Search

A soil removal device for the root-soil complex of Gentian imitating the percussion function of a woodpecker was designed to improve the soil removal efficiency of harvesting devices for rhizome-type traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Based on the physical parameters of roots and the root-soil complex of Gentian, the structure parameters of the striking arm and the actual profile of the cam are determined according to the physical parameters when the woodpecker knocks on the tree. The key parameters that affect the working performance of the soil removal device and their suitable value ranges have been identified through the impact test and analysis of the root-soil complex of Gentian. The mass of the striking hammer, the swing angle of the striking arm, and the rotation speed of the cam were taken as the experimental factors and the soil removal rate and the energy consumption per hammer percussion were taken as the experimental indicators. The ternary quadratic orthogonal regression combination experiment was carried out using Design-Expert. The regression model of the influence factors and evaluation indicators was established through the analysis of variance. The interaction effects of the influence factors on the indicators were analyzed using the response surface method. Using multiobjective optimization method, the optimal parameter combination was obtained as that of the mass of the striking hammer of 0.9 kg, the swing angle of the striking arm of 47°, and the rotation speed of the cam of 100 r/min, then the soil removal rate was the maximum and the energy consumption of single-hammer knocking was the minimum, with the values of 89.12% and 31.21 J, respectively. This study can provide a reference for the design and optimization of soil removal devices for rhizome-type traditional Chinese herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Offspring that delay dispersal in cooperatively breeding species have been hypothesized to gain direct fitness benefits via parental facilitation—being passively tolerated on their natal territory by their parents—thereby enjoying enhanced survival and increased probability of acquiring a breeding position in the population. Here we describe active facilitation in the acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) by parents and siblings assisting the dispersal of helpers in their social group. Helpers in this species compete for reproductive opportunities in "power struggles" that take place when all breeders of one sex die or disappear, creating a reproductive vacancy. Individuals compete at power struggles in coalitions of relatives, in which larger coalitions are more likely to be victorious. Based on observations of banded birds, we found that an estimated 26% of individuals competing as part of a winning coalition at a power struggle returned to their home territory at its conclusion, suggesting that they were facilitating the dispersal of kin (generally parents or siblings) that stayed to become breeders on the new territory. In at least one group, sibling facilitation was reciprocated; that is, a bird that was helped at a power struggle by a sibling joined that same sibling as part of a coalition at a subsequent power struggle. Dispersal facilitation is a novel means by which parents can nepotistically enhance the direct fitness of offspring and siblings can enhance each other's inclusive fitness in this highly social species. Significance statement: Parental facilitation—being passively tolerated on the natal territory—may provide significant direct fitness benefits to helpers in cooperatively breeding species. We describe active facilitation of helper dispersal in the acorn woodpecker, where helpers compete in coalitions for reproductive opportunities at "power struggles" following the death or disappearance of all breeders of one sex. About one-fourth of individuals—including both parents and siblings—competing at power struggles were apparently facilitators who assisted related helpers by participating in the power struggle but then returned to their home territory rather than stay to breed on the new territory. In at least one group, dispersal facilitation was reciprocated; that is, a bird that was helped at a power struggle by a relative later joined that same relative as part of a coalition at a subsequent power struggle. Active dispersal facilitation by parents and siblings is an important, previously unrecognized, form of nepotistic behavior in this highly social species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is the most destructive insect to invade North American forests. Identifying habitat features that support EAB natural enemies is necessary to enhance EAB biological control. In many forest ecosystems, tree species diversity has been linked with reduced pest abundance and increases in natural enemy abundance. We assessed the influence of tree species richness, ash density, and proportion of total ash basal area on ash canopy condition, EAB larval densities, and biocontrol by woodpeckers and parasitoids in pairs of healthy and declining overstory (DBH > 10 cm) and recruit-sized ash (DBH 2–10 cm) in 4 post-invasion forests in Michigan, USA. Tree species richness and ash density were not significantly associated with EAB larval densities, ash canopy dieback and transparency, and woodpecker predation of EAB larvae. In declining and healthy overstory ash, woodpeckers killed 38.5 ± 3.9% and 13.2 ± 3.7% of larvae, respectively, while the native parasitoid Phasgonophora sulcata Westwood killed 15.8 ± 3.8% and 8.3 ± 3.0% and the introduced parasitoid Spathius galinae Belokobylskij & Strazanac killed 10.8 ± 2.5% and 5.0 ± 2.6% of EAB larvae. Parasitism by P. sulcata was inversely related to ash density while parasitism by S. galinae was positively associated with ash density. Ash density, but not tree diversity, appears to differentially influence biological control of EAB by parasitoids, but this effect is not associated with reduced EAB densities or improved canopy condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome organization of woodpeckers has several distinctive features e.g., an uncommon accumulation of repetitive sequences, enlarged Z chromosomes, and atypical diploid numbers. Despite the large diversity of species, there is a paucity of detailed cytogenomic studies for this group and we thus aimed to rectify this. Genome organization patterns and hence evolutionary change in the microchromosome formation of four species (Colaptes campestris, Veniliornis spilogaster, Melanerpes candidus, and Picumnus nebulosus) was established through fluorescence in situ hybridization using bacterial artificial chromosomes originally derived from Gallus gallus and Taeniopygia guttata. Findings suggest that P. nebulosus (2n = 110), which was described for the first time, had the most basal karyotype among species of Picidae studied here, and probably arose as a result of fissions of avian ancestral macrochromosomes. We defined a new chromosomal number for V. spilogaster (2n = 88) and demonstrated microchromosomal rearrangements involving C. campestris plus a single, unique hitherto undescribed rearrangement in V. spilogaster. This comprised an inversion after a fusion involving the ancestral microchromosome 12 (homologous to chicken microchromosome 12). We also determined that the low diploid number of M. candidus is related to microchromosome fusions. Woodpeckers thus exhibit significantly rearranged karyotypes compared to the putative ancestral karyotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a clear preference of the Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus for spruce trees as foraging sites by both males and females, some studies showed intersexual resource partitioning that allows competition for food to be minimized. The objective of the study was to characterize foraging sites of the Three-toed Woodpecker in the primeval stands of the Białowieża National Park (BNP, Poland) in relation to sex. Although the woodpeckers foraged on seven tree species, both males and females foraged predominantly on spruce (83% and 90% of the observations, respectively). Selection indices showed a significant preference for dead spruce trees for both sexes and additionally for live spruce trees in the case of females. Spruce trees where woodpeckers foraged were twice as thick as those available, regardless of whether they were dead or alive. The only feature differentiating the feeding sites of males and females was the diameter of the part of the tree at foraging locations. This suggests that there is some niche partitioning between the sexes of the Three-toed Woodpecker in primeval stands of the BNP. Our research clearly showed that even in the very rich environment of the BNP, abounding in various forms of dead wood, large dead spruce trees are crucial for the Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes that leads to visual blindness. Early identification of DR can prevent the loss of sight. The first visible sign of DR is the appearance of micro aneurysms (MAs). Micro aneurysms are seen as small red circular spots on the retinal surface. The very small size of micro aneurysms proves to be challenging in its proper detection. In this research, DeTrac Deep Convolutional Neural Network m classifier with Woodpecker Mating Algorithm is proposed for the detection of MAs. By using this technique, every image is classified as either MAs or non-MAs pixel to automatically detect micro aneurysms from the retinal images. Experimental results are evaluated on diabetic-retinopathy-detection (DRD) dataset of the Kaggle website. Extensive simulations on this dataset shows an improved performance over the existing methods with 0.98 mean sensitivity, 0.97 mean specificity, and 0.98 mean accuracy in detecting the MAs irrespective of their intrinsic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woodpeckers exhibit selectivity when choosing tree cavities for nest development in forest ecosystems, and fungi play a significant and important role in this ecological process. Therefore, there is a complex and intricate relationship between the various behaviors of woodpeckers and the occurrence of fungal species. Research into the complex bond between fungi and woodpeckers was undertaken to provide more information about this remarkable ecological relationship. Through the process of line transect sampling, woodpecker traces were searched for, and mist nets were set up to capture them. A total of 21 woodpeckers belonging to four species were captured. High-throughput sequencing of the ITS region was performed on fungal-conserved samples to enable an in-depth analysis of the fungal communities linked to the woodpeckers' nests. Members of Ascomycota were the most abundant in the samples, accounting for 91.96% of the total, demonstrating the importance of this group in the forest ecosystem of this station. The statistical results indicate significant differences in the fungal diversity carried by woodpeckers among the different groups. Species of Cladosporium were found to be the most prevalent of all the detected fungal genera, accounting for 49.3%. The top 15 most abundant genera were Cladosporium, Trichoderma, Beauveria, Epicococcum, Hypoxylon, Penicillium, Nigrospora, Aspergillus, Oidiodendron, Cercospora, Talaromyces, Phialemo-nium, Petriella, Cordyceps, and Sistotrema. The standard Bray–Curtis statistical technique was used in a hierarchical clustering analysis to compute inter-sample distances, allowing for the identification of patterns and correlations within the dataset. We discovered that in the grouped samples from woodpeckers, there were differences in the diversity of fungal communities carried by four woodpecker species, but the less dominant fungal species were still similar. The findings highlight the need to consider these diverse ecological linkages in woodpecker research and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper summarizes a two-year (2021 and 2022) survey which sought to determine the breeding population of White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) in Hungary. The survey was initiated by the Hungarian Woodpecker Group of MME/BirdLife Hungary and was the first to be conducted nationwide on this species. All hill ranges where the species was historically known to occur were visited. A total of 31 observers were involved, and 102 UTM squares in which White-backed Woodpeckers were known to breed, or potentially breed, were visited. The results suggest that the Hungarian breeding population of this endangered species ranges between 480 and 800 pairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds with atypical colours in their plumage are not uncommon however, the potential causes of such aberrations have not been widely examined. Aberrant brownish-rufous phaeomelanin is one type of plumage colour that has been recorded in numerous bird species, including those which essentially contain only eumelanin (black) pigments, including several European woodpeckers. A Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocoptes medius with aberrant phaeomelanised plumage observed in the Bükk Hills, Hungary, is detailed here and an evaluation of the possible nature of this form of plumage discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If an apparently extinct bird calls in a forest, and there are people there to hear it—to record it, even—is it still extinct? The Ivory-billed Woodpecker was last 'officially' seen in the United States in 1944, but its extinction continues to be a subject of intense debate between conservation authorities, scientists, and grassroots activists. Tensions peaked around 2005, when scientists from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology announced their rediscovery of the species. However, their evidence received significant challenge from other ornithologists, and this apparent rediscovery has since been generally dismissed. In 2021, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service recommended the ivorybill be declared officially extinct. Still, many people continue to trawl the Southeastern forests in search of ivorybills. In this article, I investigate the methods, debates, and results of efforts to locate this species, with a focus on sound. In doing so, I explore the interconnected roles of sound and space in the making of extinction knowledge. Sonic search methods of listening, sounding, and translating are core ways that searchers attempt to attune to, communicate with, and establish evidence of ivorybills. Additionally, sonic search practices are critical spaces of negotiation and contestation between different searchers, between searchers and ivorybills, and between searchers and skeptics. Ultimately, this article argues that sonic geographies affect the production of extinction knowledge, and vice versa—extinction knowledge making practices produce distinct sonic geographies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, Mobile Ad hoc Network (MANET) gains more attraction due to its seamless and dynamic use. The existing methods in MANET are plagued by some weaknesses, like higher computation time, undermining their real-time responsiveness. Whereas, lower accuracy in intrusion detection compromises the reliability of these systems, potentially leading to missed threats posing a challenge for effective security measures in dynamic MANET environments. To mitigate these weaknesses, an Auto Metric Graph Neural Network optimized with Woodpecker Mating Algorithm is proposed in this paper for detecting Network Layer Attack in MANET (AGNN-WMA-DNLA-MANET). Initially, the data are gathered from CIC-IDS 2019 dataset. The gathered data undergoes pre-processing to eliminate redundancy and missing values replacement using the Local Least Squares method. Afterward, the preprocessing output is fed to AGNN for classification, which classifies the attack as active, passive, or normal. Then, Woodpecker Mating Algorithm (WMA) is proposed to optimize the AGNN weight parameters to ensure the accurate classification. The proposed technique is executed in NS2 tool. The metrics, like accuracy, false positive rate (FPR) and attack detection rate (ADR), computation time, and RoC is analyzed. The proposed AGNN-WMA-DNLA-MANET approach provides 14.68%, 7.142%, and 4.65% higher accuracy for active attack, 15.19%, 2.77%, and 9.85% higher accuracy for passive attack and 38.18%, 12.02%, and 7.59% better accuracy for normal compared with existing methods, such as Dependable intrusion detection scheme under deep convolutional neural network (DCNN-MANET), deep learning-based intrusion detection scheme for MANET (AE-DNN-MANET), and Benchmarking of machine learning for anomaly based intrusion detection scheme (ML-MANET), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance 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.)

The evolution of interspecific mimicry does not always result in perfect resemblance between mimics and models. Differences between members of a mimicry complex can be explained by genetic or developmental constraints. Alternatively, imperfect mimicry might be the outcome of a tradeoff between multiple selective pressures. In this study, we explored the evolutionary conflict between mimicry and hybridization in woodpeckers. Based on the selective tradeoff hypothesis, we expected that mimicry complexes will start to evolve once the constraint of maladaptive hybridization is relaxed. Hence, we predicted limited overlap in the divergence times between hybridizing species pairs and members of a mimicry complex. This prediction was supported by clear tipping point in the probability of hybridization and mimicry at ca 9 million years of divergence. Around this timepoint, the probability of hybridization approaches zero while the probability of belonging to a mimicry complex increases. This finding is only correlational and remains to be confirmed in other taxonomic groups. Nonetheless, our results suggest a selective tradeoff between evolving interspecific mimicry and avoiding maladaptive hybridization in woodpeckers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European green woodpecker, Picus viridis , is a widely distributed species found in the Western Palearctic region. Here, we assembled a highly contiguous genome assembly for this species using a combination of short- and long-read sequencing and scaffolded with chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C). The final genome assembly was 1.28 Gb and features a scaffold N50 of 37 Mb and a scaffold L50 of 39.165 Mb. The assembly incorporates 89.4% of the genes identified in birds in OrthoDB. Gene and repetitive content annotation on the assembly detected 15,805 genes and a ∼30.1% occurrence of repetitive elements, respectively. Analysis of synteny demonstrates the fragmented nature of the P. viridis genome when compared to the chicken (Gallus gallus). The assembly and annotations produced in this study will certainly help for further research into the genomics of P. viridis and the comparative evolution of woodpeckers. Five historical and seven contemporary samples have been resequenced and may give insights on the population history of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How do technologies animate more-than-human geographies after extinction? How can geographical scholarship evoke, or bring presence to, extinct biota? In an epoch simultaneously characterized by biotic loss at an unthinkable scale and the increased presence of representations depicting nonhuman life through mass media and digitization, we examine the epistemic, affective, and ethical possibilities of extinct animal traces to shape more-than-human geographies. We show how technological apparatuses inaugurate afterlives of extinction troubling binaries of extinct–extant and absence–presence. Specifically, we consider audio and visual remains of two taxa producing awkward and unsettling postextinction geographies: the ivory-billed woodpecker and the bucardo. Sound recordings and other historical traces continue to forge contemporary connections between human searchers and the ivory-billed woodpecker, although no sighting of the ghost bird has been universally accepted since 1944. The bucardo was declared extinct in 2000, but it was tentatively reanimated through a failed 2003 cloning project; in this milieu, visual technologies and representations conjure alternative presence and speculative futures beyond technoscientific spectacle. Through conversing our own situated, speculative, and technologically mediated relations with these taxa—and situating the technological assemblages themselves—we present some of the lively, contested, and dispersed ways technological apparatuses affect and inaugurate animated geographies after extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Primary cavity nesters (e.g. woodpeckers) act as ecosystem engineers by providing tree cavities to several vertebrates that use them as nests or refuges. Although diverse assemblages of primary excavators are assumed to increase the number of tree cavities, environmental factors can limit populations of primary excavators, thus weakening their ecological function. We aim to test the biogeographical‐scale relationships between primary excavators and cavity users by distinguishing the contribution of environmental variables. Location: Southern South America. Materials and Methods: We used species distribution models, which combine bioclimatic and remote sensing derived variables, to map the richness of vertebrates composing the cavity‐network of temperate and Mediterranean forests of South America. Based on a resampling procedure for ensuring spatial independence, we fitted structural equation models to estimate relationships between forest characteristics and cavity user vertebrates. Results: Richness of secondary cavity users (mammals, obligated, habitat generalists and forest specialists) were positively and strongly influenced by the richness of primary excavators. Environmental variables affected differently the richness of primary and secondary cavity users. The richness of primary cavity users responded to tree richness and height while that of habitat specialist secondary users was positively affected by primary productivity and negatively by sclerophyll forests. Main Conclusions: Our results confirm the role of primary excavators as ecosystem engineers but highlight the importance of considering large spatial scales when analysing cavity‐nesting networks. Biogeographical patterns of tree diversity and forest structure can be important drivers of cavity nesting networks that remain hidden when studies are conducted over fine spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cavities made by birds are an important microhabitat for many taxa in forests. Long-term dynamics of cavity patterns and the effect of forest management on cavities are, however, largely unknown. We studied cavity production, measured as nest cavity production rates (CPR = no. of new cavities/km2/year), of woodpeckers and tits in forests with different management intensity in southern Finland, based on a data from 37 years. Forests were divided into managed, seminatural and natural stands. The data covered 56 forest stands with the total area of 1690 ha. Stands were inventoried annually for new cavities. The total numbers of woodpecker and tit cavities were 2238 and 329, respectively. There were large differences in CPRs between forest stands with different management intensity. For woodpeckers, the CPR was highest in natural forests (5.7) and lowest in managed forests (1.5). For the tit species, the respective numbers were 0.9 and 0.3. The CPRs of different cavity-making bird species and cavity tree characteristics (e.g. tree condition and species) were consistent, suggesting that different cavity-makers benefit from similar forest and tree characteristics. The results also suggest that forests managed with currently prevailing methods limit the production of cavities. To promote cavities, the results from this and other studies suggest that managed forests should include more features of natural forests, such as more diverse tree species and within-stand structural variability distribution (tree-level heterogeneity), larger amount of decayed wood, more retention trees and snags and longer rotation periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian Pacific Endodontic Confederation (APEC) Executive Committee recently held an online meeting to discuss various issues. These included the current account balance, annual sponsorship renewals, and the organization process for the APEC2025 Dhaka Congress, which will be hosted by the Bangladesh Endodontic Society. The congress is scheduled to take place from February 14 to 16, 2025, with the theme of 'Unveiling New Horizons of Endodontics'. More information can be found on the official APEC2025 Dhaka website. [Extracted from the article]

In cooperative breeding systems, inclusive fitness theory predicts that nonbreeding helpers more closely related to the breeders should be more willing to provide costly alloparental care and thus have more impact on breeder fitness. In the red-cockaded woodpecker (Dryobates borealis), most helpers are the breeders' earlier offspring, but helpers do vary within groups in both relatedness to the breeders (some even being unrelated) and sex, and it can be difficult to parse their separate impacts on breeder fitness. Moreover, most support for inclusive fitness theory has been positive associations between relatedness and behavior rather than actual fitness consequences. We used functional linear models to evaluate the per capita effects of helpers of different relatedness on eight breeder fitness components measured for up to 41 years at three sites. In support of inclusive fitness theory, helpers more related to the breeding pair made greater contributions to six fitness components. However, male helpers made equal contributions to increasing prefledging survival regardless of relatedness. These findings suggest that both inclusive fitness benefits and other direct benefits may underlie helping behaviors in the red-cockaded woodpecker. Our results also demonstrate the application of an underused statistical approach to disentangle a complex ecological phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The black woodpecker Dryocopus martius is an ecologically disproportionately important forest species owing to its abundance. Its large cavities provide breeding sites and shelter for many species—large birds, mammals, and social insects. I evaluated the nest tree preferences of black woodpeckers in the Augustów Forest, northeast Poland. Approximately 400 black woodpecker cavities were observed. The Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris, was the most commonly selected tree species, accounting for 90%. The cavity trees were 55–225 years old. All trees younger than 90 years were broadleaved tree species. The trees used to excavate the cavities had a larger diameter at the breast height (DBH) than the average of the stand. The trees selected by black woodpeckers were significantly shorter than the average height of the stands. Over 60% of the cavities were excavated 10–16 m above ground level. I found that the DBH and the first branch height were critical factors affecting the cavity entrance height. In pine-dominated forests, black woodpeckers preferred dead trees. Approximately 44% of new cavities were excavated from dead trees. Leaving dead or dying large trees in commercial forests benefits black woodpeckers and large secondary cavity nesters that depend on it and promotes biodiversity conservation. Birds excavate new cavities at a high rate yearly, in contrast with beech-dominated forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance 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.)

Uropodina mites are organisms regularly found in the breeding sites of vertebrates. However, studies devoted to the nest dwellers of hole-nesting birds have been performed nearly exclusively in artificial places, i.e., nest boxes. Here, we describe an assemblage of mites from the Uropodina group living in excavated tree holes. We performed this study in western Poland, sampling material from 49 tree holes excavated by great spotted and black woodpeckers. We divided the material extracted from the tree holes into three categories: wood debris, remnants of bird nests, and remnants of insects. In total, we found 12 species from the Uropodina group. The two most numerous species, Leiodinychus orbicularis and Chiropturopoda nidiphila, constituted ca. 93% of the assemblage. Two other species, Apionoseius infirmus and Uroobovella obovata, were also relatively frequent. Among the assessed factors (woodpecker species, tree hole characteristics, and type of material), only the presence of insect remains, predominantly bat guano, affected species diversity and mite abundance the most. Our study is the first to describe an assemblage of Uropodina species in excavated tree holes and discover two extremely rare mite species, Ch. nidiphila and Nanteria banatica, related to the presence of bat guano in these cavities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plumage patterns of melanerpine (Melanerpes - Sphyrapicus) woodpeckers are strikingly diverse. Understanding the evolution and function of this diversity is challenging because of the difficulty of quantifying plumage patterns. We use a three-dimensional space to characterize the evolution of melanerpine achromatic plumage patterns. The axes of the space are three pattern features (spatial frequency, orientation, and contrast) quantified using two-dimensional fast Fourier transformation of museum specimen images. Mapping plumage in pattern space reveals differences in how species and subclades occupy the space. To quantify these differences, we derive two new measures of pattern: pattern diversity (diversity across plumage patches within a species) and pattern uniqueness (divergence of patterns from those of other species). We estimate that the melanerpine ancestor had mottled plumage and find that pattern traits across patches and subclades evolve at different rates. We also find that smaller species are more likely to display horizontal face patterning. We promote pattern spaces as powerful tools for investigating animal pattern evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The capacity to create new behaviors is influenced by environmental factors such as foraging ecology, which can lead to phylogenetic variation in innovativeness. Alternatively, these differences may arise due to the selection of the underlying mechanisms, collaterally affecting innovativeness. To understand the evolutionary pathways that might enhance innovativeness, we examined the role of diet breadth and degree of extractive foraging, as well as a range of intervening cognitive and behavioral mechanisms (neophilia, neophobia, flexibility, motivation, and persistence). Darwin's finches are very suitable to this purpose: the clade is composed of closely related species that vary in their feeding habits and capacity to develop food innovations. Using a multi-access box, we conducted an interspecies comparison on innovative problem-solving between two diet specialists, extractive foragers (woodpecker and cactus finch), and two diet generalists, non-extractive foragers (small and medium ground finch). We predicted that if extractive foraging was associated with high innovativeness, variation would be best explained by species differences in persistence and motivation, whereas if diet generalism was the main driver, then variation would be due to differences in flexibility and responses to novelty. We found a faster capacity to innovate and a higher persistence for extractive foragers, suggesting that persistence might be adaptive to extractive foraging and only secondarily to innovation. Our findings also show that diet generalism and some variables linking it to innovation were unrelated to innovativeness and call for the development of joint experimental approaches that capture the diversity of factors giving rise to novel behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) is an elusive bird that has repeatedly been feared extinct only to be rediscovered during the past hundred years. The most recent rediscovery, which took place in Arkansas, was announced in an article that was featured on the cover of Science in 2005. Despite published reports of sightings in Florida and Louisiana in the years that followed, the issue became controversial when nobody managed to obtain a clear photo and critics attacked relatively weak video evidence that was presented in the original article. The issue began to develop into a science scandal when the critics used specious arguments to delay the publication of the strongest evidence, which consists of three videos that were obtained during encounters with birds that were identified in the field as Ivory-billed Woodpeckers and that show field marks, body proportions, flights, and other behaviors that are consistent with that species but no other species of the region. The scandal culminated in a decision by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to declare the species extinct in 2021, which was made without addressing the strongest evidence. An update is given here on recent developments. The decision to declare the species extinct was based on a five-year review of evidence for persistence. During an interview, it came to light that the person who performed the review was unaware of basic facts about the strongest evidence. Evidence that was obtained at another site in Louisiana [Latta et al., "Multiple lines of evidence suggest the persistence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) in Louisiana," Ecology and Evolution (2023)] is discussed and compared with the strongest evidence. Videos obtained with a drone on a sunny day often show white markings that do not correspond to actual field marks. It is demonstrated that a video that was purported to show an Ivory-billed Woodpecker on the basis of apparent white markings is apparently a Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus). The bird in that video appears to have black trailing edges on the dorsal surfaces of the wings, which are consistent with the Pileated Woodpecker, not the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The wingbeat frequency and an upward swooping landing also seem to be consistent with the Pileated Woodpecker but are not consistent with historical accounts of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker or flights appearing in videos that contain the strongest evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on building a wall to make supposed borders visible and to include and exclude people has always been a national principle and political concept. Topics include making feelings of great anxiety and insecurity tangible in my multiform installation Wall Woodpeckers; and mattresses come from students who had to return from Germany to their home country China due to the pandemic.

Birds are under selective pressure to orient their nests in a direction that reduces the impact of climatic extremes and the risk of the nest being detected by predators. Woodpeckers (Picidae), despite raising young in tree cavities that are safer from predators, should orient the entrances of their nest cavities in a direction that results in a favorable cavity microclimate. Because Picid nest cavity orientation is not well-studied in the Pacific Northwest of North America, we measured nest cavity orientation of White-headed Dryobates albolarvatus, Hairy D. villosus, and Black-backed Picoides arcticus Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus, and Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus within burned and unburned, dry conifer forests of the eastern Cascade Range in Washington, USA (N = 684). Each woodpecker species had a mean angle of nest cavity orientation in a northerly or easterly direction and ranged from 12.3° for the Northern Flicker to 117.6° for the Black-backed Woodpecker. Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, and White-headed Woodpeckers showed strong evidence for nonrandom nest cavity orientation, and Northern Flickers showed particularly high dispersion with a multimodal distribution of cavity orientations. Although the mean and variance of cavity orientations did not differ substantially between woodpeckers, cavity orientation differed based on nest tree species. Woodpeckers may orient their nest cavities in an easterly direction so that cavities warm quicker in the morning, to avoid hot afternoon temperatures and prevailing west and north westerly winds, and because the majority of cavities were located in burned forest where shading from canopy cover is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance 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.)

During the period November 2010 through December 2022, the New Mexico Bird Records Committee reached final decisions on 1188 records involving 154 species plus three species groups, accepting 1051 records. Twenty species were added to the New Mexico state list, including one new to North America north of Mexico, the Rufous-necked Wood-Rail (Aramides axillaris), bringing the state list of species confirmed by specimen, photograph, or audio recording to 552 through 31 December 2022. This seventh report of the New Mexico Bird Records Committee (NMBRC) summarizes decisions reached from 23 November 2010 through 31 December 2022, a period of about 12 years. During that time, 1322 records of 156 species plus three species groups were reviewed, with 1051 accepted and 137 not accepted. An additional 134 records were reviewed but were neither accepted nor not accepted; instead, they are to be recirculated at a later date. If not accepted on its fourth circulation, a record is considered not accepted. Hence final decisions were reached on 1188 records, with 88.5% accepted and 11.5% not accepted. Most records were from the year 2000 onward, but several were from earlier decades and included recirculations from recent and earlier years. During the period under review, the committee added 20 species to the New Mexico list. In addition, the Mexican Duck (Anas diazi), a resident species, was restored to the list by a taxonomic split. The 20 added species are the Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus), Rufous-necked Wood-Rail (Aramides axillaris), Common Crane (Grus grus), European Golden-Plover (Pluvialis apricaria), Black Turnstone (Arenaria melanocephala), Yellow-footed Gull (Larus livens), Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus), Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), White-tailed Hawk (Geranoaetus albicaudatus), Eared Quetzal (Euptilotis neoxenus), Golden-fronted Woodpecker (Melanerpes aurifrons), Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber), Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus), Black-crested Titmouse (Baeolophus atricristatus), Blue Mockingbird (Melanotis caerulescens), Orange-billed Nightingale-Thrush (Catharus aurantiirostris), Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus), Rufous-winged Sparrow (Peucaea carpalis), and Tropical Parula (Setophaga pitiayumi). These bring the New Mexico list of species confirmed by specimen, photograph, or audio recording to 552 species through 31 December 2022. An updated state list is available at the New Mexico Ornithological Society (NMOS) website, www.nmbirds.org. In addition, an annotated checklist of New Mexico birds that provides an overview of their distribution and status was recently published (Williams 2022). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are two main hypotheses for why offspring in cooperatively breeding taxa delay dispersal and remain on their natal territory rather than disperse. First, ecological constraints may force offspring to remain on their natal territory until a reproductive opportunity presents itself in an otherwise saturated habitat. Alternatively, delaying dispersal and helping kin may increase an offspring's inclusive fitness. One means by which offspring might enhance their direct fitness by delaying dispersal is by inheriting breeding status on their natal territory. Such territory inheritance regularly occurs in acorn woodpeckers, Melanerpes formicivorus , a species whose social groups consist of a cooperatively polygynandrous breeding core along with nonbreeding helpers of both sexes that are offspring from prior breeding efforts. Here we examine the life-history differences and the fitness consequences of birds attaining breeder status by either inheriting their natal territory or dispersing to a new territory. Despite significant differences in life history, including the mean territory quality on which individuals bred and mean co-breeder coalition size of breeders, we found no statistical differences in either direct or kin-selected (indirect) fitness benefits for breeders that inherited and dispersed. The incidence of birds engaging in both strategies, inheriting their natal territory and later dispersing, or dispersing but later returning to inherit their natal territory, further reduces the potential direct fitness benefits of inheritance relative to dispersal, since neither precludes the other. Territory inheritance is an important, alternative means of achieving breeding status in this population. However, ecological constraints to dispersal and kin-selected fitness benefits as a helper likely play larger roles driving the acorn woodpecker's extraordinary social system. • We compared acorn woodpeckers that became breeders by inheriting vs dispersing. • We found no significant differences in fitness of natal inheritors vs dispersers. • Territorial inheritance was an important means of achieving breeding status. • But ecological constraints are likely more important drivers of delayed dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explaining the mechanism of the coexistence of sympatric species is an important goal of ecology. Five species of woodpeckers coexist in the broadleaved Korean pine forest of Liangshui National Nature Reserve, including the Black Woodpecker (Dryocopus martius), Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor), Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), and White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos). Woodpeckers are considered to be keystone species because of their role as ecosystem engineers, creating breeding and shelter sites for many vertebrate and invertebrate taxa. As woodpeckers are predominant in primary forests, they are sensitive to changes in forest ecosystems. To understand their coexistence mechanisms and propose conservation strategies, it is necessary to investigate their foraging niche differentiation. This study aimed to identify the foraging behavior parameters and foraging tree parameters of five woodpecker species in Liangshui Reserve from October to December. The foraging niches of five woodpecker species were observed, including the type of foraging techniques, foraging height, foraging site, foraging duration, tree species being foraged upon, diameter of the foraging tree at breast height, foraging tree height, and decay status of trees. Our results identified that there were significant differences in the overall foraging ecology of the five species of woodpecker at Liangshui Reserve. The Great Spotted Woodpecker and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker had more diverse foraging patterns and preferred to forage on live trees. The Black Woodpecker and Three-toed Woodpecker excavated and pecked at the trunks of decaying spruce and fir trees. The White-backed Woodpecker preferred to forage in broadleaved trees. The choice of foraging sites was complicated. The size of the foraging trees and decay status of trees were important bases for woodpeckers when choosing trees to forage from. Different woodpeckers achieve stable coexistence through the separation of their foraging niches. This information regarding foraging behavior and foraging tree characteristics provides a basis to study the coexistence patterns of woodpeckers. Our research into woodpecker foraging should be used to inform forest management practices, protect forest ecosystem diversities, and maintain woodpecker community diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species' distributions are shifting in response to climate change. Many distributional shifts are predictably poleward or higher in elevation, but heterogeneity in the rate and direction of shifts both within and between species appears to be common. We found high heterogeneity in the trajectory of winter range shifts for 65 species of birds across eastern North America and in the different traits and trait interactions associated with these shifts across the spatial scales we examined. We used data from the Christmas Bird Count to quantify the trajectory of winter latitudinal center of abundance range shifts over 4 decades (1980-2019) for 65 species of songbirds and woodpeckers in North America, both across eastern North America (ENA) as a whole and for the Atlantic (ATL) and Mississippi (MISS) flyways separately. We then used linear models and Akaike's Information Criterion with small-sample size correction (AICc) model selection to test whether species traits could explain variation in range shifts or flyway discrepancies. Across ENA, most species showed northward latitudinal range shifts, but some showed no latitudinal shift while others shifted southwards. Amongst ATL and MISS, we documented both within- and between-species differences in the rate and direction of latitudinal shifts, complicating the results from across ENA. No single trait emerged as a dominant driver of range shift differences at the ENA and flyway scales. Migration strategy interacted with insectivory to explain variation at the largest spatial scale (ENA), whereas frugivory and mean winter latitude explained much of the variation in ATL and MISS, respectively. Exploring heterogeneity in range shifts within and between species, and in the associations between range shifts and life history traits, will help us better understand the mechanisms that mediate differing responses to environmental change and predict which species will be better able to adapt to those changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wings, legs, and tail in Darwin's finches show many clear adaptations to different types of locomotion used during foraging. We use size scaling to analyse how various characters vary with body mass to clarify dimensional relationships. The selective advantage of a character is judged in terms of energy savings. The wing aspect ratio (4.6–4.9) is very low, so the energy costs for flight are high. Low body mass , low wing loading , and short arm wings in the warbler finch, small tree finch, and small ground finch promote agility and manoeuvrability among vegetation, along with short wings in the warbler finch. Evolution towards a shorter arm wing seems to be favoured in the smaller finch species. Long legs , long toes , and long curved claws are adaptations for climbing/clinging locomotion without tail support (woodpecker finch, small and large tree finches, cactus finch but having short legs). Selection for longer legs seems to act towards a lengthening of the tarsometatarsus. The climbing technique in the woodpecker finch is described. We discuss how the diversification in the beaks relates to the locomotion organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ibis is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

What struck me powerfully about the ivory-billed woodpecker debate is how it seems to mimic the relationship between chiropractors treating patients and chiropractic academics/researchers. I see the chiropractors treating patients as the life-long bird watchers who are experts on bird identi fication seeing the types of patients that seek chiropractic care, what types of interventions appear effective, and are enmeshed in the nuanced nature of practicing the art of chiropractic. Whereas the chiropractic academics/researchers are more similar to ornithologists who are experts in different specific fields of study yet should ideally yield and cooperate with the vast majority of chiropractic clinicians to help develop a future for the field of chiropractic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern gap paradigm describes the sustainability of forest communities as a dynamic process. This is a balance between the formation of "windows" or "breakthroughs" of the forest canopy and the restoration of its elements during the population life of trees and shrubs. The spatial structure of forest communities consists of a set of disturbances that are at different stages of "overgrowth" (this is the so-called mosaic-cyclic concept of ecosystem organization). By developing both concepts, we reconstruct the role of woodpeckers in these dynamics, depending on the types of forest biomes and their disturbance degree. We have shown that: the biocenotic role of woodpeckers cannot be reduced to the commonly mentioned "suppliers of hollows" and "forest orderlies". Both roles are derivatives of the participation of these birds in the reproduction of the mosaic structure of the forest canopy, with the architecture of the crowns characteristic of a given biome and the composition of edificator trees of the 1st tier (vertical and horizontal complexity dimensions of the organization of the forest canopy). Thanks to this, woodpeckers participate in the "after-death of a tree": the density of hollows of different areas and depths, left over from the foraging of different species of woodpeckers, maintains the rate of decomposition of dead wood, optimal for a given forest cenosis. And vice versa: the stability of woodpecker habitat in a given area depends on the abundance of dead wood, especially for specialized species – white-backed Dendrocopos leucotos, three-toed Picoides tridactylus, middle D. medius, or their American analogues – P. arcticus, P. tridactylus dorsalis, P. t. bacatus, D. albolarvatus. This biocenotic role to be fulfilled needs the entire biodiversity of woodpeckers, not just individual species. The greater is the number of woodpecker species living in one territory, the more complex is the organization of the forest canopy reproduced by their activities. Therefore, woodpecker biodiversity increases with increasing naturalness of the forest, and in different types of forest biomes – from boreal forests to tropical rainforests. Woodpeckers act in conjunction with wood-destroying fungi, transferring them when chiseling. And vice versa: woodpeckers use wood destruction caused by fungi as signals to "start" nest building or select a feeding method adequate for a given substrate. The defeat of the trunk by bacterial and/or fungal infection, ranging from softening to the formation of cavities, is in many ways a condition for the successful implementation of both. The indicator role of woodpeckers (the biodiversity of the group as a whole and the presence of individual species, especially specialized ones) in forest biogeocenoses is discussed. Violations of this role are shown in connection with urbanization, which "frees" certain species of woodpeckers (even specialized ones) from the biocenotic restrictions set by A-С).

The article delves into the 2023 Maryland Mid-winter Bird Count across various locations. It covers participation, species observations, weather conditions, and comparative analyses across counties, highlighting declines in individual bird counts compared to the previous year, specific bird sightings, and changes in woodpecker and passerine populations.

Patterns of species' distribution and abundance are dynamic in response to changes in land cover, climate, interspecific relationships, and other factors. There are many examples of latitudinal range expansions, contractions, and shifts associated with warming climate. Global change effects are also manifested along gradients of longitude, and woody plant encroachment westward into the Great Plains might also be creating opportunities for species to expand into new areas. We used data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) to examine the abundance of Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) at a western edge of its distribution in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. We compared BBS data from 1968–1992 to data from 1993–2018, fitting a series of generalized linear models to best explain variability in abundance. The best performing model included an interaction between time period and longitude, indicating both a change in abundance and in the distribution of abundance over time. Specifically, we found that Red-bellied Woodpecker increased in abundance near its western distributional limit over the past 5 decades, beginning at approximately – 94 degrees longitude. Los patrones de distribución y abundancia de las especies son dinámicos en respuesta a los cambios en uso del suelo, el clima, las relaciones interespecíficas y otros factores. Existen muchos ejemplos de expansiones, contracciones y desplazamientos latitudinales de área de distribución asociados al calentamiento del clima. Los efectos del cambio global también se manifiestan a lo largo de gradientes de longitud y la invasión de plantas leñosas hacia el oeste en las Great Plains también podría estar creando oportunidades para que las especies colonicen nuevas áreas. Utilizamos datos del North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) para examinar la abundancia del carpintero Melanerpes carolinus en el límite occidental de su distribución en Texas, Oklahoma y Kansas. Comparamos los datos de BBS de 1968–1992 con los de 1993–2018, ajustando una serie de modelos lineales generalizados para explicar mejor la variabilidad en la abundancia. El modelo con mejores resultados incluyó una interacción entre el periodo de tiempo analizado y la longitud, indicando un cambio en la abundancia y un cambio en la distribución de la abundancia a lo largo del tiempo. Específicamente, encontramos que la abundancia de este carpintero aumentó cerca de su límite de distribución occidental durante las últimas 5 décadas, comenzando aproximadamente a – 94 grados de longitud. Palabras clave: distribution, expansión, longitud. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on history of Yahi Tribe of California and Yana sought included obsidian-tipped arrows, buckskin, woodpecker scalps, and clam disk beads. It mentions culture was stripped away and they were forced to convert to Catholicism and Spanish rule of Californian land from 1769 to 1834, forcibly removed entire native tribes from their lands. It also mentions state-sponsored military force combed native homelands and tribes not moved to a reservation.

The article presents the discussion on black lithic artifact, possibly depicting a woodpecker head effigy, noted for its prominent features like nostril imprints and a mysterious X marking on the bill. Topics include emphasizes the skilled craftsmanship and polished surface indicative of its cultural and artistic value in Native American traditions; and artifact interpretation, craftsmanship analysis, and cultural significance in Native American art and superstitions.

The woodpecker family (Picidae) includes numerous species that vary in size and plumage colouration, but which share many easily recognisable external features. These birds possess pronounced anatomical adaptions that enable them to exploit arboreal habitats and live in niches that are inaccessible to most other birds. The aim of this study was to increase our knowledge on the relationships between skull shape, habitat preference, pecking abilities and foraging habits of 10 European woodpecker species. A geometric morphometric approach was used to analyse two-dimensional cranial landmarks. We used principal component (PC) analyses on those measurements that may be related to habitat preference and foraging habits. The PCs resulted in descriptions of the relative length and width of the bill, variation in its relative size, orientation of the nostrils variation in the elongation of the neurocranium, the relative size and position of the palatine bone, length of the rostrum, and the thickness of the mandible bone. The analysis showed and confirmed the presence of some cranial elements that are strongly associated with habitat preference, pecking behaviour and excavation abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three Eurasian Pygmy-Owl broods were discovered in the Jura Mountains, at relatively close distances from each other at 425 and 470 meters respectively. Nesting took place at an average altitude of 1200 meters, in Spruce Picea abies with a diameter of about 50 centimeters. Two of them were woodpecker cavities in dead trees, while the third was a natural cavity in a healthy tree. The breeding season of 2021 was favoured by an abundance of forest-dwelling small mammals, which led to a high breeding success and to early laying dates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]