variation on the rapid expansion and high phenotypic variation of house sparrow in the Palearctic region. Regarding the great tit I found that urban-dwelling birds are more explorative in novel environments and bolder in front of new objects than forest individuals. I found several epigenetic modifications and genetic polymorphisms possibly related to novelty seeking behaviour in the great tits. Our results suggested that epigenetics adjustment can be different in the urban-dwelling great tits in comparison to the forest birds. Furthermore, we investigated the possible polymorphisms in the Melanocortin-1 gene in the great tit to relate it with the size of the black belly stripe, which had previously been found to differ between urban and forest individuals. However, results showed that there is no polymorphism in this gene in relation to the size of the black belly stripe. In relation to the house sparrow, we found that the commensalism of this species with humans has a single origin and probably initiated in the Middle East. Then, it expanded rapidly in the Palearctic region with the aid of agriculture and human civilizations expansion. In addition, we discovered that the genome-wide methylation pattern of house sparrows has a general stability within five subspecies in the Middle East but we found high level of variation at the individual level within populations which likely happened randomly rather than due to selection. Our results indicate that variation in DNA methylation does not strictly follow subspecies designations. We have detected correlation between methylation level and some morphological traits such as standardized bill length and we suggest that part of the high morphological variation in the native populations of the house sparrow is influenced by differentially methylated regions in specific loci throughout the genome. We also detected seven differentially methylated loci diverged by subspecies and also three loci differentiated by commensal or non-commensal status.
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Cleasby, Ian Robert. "The influence of early environment and parental care on offspring growth and survival in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus)." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2010. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.541698.
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Diep, Sanh K. "The role of social interactions on the development and honesty of a signal of status." UKnowledge, 2012. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/biology_etds/9.
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Badges of status are supposed to have insignificant production costs, so use costs are thought to be most important in ensuring signal reliability. Use costs arise from the use of the status signal in social interactions. Social experiences that arise from the use of inappropriate signals in social interactions may drive mechanisms that result in reduced fitness for inappropriate signalers. The role of social control, probing and familiarity in producing use costs was explored. There was no evidence that social control by dominants produced a cost for cheaters and no evidence that social control by subordinates produced a cost for inappropriate signaling by Trojans. Probing produced a cost for cheating when resource value was high but not when resource value was low. Familiarity had some effect on the cost and benefit of cheating but in patterns that were not predicted. Familiarity both eliminated a benefit of cheating and reduced a cost of cheating; therefore it is uncertain how familiarity affects honest signaling. The status signal of the receiver had no effect on the cost or benefits of cheating, and there was no evidence of punishment. Social experiences have the potential to affect signal development to produce a correspondence between signal and status. The effects of social experience on signal production were examined and there was little evidence that social experience influenced bib development. Neither aggression expressed nor aggression received was not predictive of bib size. Additionally, tests on the different measures of winning experience produced conflicting conclusions regarding the relationship between winning experience and bib development.
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Wetzel, Daniel P. "THE CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN PARENTAL CARE BEHAVIOR." UKnowledge, 2013. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/biology_etds/12.
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Behavioral traits can be remarkably flexible depending on the conditions in which they are expressed, yet, in spite of this flexibility, persistent differences between individuals appear to limit the potential expression of behaviors. For example, despite evidence that parents provide variable amounts of parental care in response to changing environmental conditions, they also differ in the overall level of care they provide. I used a behavioral reaction norm approach to study individual variation in parental care behavior in free-living house sparrows (Passer domesticus). I investigated the nature of this variation by studying the relationship between different forms of parental care, the biological basis of individual variation in care, and the effect of this variation in care on offspring. First, I found a positive covariance between nestling provisioning and nest defense. Parents that provided high levels of care in one context provided high levels of care in the other context, even after accounting for measures of offspring value. Second, I sought to identify the biological sources that create and maintain consistent individual differences in the level of care a parent provides. I found that the likelihood of feeding nestlings large food items was positively associated with genetic heterozygosity, but did not find evidence that nestling provisioning was influenced by additive genetic variation in this population. Parents hatched from larger eggs provisioned offspring at a higher rate than parents hatched from smaller eggs, but there was no effect of other conditions experienced in the nest on the level of care expressed as an adult. I also tested if differences in problem-solving ability were related to differences in parental care behavior. Although I found that problem-solving parents fledged more offspring than parents that could not solve the problem, parental care was not associated with any measure of problem-solving ability. Finally, I found that individual variation in parental care reaction norms predicted the growth rate, size, and immune response of nestlings, which in turn positively affected offspring survival and recruitment. My findings reveal factors maintaining individual differences in parental care behavior and offer new insights into the causes and consequences of individual variation.
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Napper, Kristin M. "EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE FACTORS ON NEST-SITE SELECTION AND NESTING SUCCESS OF EASTERN BLUEBIRDS (Sialia sialis)." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1125324078.
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Nord, Iza. "Does a high fundamental corticosterone concentration negatively affect the ornaments and visible sexual traits of male house sparrows (Passer domesticus)?" Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Sektionen för ekonomi och teknik (SET), 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-23519.
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The male house sparrows has two assumed visible sexual traits which are 1) the colouration (or brightness) of the beak and 2) the size of the black badge on the bird’s throat and chest. Earlier research has shown that the testosterone concentration play an important part in determine the beak colour, with a higher testosterone concentration giving the bird a darker beak and as such making the male more attractive to females. Even though stress has been counted for as a changing factor of phenotypes and behaviour it is not certain how vast effect stress has on different animals. This study is focusing on how and if the individuals fundamental stress level (fundamental corticosterone concentration) is affecting the morphological appearance, in this case the visible sexual traits (beak colour and badge size) and mask (an indicator of age), within the house sparrows in the Lundy Island population. In this study there was no relationship between beak colour and corticosterone concentrations, stating that beak brightness is not determined by fundamental stress. Likewise there was no relationship between the corticosterone concentrations and the size of the badge. Mask measurements in relationship to corticosterone showed no significant effect. These results indicate that there is no relationship between the corticosterone concentration in the blood and the mask size or the beak colour and badge size as visible sexual traits.Många forskare är ense om att gråsparvshannen använder sig av två synliga karaktärsdrag för att attrahera honor. Den första är mörkhetsgraden på näbben och den andra är storleken på hannens svarta bröstlapp, placerad på hals och bröst. Tidigare forskning har visat att näbbfärgen påverkas kraftigt av hannens testosteron nivå och att en högre testosteron nivå leder till en mörkare näbb, vilket är mer attraktivt för honorna. Även om stress har visat sig påverka både fenotyp och beteende hos många olika djurgrupper är det fortfarande oklart hur stor effekt stress har på olika djur. Denna studie fokuserar på hur och om den individuella fundamentala stressnivån (den fundamentala kortikosteron nivån) påverkar de synliga attraherande karaktärsdragen (näbbfärg och bröstlappsstorlek) hos gråsparvshannarna. I denna rapport analyseras även hannarnas masker, vilka fungerar som åldersindikatorer, i relation till de individuella kortikosteron koncentrationerna. Inget samband kunde hittas mellan näbbfärg och kortikosteron nivå hos de analyserade individerna. Likaså kunde inget samband hittas mellan kortikosteron nivån och storleken på hannens bröstlapp. Inte heller maskstorleken visade samband med kortokosteron nivån. Resultatet indikerar således att stress inte påverkar hannens sexuellt attraktiva karaktärsdrag eller mask.
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Weir, Jacqueline Elizabeth Sara. "Urban green space management for invertebrates and house sparrows." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/28960.
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Urban house sparrow nestlings can develop poorly through lack of invertebrate food (Peach et al., 2008). Productivity can be increased by providing invertebrates (Peach, Sheehan & Kirby, 2014; Peach et al. in press). This study tested the effectiveness of three habitat treatments in increasing invertebrates and seeds in London parks, and their usage by house sparrows. Treatments were: annually sown ‘wildlife seed’ plots; sown perennial wildflower meadows; and existing grass grown taller. Treatment establishment and seed abundance were assessed by vegetation measurements, and practicality qualitatively assessed through questionnaires. Invertebrate abundance and variety were measured using sweep netting and vacuum sampling, and relationships tested with treatment type and modelled air pollution levels. Bird usage, and local house sparrow populations and productivity, were monitored over three years and relationships tested with treatments and air pollution. All treatments provided more invertebrates and seed than short grass. Wildlife seed plots contained the most seed during both autumn and winter. Wildflower meadows supported the most invertebrates, while each treatment benefited particular groups. Invertebrate variety at family level was highest in wildflower meadows and wildlife seed plots, probably through increased plant diversity. Abundance for numerous groups related positively to sward height. Varied vegetation structure should benefit the most invertebrate groups. Wildlife seed plots were most used by house sparrows, largely in the breeding season for invertebrates, while wildflower meadows were not used. Open vegetation structure probably permitted birds access. Wildlife seed plots may have buffered colonies against breeding season food shortages in one year. No strong relationships were found between invertebrate abundance and air pollution. Relationships between house sparrow population parameters and air pollution were mixed. Heterogeneous vegetation structure is important for invertebrates, and for bird access to food. Habitat homogenisation at various scales, combined with other pressures, may contribute to limiting urban house sparrow populations.
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Elgar, M. A. "Flocking and foraging strategies in house sparrows Passer domesticus L." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 1985. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.372869.
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Hamilton, Thomas Robert. "The expansion of the eastern house finch population and its impact on populations of house sparrows, purple finches and American goldfinches." Virtual Press, 1991. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/774756.
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Houses Finches became a breeding species in Indiana in 1981 and subsequently went through a rapid population increase. This study was an investigation of the growth of the House Finch population and its impact on House Sparrows, American Goldfinches and Purple Finches in Indiana. Data from the Annual Christmas Bird Counts of the National Audubon Society (CBC) were used to construct five winter range maps to show the expansion of the House Finch population since 1940. A population density map based on the CBCs of 1988 and 1989 was constructed using birds counted per party hour.CBC data collected during 1965 to 1989 at twelve locations in Indiana were used to track long-term changes in the populations of House Finches, House Sparrows, American Goldfinches and Purple Finches. The number of House Finches counted in Indiana since 1981 increased dramatically. The size of the House Sparrow population appears to have been in a long-term decline for the last 25 years. However, American Goldfinches have, in general, increased in abundance since 1979. The abundance of Purple Finches in Indiana in the winter varies erratically.Observations at backyard feeding stations frequented by House Finches and House Sparrows show that House Finches tend to displace other House Finches more often than would be expected if the displacements occurred in proportion to the frequency at which the birds appear in the population. House Sparrows were found to displace other House Sparrows at a rate which greatly exceeded the expected frequency based on their proportion of the population. Both species tend to avoid interspecific interactions.Field studies in Muncie, Indiana show that House Finches commonly nest in shrubbery and building decorations while House Sparrows often nest in crevices in old buildings and bird houses. No direct competition for nesting sites was observed.Banding studies indicate that during the fall and winter there is a constant turnover of House Finches in Muncie. Using banding data from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service it was found that House Finches in the Midwest tend to travel in a southern direction as the season changes from summer to winter and in a northern direction as the season changes from winter to summer. The study shows that House Finches have a strong propensity to return to the same general area each summer.Department of Biology
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Lagrange, Paméla. "Déterminants de la survie et de la dispersion de reproduction par une approche Capture-Marquage-Recapture chez l’Hirondelle bicolore au Québec." Thèse, Université de Sherbrooke, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11143/6855.
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Résumé : En Amérique du Nord, la superficie des monocultures utilisatrices d’intrants tels que des fertilisants et des pesticides couvre aujourd’hui 85 % des surfaces agricoles et autant de pâturages ont disparus en 50 ans afin de répondre aux besoins de l’Homme. Ces changements d’usage des terres ont profondément transformé le paysage et altéré la biodiversité des agro-écosystèmes. Parmi les espèces d’oiseaux champêtres, les insectivores aériens tels l’Hirondelle bicolore, Tachycineta bicolor, ici étudiée, présentent un fort taux de déclin des effectifs, reflétant probablement une dégradation des agro-écosystèmes. Les mécanismes biologiques à l’origine de ce déclin sont encore méconnus ainsi que les patrons de dispersion chez les passereaux migrateurs. Le présent travail vise à étudier les effets environnementaux sur les traits individuels (survie et succès reproducteur) et la dispersion de reproduction (probabilité de disperser et taux d’occupation des sites de reproduction) chez l’Hirondelle bicolore. Pour ce faire, 2200 reproducteurs et 8000 oisillons ont été bagués entre 2004 et 2013 et suivis en reproduction pendant 10 ans sur une aire d’étude au Sud du Québec, laquelle est composée de 40 sites et couvre une mosaïque de paysages agricoles hétérogènes. Le développement d’un nouveau modèle de capture-marquage-recapture, flexible d’utilisation, a permis de réduire les biais d’estimation des probabilités de survie et de dispersion de l’espèce. Cette approche a permis de tester l’effet de plusieurs variables en lien avec la qualité de l’habitat, l’information publique et les caractéristiques individuelles sur la variabilité des paramètres de dispersion, de survie et de succès reproducteur au niveau individuel. Les milieux cultivés intensivement associés à la présence du Moineau domestique, Passer domesticus, un compétiteur pour les cavités de reproduction, diminuaient au maximum de 19 % la survie des mâles. Les femelles étaient quant à elles affectées par le coût de la reproduction, qui était d’autant plus grand en milieu intensif qu’il y avait une présence de moineaux et une disponibilité moindre en ressources alimentaires. Pour autant, la décision de disperser n’était pas affectée par les conditions environnementales que ce soit par la présence de compétiteurs ou la qualité du milieu, et ne dépassait pas les 4 % chez les mâles. Les femelles dispersant jusqu’à 14 fois plus s’appuyaient sur leur expérience personnelle pour décider de disperser. Un échec de reproduction augmentait jusqu’à 7 fois la probabilité de disperser et pour la première fois chez une espèce à courte durée de vie, nous avons montré que la probabilité de disperser était augmentée l’année suivant une première dispersion. Ces patrons de dispersion étaient stables dans le temps. La dispersion semblait donc être un processus coûteux, comparé à la fidélité au site, qui apparaissait comme un phénotype minoritaire dans la population. Elle répondait à des conditions défavorables de reproduction. Enfin, ce travail montre l’utilisation de l’information publique dans la décision de s’établir sur un site généralement fortement dense et productif en jeunes l’année précédente et ce, une fois que la décision de disperser est amorcée. La présence de moineaux et la forte proportion de cultures intensives dans un rayon proche participaient également à ll‘évitement des sites lors de l’établissement. D’après ces résultats, le milieu intensif contribuerait au déclin de l’Hirondelle bicolore.Abstract : In North America, monoculture areas using high inputs of fertilizers and pesticides cover 85 % of agricultural lands, and as many pastures disappeared in the past 20 years to satisfy human food needs. These land-use changes have deeply transformed landscapes and altered the biodiversity of agro-ecosystems. Among farmland birds, aerial insectivores such as Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor, studied here show a high rate of decline in their abundance, partly reflecting the degradation of agro-ecosystems where they breed. Biological mechanisms leading to the decline and dispersal patterns in migratory passerines are still poorly known. The present work quantifies the environmental effects on Tree Swallow individual traits (survival, reproductive success) and breeding dispersal (probability to disperse and occupation rates of breeding sites). Between 2004 and 2013, 2200 breeders and 8000 chicks were ringed and monitored during 10 breeding seasons on a study area composed of 40 sites and covering a mosaic of heterogeneous agricultural landscapes in southern Québec. The development of a new, flexible capture-mark-recapture model has reduced estimate bias of survival and dispersal probabilities of Tree Swallows. This approach allowed to assess the effect of several variables linked to habitat quality, public information and individual characteristics on dispersal, survival and reproductive success parameters of individuals. Within intensively cultivated landscapes associated to the presence of a nest site competitor, the House sparrow, Passer domesticus, male survival is up to 19 % lower. Females were affected by the cost of reproduction, especially in intensive landscapes where House sparrows and found and where food resources and nest site appear limited. Dispersal probability was not affected by environmental conditions either through the presence of House sparrows or habitat quality, and was restricted to 4 % in males. Females, which dispersed up to 14 times more than males, based their decision on their personal experience. Breeding failure increased up to 7 times the probability to disperse and for the first time in a short-lived species, I show that dispersal likelihood increased if the individual had dispersed in the previous year. These dispersal patterns were stable in time. Dispersal appeared as a costly process compared to site fidelity and was a minority phenotype in the population. It appeared an answer to unfavorable condition for reproduction. Finally, this work shows the use of public information (partners density, fledglings productivity the previous year) on the decision to settle on a site and this, after the dispersal decision had been initiated. The presence of House sparrows and the proportion of intensive areas near nest boxes were used as information to select a breeding site. Based on these findings, agricultural intensification likely plays a role in the decline of Tree swallow populations.
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Kübler, Sonja. "Nahrungsökologie stadtlebender Vogelarten entlang eines Urbangradienten." Doctoral thesis, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Fakultät I, 2006. http://dx.doi.org/10.18452/15396.
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Innerhalb des Zeitraumes 2002 bis 2004 wurden in Berlin Untersuchungen zur Nahrungsökologie verschiedener Vogelarten durchgeführt, wobei auch die Konsequenzen wie der Fortpflanzungserfolg analysiert wurden. Neben der Aufnahme der Brutvogel- (2002) und Wintervogelgemeinschaft (2002/2003) auf fünf Pf à ca. 20 ha entlang eines Urbangradienten, wurden die Arten Blaumeise, Grünling, Haussperling und Turmfalke speziell untersucht. Auf den fünf Pf, die sich hinsichtlich Baustruktur, Flächennutzung und Vegetationsanteil unterschieden, wurden 35 Brutvogelarten festgestellt. Anhand der Artenzahlen ist deutlich ein Urbangradient zu erkennen: Das Stadtzentrum (Ze) wies 12, das Gewerbegebiet (Ge) 15, die Hochhaussiedlung (Ho) 17, die Einfamilienhaussiedlung (Eh) 18 und der Park (Pa) 28 Arten auf. Im Verlauf der Wintervogelkartierung wurden insgesamt 3763 Individuen in 30 Arten registriert. Im Pa wurde bei der Blaumeise der höchste Reproduktionserfolg mit knapp 5,9 Ausgeflogenen/Brut festgestellt. Anhand des Zustandes der Nestlinge und des Fortpflanzungserfolgs sowie durch die Dokumentation des Fütterungsverhaltens der Altvögel anhand von Camcorderaufnahmen wurde deutlich, dass das Nahrungsangebot für die Meisen im Pa am besten war. Der carnivore Turmfalke wurde 2002 bis 2004 unabhängig von den fünf Pf an zehn Nistkastenstandorten untersucht, die in drei unterschiedlichen Zonen lagen: City (Ci), Mischgebiet (Mi) und ländliche Zone (LZ). Als Besonderheit wurden in jedem Nistkasten in der Ci in jedem Jahr anthropogene Nahrungsreste, z. B. Kotelettknochen, gefunden, was zeigt, dass sich der Turmfalke, neben der Nutzung von Gebäuden als Nistplatz, auch hinsichtlich seiner Nahrungsökologie an den Menschen anpasst. Dass die Blaumeise, der Grünling und der Haussperling insgesamt in Berlin gut zurechtkommen, selbst in der Innenstadt, indiziert die Beutetierliste des Turmfalken: Der Haussperling stand an erster Stelle, der Grünling an zweiter und die Blaumeise an sechster Stelle der gefangenen Vogelarten. Besonders in einer Metropole wie Berlin besteht weiterer Forschungsbedarf, da die Synurbanisierung verschiedener Vogelarten ständig voranschreitet.From 2002 to 2004 the feeding ecology of different bird species was studied in Berlin. Thereby consequences like the success in reproduction were also examined. Beside the survey of the breeding bird (2002) and the winter bird community (2002/2003) in five study sites each covering an area of approx. 20 ha along an urban gradient, the species Blue Tit, Greenfinch, House Sparrow and Kestrel were researched in detail. In total, 35 breeding bird species were found in the five sites, which were characterised by different building structure, land use and vegetation cover. Considering the species` number, an urban gradient was clearly visible: In the city centre (Ze) 12 species were recorded, in the industrial area (Ge) 15, in the high-rise apartment building area (Ho) 17, in the detached family housing (Eh) 18 and in the park (Pa) 28 species. During the winter bird census a total of 3,763 individuals and 30 bird species was recorded. In the Pa, the highest reproduction success of the Blue Tit (5,9 fledglings/brood) was recorded. On the basis of the nestlings'' condition and the reproduction success, as well as by documentation of the feeding behaviour of the adult birds by means of video recording (camcorder), it became clear, that food supply was best in the Pa for the Tits. From 2002 to 2004, the carnivorous Kestrel was examined independent from the five study sites at ten nesting sites (nest boxes), which were located in three different zones: City (Ci), Mixed Zone (Mi) and Outskirts (LZ). Striking were anthropogenic food items, like cutlet bones, found in every nest box in the Ci in all three years, which shows the adaptation to humans not only with regard to nesting sites (buildings) but also with regard to feeding ecology. The prey species list of the Kestrel indicates that Blue Tit, Greenfinch and House Sparrow get along well all in all, also in the city centre: the House Sparrow ranked first, the Greenfinch second and the Blue Tit sixth of the captured bird species. Especially in a metropolis like Berlin there is need for further research, because the synurbization of different bird species progresses permanently.
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Sánchez-Tójar, Alfredo [Verfasser]. "The evolution of social dominance in house sparrows / Alfredo Sánchez-Tójar." Konstanz : KOPS Universität Konstanz, 2018. http://d-nb.info/1206539038/34.
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Ockendon, Nancy. "Genetic diversity and sexual selection in an isolated population of house sparrows." Thesis, University of Sheffield, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.408316.
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Moldoff, David. "CONTEXT-DEPENDENT INDIVIDUAL VARIATION IN FORAGING BEHAVIOUR AND PARENTAL CARE IN HOUSE SPARROWS." UKnowledge, 2015. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/biology_etds/30.
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Behaviors can exhibit a wide degree of plasticity depending on the environmental context in which they are expressed. Despite this, repeatable differences have been found among and within individuals across a wide range of taxa. For my thesis, I investigated individual differences in foraging and parental care. In the first experiment, I assessed house sparrows (Passer domesticus) for domain-generality among neophobia, habituation and associative learning as they are all responses to novelty. While the results of the study find individual differences in each of these contexts the conclusion supported separate mechanisms for each response (domain-specificity). In the second experiment, I examined how the loudness of brood begging vocalizations influenced parent trip time, food load size brought to the nest and the amount of time spent in the box. The results of this study found individual differences in trip time and the time spent in the box with regard to the initial five seconds of begging loudness during a parent’s visit. Additionally, trip time was also influenced by the change in loudness within a visit. My findings reveal that individual variation may depend on the context in which individuals are measured.
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Kucera, Aurelia. "Sperm Telomere Dynamics: Natural Variation and Sensitivity to Environmental Influences in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus)." Diss., North Dakota State University, 2018. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/27848.
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Understanding the mechanisms that contribute to variation in lifespan is of central importance to diverse fields including life history theory. Although the causes of aging are not fully understood, telomere dynamics (length and loss rate) is a potentially critical mechanism underlying longevity. Telomeres are highly conserved, non-coding regions of DNA at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomere loss occurs throughout life due to accumulating oxidative damage and normal cell replication. When telomeres reach a critically short length, they stop dividing and functioning normally.Wilson Ornithological Society, Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society, and Linz Family Endowed Ornithology Scholarship Fund
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Pavlik, Stacey C. "Estimating the Impact of House Sparrows on Eastern Bluebird Reproductive Success Across an Urban Gradient." Youngstown State University / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ysu1364373664.
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Meillère, Alizée. "Influence de l’environnement urbain sur les passereaux : une approche éco-physiologique et éco-toxicologique." Thesis, La Rochelle, 2015. http://www.theses.fr/2015LAROS015/document.
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L’urbanisation grandissante est certainement à l’heure actuelle parmi les phénomènes à l’origine des changements les plus importants induits par l’homme sur notre planète, et soulève donc de nombreuses questions concernant les conséquences d’une telle perturbation de l’environnement sur la biodiversité. La vie urbaine est souvent caractérisée par des conditions jugées comme contraignantes (fragmentation, dégradation et perte d’habitats, pollutions chimiques, sonores et lumineuses accrues, etc.) pouvant avoir des effets néfastes sur les vertébrés. Cependant, les mécanismes par lesquels l’urbanisation affecte la faune sauvage sont encore très mal compris. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif central de ce doctorat est d’améliorer notre compréhension de l’influence de l’urbanisation sur les espèces de vertébrés évoluant dans les environnements urbains. Pour cela, nous avons exploré, d’une part, l’influence globale de l’urbanisation, et d’autre part, l’impact spécifique de certaines contraintes caractéristiques des milieux urbains (pollution par les métaux lourds et pollution sonore) sur les passereaux, en utilisant une approche fonctionnelle intégrant notamment des études éco-physiologiques et éco-toxicologiques. Ainsi, nous avons mis en évidence que les passereaux urbains ne sont pas contraints énergétiquement par leur environnement pendant leur vie adulte, mais qu’en revanche, les conditions fortement modifiées des milieux urbains pourraient contraindre les individus pendant leur développement. De plus, nous avons montré que l’urbanisation est effectivement associée à une contamination par les métaux lourds plus importante, et surtout que des niveaux plus élevés de ces contaminants sont associés à des niveaux de corticostérone plus élevés (degrés de stress plus importants). Enfin, l’étude expérimentale de l’impact de la pollution sonore sur des paramètres très souvent négligés jusque-là (développement, physiologie, comportement anti-prédateur), nous a permis de montrer que le bruit d’origine anthropique pouvait avoir des effets particulièrement complexes sur le développement des vertébrés avec de possibles conséquences à long terme. L’ensemble de ces travaux soulignent l’importance d’évaluer l’impact des perturbations d’origine anthropique sur le développement phénotypique des individus afin de mieux comprendre l’influence de l’environnement urbain sur les populations de vertébrésConsistent expanding urbanization is certainly among the most important human-induced environmental changes facing our planet today, and thus raises important questions regarding the consequences of such environmental disturbance on biodiversity. Urban life is often characterized by constraining environmental conditions (e.g., fragmentation, degradation and loss of habitats, increased noise, light, and chemical pollutions) that can have detrimental effects on wild vertebrates. However, the mechanisms through which urbanization affects wildlife are still poorly understood. In this context, the main objective of this doctoral research is to improve our understanding of the influence of urbanization on vertebrate species that are able to live in urban environments. To this end, we explored both the global influence of urbanization and the impact of specific factors associated with urban life (heavy metals and noise pollutions) on passerine birds, using a mechanistic approach including eco-physiological and eco-toxicological studies. We demonstrated that urban passerines are not energetically constrained by their environment during their adult life, but conversely, that the altered environmental conditions of urban environments could constrain individuals during their development. Furthermore, we showed that urbanization is indeed associated with an increased heavy metal contamination, and most importantly, that higher levels of these contaminants are related to higher corticosterone levels (i.e., elevated stress levels). Finally, using an experimental approach to study the impact of noise pollution on several parameters that have often been overlooked (development, physiology, anti-predator behaviour), we showed that anthropogenic noise can have particularly complex effects on vertebrate’s development, with possible life-long consequences for developing birds. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of investigating the impact of human-induced environmental changes on the phenotypic development of individuals to better understand the influence of urban environments on vertebrate populations
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Schmaltz, Gregory. "Scanning-group-size effect in flocks of house sparrows, quantifying the contribution of competition and anti-predatory vigilance." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2001. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/MQ59269.pdf.
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Nossen, Ida. "Possible Effects of Persistent Organic Pollutants on Steroid Hormone Homeostasis in House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) from Helgeland, Norway." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Institutt for biologi, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-25211.
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Over the last decades, declines have occurred in the range and abundance of several passerines and farmland bird species and even though several possible causes have been suggested, the exposure to environmental contaminants and intensification of agriculture have received much attention. Several environmental contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated flame retardants (PBDEs) have been found to alter steroid hormones levels and may cause adverse effects on reproduction. Present decline in house sparrow numbers appears to be widespread in North-Western Europe since the 1970s. Among a variety of physical and chemical stressors, endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs) may contribute to the decline. The aim of the present study was to determine levels of some selected PCBs (PBC-28, -52, -101, -118, -138, -153, -180), PBDEs (BDE-47, -99, -100, -153, -154, -209, hexabromocyclododecane [HCBD]) and OCPs (hexachlorobenzene [HCB], dichloro-diphenyl-dichloroethylene [p,p’-DDE]) and to investigate the possible effects of these contaminants on circulating levels of steroid hormones (estrone [E1], 17α-estradiol [αE2], 17β-estradiol [βE2], progesterone [PRO], pregnenolone [PRE], Hydroxylated progesterone [OH-PRO], aldosterone [ALDO], androstenedione [AN], dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA], dihydrotestosterone [DHT], testosterone [TS]) in adult house sparrows from Leka, Helgeland, Norway. Plasma samples were analysed for steroid hormones by gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) and liver samples were analysed for environmental contaminants by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was hypothesized that POPs may have endocrine disrupting effects on the local house sparrow population and can thus interfere with the steroid hormone homeostasis. Multivariate data analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures (O-PLS), and bivariate correlation test (Spearman’s rank correlation test) was applied to evaluate the effects of environmental contaminants and biometrical variables on steroid hormone levels. Multivariate regression analysis indicated no strong relationships between contamination load and steroid hormone levels in adult female and male house sparrows, nor did biometrical variables seem to be very important in explaining the variation of the steroid hormones. However, bivariate correlations revealed negative relationships between PCB-118 and βE2 and p,p’-DDE, ∑OCPs and E1 among female house sparrows. Among male sparrows, bivariate correlations indicted positive relationships between DHT levels and PCB-118, BDE-100 and ∑PCBs. Furthermore, it is noteworthy to emphasize that statistical significant models were not found in the multivariate analysis and relationships indicated by bivariate correlations should be interpreted with caution. In addition, these statistical correlations do not represent direct cause-effect relationships and no definite conclusion can be made on possible disruptions on estrogen and androgen levels.
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Girndt, Antje [Verfasser]. "Age-associated variation in reproduction and consequences of mating strategies in male house sparrows, Passer domesticus / Antje Girndt." Konstanz : Bibliothek der Universität Konstanz, 2018. http://d-nb.info/1160186537/34.
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Laucht, Silke [Verfasser], and Bart [Akademischer Betreuer] Kempenaers. "Information content and testosterone dependence of animal signals : a case study with house sparrows / Silke Laucht. Betreuer: Bart Kempenaers." München : Universitätsbibliothek der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, 2011. http://d-nb.info/1021900087/34.
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Vastveit, Helene Russell. "Spatial and temporal variation in hippoboscid parasitism by Ornithomya chloropus on house sparrows (Passer domesticus) and its effect on survival." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Institutt for biologi, 2013. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-23296.
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1. I examined how the Hippoboscidae Ornithomya chloropus is spatially and temporally distributed in an insular metapopulation of house sparrows in northern Norway from 2004-2011, whether there were demographic differences in abundance as well the relationship between abundance and morphology, and abundance and survival in juvenile house sparrows.2. I found a handling effect on the abundance of O. chloropus which reduced the number of flies found on individuals from their first to their second catch.3. There was considerable variation in abundance between years and islands as well as within seasons, and abundance of O. chloropus differed between age-classes.4. There was a negative relationship between abundance and the three morphological traits; body condition index, body mass and tarsus length. There was also a positive effect of age on these morphological traits and a negative effect of late hatch days.5. There was a positive relationship between juvenile survival and body condition index, and survival and tarsus length.6. These results indicate a relationship between the abundance of O. chloropus and the fitness of juvenile house sparrows with morphology while there was no clear relationship between juvenile survival and abundance.
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Dimmen, Malene Vågen. "Levels and effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) on circulating thyroid hormones in house sparrows (Passer domesticus) from Leka, Norway." Thesis, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet, Institutt for biologi, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:no:ntnu:diva-25214.
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Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been reported to disrupt vertebrate endocrine systems in numerous wildlife, semi-field and laboratory studies, and thyroid homeostasis is among the systems reported to be susceptible for such perturbation. Thyroid hormones are important in a vast range of physiological processes, and a disruption of thyroid homeostasis might thus cause detrimental effects. Toxic effects exerted by POPs on the thyroid system has been reported in mammals and in birds at high trophic levels, but the knowledge of POPs toxicity in passerines is limited. The passerine species house sparrow (Passer domesticus) has to my knowledge never been investigated for thyroid disruption previous to the present study. The house sparrow has experienced a severe population decrease in Northern Europe since mid-1980s, and the reason for the decline is not completely elucidated. Increased knowledge regarding levels and toxic effects of POPs in house sparrows might contribute to further elucidation of the problem.The aim of the present study was to investigate potential effects of POPs exposure on the thyroid system, herein represented by circulating free fractions of 3,3’,5-triiodothyronine (FT3) and thyroxine (FT4), in house sparrows from Norway. An additional aim was to contribute to the existing documentation of POPs levels in passerines, specifically hepatic levels. The multivariate statistical analyses principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal projections to latent structures (O-PLS) were used to model the complexity of variables affecting FT3 and FT4 levels in the birds, including both biometric variables and contaminant levels as predictors. Additionally, bivariate correlations between contaminants and thyroid hormones were investigated with Spearman’s rank correlation test. The study population was located on an agricultural island in Northern Norway, and sampling was conducted in February 2013. Significant correlations between single POPs and thyroid hormones are reported in the present study. Although statistical correlations do not represent cause-effect relationship, these findings add further weight of evidence to the hypothesis of avian thyroid disruption caused by contaminant exposure in wildlife. The level of contamination in the investigated sparrows was in general low, but a few individuals had highly elevated levels of some polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners compared to the mean. PCBs and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were found at higher concentrations than polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the sparrows, and the OCPs varied significantly between sexes. The level of one contaminant seemed to vary with age (PCB-52), and levels of three PBDE congeners (BDE-47, -99 and -100) varied significantly according to which farm the investigated birds was captured.
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Beaugeard, Erika. "Comment faire face à l’urbanisation ? Étude écophysiologique des bénéfices et contraintes d’un mode de vie urbain chez les passereaux." Thesis, La Rochelle, 2020. http://www.theses.fr/2020LAROS010.
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L’urbanisation est l’un des phénomènes majeurs qui impactent la biodiversité à l’échelle mondiale. Les nombreuses contraintes associées au milieu urbain (perte d’habitat, changement des ressources, pollutions chimique, lumineuse et sonore, etc.) modifient la diversité et la répartition des espèces animales, et peuvent avoir de lourdes conséquences à l’échelle individuelle. Or, le développement constant du milieu urbain nécessite de mettre à jour les études sur les effets de ce milieu sur les espèces animales, et en particulier sur les oiseaux, qui rendent de nombreux services écosystémiques à l’homme. Dans ce contexte, nous avons cherché à étudier les bénéfices et contraintes du milieu urbain chez les oiseaux, en se plaçant à trois échelles différentes : biodiversité, population et individu. Dans un premier temps, nous avons réalisé une étude spatiale de la biodiversité aviaire à Niort. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence l’importance de maintenir des infrastructures vertes et connectées en ville, pour favoriser la présence des espèces communes comme celles moins adaptées au milieu urbain. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons cherché à évaluer l’état des populations de moineaux domestiques en ville, ceux-ci étant en fort déclin dans les grandes villes européennes. À l’aide d’une étude corrélative, nous avons démontré que le milieu urbain est particulièrement stressant pour les moineaux en développement. Également, l’analyse d’un stress hydrique en conditions expérimentales nous a permis de constater que les moineaux adultes sont également très sensibles aux changements des conditions de l’environnement. Dans un troisième temps, l’application d’une contrainte du milieu urbain (pollution lumineuse) sur les moineaux au cours de la reproduction a permis de mettre en évidence des changements rapides du comportement individuel en réponse à cette contrainte. Les résultats de ces différentes approches démontrent que les effets de l’urbanisation sur les oiseaux sont complexes, et que les suivis démographiques doivent être associés à des études précises de l’habitat urbain et des contraintes associées pour mieux comprendre l’évolution des populations d’oiseaux en villeUrbanization is one of major phenomena that impact biodiversity in the world. Numerous constraints associated with urban environment (habitat loss, changes in resources, chemical, light and noise pollutions, etc.) modify wildlife diversity and species distribution, and can have detrimental consequences on individuals. However, constant development of urbanization implies to update studies on the effects of urban environment on animal species, and particularly on birds, as they fulfill numerous ecosystem services for humans. In that context, we studied the benefits and costs of urban life for birds, working at three different levels: biodiversity, population and individual. First, we realized a spatial study on avian biodiversity in Niort (France). We highlighted the need to maintain green and connected infrastructures in cities, to favor common species as less adapted species to urban environment. Second, we evaluated the population state of house sparrows in cities, as they are strongly declining in large European cities. With the use of a correlative study, we showed that urban environment is very stressful for developing sparrows. Moreover, the analysis of osmotic stress in experimental conditions allowed to find that adult sparrows are also sensitive to changes of environmental conditions. Third, the application of a constraint of urban environment (light pollution) on house sparrows during reproduction revealed rapid changes in individual behavior in response to this constraint. Finally, results of these different approaches show that the effects of urbanization on birds are complex, and that demographic surveys need to be coupled with precise studies of urban habitat and associated constraints to better understand the evolution of bird populations in cities
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Meillère, Alizée. "Influence de l’environnement urbain sur les passereaux : une approche éco-physiologique et éco-toxicologique." Electronic Thesis or Diss., La Rochelle, 2015. http://www.theses.fr/2015LAROS015.
Full textAbstract:
L’urbanisation grandissante est certainement à l’heure actuelle parmi les phénomènes à l’origine des changements les plus importants induits par l’homme sur notre planète, et soulève donc de nombreuses questions concernant les conséquences d’une telle perturbation de l’environnement sur la biodiversité. La vie urbaine est souvent caractérisée par des conditions jugées comme contraignantes (fragmentation, dégradation et perte d’habitats, pollutions chimiques, sonores et lumineuses accrues, etc.) pouvant avoir des effets néfastes sur les vertébrés. Cependant, les mécanismes par lesquels l’urbanisation affecte la faune sauvage sont encore très mal compris. Dans ce contexte, l’objectif central de ce doctorat est d’améliorer notre compréhension de l’influence de l’urbanisation sur les espèces de vertébrés évoluant dans les environnements urbains. Pour cela, nous avons exploré, d’une part, l’influence globale de l’urbanisation, et d’autre part, l’impact spécifique de certaines contraintes caractéristiques des milieux urbains (pollution par les métaux lourds et pollution sonore) sur les passereaux, en utilisant une approche fonctionnelle intégrant notamment des études éco-physiologiques et éco-toxicologiques. Ainsi, nous avons mis en évidence que les passereaux urbains ne sont pas contraints énergétiquement par leur environnement pendant leur vie adulte, mais qu’en revanche, les conditions fortement modifiées des milieux urbains pourraient contraindre les individus pendant leur développement. De plus, nous avons montré que l’urbanisation est effectivement associée à une contamination par les métaux lourds plus importante, et surtout que des niveaux plus élevés de ces contaminants sont associés à des niveaux de corticostérone plus élevés (degrés de stress plus importants). Enfin, l’étude expérimentale de l’impact de la pollution sonore sur des paramètres très souvent négligés jusque-là (développement, physiologie, comportement anti-prédateur), nous a permis de montrer que le bruit d’origine anthropique pouvait avoir des effets particulièrement complexes sur le développement des vertébrés avec de possibles conséquences à long terme. L’ensemble de ces travaux soulignent l’importance d’évaluer l’impact des perturbations d’origine anthropique sur le développement phénotypique des individus afin de mieux comprendre l’influence de l’environnement urbain sur les populations de vertébrésConsistent expanding urbanization is certainly among the most important human-induced environmental changes facing our planet today, and thus raises important questions regarding the consequences of such environmental disturbance on biodiversity. Urban life is often characterized by constraining environmental conditions (e.g., fragmentation, degradation and loss of habitats, increased noise, light, and chemical pollutions) that can have detrimental effects on wild vertebrates. However, the mechanisms through which urbanization affects wildlife are still poorly understood. In this context, the main objective of this doctoral research is to improve our understanding of the influence of urbanization on vertebrate species that are able to live in urban environments. To this end, we explored both the global influence of urbanization and the impact of specific factors associated with urban life (heavy metals and noise pollutions) on passerine birds, using a mechanistic approach including eco-physiological and eco-toxicological studies. We demonstrated that urban passerines are not energetically constrained by their environment during their adult life, but conversely, that the altered environmental conditions of urban environments could constrain individuals during their development. Furthermore, we showed that urbanization is indeed associated with an increased heavy metal contamination, and most importantly, that higher levels of these contaminants are related to higher corticosterone levels (i.e., elevated stress levels). Finally, using an experimental approach to study the impact of noise pollution on several parameters that have often been overlooked (development, physiology, anti-predator behaviour), we showed that anthropogenic noise can have particularly complex effects on vertebrate’s development, with possible life-long consequences for developing birds. Overall, our results emphasize the importance of investigating the impact of human-induced environmental changes on the phenotypic development of individuals to better understand the influence of urban environments on vertebrate populations
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Clement, Michelle Elaine. "Cutaneous Water Loss and Covalently Bound Lipids of the Stratum Corneum in Adult and Nestling House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) from Desert and Mesic Habitats." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306941870.
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Dupont, Sophie. "Influence des conditions de développement sur le phénotype des oiseaux, de l’éclosion à l’âge adulte." Thesis, La Rochelle, 2019. http://www.theses.fr/2019LAROS019.
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Le développement post-natal est une étape cruciale pour le reste de la vie d’un individu car c’est à ce moment que sont finalisées et maturées les fonctions physiologiques et comportementales individuelles et que la morphologie finale est acquise. Toute contrainte ou tout stress perçu par la progéniture pendant cette période peut avoir des conséquences morphologiques, physiologiques et/ou comportementales non négligeables à court mais aussi à long terme. In fine, c’est alors sa fitness qui peut être affectée par la qualité des conditions de développement subies. Ce doctorat vise à améliorer notre compréhension de l’importance des conditions environnementales abiotiques (climat, dérangement anthropique et exposition à un pesticide) et des soins parentaux rencontrés durant la croissance sur la qualité des poussins produits. Grâce à l’étude des marqueurs du stress et de l’allostasie (réponse au stress et longueur des télomères) chez des poussins d’Albatros à sourcils noirs et de Pétrel des neiges, nous avons pu démontrer, dans un premier temps, qu’à court terme, la qualité des soins parentaux – approximée par l’âge des individus reproducteurs – était un facteur très important pour la mise en place du phénotype du poussin. Dans un second temps, la manipulation des taux de corticostérone durant le développement chez des poussins de Moineau domestique (mimant une contrainte développementale) semble impacter à long terme les performances individuelles. En effet, à l’âge adulte, une réduction du métabolisme et des dépenses énergétiques, une réduction de l’attractivité sexuelle et une augmentation de l’investissement parental ont été mis en évidence. Au vu des résultats obtenus dans le cadre de ce doctorat, nous discutons de l’influence des conditions de développement sur la fitness des individus en s’appuyant sur les hypothèses évolutives détaillées dans la littérature scientifiquePost-natal development is a crucial step for the rest of life. Indeed, individual physiological and behavioral functions are set-up and matured during that life-stage and final morphology is acquired at that time. Any stress or constraint perceived by the offspring during this period can have significant morphological, physiological and/or behavioral consequences in the short but also in the long term. In fine, an individual’s fitness can be affected by the quality of its developmental conditions. This PhD aims to improve our understanding of the impact of abiotic developmental conditions (climate, human disturbance and exposure to a pesticide) and parental care on the quality of the produced chicks. Firstly, through the study of markers of stress and allostasis (stress response and telomere length) in Black-browed albatross and Snow petrel’s chicks, we demonstrated that in the short term, the quality of parental care - approximated by the age of the breeding individuals - was a major factor determining a chick’s phenotype. Secondly, the manipulation of corticosterone levels during development in House sparrow chicks (mimicking a developmental constraint) seems to have long-term impacts on individual performance. More precisely, in adulthood, I found that this experimental manipulation of developmental conditions was associated with a reduced metabolism, a reduced sexual attractiveness, and an increased parental investment during adulthood. Using the results obtained during this PhD, I discuss the influence of developmental conditions on individual fitness in an evolutionary context
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Bichet, Coraline. "Ecologie évolutive de la malaria aviaire : effets des caractéristiques de l'hôte et de l'environnement." Phd thesis, Université de Bourgogne, 2012. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00907956.
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L'étude des interactions hôtes-parasites est devenue un thème de recherche incontournable pour les sciences de l'évolution. Cette coévolution complexe dépend de nombreux compromis évolutifs et peut être grandement influencée par les facteurs environnementaux. Nous nous proposons ici d'étudier les interactions hôtes-parasites à plusieurs échelles, à travers des approches expérimentales et des études en populations naturelles, en étudiant les parasites de la malaria aviaire. Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes intéressés à l'influence des caractéristiques de l'hôte et notamment au système immunitaire. Le système immunitaire est bénéfique pour l'hôte dans sa lutte contre le parasite, mais peut également engendrer des coûts immunopathologiques. Des traits d'histoire de vie, comme l'âge ou le statut social peuvent modifier la parasitémie au sein des hôtes, sans toutefois avoir d'effet sur la prévalence. Dans un second temps, l'effet de certains facteurs environnementaux a été évalué au sein des interactions hôtes-parasites. La température et la contamination en métaux lourds ont un effet sur la prévalence dans les populations, mais n'affectent pas la parasitémie. Au cours de cette thèse, nous avons également montré l'influence directe des parasites sanguins sur la structure génétique des populations hôtes, notamment au niveau des gènes du CMH.
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Msimanga, Audrey Ottilia. "The evolution of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) in southern Africa." Thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10413/4254.
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The house sparrow, Passer domesticus, is one of the most successful invading bird species in the world. It was introduced to southern Africa around 1900 and has since spread through the region. Its dispersal was characterised by an initial slow phase followed by a rapid increase in the rate of spread. Following 50 years of slow spread, the rate of dispersal accelerated to over 80 km/year. The initial slow rate can be attributed to an Allee effect, defined as "a disproportionate reduction in reproduction below a threshold population density due to reduced probability of finding a mate". The rapid phase involved a combination of long-range jumps (leap-frogging dispersal) and diffusive movement over short distances. Dispersal was significantly faster along railway lines. Introduction of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, to southern Africa involved unknown numbers of both the domesticus race of Europe and indicus of Asia, resulting in the establishment of a genetically diverse founder population along coastal South Africa. The birds have undergone significant differentiation since introduction about 100 years ago. Significant sexual size dimorphism was detected among southern African house sparrows, especially in flight structures. Males were larger than females in all characters except tarsus and claw length. Overall body size variation was clinaly ordered with a general increase in size with latitude in conformity with Bergmann's rule. Tarsus length also increased southwards, with the longest tarsi in birds of coastal sites in South Africa and the shortest in Zimbabwe. Patterns of variation in morphological characters paralleled climatic trends, especially minimum temperature and humidity. Beak size and shape of Zimbabwean birds appeared to be under the greatest influence of climatic factors. Shorter and more conicaly shaped beaks were selected for in females in Zimbabwe. Natural selection was modifying the morphological characters resulting in adaptive radiation in morphology of southern African populations. Few studies of microevolution (change in morphology over a short period) have been conducted in birds and none in invading bird species in the tropics. A founding population comprising both the Asian and the European races of the house sparrow, P. d. domesticus and P. d. indicus first arrived in Zimbabwe 30 years ago. Because of its recent introduction to Zimbabwe and because of its known potential for rapid adaptation and differentiation elsewhere in its new range, the house sparrow provided the ideal case study in microevolution in tropical Africa. Morphological differentiation in Zimbabwean populations of the house sparrow was analysed to determine temporal variation in local samples and the extent of variation from parent populations of Asia and Europe. Samples collected since arrival in Zimbabwe up to 1980 were compared with those collected from current populations in 1998/1999 to determine local changes over time. The Zimbabwean samples were then contrasted with samples from Asian and European populations to determine the extent of differentiation in the introduced birds of Zimbabwe. Zimbabwean populations had differentiated from their Asian parents in six of the seven morphological characters examined. The greatest differentiation was in beak size and shape for both males and females. Males developed larger beaks and shorter wings than the Asian birds and female beaks became more conical. A large proportion of the potential phenetic diversity of the founding population of both domesticus and indicus genes had been realised in Zimbabwe.Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.
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Salwiczek, Lucie H. [Verfasser]. "Immanuel Kant's sparrow : an integrative approach to canary-like singing house sparrows (Passer domesticus) / vorgelegt von Lucie H. Salwiczek." 2004. http://d-nb.info/972090088/34.
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