Article
Neurosciences
Jasmien E. M. J. Orije, Sander R. Raymaekers, Gaurav Majumdar, Geert De Groof, Elisabeth Jonckers, Gregory F. Ball, Marleen Verhoye, Veerle M. Darras, Annemie van der Linden
Summary: Thyroid hormones play a role in the seasonal regulation of reproduction, and this study investigates their potential effects on song behavior and neuroplasticity in songbirds. The expression of thyroid hormone regulating genes in the song nucleus HVC suggests an active role of thyroid hormones during the photosensitive phase. Hypothyroidism affects song behavior and neuroplasticity, leading to decreased testosterone levels and impaired myelination. This study provides insights into the influence of thyroid hormones on seasonal neuroplasticity.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina C. Stuart, Richard J. Edwards, William B. Sherwin, Lee A. Rollins
Summary: This study examines the genetic diversity within the invasive European starling and finds that structural variants can have a complex impact on adaptation under new selection regimes, and their effects do not always align with SNP diversity.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Paul R. Cabe
Summary: European starlings are abundant and frequently found in close association with human development and agriculture. They may play a role in harboring and dispersing enteric bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Campylobacter jejuni, especially in dairy farms, concentrated animal feeding operations, and other intensive livestock agriculture.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina C. Stuart, Adam P. A. Cardilini, Phillip Cassey, Mark F. Richardson, William B. Sherwin, Lee A. Rollins, Craig D. H. Sherman
Summary: A study on invasive common starlings in Australia revealed genetic differentiation and responses to selective pressures, with isolation by distance playing a significant role in genetic substructure. Factors such as aridity, precipitation, and temperature were found to potentially drive adaptive variation in the starling's invasive range. Historical introduction regimes may impact sites under adaptive selection, highlighting the importance of critical interpretation of selection analyses in non-native populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Richard D. Woods, John P. Swaddle, Stuart Bearhop, Kendrew Colhoun, William H. Gaze, Suzanne M. Kay, Robbie A. McDonald
Summary: Sonic Nets, by broadcasting pink noise within the frequency range of target species' vocalizations, have demonstrated significant and sustained effects in reducing the presence and flock sizes of European starlings, a pest species associated with livestock operations.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Jessica N. Schlarbaum, Joshua M. Hull, Sara M. Kross
Summary: Artificial nest boxes have been instrumental in the conservation efforts of American Kestrels worldwide, but inadvertently, they have also benefited other cavity-nesting species such as the European Starling. To address this issue, we tested five different methods to deter European Starlings from occupying our nest boxes, and found that spraying eggs with food-grade corn oil and cracking eggs were the most effective strategies. We recommend using egg oiling or egg cracking in future American Kestrel nest box programs in this region.
JOURNAL OF RAPTOR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina C. Stuart, Richard J. Edwards, Yuanyuan Cheng, Wesley C. Warren, David W. Burt, William B. Sherwin, Natalie R. Hofmeister, Scott J. Werner, Gregory F. Ball, Melissa Bateson, Matthew C. Brandley, Katherine L. Buchanan, Phillip Cassey, David F. Clayton, Tim De Meyer, Simone L. Meddle, Lee A. Rollins
Summary: This study presents the genome assembly and transcriptome data of the European starling, providing valuable resources for population genetic and evolutionary research. The researchers used multiple techniques to generate high-quality genome assemblies and demonstrated the effectiveness of a new tool. This work expands our understanding of avian genomes and offers tools for evaluating and improving genome quality.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marina Papadopoulou, Hanno L. Hildenbrandt, Daniel W. E. Sankey, Steven L. Portugal, Charlotte Hemelrijk
Summary: This study analyzes GPS data of pigeon flocks under attack by a robotic predator and uses computer simulations to study their collective escape. The study reveals that pigeon flock members turn away from the predator more frequently the closer the predator gets, which is a distance-dependent pattern. This pattern emerges through self-organization and coordination among individuals, with an increasing consensus over the escape direction as the predator gets closer.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jeremy W. L. Ellis, J. Jeffrey A. Root, Loredana M. McCurdy, Kevin T. R. Bentler, Nicole L. Barrett, Kaci K. R. VanDalen, Katherine L. Dirsmith, Susan A. R. Shriner
Summary: European starlings may act as a bridge host for avian influenza viruses when sharing water with infected waterfowl, but are unlikely to maintain infections within their own species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vanina D. Fiorini, Marisol Dominguez, Juan C. Reboreda, John P. Swaddle
Summary: The study found that introduced populations of European starlings in the USA and Argentina have lower genetic diversity, with starlings in Argentina exhibiting the highest level of FA.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Jonathan A. Walter, Daniel C. Reuman, Kimberly R. Hall, Herman H. Shugart, Lauren G. Shoemaker
Summary: Population spatial synchrony, influenced by the Moran effect, is important for metapopulation stability. The impact of seasonality in environmental conditions and population processes on population spatial synchrony is uncertain due to inconsistent assumptions about synchrony over annual sampling intervals.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Clare Andrews, Jonathon Dunn, Daniel Nettle, Melissa Bateson
Summary: Individual differences in interval timing imprecision, specifically fixed and proportional components, are linked to impulsivity, with greater fixed imprecision associated with more impulsive choices and greater proportional imprecision associated with fewer impulsive choices. This study suggests that understanding the role of timing imprecision in impulsivity may help clarify contradictory observations in the literature.
Article
Infectious Diseases
J. Jeffrey Root, Jeremy W. Ellis, Susan A. Shriner
Summary: The study experimentally manipulated the flock size of European starlings to assess the potential of influenza A virus transmission to bobwhite quail. It provided evidence that even relatively small flocks of starlings can collectively transmit the virus to highly susceptible gallinaceous bird species. Future research should assess if starlings can transmit IAVs to other poultry species commonly found in backyard or free-range settings.
TRANSBOUNDARY AND EMERGING DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Fredrick Dallas Jordan, Scott A. A. Shaffer, Melinda G. G. Conners, Julia E. F. Stepanuk, Morgan E. E. Gilmour, Corey A. A. Clatterbuck, Elliott L. L. Hazen, Daniel M. M. Palacios, Yann Tremblay, Michelle Antolos, David G. G. Foley, Steven J. J. Bograd, Daniel P. P. Costa, Lesley H. H. Thorne
Summary: Understanding the spatial distributions and resource partitioning of Laysan and black-footed albatross during the post-breeding period is crucial for their conservation efforts. This study reveals consistent segregation between the two species across different breeding colonies and highlights the importance of considering multiple colonies and temporal periods in the study of pelagic seabirds.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Henning Heldbjerg, Anthony D. Fox, Thorsten J. S. Balsby, Peder V. Thellesen
Summary: This study investigated the night-brooding behavior of breeding Common Starlings. The results showed that male Starlings would roost far from the nesting site once the nestlings achieved thermal independence, while female Starlings would continue to night-brood the offspring. The study also found no direct correlation between night-brooding and temperature.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
James A. Klarevas-Irby, Damien R. Farine
Summary: Little is known about how animals overcome temporal constraints on movement during dispersal. This study used GPS tracking of vulturine guineafowl and found that dispersers showed the greatest increase in movement at the same times of day when they moved the most prior to dispersal. These findings suggest that individuals face the same ecological constraints during dispersal as they do in daily life and achieve large displacements by maximizing movement when conditions are most favorable.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Simone Ciaralli, Martina Esposito, Stefano Francesconi, Daniela Muzzicato, Marco Gamba, Matteo Dal Zotto, Daniela Campobello
Summary: Male cuckoos may transfer nest location information to females as a nonmaterial nuptial gift through specific postures and behaviors, potentially influencing mating choices of female cuckoos.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Anne E. Aulsebrook, Rowan Jacques-Hamilton, Bart Kempenaers
Summary: Accelerometry and machine learning have been used to quantify mating behaviors of captive male ruffs. Different machine learning methods were compared and evaluated for their classification performance. The study highlights the challenges and potential pitfalls in classifying mating behaviors using accelerometry and provides recommendations and considerations for future research.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Maria G. Smith, Joshua B. LaPergola, Christina Riehl
Summary: This study analyzed individual contributions to parental care in the greater ani bird and found that workload inequality varied between groups of two and three pairs. However, there was no clear evidence of division of labour within the groups, suggesting individual differences in overall work performed.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Noah M. T. Smith, Reuven Dukas
Summary: Winner and loser effects are observed in many animals, and recent experiments suggest that they may also occur in humans. In two experiments involving video games and reading comprehension, participants who won in the first phase performed significantly better in the second phase compared to those who lost. The effect size was larger in the video game experiment, and men and women showed similar magnitudes of winner and loser effects.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Bianca J. L. Marcellino, Peri Yee, Shannon J. Mccauley, Rosalind L. Murray
Summary: This study examines the trade-off between mating effort and thermoregulatory behavior in dragonflies in response to temperature changes, and investigates the effect of wing melanin on these behaviors. The results indicate that as temperature increases, dragonflies reduce their mating effort and increase their thermoregulatory behavior.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Rafael Rios Moura, Paulo Inacio Prado, Joao Vasconcellos-Neto
Summary: This study examined the escape behavior and decision-making of Aglaoctenus castaneus spiders on different substrates. It was found that spiders inhabiting injurious substrates displayed shorter flight initiation distances and lower sensitivity to predators.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Luigi Baciadonna, Cwyn Solvi, Francesca Terranova, Camilla Godi, Cristina Pilenga, Livio Favaro
Summary: In this study, it was found that African penguins could use ventral dot patterns to recognize their lifelong partner and nonpartner colonymates. This challenges the previous assumption of limited visual involvement in penguin communication, highlighting the complex and flexible recognition process in birds.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nick A. R. Jones, Jade Newton-Youens, Joachim G. Frommen
Summary: Environmental conditions, particularly temperature, have a significant impact on animal behavior. This study focused on aggression in Neolamprologus pulcher fish and found that aggression rates increased with temperature at lower levels, but decreased after reaching a peak. Additionally, the influence of high temperatures on aggression changed over time during the trials. These findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of the short-term effects of temperature on aggression and highlight the importance of considering non-linear changes in thermal performance.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Bruno Herlander Martins, Andrea Soriano-Redondo, Aldina M. A. Franco, Ines Carry
Summary: Human activities have affected the availability of resources for wildlife, particularly through the provision of anthropogenic food subsidies at landfill sites. This study explores the influence of age on landfill attendance and foraging behavior in white storks. Adult storks visit landfills more frequently and show dominance over juveniles in food acquisition. Juveniles have limited access to landfill resources and are forced to use lower quality areas.
