Journal articles on the topic 'Malurus coronatus'

Knowledge of population structure and patterns of connectivity is required to implement effective conservation measures for the purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus), a threatened endemic of northern Australia. This study aimed to identify barriers to dispersal across the distribution of M. coronatus, investigate the impact that the recent declines may have on population connectivity, and propose conservation actions to maintain natural patterns of gene flow. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences from 87 M. coronatus identified two phylogenetic clusters that corresponded with the phenotypically defined western (M. c. coronatus) and eastern (M. c. macgillivrayi) subspecies. The genetic divergence between these subspecies was consistent with isolation by a natural barrier to gene flow, and supports their separate conservation management. Within the declining M. c. coronatus, the lack of genetic divergence and only slight morphological difference between remnant populations indicates that populations were recently linked by gene flow. It is likely that widespread habitat degradation and the recent extirpation of M. c. coronatus from the Ord River will disrupt connectivity between, and dynamics within, remnant populations. To prevent further declines, conservation of M. coronatus must preserve areas of quality habitat and restore connectivity between isolated populations.

We investigate the population genetic structure of the declining western subspecies of the purple-crowned fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus coronatus) in order to guide conservation management recommendations for this riparian habitat specialist. Our analysis of multilocus microsatellite data, from 79 individuals sampled from across the species’ range, indicates that M. c. coronatus occurs as genetically differentiated subpopulations that correspond to catchment boundaries or expansive gaps in habitat along waterways. The genetic similarity of large populations of fairy-wrens on four catchments (Fitzroy, Durack, Drysdale and Victoria) indicates widespread recent gene flow, whereas the high genetic distinctiveness of the Bindoola and Isdell catchments may reflect the current geographic isolation of these smaller populations. Genetic differentiation of these smaller geographically isolated populations affirms the negative effect that habitat degradation and fragmentation can have on population connectivity. A regional-scale approach to conservation with a focus on preventing degradation and enhancing connectivity may be critical to safeguard the persistence of M. c. coronatus subpopulations.

Allozyme variation at 39 presumptive loci was screened across 180 specimens representing 18 species of Australo-Papuan fairy-wrens (Maluridae). The results identified two major clusters within Malurus. One comprised M. cyaneus, M. splendens, M. coronatus, M. melanocephalus, M. leucopterus and M. alboscapulatus. The other comprisedM. lamberti, M. amabilis, M. pulcherrimus and M. elegans. M. grayi and M. cyanocephalus were variously associated with these two assemblages. Most analyses aligned Clytomias with Malurus relative to Stipiturus. The findings from the present study indicate that allozyme data are well suited to phylogenetic inference whether analysed as distances or as discrete characters, provided that only relatively robust branches are accepted. When only such branches were considered there was complete congruence between the analyses. Nevertheless, congruence per se between analyses was not necessarily a reflection of robust branching patterns, as illustrated by the position of Clytomias. Of analyses with discrete characters, those that treated loci as characters and the commonest allele as the state appeared to be a particularly effective approach, provided that the distribution of discarded alleles in the initial topology is considered a posteriori. The allozyme data confirmed several previously accepted lineages, and identified surprising new links between several taxa as well. These links were supported biogeographically and, in some aspects, morphologically. Those phylogenetic nodes that were poorly resolved can now be tested by more sensitive DNA-based approaches. By using allozymes to establish robust clades and then to identify areas in need of further resolution, DNA-based studies can be focused better on phylogenetic problem areas, thereby promoting more efficient use of time and resources.

Although crucial for host survival when facing persistent parasite pressure, costly immune functions will inevitably compete for resources with other energetically expensive traits such as reproduction. Optimizing, but not necessarily maximizing, immune function might therefore provide net benefit to overall host fitness. Evidence for associations between fitness and immune function is relatively rare, limiting our potential to understand ultimate fitness costs of immune investment. Here, we assess how measures of constitutive immune function (haptoglobin, natural antibodies, complement activity) relate to subsequent fitness outcomes (survival, reproductive success, dominance acquisition) in a wild passerine ( Malurus coronatus ). Surprisingly, survival probability was not positively linearly predicted by any immune index. Instead, both low and high values of complement activity (quadratic effect) were associated with higher survival, suggesting that different immune investment strategies might reflect a dynamic disease environment. Positive linear relationships between immune indices and reproductive success suggest that individual heterogeneity overrides potential resource reallocation trade-offs within individuals. Controlling for body condition (size-adjusted body mass) and chronic stress (heterophil-lymphocyte ratio) did not alter our findings in a sample subset with available data. Overall, our results suggest that constitutive immune components have limited net costs for fitness and that variation in immune maintenance relates to individual differences more closely.

Abstract Predation is a major cause of mortality and nest failure in birds. Cooperative predator defense can enhance nest success and adult survival but, because it is inherently risky, dynamic risk assessment theory predicts that individuals modify defense behavior according to the risk posed by the predator. Parental investment theory, on the other hand, predicts that reproductive payoffs (brood value) determine investment in nest defense. We propose that, in cooperative breeders, fitness benefits deriving from the survival of other group members may additionally influence defense behavior (social group benefits theory). We tested predictions of these theories in the cooperatively breeding purple-crowned fairy-wren, Malurus coronatus, where brood value is higher for breeders, but social group benefits more important for helpers. We recorded experimentally induced individual defense behaviors in response to predator models presented near nests, representing differing levels of threat to nests and adults. As predicted, 1) individuals engaged in less risky defenses when encountering a more dangerous predator (dynamic risk assessment theory); 2) individuals defended older broods more often, and breeders defended more than helpers (parental investment theory); and 3) helpers were more likely to respond to a predator of adults (social group benefits theory). Our findings highlight that predator defense in cooperative breeders is complex, shaped by the combination of immediate risk and multiple benefits.

Abstract The evolution of ornaments as sexually selected signals is well understood in males, but female ornamentation remains understudied. Fairy wrens offer an excellent model system, given their complex social structure and mating systems, and the diversity of female ornamentation. We investigated whether early molt into ornamental breeding plumage plays an adaptive role in females of the monogamous purple-crowned fairy wren Malurus coronatus, the only fairy wren known to have female seasonal plumage. Using 6 years of monitoring, we found that the timing of female molt was similar to males, but there was no evidence for assortative mating. Like males (previous study), older and dominant individuals acquired their breeding plumage earlier; however, in contrast to males, early molt did not seem to be costly since unfavorable environmental conditions or previous reproductive effort did not delay molt. Early female molt was not associated with any indicator of reproductive quality nor did it attract additional offspring care by their partners. We also found no association between early molt and the likelihood of acquiring a dominant (breeding) position or with the presence or proximity to same-sex rivals. Our study results, which are similar to previous findings in conspecific males, suggest that directional selection for early molt might be relaxed in this species, in contrast to other genetically polygamous fairy wrens in which early molt predicts extrapair mating success in males. However, the finding that molt timing is status dependent raises the possibility that other attributes of the ornament may fulfill an adaptive function in females.

Plants in the genus Malus Mill. are grown in temperate regions for fruit crops such as apple and ornamental landscape plants such as flowering crab apple. Gymnosporangium yamadae Miyabe ex G. Yamada, cause of Japanese apple rust, is known to attack economically important species of Malus in Asia. In August 2004 and July 2008, the aecial stage of a rust fungus was observed in Wilmington, DE and nearby in Media, PA on leaves of toringo crab apple (Malus toringo (Siebold) Siebold ex de Vriese), a cultivated plant native to Asia. On the basis of morphological and molecular characteristics, the fungus was identified as G. yamadae. This pathogen has not been previously reported in North America. The identification was confirmed by morphological comparisons with specimens of G. yamadae from Asia and descriptions (1–3) as well as using the D1/D2 domain of 28S rDNA sequence data G. clavariiforme (GenBank Accession No. AR426211), G. clavipes (GenBank Accession No. DQ354545), G. cornutum (GenBank Accession No. AF426210), G. juniperi-virginianae (GenBank Accession Nos. AF522167, AY629316, and DQ354547), G. libocedri (GenBank Accession No. AF522168), G. sabinae (GenBank Accession Nos. AF426209 and AY512845) and G. yamadae (GenBank Accession Nos. FJ559373 and FJ559375). The specimens from North America included aecia of G. yamadae that are foliicolous, hypophyllous, roestelioid, and 4 to 7 mm high. The peridia are yellow-brown to brown and cornute to tubular with a closed brown tip at the apex and lacerate sides; the peridial remains often form a reticulate pattern. The peridial cells are long-narrow rhomboid, 83 to 120 μm long with smooth outer walls and verrucose to echinulate inner and side walls. The aeciospores are globose, 18 to 28 × 19 to 29 μm, with a slightly coronate surface and brown-yellow walls 2 to 3 μm thick. The telia known on Juniperus spp. were not observed. The specimens were deposited in the U.S. National Fungus Collections (BPI 878846, BPI 878847, BPI 878848, and BPI 878849). The 28S rDNA sequence of G. yamadae from BPI 878849 was deposited in GenBank as Accession No. FJ455091. Aecia of G. juniperi-virginianae, cause of cedar apple rust, differ from G. yamadae in having recurved peridial walls at maturity. References: (1) F. D. Kern. A Revised Taxonomic Account of Gymnosporangium. Pennsylvania State University Press, University Park, PA, 1973. (2) S. K. Lee and M. Kakishima. Mycoscience 40:109, 1999. (3) S. K. Lee and M. Kakishima. Mycoscience 40:121. 1999.

La respuesta fenológica del manzano (Malus domestica Borkh) a la aplicación de promotores de brotación (PB), ha sido ampliamente documentada. Sin embargo, existe escasa información sobre los cambios metabólicos inducidos en las yemas por la aplicación de PB. En este estudio se evaluó la respuesta metabólica y brotación de yemas en brindillas coronadas del cultivar Golden Delicious, a la aplicación de cianamida hidrogenada (CNH) y tidiazurón (TDZ), 45 días antes de brotación normal. La actividad metabólica (q) y la velocidad de respiración (RCO2) de las yemas apicales se determinaron en laboratorio mediante calorimetría isotérmica, mientras que la respuesta de las yemas laterales y apicales se estimó registrando la brotación en campo. En laboratorio, a los 15 días de la aplicación de 10, 15 ó 20 mL L-1 de CNH, la q de las yemas tratadas superó en 19.6 % a las yemas del testigo, y con la dosis de 15 mL L-1 se aumentó en 16.6 % la RCO2 de las yemas. En campo, a los 30 días de aplicada la CNH a 20 mL L-1, la brotación de yemas apicales y laterales fue de 96 y 67 %, respectivamente, lo que representó incrementos de 2.7 y 2.2 respecto al testigo. Con TDZ a la dosis de 0.7 mL L-1, en laboratorio hubo un pequeño pero significativo aumento de 5.6 % en la q de las yemas apicales, y la RCO2 no se modificó significativamente, en comparación con el testigo. Pero en campo, a los 30 días de aplicado, el TDZ promovió significativamente la brotación tanto de las yemas apicales como de las laterales, al alcanzar valores de 96 % y de 67 %, respectivamente, que superaron al testigo por 23 y 31 %.

Telomere length (TL) shortens with age but telomere dynamics can relate to fitness components independent of age. Immune function often relates to such fitness components and can also interact with telomeres. Studying the link between TL and immune function may therefore help us understand telomere–fitness associations. We assessed the relationships between erythrocyte TL and four immune indices (haptoglobin, natural antibodies (NAbs), complement activity (CA) and heterophil-lymphocyte (HL) ratio; n = 477–589), from known-aged individuals of a wild passerine ( Malurus coronatus ). As expected, we find that TL significantly declined with age. To verify whether associations between TL and immune function were independent of parallel age-related changes (e.g. immunosenescence), we statistically controlled for sampling age and used within-subject centring of TL to separate relationships within or between individuals. We found that TL positively predicted CA at the between-individual level (individuals with longer average TL had higher CA), but no other immune indices. By contrast, age predicted the levels of NAbs and HL ratio, allowing inference that respective associations between TL and age with immune indices are independent. Any links existing between TL and fitness are therefore unlikely to be strongly mediated by innate immune function, while TL and immune indices appear independent expressions of individual heterogeneity.

Climate warming is increasingly exposing wildlife to sublethal high temperatures, which may lead to chronic impacts and reduced fitness. Telomere length (TL) may link heat exposure to fitness, particularly at early-life stages, because developing organisms are especially vulnerable to adverse conditions, adversity can shorten telomeres, and TL predicts fitness. Here, we quantify how climatic and environmental conditions during early life are associated with TL in nestlings of wild purple-crowned fairy-wrens ( Malurus coronatus ), endangered songbirds of the monsoonal tropics. We found that higher average maximum air temperature (range 31 to 45 °C) during the nestling period was associated with shorter early-life TL. This effect was mitigated by water availability (i.e., during the wet season, with rainfall), but independent of other pertinent environmental conditions, implicating a direct effect of heat exposure. Models incorporating existing information that shorter early-life TL predicts shorter lifespan and reduced fitness showed that shorter TL under projected warming scenarios could lead to population decline across plausible future water availability scenarios. However, if TL is assumed to be an adaptive trait, population viability could be maintained through evolution. These results are concerning because the capacity to change breeding phenology to coincide with increased water availability appears limited, and the evolutionary potential of TL is unknown. Thus, sublethal climate warming effects early in life may have repercussions beyond individual fitness, extending to population persistence. Incorporating the delayed reproductive costs associated with sublethal heat exposure early in life is necessary for understanding future population dynamics with climate change.

Abstract A description is provided for Discostroma fuscellum (Leptosphaeria fuscella), which sometimes causes postharvest rot of apples. Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Canada (British Columbia, Ontario), USA (Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia), Chile, Venezuela, Armenia, Bhutan, China, Republic of Georgia, India (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh), Israel, Japan, Pakistan, Turkey, Australia (New South Wales), New Zealand, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Albania, Austria, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Irish Republic, Italy, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia (Kursk oblast, Leningradskaya oblast, Lipetsk oblast, Moscow oblast, Smolensk oblast, Tula oblast, Voronezh oblast), Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine and UK), hosts (Acer rubrum, Acer sp., Alnus glutinosa, Alnus sp., Amelanchier sp., Prunus tenella, Arbutus unedo, Aronia melanocarpa, Bagnisiella sp., Berberis heteropoda, Betula pubescens var. pubescens, Carpinus caroliniana, Carya sp., Catha edulis, Chaenomeles japonica, Epilobium angustifolium, Clitoria ternatea, Comptonia sp., Cornus alba, Cornus alba var. sibirica, Cornus asperifolia, Cornus florida, Cornus mas, Cornus pubescens, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Cotinus coggygria, Crataegus chrysocarpa, Crataegus laevigata, Oxyacantha mollis, Crataegus monogyna, Crataegus pinnatifida, Crataegus pinnatifida var. major, Crataegus sp., Cydonia oblonga, Dryas ajanensis subsp. beringensis, Epilobium sp., Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus sp., Euonymus europaeus, Euonymus latifolius, Fraxinus pennsylvanica var. lanceolata, Hippophae rhamnoides, Hyptis suaveolens, Juniperus communis, Juniperus sp., Kerria sp., Prunus laurocerasus, Laurus nobilis, Laurus sp., Rhododendron groenlandicum, Leucopogon sp., Malus baccata, M. domestica, M. hupehensis, M. prunifolia, M. pumila, M. pumila var. domestica, M. sylvestris, Malus sp., Mespilus sp., Paeonia suffruticosa, Paeonia sp., Pentaphylloides friedrichsenii, Philadelphus coronarius, Pimelea ligustrina, Pimelea ligustrina var. hypericina, Populus nigra, Sanguisorba minor, Prunus avium, Prunus domestica, Prunus dulcis, Prunus salicina, Prunus spinosa, Prunus sp., Pyrus communis, Pyrus sp., Quercus pubescens, Q. robur, Q. suber, Quercus sp., Rhododendron catawbiense, Rhododendron japonicum, Rhododendron sp., Ribes alpinum, Ribes americanum, Ribes aureum, Ribes floridum, Ribes frondium, Ribes sp., Rosa alba, Rosa arvensis, Rosa blanda, Rosa canina, Rosa centifolia, Rosa damascena, Rosa davidii, Rosa davurica, Rosa discolor, Rosa virginiana, Rosa multiflora, Rosa nutkana, Rosa odorata, Rosa pimpinellifolia, Rosa rubiginosa, Rosa rugosa, Rosa sherardii, Rosa woodsii, Rosa sp., Rosaceae indet., Rubus armeniacus, Rubus australis, Rubus caesius, Rubus cissoides, Rubus fruticosus, Rubus cockburnianus, Rubus idaeus, Rubus loganobaccus, Rubus macrostemonides, Rubus plicatus, Rubus strigosus, Rubus suberectus, Rubus grabowskii, Rubus inermis, Rubus ursinus, Rubus ursinus var. loganobaccus, Rubus sp., Salix alba, Salix aurita, Salix caprea, Salix fragilis, Salix exigua subsp. interior, Salix longifolia, Salix sp., Sassafras albidum, Sassafras sp., Sorbus aucuparia, Sorbus colchica, Sorbus discolor, Sorbus hostii, Sorbus hybrida, Sorbus intermedia, Sorbus aucuparia subsp. sibirica, Sorbus suecica, Sorbus torminalis, Staphylea pinnata, Staphylea trifolia, Cornus sanguinea subsp. australis, Thuja occidentalis, Ulex europaeus, Ulmus sp., Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium sp., Viburnum lentago, Viburnum tinus, Viburnum sp., Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris, Vitis vinifera and Vitis sp.) and associated fungi (Apioporthe vepris, Coryneum foliicola, Diplodia sp., Dothidea ribesia, Glomerella cingulata, Hendersonia foliorum, Pestalotiopsis sp., Phoma pomorum, Phoma sp., Diaporthe incarcerata, Saccothecium sepincola, Seimatosporium caudatum, Seimatosporium pestalozzioides, Seimatosporium rosae, Seimatosporium sp., Seiridium marginatum, Truncatella truncata and Valsa ambiens).