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Pantala flavescens, probably the most widespread dragonfly on Earth, has been recorded for the first time in Poland. Two single specimens (males) were observed in middle-eastern and northern part of the country in Summer 2016. Both observation sites are the valuable completion of knowledge about the distribution of this migratory species, which had been previously found only once in Central-Eastern Europe. New data indicates possible migration routes of this species in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative contributions of genetic and social factors in shaping the living world are a crucial question in ecology. The annual migration of birds to their wintering grounds and back provides significant knowledge in this field of research. Migratory movements are predominantly genetically determined in passerine birds, while in large soaring birds, it is presumed that social (cultural) factors play the largest role. In this study, we show that genetic factors in soaring birds are more important than previously assumed. We used global positioning system (GPS)-telemetry to compare the autumn journeys and wintering ranges of two closely related large raptorial bird species, the greater spotted eagle Clanga clanga and the lesser spotted eagle Clanga pomarina, and hybrids between them. The timing of migration in hybrids was similar to that of one parental species, but the wintering distributions and home range sizes were similar to those of the other. Tracking data were supported by habitat suitability modelling, based on GPS fixes and ring recoveries. These results suggest a strong genetic influence on migration strategy via a trait-dependent dominance effect, although we cannot rule out the contribution of social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation among seven populations of Pampus echinogaster collected from the coastal waters of China was investigated based on the mitochondrial DNA control region and microsatellite molecular markers. The results revealed a high level of genetic diversity that may be related primarily to the life history traits and diverse habitats of this species. Analysis of the genetic structure and migration of P. echinogaster revealed weak genetic differentiation among populations, with an absence of a phylogeographic structure, indicating relatively high genetic homogeneity that may be associated with a recent population expansion event. The complex migratory and high dispersal ability of ichthyoplankton, as well as China's offshore circulation, may have played important roles in shaping the current genetic structure of P. echinogaster. Unlike stock division in conventional fisheries, the present study found no significant differences among the P. echinogaster populations, all of which were panmictic. Therefore, in addition to accounting for conventional fishery stocks, a comprehensive assessment should be conducted by considering the phylogenetic structure among different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatolia has become an important corridor for mammals as well as an important living space with its present state of being. This is an important example of the fact that the fossil finds are quite large despite the lack of studies. In fact, although a few localities were known for the first time in Anatolia, the first systematic studies were carried out during the "Study of Turkey's Lignite Resources", a collaboration of the MTA and the German Lignite Research Institute. Some of the identified localities were excavated in the form of rescue excavations and serious systematic excavations were carried out. Some of the identified localities were excavated in the form of rescue excavations and in some others, serious systematic excavations were carried out. But there is a serious potential that continues to disappear behind the concrete speed even though the excavations have been done. Despite the fact that more than 450 mammal fossil beds have been discovered in studies carried out to reveal the palaeomammals fossil potential of Turkey, new localities are added to this list every year as more studies are made. This study is aimed at gathering the locals of previous fossil catalog studies together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships among 102 Jatropha curcas accessions from Asia, Africa, and the Americas were assessed using the internal transcribed spacer region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA ITS). The average G + C content (65.04%) was considerably higher than the A + T (34.96%) content. The estimated genetic diversity revealed moderate genetic variation. The pairwise genetic divergences (GD) between haplotypes were evaluated and ranged from 0.000 to 0.017, suggesting a higher level of genetic differentiation in Mexican accessions than those of other regions. Phylogenetic relationships and intraspecific divergence were inferred by Bayesian inference (BI), maximum parsimony (MP), and median joining (MJ) network analysis and were generally resolved. The J. curcas accessions were consistently divided into three lineages, groups A, B, and C, which demonstrated distant geographical isolation and genetic divergence between American accessions and those from other regions. The MJ network analysis confirmed that Central America was the possible center of origin. The putative migration route suggested that J. curcas was distributed from Mexico or Brazil, via Cape Verde and then split into two routes. One route was dispersed to Spain, then migrated to China, eventually spreading to southeastern Asia, while the other route was dispersed to Africa, via Madagascar and migrated to China, later spreading to southeastern Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Celebochoerus is a unique suid having extremely large upper tusks, and which was to date only known from the Pliocene-Pleistocene of Sulawesi Island in Indonesia. Here, we report on the discovery of a canine fragment referable to Celebochoerus from the Cagayan Valley of Luzon, Northern Philippines. We name a new species, Celebochoerus cagayanensis nov. sp., which differs from the Sulawesi species Celebochoerus heekereni in having mesial and distal enamel bands on the upper canines. We see these characteristics as symplesiomorphic in suids and propose a migration route from the Philippines to Sulawesi, possibly out of Taiwan, which would have occurred independently from the better known Pleistocene migration route from India into Java. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avian Diseases is the property of American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A method for comparing two migration routes is introduced. In the method are needed approximations of the average daily positions which are computed based on averages of dates and of positions in a window sliding through the encounters ordered in ascending order by date. The method contains two tests. The first, global, test statistic compares the entire migration routes and is the average of the distances between the daily positions of the two routes to be compared. The second test is used to identify sections during migration where the routes may deviate and is based on consecutive averages of the distances of short time periods between the daily positions of the two routes. A randomization test is used to assess the statistical significance of the test statistics in both components. The methods are applied to artificial and real data. Examples of the use of the method are computed with data sets of ring recoveries of Common terns (Sterna hirundo) and Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) ringed in Finland in 1930-2002.

Long-distance migratory birds travel more rapidly in spring than in autumn, as they face temporal breeding constraints. However, several species travel slower in spring owing to environmental influences, such as food availability and wind conditions. GPS trackers were attached to 17 Whooper Swans (Cygnus cygnus) inhabiting northeastern Mongolia, to determine their migration routes and stopover sites in spring and autumn. Differences between spring and autumn migrations, migration-influencing parameters, and the effect of spring stopover site temperatures were analyzed. Six swans completed perfect tours between their wintering and breeding sites, and these data were used for analysis. Spring migration lasted 57 days, with 49.2 days spent at 3.7 stopover sites. Autumn migration lasted 21.5 days, with 17.5 days spent at 1.0 stopover sites. Thus, the swans traveled more rapidly in autumn than in spring. Migration distance, number of stopovers, migration speed, and straightness were important migration determinants in both spring and autumn. Migration distance, stopover duration, number of stopovers, daily travel speed, travel duration, and migration speed differed significantly between spring and autumn. During spring migration, the temperature at the current stopover sites and that at the future stopover sites displayed significant variations (t ​= ​1585.8, df ​= ​631.6, p ​< ​0.001). These findings are critical for the conservation and management of Whooper Swans and their key habitats in East Asian regions, and the data are anticipated to make a particularly significant contribution toward developing detailed management plans for the conservation of their key habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Le contexte migratoire du bassin de la Loire se distingue par sa diversité hydroécologique et son extension géographique. Ce réseau hydrographique issu de massifs anciens offre un potentiel important pour les poissons migrateurs, comme en témoignent les éléments historiques de production des pêcheries ligériennes. Sa richesse spécifique est conservée pour l'essentiel mais l'état de ses populations de grands migrateurs est fortement dégradé au plan quantitatif. Les facteurs limitants de ces stocks résultent de l'effet cumulatif des impacts qui jalonnent les circuits de migration et qui augmentent avec la dimension du bassin. Si les axes ligériens ont été relativement épargnés par les grands aménagements hydrauliques, ils n'en sont pas moins affectés par de nombreux obstacles ralentissant les migrations jusqu'à compromettre l'accès aux zones de production. Il en va de même de l'eutrophisation qui s'aggrave au fil des apports polluants jusqu'au bouchon vaseux de l'estuaire. Dans ces conditions, les stocks ligériens sont fortement tributaires de l'hydrologie. Les variations interannuelles de débit peuvent réduire temporairement l'emprise des facteurs limitants ou conduire, au contraire, à des situations de crise menaçant la pérennité des espèces. Outre les actions de restauration engagées depuis le début des années 1980 en matière de libre circulation et de repeuplement, des opérations « structurantes » telle que l'effacement du barrage de Maisons Rouges (Vienne) ont été réalisées dans le cadre du Plan Loire Grandeur Nature. Ces dernières doivent permettre de dépasser les seuils d'efficacité pour la reconstitution des stocks. Des signes tangibles de reconquête migratoire apparaissent sur le bassin de la Vienne. Les premiers résultats de reconstitution de stock sont quantifiés sur l'axe Allier à hauteur du Pont-barrage de Vichy, équipé de stations de contrôle. Cependant la réalisation des objectifs et l'évaluation des résultats à l'échelle du bassin restent conditionnées par le traitement d'un obstacle important sur chacun des trois autres axes majeurs du bassin (Loire, Vienne, Creuse) moyennant des dispositifs efficaces de franchissement et de contrôle.

As harmful element phosphorus concentrated in iron particles during reduction of oolitic iron ore， the reaction process of phosphorus migration was investigated. During the reaction process， reaction time is 80 min and reaction temperature are 1200， 1225， 1250 and 1275℃， respectively. Phosphorus distribution are analyzed in slag phase and metal phase and phosphorus migration route is also discussed. The results show below 1225℃ phosphorus content gradually increases from slag phase to phase interface， but decreases from phase interface to inner metal phase， and phosphorus content increases from phase interface to inner metal phase while temperature increases above 1250℃. Phosphorus migration route is also confirmed eventually. Firstly phosphorus exists in phosphate， phosphate reacts with carbon when the reaction begins， and then simple substance phosphorus is created and migrates into metal phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following flooding peaks in the Beni River, a massive upstream migration event involving juvenile pencil catfish ( Trichomycterus barbouri) or chipi chipi is described for the first time. The annual migration begins in the floodplains of the Beni River, where enormous schools of juveniles form to travel upstream through the straits of the last foothills of the Andes into Andean foothill forest streams and rivers. Observations and local knowledge suggest a migration distance of at least 370 km over an average of 32 days in February and March with an average speed of 12 km/day. The migrating juveniles weigh less than 0.38 g and measure less than 33 mm in standard length. As such, considering body length and body weight to distance travelled ratios they are one have one of the greatest migration efforts of any freshwater fish. Local people harvest juveniles across the migration route, but especially in Rurrenabaque, where they are considered a seasonal dish. This scientific revelation highlights the Amazon as a place where natural phenomena are still being discovered, described and documented in an era when hydroelectric infrastructure threatens the ecology of many aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Biology is the property of Instituto Internacional de Ecologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Many migratory animals are experiencing rapid population declines, but migration data with the geographic scope and resolution to quantify the complex network of movements between breeding and nonbreeding regions are often lacking. Determining the most frequently used migration routes and nonbreeding regions for a species is critical for understanding population dynamics and making effective conservation decisions. We tracked the migration of individual Wood Thrushes (Hylocichla mustelina) (n = 102) from across their range with light-level geolocators and, for the first time, quantified migration routes and wintering regions for distinct breeding populations. We identified regional and species-level migratory connectivity networks for this declining songbird by combining our tracking results with range-wide breeding abundance estimates and forest cover data. More than 50% of the species occupied the eastern wintering range (Honduras to Costa Rica), a region that includes only one-third of all wintering habitat and that is undergoing intensive deforestation. We estimated that half of all Wood Thrushes in North America migrate south through Florida in fall, whereas in spring approximately 73% funnel northward through a narrow span along the central U.S. Gulf Coast (88-93°W). Identifying migratory networks is a critical step for conservation of songbirds and we demonstrated with Wood Thrushes how it can highlight conservation hotspots for regional populations and species as a whole. Conectividad de Sitios de Reproducción, Invierno y Migración del Zorzal con Base en Rastreo de Cobertura Amplia [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration detours, the spatial deviation from the shortest route, are a widespread phenomenon in migratory species, especially if barriers must be crossed. Moving longer distances causes additional efforts in energy and time, and to be adaptive, this should be counterbalanced by favorable condition en route. We compared migration patterns of nightingales that travelled along different flyways from their European breeding sites to the African nonbreeding sites. We tested for deviations from shortest routes and related the observed and expected routes to the habitat availability at ground during autumn and spring migration. All individuals flew detours of varying extent. Detours were largest and seasonally consistent in western flyway birds, whereas birds on the central and eastern flyways showed less detours during autumn migration, but large detours during spring migration (eastern flyway birds). Neither migration durations nor the time of arrival at destination were related to the lengths of detours. Arrival at the breeding site was nearly synchronous in birds flying different detours. Flying detours increased the potential availability of suitable broad-scale habitats en route only along the western flyway. Habitat availability on observed routes remained similar or even decreased for individuals flying detours on the central or the eastern flyway as compared to shortest routes. Thus, broad-scale habitat distribution may partially explain detour performance, but the weak detour-habitat association along central and eastern flyways suggests that other factors shape detour extent regionally. Prime candidate factors are the distribution of small suitable habitat patches at local scale as well as winds specific for the region and altitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

House mice ( Mus musculus) are human commensals and have served as a primary model in biomedical, ecological and evolutionary research. Although there is detailed knowledge of the biogeography of house mice in Europe, little is known of the history of house mice in China, despite the fact that China encompasses an enormous portion of their range. In the present study, 535 house mice caught from 29 localities in China were studied by sequencing the mitochondrial D-loop and genotyping 10 nuclear microsatellite markers distributed on 10 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed two evolutionary lineages corresponding to Mus musculus castaneus and Mus musculus musculus in the south and north, respectively, with the Yangtze River approximately representing the boundary. More detailed analyses combining published sequence data from mice sampled in neighbouring countries revealed the migration routes of the two subspecies into China: M. m. castaneus appeared to have migrated through a southern route (Yunnan and Guangxi), whereas M. m. musculus entered China from Kazakhstan through the north-west border (Xinjiang). Bayesian analysis of mitochondrial sequences indicated rapid population expansions in both subspecies, approximately 4650-9300 and 7150-14 300 years ago for M. m. castaneus and M. m. musculus, respectively. Interestingly, the migration routes of Chinese house mice coincide with the colonization routes of modern humans into China, and the expansion times of house mice are consistent with the development of agriculture in southern and northern China, respectively. Finally, our study confirmed the existence of a hybrid zone between M. m. castaneus and M. m. musculus in China. Further study of this hybrid zone will provide a useful counterpart to the well-studied hybrid zone between M. m. musculus and Mus musculus domesticus in central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hengduan Mountains (henceforth H-D Mountains) on the Tibet Plateau are a distribution and diversity center for many alpine genera. We examine patterns of genetic variation in an arctic-alpine plant to evaluate the possibility that the H-D Mountains constitute the area of origin of the species as well as to uncover postglacial migration routes. 220 individuals of the arctic-alpine plant Koenigia islandica were sampled from 26 populations distributed in western China and northern Finland. DNA haplotypes were identified using restriction site analysis of two chloroplast DNA intergene spacer regions, atpB- rbcL and trnL- trnF. We examined the geographical distribution of haplotype diversity in relation to latitude, and also compared various indices of diversity in putatively glaciated and unglaciated regions. Patterns of migration were inferred using nested clade analysis. A total of 25 haplotypes were detected. High haplotype diversity was found in the H-D Mountains. H3 and its radiated haplotypes were distributed in the Himalayas. Two haplotypes were fixed concurrently in the H-D Mountains and northern Finland. High genetic diversity of K. islandica and high species diversity of K. islandica are expected in the origin area. Our observations suggest that the H-D Mountains are not only the place of origin of K. islandica, but also the refugia for K. islandica on the Tibet Plateau. What is more, the migration route for the arctic-alpine plant K. islandica must have originated in the region defined by the H-D Mountains in western China extending northward to the Arctic circumpolar, and moved westward along the Himalayas, then northward across the Altay Mountains and the Central Siberian Plateau at different time periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytogeographical study of gymnosperms in Taiwan is carried out based on reviewing data gathered from published papers on fossils, phylogeny and phylogeography. Following questions are asked. (1) How is the high degree of endemism of gymnosperm flora of Taiwan derived? (2) How many source areas of gymnosperms in Taiwan are there? (3) Is there relation between distribution pattern of endemic gymnosperms in Taiwan and those of their sister species? (4) How do gymnosperms migrate to Taiwan? In total, 28 taxa including 19 species and 9 varieties of gymnosperms are in Taiwan. Compared to the Flora of Taiwan 2nd edition, Nageia fleuryi is excluded and Pinus taiwanensis var. fragilissima is added in this paper. Species status of Calocedrus formosana and Tsuga formosana and variety status of Cunninghamia lanceolata var. konishii are retained. Scientific names are adopted for Juniperus morrisonicola instead of J. squamata and for Juniperus tsukusiensis var. taiwanensis instead of J. chinensis var. taiwanensis. According to distribution patterns, these 28 taxa may be categorized into tropical origin (TO), Southern Hemisphere origin (SMO) and Northern Hemisphere origin (NMO). Gymnosperms in Taiwan with high degree of endemism, 78.5%, may owe to woody habit, which is wider in ecological niche compared to herbaceous one and would be less sensitive to the environmental changes, and owe to temperate essence that is more easily to find shelters during temperature fluctuations. Taxa of TO and SMO are inclined to inhabit low altitudes and sporadically distributed, whereas taxa of NMO are inclined to inhabit middle to high altitudes, especially in northern and central Central Mountain Range and may be widely or restrictedly distributed. Distribution patterns of endemic taxa of NMO in Taiwan are related with those of their sister species. Taxa with sister species in higher latitudes such as Japan, northwestern China and central China are distributed in higher altitudes with midpoint of altitudinal distribution over 1800 m, while those with sister species in lower latitudes such as South China, southern South China, southeastern China are distributed in lower altitudes with midpoint of altitudinal distribution under 2000 m. Most fossil histories of endemic taxa of NMO may trace back to Asia or North America (NAM) except Juniperus morrisonicola that may trace back to Europe. For those traced back to NAM, ancestors in NAM migrated to northeastern Asia via Biringia, from where dispersed southward either to Japan, or to northern China and then to central and eastern China. From Japan, ancestors either migrated southward through the Ryukyus to Taiwan if sister species were restricted to Japan, or they might have dispersed to continental Asia and evolved when Japan was a part of continental Asia and further migrated southward via East China Sea's land bridge to Taiwan. From central or eastern China, ancestors migrated southward either via East China Sea's land bridge or through southeastern China via Tungshan land bridge to Taiwan. Ancestors in Europe migrated southward to the Himalayas, from where through the Yun-Kue Plateau, Nanling via Tungshan land bridge to Taiwan. Southwestern China (SWC) plus IndoChina is both refuge and dispersal center. Taxa of SMO might have dispersed from the South Hemisphere through southeastern Asia to IndoChina, from where migrated either through southern South China via South China Sea's land bridge to southern Taiwan, or through South China via Tungshan land bridge to central Taiwan. If taxa of NMO share short genetic distance with their sister species in SWC, their migration routes would be like those of SMO. However, if taxa of NMO share longer genetic distance with their sister species in SWC, one lineage of their ancestors, possibly distributed in central China then, migrated through southeastern China via Tungshan land bridge to Taiwan while another lineage in central China further dispersed to SWC and produced disjunct distribution patterns. Taxa of gymnosperms in Taiwan distributed in higher altitudes are inclined to have sister species distributed in higher latitudes. However, horizontal distribution patterns of gymnosperms in Taiwan may be blurred by long history of colonization. Thus horizontal distribution patterns can only be explained by obtaining more data on fossils and paleogeography of such taxa in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species that exhibit intraspecific variation in migratory behavior provide a valuable opportunity to study the evolution of avian migration. The Northern Boobook ( Ninox japonica) has two subspecies in East Asia, one sedentary ( N. j. totogo) and one migratory ( N. j. japonica). The validity and residential status of the two subspecies has never been examined through genetic analysis. Their coexistence in Taiwan provides an excellent opportunity to explore their genetic differentiation and migratory behavior. Analyzing the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene of 77 samples including ascertained breeders, ascertained migrants, and topotypes of the sedentary N. j. totogo from Lanyu, we found a coexistence of two clades with a 1.72 % sequence divergence, and both clades were highly supported in phylogenetic analyses. The clade containing ascertained breeders occurs year round in Taiwan and is the only resident population during the breeding season. The other clade containing ascertained migrants appears only in non-breeding seasons and coexists with the former during these months. Topotypes of N. j. totogo from Lanyu were clustered with N. j. japonica, which undermines its classification as a subspecies. We suggest treating N. j. totogo as an invalid taxon and treating the sedentary population in Taiwan as a unique cryptic lineage until further information is available. The discovery of this lineage will improve our understanding of the owls in terms of animal conservation, genetic biodiversity, and the evolution of their migratory behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oilseed Brassica juncea is an important crop with a long history of cultivation in India and China. Previous studies have suggested a polyphyletic origin of B. juncea and more than one migration from the primary to secondary centers of diversity. We investigated molecular genetic diversity based on 99 simple sequence repeat markers in 119 oilseed B. juncea varieties from China, India, Europe, and Australia to test whether molecular differentiation follows Vavilov's proposal of secondary centers of diversity in India and China. Two distinct groups were identified by markers in the A genome, and the same two groups were confirmed by markers in the B genome. Group 1 included accessions from central and western India, in addition to those from eastern China. Group 2 included accessions from central and western China, as well as those from northern and eastern India. European and Australian accessions were found only in Group 2. Chinese accessions had higher allelic diversity per accession (Group 1) and more private alleles per accession (Groups 1 and 2) than those from India. The marker data and geographic distribution of Groups 1 and 2 were consistent with two independent migrations of B. juncea from its center of origin in the Middle East and neighboring regions along trade routes to western China and northern India, followed by regional adaptation. Group 1 migrated further south and west in India, and further east in China, than Group 2. Group 2 showed diverse agroecological adaptation, with yellow-seeded spring-sown types in central and western China and brown-seeded autumn-sown types in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement ecology studies have highlighted the importance of individual-based research. As tracking devices have not been applicable for identifying year-around movements of small birds until recently, migration routes of such species relied on visual observations and ring recoveries. Within the Palaearctic-African migration system, loop migration seems to be the overall migration pattern. The interindividual variations within species-specific migration routes are, however, unknown. Here, we track the individual migration routes and annual cycles of male Northern Wheatears Oenanthe oenanthe, a trans-Sahara songbird migrant from a German breeding population with light-level geolocators. Two migrated most likely via Spain towards western Africa but returned via Corsica/Sardinia, while two others seemed to migrate via Sardinia and Corsica in autumn and via Spain and France in spring (loop migration). The fifth took presumably the same route via France and the Balearics in both seasons. All birds wintered in the Sahel zone of western Africa. Overall migration distances for autumn and spring were similar (about 4,100 km), whereas the overall migratory speed was generally higher in spring (126 km day) than in autumn (88 km day). Birds spent about 130 days at the breeding area and 147 days at the wintering grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capelin ( Mallotus villosus) is the largest commercial fish stock in Icelandic waters and also an important forage fish. Capelin have adapted to the sub-arctic environment by migrating north (67-72°N) to feed during summer in deep cold waters (>500 m; 1-3°C) before migrating south (63-65°N) to spawn in winter in warm shallow waters on the south and west coasts of Iceland (<100 m; 5-7°C). Hydroacoustic data on capelin spawning migrations from 1992 to 2007 revealed a consistent southward route along which capelin migrated actively (ground velocity >> current velocity) off the east coast (and a lesser used route off the west coast). North of 65°N, the dominant eastern route followed the bathymetry, skirting the shelf edge (>200 m bottom depth) within a funnel of near constant temperatures (approximately 2.5°C). Further south, between 65 and 64°N, as temperatures warmed to 4.5°C (reaching 7.9°C at 63.5°N), capelin abruptly moved onto the shelf and towards the coastal spawning areas. Capelin spawning migrations appear to be an innately based southward search for appropriate spawning locations, guided by bathymetry and temperature. We suggest that the extended eastern migration route minimizes exposure to cod predation and that warming conditions north of Iceland may result in a northward shift in migrations and spawning locations, as occurred in the 1920s and 1930s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technologies enable tracking of the route, duration, and destination of previously unassessed long-distance movements. Fledgling Australasian Gannets Morus serrator from breeding populations in New Zealand had been reported to fly across the Tasman Sea to Australia, with this historic knowledge derived from the recovery of banded carcasses and from observations of initial flight direction. We deployed Argos satellite devices on ten M. serrator fledglings at Cape Kidnappers Gannetry, North Island, New Zealand, across 2 years. Birds that were tracked leaving the colony initially appeared to have landed on the sea. A male bird and two female birds were tracked moving along the east coast to the south tip of New Zealand. The two females then crossed the Tasman Sea to eastern Australian coastal waters in 4 and 5 days, respectively. We suggest that, contrary to historic reports, the route via Stewart Island constitutes a realized migration path for fledglings from Cape Kidnappers, which might minimize the distance traveled across the open sea to southeastern Australia or Tasmania. Our results further imply that initial direction of flight needs not be indicative of the subsequent migration route taken by M. serrator. This highlights the importance of direct tracking technology for adequate assessment of dispersal and migration in seabirds and other highly mobile species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We reconstructed the phylogeny of the subfamily Viverrinae (Mammalia, Carnivora, Viverridae) using a ∼3kb data set in order to reassess timing and patterns of faunal exchanges between Asia and Africa. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses of separated and combined matrices (cytochrome b, transthyretin intron I and IRBP exon 1 [IRBP1]) recovered all the well-supported relationships within feliformian lineages. In addition, IRBP1 supported paraphyly of genus Herpestes and contributed to the resolution of equivocal hypotheses within Viverridae, including (1) the monophyly of Viverrinae, and (2) Viverricula sister-group of the other terrestrial civets (Civettictis and Viverra). The combined analysis yielded a robust phylogeny, recovering monophyly of Prionodontidae and yielding high posterior probabilities for nodes (1) (Prionodontidae, Felidae) and (2) ((Felidae, Prionodontidae), ((Hyaenidae, (Herpestidae, Eupleridae)), Viverridae)). Using a fossil cross-validation method, we estimated the emergence of Viverridae at 34.29Myr, with a separation between the three traditional subfamilies Hemigalinae, Paradoxurinae, and Viverrinae during the Late Oligocene–Early Miocene. The terrestrial civets and the splits between (1) Civettictis and Viverra and (2) Poiana and Genetta were estimated to appear during the Middle Miocene. Parsimony- and maximum likelihood-based methods yielded unambiguous ancestral area reconstructions, including the Asian origin of the family Viverridae, the subfamily Viverrinae, the terrestrial civets and the clade (Civettictis, Viverra). On the grounds of genetic distances, morphological divergence, and divergence time estimates, we propose the erection of the subfamily Genettinae (including Genetta and Poiana). Our analyses suggested two independent migration events from Asia to Africa, during the Middle Miocene (Civettictis) and between the Late Oligocene and Middle Miocene (Genettinae). These results are in agreement with the hypothesis of Miocene routes from Asia to Africa—via the Arabian microplate—that would have involved several independent events of migrations. Couched in the context of the viverrid fossil record, our study calls for a revision of the paleontological data in order to fully appreciate the complexity of Afro-Asian faunal exchanges. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

From 1998 through to 2000, we satellite-tracked the movements of 13 Oriental White Storks (Ciconia boyciana) on their autumnal migration in order to identify their important stopover sites for preserving links from the Russian Far East breeding sites to the wintering sites in south-eastern China. New analytical methods of satellite tracking data were employed to derive robust information on the locations of stay sites, the number of stopovers made during migration, and the distance traveled without making stopovers. Based on the derived information, we modeled a stay site network as an abstraction of the storks’ potential migration routes from their breeding sites to wintering sites. Using network analysis techniques, we explored how the loss of stopover sites could affect the connectivity of potential migration routes. The results suggested that if the seashore stopover sites facing Bohai Bay in eastern China were lost, the storks’ wintering sites along the Yangtze River in south-eastern China would be isolated. Among the seashore stopover sites, Jiantuozhi Gley Mire (39.185°N, 118.627°E), located on the northern seashore of Bohai Bay, was considered particularly important for migrating storks, because it was used every year by the storks we tracked. If conservation needs of this critically located site fail to be addressed, the stay site network of storks can create weak links in the chain of migration and, if‘broken’, storks will have great difficulties in completing their autumnal migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Knowledge of migratory bird requirements is critical to developing conservation plans for vulnerable migratory species. This study aimed to determine the migration routes, wintering areas, habitat uses, and mortalities of adult Chinese Egrets (Egretta eulophotata). Sixty adult Chinese Egrets (31 females and 29 males) on an uninhabited offshore breeding island in Dalian, China were tracked using GPS satellite transmitters. GPS locations recorded at 2 ​h intervals from June 2019 to August 2020 were used for analysis. A total of 44 and 17 tracked adults completed their autumn and spring migrations, respectively. Compared with autumn migration, tracked adults displayed more diverse routes, higher number of stopover sites, slower migration speed, and longer migration duration in the spring. Results indicated that migrant birds had different behavioral strategies during the two migratory seasons. The spring migration duration and stopover duration for females were significantly longer than those for males. A positive correlation existed between the spring arrival and spring departure dates, as well as between the spring arrival date and stopover duration. This finding indicated that the egrets that arrived early at the breeding grounds left the wintering areas early and had a shorter stopover duration. Adult birds preferred intertidal wetlands, woodlands, and aquaculture ponds during migration. During the wintering period, adults preferred offshore islands, intertidal wetlands, and aquaculture ponds. Adult Chinese Egrets showed a relatively low survival rate compared with most other common ardeid species. Dead specimens were found in aquaculture ponds, indicating human disturbance as the main cause of death of this vulnerable species. These results highlighted the importance of resolving conflicts between egrets and human-made aquaculture wetlands and protecting intertidal flats and offshore islands in natural wetlands through international cooperation. Our results contributed to the hitherto unknown annual spatiotemporal migration patterns of adult Chinese Egrets, thereby providing an important basis for the conservation of this vulnerable species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes) is a globally threatened bird species living on the coast and islands of Liaoning, northeastern China, mainly in summer. To further protect the breeding population of Chinese Egrets, it is important to understand the current protection status of their distribution sites at pre-migration period and migration routes. Thirty-three individuals were tagged with satellite transmitters at Fantuo Island in Changhai and Xingren Island in Zhuanghe, Liaoning Province, northeastern China, in July of 2016, 2017, and 2018, to identify important distribution sites during the pre-migration period, as well as detailed migration routes. The results showed that coastal mudflats in Liaoning and the west coast of North Korea were important feeding and roosting sites for fledgling Chinese Egrets from August to September. The home range sizes in August were significantly larger than in September. The eastern coast from Shandong to Guangdong, as well as Taiwan, China, and Manila Bay and Galileo Islands in the Philippines, were important stopover sites during fall migration. Specifically, we found that the egrets' autumn migration could be divided into four routes, i.e., sea-crossing migration (SCM), coastal migration (CM), inland migration (IM), and mixed migration (MM). The migration distance, timing, speed, and straightness of the four routes also differed. The SCM routes were the straightest, and had the fastest migration speed and shortest travel time, while the IM routes had the lowest straightness and speed, and the longest duration. Manila Bay and Bohol Island in the Philippines, the west coast of Tanintharyi in Myanmar, and the Zengwun River Estuary in Taiwan, China, were wintering sites. Our findings on the key distribution sites along pre-migration and fall migration routes, including some stopover sites, have important implications for the conservation of and global action plan development for the vulnerable Chinese Egret. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of migration routes in birds remains poorly understood as changes in migration strategies are rarely observed on contemporary timescales. 1–3 The Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi , a migratory songbird breeding in Siberian grasslands and wintering in Southeast Asia, has only recently become a regular autumn and winter visitor to western Europe. Here, we examine whether this change in occurrence merely reflects an increase in the number of vagrants, that is, "lost" individuals that likely do not manage to return to their breeding grounds, or represents a new migratory strategy. 4–6 We show that Richard's Pipits in southwestern Europe are true migrants: the same marked individuals return to southern France in subsequent winters and geo-localization tracking revealed that they originate from the western edge of the known breeding range. They make an astonishing 6,000 km journey from Central Asia across Eurasia, a very unusual longitudinal westward route among Siberian migratory birds. 7,8 Climatic niche modeling using citizen-science bird data suggests that the winter niche suitability has increased in southwestern Europe, which may have led to increased winter survival and eventual successful return journey and reproduction of individuals that initially reached Europe as autumn vagrants. This illustrates that vagrancy may have an underestimated role in the emergence of new migratory routes and adaptation to global change in migratory birds. 9,10 Whatever the underlying drivers and mechanisms, it constitutes one of the few documented contemporary changes in migration route, and the first longitudinal shift, in a long-distance migratory bird. [Display omitted] • Richard's Pipit normally breeds in Siberia and winters in southern Asia • The species has recently increased in Europe from occasional to regular visitor • Birds undertake a rare westward seasonal migration across Eurasia to southern Europe • Vagrancy and climate change likely promoted the establishment of this migration route Richard's Pipit is an Asian migratory passerine that normally winters in Southeast Asia. Dufour et al. find that the species is now a regular migrant to Europe. Vagrancy probably allowed the colonization of this new wintering area, helped by an increase of wintering niche suitability due to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autumn migration routes of red-crowned cranes, Grus japonensis , from two continental east Asian sites were documented in detail by satellite tracking. Two routes were identified: a 2200 km western route from Russia's Khingansky Nature Reserve to coastal Jiangsu Province, China; and a 900 km eastern route from Lake Khanka (Russia) to the Korean Peninsula and the Demilitarized Zone. The most important rest-sites were identified as Panjin Marsh (China), coastal mudflats south-east of Tangshan City (China), the Yellow River mouth (China), Tumen River mouth (North Korea/China/Russia), Kumya (North Korea) and Cholwon (Korean DMZ). Movements within the wintering range were also recorded, including complex commuting between sites by individual cranes and patterns of daily movements within sites. These data should prove useful for conservation of the flyway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]