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Many hypotheses try to explain the evolution and possible relations between obligate and facultative brood parasitism in birds. To explore this, a large number of observations and data are needed. Our understanding based on the observations of facultative parasitic species published in the literature is less clear compared to the obligate parasitic species. This communication is about three cases of facultative interspecific brood parasitism. Two nests of Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) parasite by Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) and one nest of Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) parasite by Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus). These observations are significant as long as interspecific brood parasitism was frequently described in Gruiformes (Rallidae) but has rarely observed within Charadriiformes.

The Domaine de la Palissade is a 700-ha nature reserve located at the mouth of the Rhone river in southern France. Since 2006, the tidal wetlands have been sprayed with Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) and water level fluctuations minimized to reduce mosquito nuisance. Aerial spraying of VectoBac® 12AS (32 ITU/ha) is carried out 10 to 23 times a year, whenever Ochlerotatus caspius and Oc. detritus larvae develop, covering between 611 and 1937 cumulated hectares. Long-term trends (2000–2013) in monthly abundance of 50 bird species were compared with two nearby nature reserves that served as controls. A significant decrease in abundance of eight species (from 1958 to 941 monthly counts) was attributed to mosquito control operations and more specifically to: (1) aircraft disturbance caused by aerial spraying in a proportion of 36%, affecting mostly ducks; (2) stabilization of water levels in a proportion of 34%, affecting mostly grebes; and/or (3) reduced food resources caused by Bti effects in a proportion of 30%, affecting mostly waders. The European coot, affected negatively by all three factors, suffered the highest decline. Alternatively, the lower water levels and higher salinity resulting from the reduced exchanges with the Rhone River had a positive impact on five species, mostly gull and shorebirds (from 201 to 280 monthly observations). Overall, this study suggests a 23% significant decrease in waterbird abundance due to mosquito control, in spite of the collaboration between site managers and the operator of mosquito control to minimize negative effects on the non-target fauna.

The aim of the present paper was to analyze the measurements of the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) eggs in order to evaluate if the local conditions, presented here, differ in some way from older data found in references dating to 1955 in Romania. The data were collected from the Eurasian Coot nests identified (N=8) at Câmpenești fishponds, located in North-Western Romania, in May 2018. The clutch size was 7.5 ±1.6, ranging from 5 to 10 eggs. The mean egg length was 50.81 mm, and the mean egg breadth was 34.5 mm with higher variability in case of the first measurement. The mean egg volume was 31.3 cm3 which is much smaller than reported in the Romanian references (36.13 cm3). Regarding intra-clutch variance, we found that some clutches manifest a higher length, breadth and volume variance than others which can be a result of the intraspecific nest parasitism or environmental variances. The results brought some extensions of egg length and egg breadth limits and also may reflect a decrease in egg size over time.

Coastal wetlands in the Laurentian Great Lakes undergo frequent, sometimes dramatic, physical changes at varying spatial and temporal scales. Changes in lake levels and the juxtaposition of vegetation and open water greatly influence biota that use coastal wetlands. Several regional studies have shown that changes in vegetation and lake levels lead to predictable changes in the composition of coastal wetland bird communities. We report new findings of wetland bird community changes at a broader scale, covering the entire Great Lakes basin. Our results indicate that water extent and interspersion increased in coastal wetlands across the Great Lakes between low (2013) and high (2018) lake-level years, although variation in the magnitude of change occurred within and among lakes. Increases in water extent and interspersion resulted in a general increase in marsh-obligate and marsh-facultative bird species richness. Species like American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), common gallinule (Gallinula galeata), American coot (Fulica americana), sora (Porzana carolina), Virginia rail (Rallus limicola), and pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) were significantly more abundant during high water years. Lakes Huron and Michigan showed the greatest increase in water extent and interspersion among the five Great Lakes while Lake Michigan showed the greatest increase in marsh-obligate bird species richness. These results reinforce the idea that effective management, restoration, and assessment of wetlands must account for fluctuations in lake levels. Although high lake levels generally provide the most favorable conditions for wetland bird species, variation in lake levels and bird species assemblages create ecosystems that are both spatially and temporally dynamic.

The current study aimed to investigate the nesting behavior and breeding chronology of the crested coot (Fulica cristata) in Morocco’s high altitude wetlands. We monitored nesting activities and breeding phenology in two wetlands, Zerrouka and Hachlaf lakes, to achieve our goals. Besides, nesting materials and nest dimensions were analyzed to characterize the crested coot nests. As a result, 52 nests were found in two sites, 18 in Zerouka and 34 in Hachlaf. Nests were built by available twigs on each site, and nest dimensions varied between analyzed wetlands. Nests were larger in Zerrouka compared to Hachlaf Lake. To protect their nests, coots select open waters and submerged vegetation as nesting sites. On the other hand, breeding chronology, including nesting, laying, and hatching dates, was earlier in Zerrouka Lake than Hachlaf. The nesting activities started at Zerrouka during January and February, while at Hachlaf, breeding attempts started during April.

Among many anti-predator behaviors, vigilance is observed in many species and plays an important role in survival. In this study, we investigated the effect of flock size on vigilance in American Coots (Fulica americana)foraging on land and water, by observing individual birds in these habitats and recording the time spent scanning (i.e., vigilance). Mean flock size was larger on land compared to water and vigilance negatively correlated with flock size. Birds in water were more vigilant compared to on land, regardless of whether they were foraging alone or in flocks. However, the effect of flock size on vigilance showed a weak linear correlation as it was possible that other factors (e.g., human habituation, food kleptoparasitism, or scramble competition) could have also played a role in shaping vigilance. These results suggest that there is a relationship between flock size and vigilance, which are related to previous researches that show a negative correlation between vigilance and flock size. KEYWORDS: Birds; American Coot; Vigilance; Scanning; Foraging; Flock Size; Habituation; Competition; Behavior

This paper breaks new ground in the field of Ransome criticism and presents new findings. It is the first to examine Arthur Ransome’s use of signals in his novels for children, here Coot Club (1934). Structural analysis of the novel has revealed a carefully concealed three-tier structure, and shows Arthur Ransome to be a consummate stylist.

The habitat selection of two abundant and widespread Palearctic rallids (Coot Fulica atra; Moorhen Gallinula chloropus) across a range of wetland types was investigated. The distribution of these two species varied according to water depth, as implied by the dominant vegetation present in the study area. Coots most frequently used wet dune slacks dominated by Phragmites australis, whereas Moorhens were mostly present in anthropized ecotones. It is hypothesized that because these two rallid species respond differently to various environmental pressures, they could be used as useful indicators for biomonitoring remnant wetlands. Indeed, they are relatively generalist, common, widespread and medium‐sized species, relatively easy to detect and exhibit a high sensitivity to specific water‐related habitat types, also at a small‐scaled spatial resolution.

Facultative avian brood parasites increase their reproductive output by laying eggs in the nests of conspecifics or closely related species. The Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus is a well-known facultative brood parasite that nests in wetlands, which are utilised also by a wide range of waterfowl, including the Eurasian Coot Fulica atra. The two species breed in similar habitats and have a similar egg pigmentation pattern; thus, the Coot can be a suitable host of brood-parasitic Moorhen. To study whether there is any discernible difference between the spotting pattern of Coot and Moorhen eggs, we compared the density of different sized spots on eggs of the two species. Our results show that Coot eggs have a significantly higher density of small speckles then Moorhen eggs, while the latter species has eggs with more conspicuous larger spots. Therefore, Coots can possibly rely on these differences in eggshell pattern to recognize and eject the brood parasitic Moorhen eggs.

Introduction Quasiamidostomum fulicae (Rudolphi, 1819) Lomakin, 1991, is a species of which the systematic position is still unclear, and it is reported in the literature under many synonyms. In the present study, an attempt has been made at establishing the ultimate systematic position of Quasiamidostomum fulicae against the backdrop of selected Amidostomatinae species. Material and Methods The parasites were identified based on measurements of external and internal structures. Ecological analysis of Q. fulicae was carried out using the quantitative indices (frequency, prevalence, mean intensity, relative abundance, and dominance index). Statistical analyses (discriminant analysis) were performed on measurement data. Results The intestines of 77 coots were examined. They yielded a total of 398 parasites, including 67 identified as Q. fulicae. Both males and females were located in the muscular gizzard. The morphometric analysis of Q. fulicae in this study showed the dimensions of all the internal organs to be in agreement with measurements reported by other authors. The discriminant analysis, used to find the differences between the examined nematode species (Amidostomoides acutum, A. petrovi, A. monodon, Amidostomum anseris, and Quasiamidostomum fulicae), gave highly significant results (P < 0.0001) with respect to both males and females. Conclusion The results justify the separation of Q. fulicae from the genus Amidostomum.

Introduction. Kremenchuk Reservoir plays an important part in maintaining populations of waterfowl and waterbirds in the migration period. They stop to rest and feed here. The upper part of the Reservoir is promising for inclusion in the Ramsar list. A significant part of this area is occupied by the Lypivsky Ornithological Reserve with a total area of 4631 hectares. We have been monitoring waterfowl and waterbirds around the reserve for over 20 years. The purpose of the study is to establish the species composition and relative number of waterfowl and waterbirds in the central part of the Kremenchuk Reservoir, to study their seasonal and long-term dynamics. Methods. The records cover the central part of the Kremenchuk Reservoir: along the right bank - within the city of Cherkasy, along the left one - from the village Kedyna Hora to the village of Blagodatne (former village of Chapaiivka) (Zolotonosha district of Cherkasy region), as well as along the dam that crosses the Reservoir. The study was conducted by the point count method from the shore and the dam. 17 records were conducted during autumn periods of 2015-2017. Results. In total for three years, we have found 44 species belonging to 8 series. The core of the avifauna consisted of Mallard (Anas plathyrhynchos), Coot (Fulica atra), the Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) and Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) making 82.3% - 86.1% of the total number of birds in different years. The Shannon species diversity index in 2015 were 1 . 50-2 . 61 , in 2016 – 1 . 17-1 . 97 , in 2017 – 1 . 37-2 . 72 . The maximum number of birds stopping to rest and feed during a season in the central part of the Kremenchuk Reservoir was from about 13,600 up to about 29,500 birds in different years. During 2015-2017, among the mass species for three ones (Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus), the Tufted Duck and the Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)), there was the highest number for more than 20 years of the research. 6 species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine were identified. Among them, the studied area plays a significant role in maintaining the populations of the Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) and White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Originality. The n umber and bird diversity of the ornithocomplex due to climate change has been described. The number of some numerous species is increasing compared to previous years . Conclusion. The results of the research confirm the importance of the Lypivsky Ornithological Reserve, where more birds than in the surrounding areas, are concentrated. Such preferences are associated with more attractive conditions for feeding and resting of mass species.

This is the first study of parasites of the Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) in the northern part of its distribution area (Karelia, Northwestern Russia). We performed a total parasitological survey of helminths of 22 coot specimens from an ecologically unique territory of Wetlands of the Olonets plain (Lake Ladoga coast) at the White Sea-Baltic branch of the East Atlantic Flyway. We recorded 11 helminth species, including four species of cestodes (Diorchis brevis, D. inflata, D. ransomi and D. stefanskii) and four species of trematodes (Leyogonimus polyoon, Notocotylus pacifera, Prosthogonimus ovatus and Psilotrema spiculigerum). Cestodes and trematodes were the most common parasites in the coot population, infecting 95% and 86% of the hosts, respectively. Two acanthocephalans, Filicollis anatis and Polymorphus minutus, and a single specimen of the nematode Quasiamidostomum fulicae at the early fifth-stage of development were also found. All these parasites are known to be common in various water birds, including coots, in the Holarctic and the Neotropical regions. Additionally, the data on sex, age and diet of the coots were obtained. A more diverse parasitic fauna was found in younger coots as compared with adult birds. Our data provides the basis for further studies of host-parasite interactions of the coots and other water birds near Lake Ladoga.

Mediterranean wetlands represent a broad variety of natural resources with a huge role in the maintenance of biological diversity. Waterbirds are significant components of this diversity. Among them, the Eurasian Coot Fulica atra is a key species when studying the correlations and interactions between waterbirds and environmental variables, because of its abundance, ease of detection, and relation with some basic aspects of the functioning of wetlands. The present study aimed to analyse the annual and seasonal variation in populations of Eurasian Coot in 31 wetlands in Andalusia, southern Spain, from 2003 to 2008, paying particular attention to correlations with biotic and abiotic variables. The results showed a positive correlation between water depth and coot abundance, while a negative relationship was observed with salinity and no correlation was observed between wetland size and coot abundance. These environmental variables, together with submerged macrophyte coverage, stand out as playing important roles in the use of habitat by coots in Andalusian wetlands.

After centuries of wetland modification, wetland-dependent wildlife are of high conservation concern. Particularly important are secretive marsh birds, a cryptic and understudied guild of wetland-dependent birds, many of which have experienced population declines concurrent with anthropogenic modification of wetlands. We used point-based sampling to investigate densities and habitat associations of secretive marsh birds at multiple spatial scales in the Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota. We focused on five species for modeling. The most abundant species was Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola; 0.20 individual-ha SE = 0.04), followed by Sora (Porzana carolina; 0.13 individual-ha SE = 0.02), American Coot (Fulica americana; 0.08 individual-ha SE = 0.02), American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosis; 0.07 individual-ha SE = 0.03), and Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps; 0.06 individual-ha SE = 0.01). Densities of all species were best explained by multi-scale models. Despite a few commonalities, secretive marsh birds have diverse habitat requirements and models suggest species-specific wetland complex management will likely be most effective. This information provides a baseline for species with previously unknown densities and informs conservation actions and policy for secretive marsh birds in the northern Great Plains.

Carbohydrates are automatically built and rebuilt using Coot in the PDB-REDO pipeline., N-Glycosylation is one of the most common post-translational modifications and is implicated in, for example, protein folding and interaction with ligands and receptors. N-Glycosylation trees are complex structures of linked carbohydrate residues attached to asparagine residues. While carbohydrates are typically modeled in protein structures, they are often incomplete or have the wrong chemistry. Here, new tools are presented to automatically rebuild existing glycosylation trees, to extend them where possible, and to add new glycosylation trees if they are missing from the model. The method has been incorporated in the PDB-REDO pipeline and has been applied to build or rebuild 16 452 carbohydrate residues in 11 651 glycosylation trees in 4498 structure models, and is also available from the PDB-REDO web server. With better modeling of N-glycosylation, the biological function of this important modification can be better and more easily understood.

El lago Titicaca tiene entre su biodiversidad más resaltante a la avifauna, la cual no sólo cumple importantes roles ecológicos, sino también suelen utilizarse en la alimentación humana, desconociéndose sus características nutricionales y organolépticas. Por ello se planteó determinar la composición proximal de la carne de “pato puna”, “choka”, “tiquicho”, “pato pana” y “keñola” y sus posibilidades de aceptación sensorial por personas no habituadas a su consumo. Se determinó humedad, proteína, grasa, ceniza, carbohidratos y energía, considerando seis réplicas por especie; además se realizaron evaluaciones sensoriales de carne cruda mediante un panel de 24 jueces que determinaron su aceptabilidad. Todas las carnes presentaron humedad entre 71 y 76 % sin diferencias significativas, las proteínas oscilaron entre 18 y 22 % con diferencias entre especies, destacando la choka con 22.38 %; las concentraciones de grasas también difirió entre especies siendo mayor en tikicho con 5.9%, las cenizas estuvieron entre 0.8 y 1%, los contenidos de carbohidratos no superaron el 1% y el mayor nivel de energía lo presentó el tikicho promediando 142.98 kcal/100 g. La mayor cantidad de energía estuvo relacionado con mayores niveles de grasa (r = 0.83) y mayores concentraciones de humedad con menores de proteínas (r = -0.82); se presentó mayor nivel de proteínas en épocas secas y más grasas en épocas lluviosas. Las carnes organolépticamente no fueron del todo aceptadas por el panel, catalogándolas a la mayoría como “regularmente aceptables”. El lago Titicaca tiene entre su biodiversidad más resaltante la avifauna, que no sólo cumple importantes roles ecológicos, sino también se utiliza en la alimentación humana; pero se desconoce sus características nutricionales y organolépticas. Por ello, el objetivo fue determinar la composición proximal de la carne de pato puna (Spatula puna), choka (Fulica ardesiaca) tiquicho (Gallinula chloropus), pato pana (Oxyura jamaicensis) y keñola (Rollandia microptera), y sus posibilidades de aceptación sensorial por personas no habituadas a su consumo. Se determinó el contenido de humedad, proteína, grasa, ceniza, carbohidratos y energía, considerando seis repeticiones por especie. También se realizaron evaluaciones sensoriales de la carne cruda por medio de un panel de 24 jueces que determinaron su aceptabilidad. Todas las carnes presentan humedad entre 71 y 76%, proteína entre 18 y 22% con diferencias entre especies, destacando la choka con 22.38%. La concentración de grasa difirió entre especies, presentando mayor contenido el tikicho con 5.9%, las cenizas oscilaron entre 0.8 y 1%, los contenidos de carbohidratos no superaron el 1% y el mayor nivel de energía lo tuvo el tikicho con 142.98 kcal 100 g−1 . La mayor cantidad de energía se relacionó con mayores niveles de grasa (r = 0.83) y la concentración de humedad con menores contenidos de proteína (r = -0.82); el mayor contenido de proteínas se presentó en secas y el mayor contenido de grasas en las lluvias. Las carnes organolépticamente no fueron aceptadas por el panel, catalogándolas como regularmente aceptables.

Rapid urbanization has a great impact on avian distribution, ecology, habitat selection, and behavior. Recent avian studies indicated that individuals remain consistent in their behavioral responses to human disturbance across short periods of time. However, there is still little information about keeping consistent behaviors in distinct locations across different stages of the annual cycle. In this study, we aimed to test for long-term consistency in habitat selection with respect to urbanization in a migratory waterbird species, the Eurasian coot Fulica atra. For this purpose, we individually marked ca. 300 coots from four populations that varied in urbanization level and tracked their habitat preferences during the non-breeding season. We found that individuals from urban breeding populations selected habitats with a higher share of artificial areas during the non-breeding season, when compared to non-urban individuals. Also, a comparison of non-breeding sites selected by birds from our study populations with random sites showed that urban birds selected sites with higher urbanization level than resulting from random availability. Finally, we found a seasonal variation in habitat preferences in coots—individuals from all study populations selected more urbanized areas as the non-breeding season progressed. The results indicate that birds are able to remain consistent in habitat preferences not only at a large geographical scale, but also across different seasons. Marked between-population variation in habitat selection across the annual cycle may reflect personality differences of coots from urban and non-urban populations, and it stays in line with the personality-matching habitat choice hypothesis.

Eggshell pigmentation is generated by 2 major pigments, biliverdin and protoporphyrin. The latter is mostly deposited in red, brown, and black egg spots and it has been hypothesized that greater expression of egg spottiness (as measured by the number, area, and coloration of spots) may act as an honest signal of female quality for males (sexual signaling hypothesis, SSH). The important assumption of the SSH is that eggshell pigmentation correlates with phenotypic and genetic components of female quality, although phenotypic quality of females may also be under environmental control. The aim of this study was to test for the associations of protoporphyrin-based egg pigmentation with both phenotypic and genetic female traits and environmental variables (microhabitat and urbanization) in a common rallid species, the Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra). We found that the total number of egg spots was positively associated with female condition (size-corrected body mass) and expression of a putative bare-part ornament (frontal shield). The same measure of spottiness negatively correlated with the level of physiological stress in females. No evidence was found for associations between egg spottiness and genetic traits in females (neutral heterozygosity and polymorphism of pathogen recognition receptors, the Major Histocompatibility Complex), but there was a linear increase in the expression of egg spottiness over the breeding season, which may suggest that it is regulated by food availability. Our study indicates that protoporphyrin-based pigmentation of eggs reflects female phenotypic traits (condition, stress, and ornament expression) in the Eurasian Coot, although it remains to be established whether it plays any signaling role and whether it is driven by sexual selection in this species.LAY SUMMARY There is equivocal support for direct associations between maternal quality and deposition of protoporphyrin pigmentation (dark spots and blotches) in avian eggshells. Research on protoporphyrin eggshell pigmentation has primarily focused on a single avian order (Passeriformes). We examined associations of protoporphyrin-based eggshell pigmentation with female phenotypic and genetic traits in a non-passerine species, the Eurasian Coot. Deposition of protoporphyrin in eggshells (total number per area of egg spots) positively correlated with female condition and expression of a putative bare-part ornament (frontal shield), while it was negatively associated with the level of physiological stress. Protoporphyrin-based eggshell pigmentation acts as a reliable signal of female phenotypic (but not genetic) traits in the Eurasian Coot. Signaling properties of protoporphyrin-based egg coloration are likely to largely differ between different evolutionary lineages of birds.

El leucismo es una aberración cromática, definida como la ausencia de melanina, que se expresa de manera total o parcial en el plumaje de las aves. Registramos la presencia de leucismo en un individuo adulto de gallareta americana (Fulica americana) en el lago Nabor Carrillo en Texcoco, Estado de México. La gallareta americana es un ave de amplia distribución geográfica, común en hábitats acuáticos desde Alaska hasta el norte de Sudamérica. Observamos al individuo el 29 y 31 de mayo y el 26 de junio de 2020 en el cuerpo de agua. Aunque existen diversos reportes de aves con leucismo, este registro representa el primer caso documentado de leucismo para esta especie en México.

El leucismo es el resultado de una mutación genética que afecta la transferencia y depósito de melanina en las plumas. Se ha observado en varias especies, y comunmente observado en el neotrópico durante las últimas dos décadas. En esta nota describo el leucismo en una gallareta andina, Fulica gigantea, en el lago Aguascocha, en Junín, Perú. La gallareta fue observada el 26 de marzo de 2016. Observaciones y estudios adicionales mejorarán nuestra capacidad para determinar la prevalencia de leucismo en poblaciones de aves silvestres.

Two neural networks were trained to predict the correctness of protein residues by combining multiple validation metrics in Coot. Using the predicted correctness to automatically prune models led to significant improvements in the Buccaneer pipeline., Manually identifying and correcting errors in protein models can be a slow process, but improvements in validation tools and automated model-building software can contribute to reducing this burden. This article presents a new correctness score that is produced by combining multiple sources of information using a neural network. The residues in 639 automatically built models were marked as correct or incorrect by comparing them with the coordinates deposited in the PDB. A number of features were also calculated for each residue using Coot, including map-to-model correlation, density values, B factors, clashes, Ramachandran scores, rotamer scores and resolution. Two neural networks were created using these features as inputs: one to predict the correctness of main-chain atoms and the other for side chains. The 639 structures were split into 511 that were used to train the neural networks and 128 that were used to test performance. The predicted correctness scores could correctly categorize 92.3% of the main-chain atoms and 87.6% of the side chains. A Coot ML Correctness script was written to display the scores in a graphical user interface as well as for the automatic pruning of chains, residues and side chains with low scores. The automatic pruning function was added to the CCP4i2 Buccaneer automated model-building pipeline, leading to significant improvements, especially for high-resolution structures.

Este artículo contiene 8 páginas, 3 tablas, 4 figuras., While it has been well established that waterbirds can consume substantial amounts of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) on their wintering grounds, relatively little is known about their effects on SAV in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). We measured the impact of wintering American coot (Fulica Americana) foraging on native wild celery (Vallisneria americana) and exotic Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) using caging experiments at two locations in upper Mobile Bay during winter 2013–2014. We also determined feeding preferences using tethering experiments, and monitored the location of coots and the feeding behavior of individual birds. Coots were significantly more abundant over Eurasian watermilfoil than native wild celery. Caging experiments usually showed higher SAV biomasses in exclusion cages, and suggested a larger impact of coot foraging on milfoil than wild celery. Video recordings confirmed that coots were responsible for the SAV losses detected with both caging and tethering experiments, and dietary analyses supported experimental results and highlighted the role of milfoil in the coot’s diet (86.9 � 8.9% of stomach contents). Tethering results showed a preference for wild celery over milfoil, which is likely explained by the higher nutritional quality of wild celery (19.26 � 1.21 C:N ratio) compared to Eurasian milfoil (25.01 � 2.45 C:N ratio). Overall, our results are similar to those of several prior seagrass herbivory studies in showing that herbivores do not always feed on their preferred food, presumably because other factors, such as proximity of refuges from predators or competition for food resources, are of overriding importance.

Coot is a tool widely used for model building, refinement, and validation of macromolecular structures. It has been extensively used for crystallography and, more recently, improvements have been introduced to aid in cryo‐EM model building and refinement, as cryo‐EM structures with resolution ranging 2.5–4 A are now routinely available. Model building into these maps can be time‐consuming and requires experience in both biochemistry and building into low‐resolution maps. To simplify and expedite the model building task, and minimize the needed expertise, new tools are being added in Coot. Some examples include morphing, Geman‐McClure restraints, full‐chain refinement, and Fourier‐model based residue‐type‐specific Ramachandran restraints. Here, we present the current state‐of‐the‐art in Coot usage.

Most of Hawaii's endemic avifauna are species of conservation concern. Some of Hawaii's endangered waterbirds, however, have increased in number as a result of intensive management of wetlands. To inform these conservation efforts, we examined interisland genetic structure and gene flow within 2 Hawaiian endemic waterbirds, the Hawaiian Coot (Fulica alai) and the Hawaiian subspecies of the Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata sandvicensis), using microsatellite and mitochondrial loci. Hawaiian Coots and Hawaiian Gallinules occupy coastal wetlands and exhibit similar life history characteristics and generation times, although they may differ in dispersal propensity. Mark–resight data for Hawaiian Coot indicate interisland movements, whereas Hawaiian Gallinules are sedentary. Genetic diversity is partitioned across the landscape differently for Hawaiian Coots and Hawaiian Gallinules; patterns of variation are likely influenced by behavioral and ecological mechanisms. Hawaiian Coots exhibit low level...

Based on a morphological approach, five species of cyclocoelids (Digenea: Cyclocoelidae) are revised based on material from birds in Mexico. The species studied are: Cyclocoelum cf. leidyi Harrah, 1922 from the black-necked stilt Himantopus mexicanus Müller (Recurvirostridae); Cyclocoelum mutabile (Zeder, 1800) from the northern jacana Jacana spinosa L. (Jacanidae) and the willet Tringa semipalmata Gmelin (Scolopacidae); Cyclocoelum pseudomicrostomum Harrah, 1922 from the American coot Fulica americana Gmelin (Rallidae); Selfcoelum lamothei Blend & Dronen, 2008, from the long-billed curlew Numenius americanus Bechstein (Scolopacidae); and Neohaematotrephus arayae Zamparo, Brooks, Causey & Rodriguez, 2003 from J. spinosa. New morphological data, illustrations and measurements are presented for these trematodes. Three species, insufficiently described, i.e. C. cf. leidyi, C. mutabile and C. pseudomicrostomum, are redescribed in detail. Our results indicate morphological variation in some important features used in the diagnosis of Cyclocoelum Brandes, 1892 (i.e. the presence or absence of oral sucker, the position of the genital pore relative to the pharynx, and the posterior extension of the uterus) and Selfcoelum Dronen, Gardner & Jiménez, 2006 (i.e. anterior extension of vitelline follicles). Finally, this study provides the first molecular data for the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) gene for N. arayae. Fil: López Jiménez, Alejandra. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México Fil: García Varela, Martín. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México Fil: Hernández Orts, Jesús Servando. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". - Provincia de Río Negro. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería y Pesca. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni". Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro de Investigación Aplicada y Transferencia Tecnológica en Recursos Marinos "Almirante Storni"; Argentina

En esta nota se describe y documenta el primer registro de la Gallareta Frente Roja, Fulica rufifrons, para los Humedales de Ite en Tacna, Perú. Un individuo adulto de esta especie fue observado, en dos oportunidades, en junio de 2018 en la parte central de estos humedales. Al parecer, se trataría de un individuo vagabundo proveniente de Chile., This paper describes and documents the first record of the Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons for Ite Wetlands in Tacna, Peru. An adult individual of this species was observed, on two occasions, in June 2018 in the central part of these wetlands. Apparently, it would be a vagrant individual from Chile.

Behavioural adaptations are recognized as crucial determinants for successful establishment and persistence of animal populations in a novel urban environment. Here, we examined mechanisms responsible for the development of urban behavioural type in a common waterbird, the Eurasian coot Fulica atra. We compared the behaviour of coots from a rural population and two urban populations that differed in the timing of colonization event (1960s vs. 2000s). We found that some behavioural characters associated with urban life (aggression during nest defence and boldness towards humans during foraging) were more strongly expressed in the older urban population when compared with the recently established urban population. By contrast, coots from the two urban populations showed a similar likelihood of exploiting human-derived food resources, as well as they showed similar levels of physiological stress. Urban coots were generally more aggressive, bolder, and less stressed than their rural conspecifics. Large behavioural and physiological divergence of coots from the recently established urban population and their rural conspecifics suggested that phenotypic plasticity and phenotype sorting may play a key role in the initial stages of urban colonization. On the other hand, increasing expression of boldness and aggression with the time since urbanization may suggest the role of microevolutionary adaptation in response to novel selective forces associated with the urban environment. Our results indicate that a combination of different processes (phenotypic plasticity, phenotype sorting, and microevolution) can determine successful colonization of urban areas by the Eurasian coots, and possibly other bird species.

Fish may influence habitat selection and reproductive success in waterfowl. We investigated the effects of common carp Cyprinus carpio on breeding coots Fulica atra along a gradient of fish size structure and density, created by separate stocking of age cohorts in ponds in eastern Poland. Coot breeding densities were higher on ponds with low biomass of small-sized, young-of-the-year fish than on ponds with medium- or large-sized fish, stocked at high biomass densities; they also increased with increasing submerged vegetation biomass (an effect correlated with water transparency) and emergent vegetation cover. Densities of nektonic and epibenthic macroinvertebrates and of amphibian larvae were also negatively influenced by fish size/density gradient, while densities of emerging insects were not affected. However, coot breeding success per pair was similar among pond types, while positively related to submerged vegetation, indicating that either plant food abundance was more important than the overall trophic impact of fish or fledgling production was additionally limited by factors other than food. Carp may adversely affect pond habitats of waterfowl both via trophic interactions and through abiotic disturbance of ecosystem processes. In coots, however, the effects can be mitigated by maintenance of abundant emergent vegetation and of submerged macrophytes resistant to fish.