scholarly journals Time budget patterns and complementary use of a Mediterranean wetland (Tonga, North-east Algeria) by migrant and resident waterbirds

2016 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elafri Ali ◽  
Halassi Ismahan ◽  
Houhamdi Moussa

We carried out a quantitative description of the use of a Mediterranean wetland (Tonga, North-east Algeria) by 22 waterbirds species (11 residents and 11 Palaearctic migrants) during late summer-wintering period, also analyzing their species-specific diurnal time budgets and the main related features of the landscape. The analyses of similarity in time budgets across birds (Hierarchal Cluster Analysis) showed four clusters of species associated with four major activities: day time mostly feeding (11 species), sleeping (6), swimming (3) and resting (2). Residents (Herons and Rails) showed a higher feeding time when compared to migrants (diving ducks, Gulls and Cormorants). From late summer to winter the time budget activity change in migrants; in contrast residents behave uniformly among daytime and at the course of the season. The use of this natural wetland in a complementary way by a high number of waterbirds (residents and migrants), is principally promoted by the existing of numerous habitat types. We found that 3 main ecological units, open water body, mudflats, and flooded meadows were the most utilized as foraging habitats among grebes, rails, ducks, gulls, and herons. In contrast, floating-leafed vegetation, and tall emergent vegetation were the commonest habitat categories used in resting activities especially by cormorants and herons. Data on behaviour requirements of these waterbirds can be used for conservation and correct management of this and other Mediterranean coastal wetlands.

Author(s):  
Ole Bennike ◽  
Anker Weidick

NOTE: This article was published in a former series of GEUS Bulletin. Please use the original series name when citing this article, for example: Bennike, O., & Weidick, A. (1999). Observations on the Quaternary geology around Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, eastern North Greenland. Geology of Greenland Survey Bulletin, 183, 56-60. https://doi.org/10.34194/ggub.v183.5205 _______________ In North and North-East Greenland, several of the outlet glaciers from the Inland Ice have long, floating tongues (Higgins 1991). Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden (Fig. 1) is today occupied by a floating outlet glacier that is about 60 km long, and the fjord is surrounded by dissected plateaux with broad valleys (Thomsen et al. 1997). The offshore shelf to the east of Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden is unusually broad, up to 300 km wide (Cherkis & Vogt 1994), and recently small low islands were discovered on the western part of this shelf (G. Budeus and T.I.H. Andersson, personal communications 1998). Quaternary deposits are widespread around Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden and include glacial, glaciofluvial, marine, deltaic and ice lake deposits. Ice margin features such as kame deposits and moraines are also common (Davies 1972). The glaciation limit increases from 200 m a.s.l. over the eastern coastal islands to 1000 m in the inland areas; local ice caps and valley glaciers are common in the region, although the mean annual precipitation is only about 200 mm per year. Most of the sea in the area is covered by permanent sea ice, with pack ice further east, but open water is present in late summer in some fjords north of Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden, and in the Nordøstvandet polynia.


2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather D. Masonjones ◽  
Emily Rose ◽  
Lori Benson McRae ◽  
Danielle L. Dixson

Abstract Seagrass ecosystems worldwide have been declining, leading to a decrease in associated fish populations, especially those with low mobility such as syngnathids (pipefish and seahorses). This two-year pilot study investigated seasonal patterns in density, growth, site fidelity, and population dynamics of Tampa Bay (FL) syngnathid fishes at a site adjacent to two marinas under construction. Using a modified mark-recapture technique, fish were collected periodically from three closely located sites that varied in seagrass species (Thalassia spp., Syringodium spp., and mixed-grass sites) and their distance from open water, but had consistent physical/chemical environmental characteristics. Fish were marked, photographed for body size and gender measurements, and released the same day at the capture site. Of the 5695 individuals surveyed, 49 individuals were recaptured, indicating a large, flexible population. Population density peaks were observed in July of both years, with low densities in late winter and late summer. Spatially, syngnathid densities were highest closest to the mouth of the bay and lowest near the shoreline. Seven species of syngnathid fishes were observed, and species-specific patterns of seagrass use emerged during the study. However, only two species, Syngnathus scovelli and Hippocampus zosterae, were observed at high frequencies. For these two species, body size decreased across the study period, but while S. scovelli's population density decreased, H. zosterae's increased. Across six of the seven species, population size declined over the course of this preliminary study; however, seasonal shifts were impossible to distinguish from potential anthropogenic effects of construction.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1440
Author(s):  
Emeline Nogues ◽  
Benjamin Lecorps ◽  
Daniel M. Weary ◽  
Marina A. G. von Keyserlingk

Regrouping is associated with increased aggression, and disruption of time-budgets. Individuals vary in how well they cope with social stress. Our objective was to describe individual differences in agonistic behavior in dairy heifers after regrouping, and determine how time-budget and behavioral synchronization were affected by these coping strategies. A total of 30 heifers were individually regrouped at 5-months of age into stable groups of 12 unfamiliar animals. For 24 h, agonistic behaviors initiated and received by the regrouped heifer were continuously recorded, and standing, resting and feeding time and synchronization were sampled every 5 min. Scores of engagement in agonistic interactions and avoidance of interactions were calculated for each regrouped heifer. Linear mixed effects models were used to assess whether these two response types were related, and how variation in these responses related to activity and synchronization. Engaged heifers displayed lower avoidance and spent more time feeding. Avoidant heifers spent less time feeding and resting, and were less synchronized while feeding. We conclude that dairy heifers differ in social coping strategy when regrouped through different levels of engagement and avoidance, and that these differences affected their time-budget and behavioral synchronization.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (11) ◽  
pp. 2133-2143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard R. Buech

Comparative studies of how female and male North American beavers (Castor canadensis) allocate time provide a basis for understanding their life history. I studied the behavior of beavers living in lake habitats of a near-boreal region to determine how animals of each sex allocated time during their active periods. Markov time-budget estimates revealed that over the open-water season, adult females and males spent 91 and 86%, respectively, of time during active periods feeding, traveling, and being in the lodge. Adult females spent most of their time feeding in late spring and summer. In late summer through fall, they spent more time provisioning, working on lodges, and constructing winter food caches. In contrast, adult males spent less time feeding and more time traveling, being in the lodge, and working on the lodge in late spring and early summer. As the season progressed, adult males traveled less and spent more time feeding and working on the lodge. Overall, the results suggest that there is a division of labor in this monogamous species. Adult females seemed to function primarily as providers of energy to kits. In contrast, adult males seemed to function primarily in protection and provisioning of kits, territory maintenance, and construction and maintenance of structures.


Author(s):  
Dipayan Dey ◽  
Dipayan Dey ◽  
Ashoka Maity ◽  
Ashoka Maity

Algae has a great potential for quick capture of biological carbon and its storage in saltwater-inundated coastal wetlands and can also be introduced as a climate adaptive alternate farming practice. An intervention with native algal flora Enteromorpha sp. in enclosed coastal Sundarbans in India on two open water culture techniques, viz. U-Lock & Fish-Bone, shows that growth in native algal stock is influenced by seasonal variations of salinity and other limnological factors. Sundarbans, facing the odds of climate change is fast loosing arable lands to sea level rise. Algaculture in inundated coastal areas can be an adaptive mitigation for the same. Perusal of results show that daily growth rate (DGR%) increases with increasing salinity of the intruding tidal waters to an extent and biomass increment under salt stress results in accumulation of metabolites those are having nutrient values and can yield bio-diesel as well. Algal growth recorded mostly in post monsoon period, has impacts on pH and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) of the ambient water to facilitate integrated pisciculture. The paper suggests that alga-culture has unrealized potentials in carbon sequestration and can be significantly used for extraction of Biodiesel.


2012 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianhua Ding ◽  
Zhitao Liu ◽  
Yanling Song ◽  
Zhigao Zeng ◽  
Qiong Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Aspects of time budgets, activity patterns and rut-related changes in behavior are well documented in temperate ungulates; however, the application of this understanding to tropical and sub-tropical ungulate species has attracted less attention and remains an area that may re-shape our knowledge of ungulate behavior. Eld’s deer Cervus eldi hainanus has a tropical and sub-tropical distribution on Hainan Island, China, and males have an extended rut exceeding five months during which they do not maintain harems or defend resources. We studied males from the only remaining population on Hainan Island, and describe rut-related changes in behavior by collecting data on time budgets and activity patterns. We show that male Eld’s deer do not follow a strict crepuscular activity pattern, do not spend the majority of their time foraging and do not increase foraging nor display rut-induced hypophagia during rut, in obvious contrast to temperate ungulates. These results are discussed in light of current hypotheses explaining the proximate mechanisms governing feeding time in ungulates, while appreciating the need for further research.


2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon A. Tadesse ◽  
Burt P. Kotler

Nubian ibex (Capra nubiana) prefer steep terrain in their landscape to reduce risks of predation and human nuisance disturbances. They also use vigilance and time allocation to manage risk of predation. We studied time budgets and habitat selection of Nubian ibex to: (1) identify the habitat variables to which Nubian ibex were behaviorally responsive; (2) investigate how time budget responses of Nubian ibex were related to season, slope condition, group size, and sex-age structure; and (3) develop behavioral-based models that account for the variations in the behaviors of Nubian ibex across the landscape and seasons.To quantify time budgets, we took regular field observations on focal individuals of Nubian ibex classified according to their habitat, group size, sex, and age. For each focal observation, we quantified environmental variables that were thought to influence the behavioral responses of ibex. Then, we developed behavioral models by correlating the proportion of behaviors measured in focal animal observations to the influential environmental variables. The behaviors of Nubian ibex significantly varied with sex and age structure, season, habitat type, and slope conditions. Adult females are more vigilant than adult male ibex, especially in the spring. This correlates with breeding and nursing activities. Based on the characteristics of the habitat, ibex behave to minimize risks of predation and human nuisance disturbances while maximizing their food intake.


Author(s):  
Stephan S W Ende ◽  
Ekaterina Larceva ◽  
Mirko Bögner ◽  
Vincent Lugert ◽  
Matthew James Slater ◽  
...  

Abstract There is a tendency to farm fish in low turbidity water when production takes place in the land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). However, the effect of water turbidity on stress and performance is unknown for many species cultured in RAS. The effect of different turbidity treatments as Formazine Attenuation Units (0 FAU, 15 FAU, and 38 FAU) on feed intake performance (latency, total feeding time, and total feed intake) and physiological blood stress parameters (cortisol, lactate, and glucose) in medium-sized pikeperch ((Sander lucioperca) n = 27, undetermined sex and age) of initial body weights of 508.13g ± 83 g (at FAU 0, 15 and 38, respectively) was investigated. The rearing system consisted of 9 rectangular tanks (200 L per tank). Fish were housed individually (n = 1, per tank, n replicates per treatment = 9). All tanks were connected to a recirculation system equipped with a moving bed biofilter. Feed intake in pikeperch kept at low turbidity (0 FAU) was 25% lower than pikeperch kept at high turbidity (38 FAU) (P<0.01) and also significantly (10.5%) lower compared to feed intake in pikeperch kept at intermediate turbidity (15 FAU) (P<0.01 for 0 FAU vs 15 FAU, feed intake sign. Value as the main effect is P<0.01). Pikeperch kept at low turbidity showed significantly slower feeding response (latency time) towards pellets entering the tank, shorter feeding times (both P< 0.05), and higher glucose blood concentration (73%) in contrast to pikeperch kept at highest turbidity. A reduction of 25% feed intake has obvious economic consequences for any fish farm and present data strongly emphasize the importance of considering the species-specific biology in future RAS farming.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-73
Author(s):  
Brad T. McLeod ◽  
Gary Ritchison

Breeding is energetically costly and, if energy-limited, birds may alter their time budgets, spending less time engaged in some activities and more time in others. Investigators who have provided breeding birds with supplemental food have noted changes in time budgets, but the extent and types of changes have been found to vary among species. Our objective was to determine how food supplementation might influence the time budgets and paternity status of male Indigo Buntings (Passerina cyanea). We studied Indigo Buntings from 8 May to 15 August 2009 in Madison County, Kentucky. Territories of male Indigo Buntings (n=30) were randomly assigned as either food supplemented (n=8) or controls (n=22). During time-budget observations, all behaviours were noted. To determine paternity status, blood samples were collected from adults and nestlings at 16 nests. Males with feeders in their territories spent significantly less time foraging and more time vocalising (chip notes) than males without feeders. Time spent singing and mate guarding by treatment and control males did not differ. Differences in the proportion of extra-pair young did not differ between nests in territories with and without supplemental food. Our results suggest that, when provided with supplemental food, male Indigo Buntings spend less time foraging and more time engaged in other activities. However, neither the presence of supplemental food nor differences in the behaviour of males in food-supplemented versus non-supplemented territories affected rates of extra-pair paternity.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (46) ◽  
pp. E6331-E6338 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill L. Deppe ◽  
Michael P. Ward ◽  
Rachel T. Bolus ◽  
Robert H. Diehl ◽  
Antonio Celis-Murillo ◽  
...  

Approximately two thirds of migratory songbirds in eastern North America negotiate the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), where inclement weather coupled with no refueling or resting opportunities can be lethal. However, decisions made when navigating such features and their consequences remain largely unknown due to technological limitations of tracking small animals over large areas. We used automated radio telemetry to track three songbird species (Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Wood Thrush) from coastal Alabama to the northern Yucatan Peninsula (YP) during fall migration. Detecting songbirds after crossing ∼1,000 km of open water allowed us to examine intrinsic (age, wing length, fat) and extrinsic (weather, date) variables shaping departure decisions, arrival at the YP, and crossing times. Large fat reserves and low humidity, indicative of beneficial synoptic weather patterns, favored southward departure across the Gulf. Individuals detected in the YP departed with large fat reserves and later in the fall with profitable winds, and flight durations (mean = 22.4 h) were positively related to wind profit. Age was not related to departure behavior, arrival, or travel time. However, vireos negotiated the GOM differently than thrushes, including different departure decisions, lower probability of detection in the YP, and longer crossing times. Defense of winter territories by thrushes but not vireos and species-specific foraging habits may explain the divergent migratory behaviors. Fat reserves appear extremely important to departure decisions and arrival in the YP. As habitat along the GOM is degraded, birds may be limited in their ability to acquire fat to cross the Gulf.


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