We studied how waterbirds used two small estuaries during the non-breeding season of 1995-1996. These estuaries, El Chorro and Majahuas, were located in the middle of a large span of non-wetland habitat along the Pacific coast of México. Whereas El Chorro was basically a large and open waterbody, Majahuas was a long and narrow corridor flanked by mangroves. The two estuaries had 77 species thro...

GI JEV isolates from India share close genetic relationship with GI strains from Japan and Korea. In India, JEV neutralizing antibodies have been detected in 179 (34.8%) of 514 birds, including pond herons and cattle egrets, indicating a possible role in virus maintenance (9). Large perennial lakes, swamps, and rice fi elds provide a wintering and staging ground for several migratory waterfowl;...

We examined a suite of organic and inorganic analytes in a sample of Black-crowned NightHeron (BCNH) embryos collected from a colony located adjacent to Lake Calumet in southeastern Chicago, Illinois, in 2002. Our objectives were to determine whether embryos from the Lake Calumet colony had greater exposure to environmental contaminants, when compared to samples from other contemporary populati...

To better understand the use of mortality pits by wildlife and possible pathogen dissemination from the resulting wildlife contact in these areas, we used 8 camera traps on 4 mortality pits in Colorado from June to December 2014 to create a species inventory and establish use estimates for those species. We observed 43 species visiting (in or near) the mortality pits during 1,168 total camera t...

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) such as perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkyl sulfonates (PFSAs) have become virtually ubiquitous throughout the environment, and, based on laboratory studies, have known toxicological consequences. Various national and international voluntary phase-outs and restrictions on these compounds have been implemented over the last 10 to 15 years. In t...

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) increased in many matrices during the 1990s and early 2000s. Since voluntary restrictions and regulations on PBDEs were implemented in North America circa early 2000s, decreases in PBDEs have occurred in many of these same matrices. To examine temporal trends in the North Pacific, we retrospectively analysed PBDEs and eight non-PBDE flame retardants (FR) i...

There are 16 recognized species of avian-infecting Babesia spp. (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae). While the classification of piroplasmids has been historically based on morphological differences, geographic isolation and presumed host and/or vector specificities, recent studies employing gene sequence analysis have provided insight into their phylogenetic relationships and host distribution and spec...

It has been hypothesized that white plumage facilitates flock formation in Ardeidae. We conducted four experiments using decoys to test factors involved in attracting wading birds to a specific pond. The first three experiments tested the effects of plumage colouration, flock size, and species-specific decoys on flock formation. The fourth experiment examined intraspecific differences in flock ...

In 1988, it was reported that the full nucleotide sequences of 18 hepatitis B virus (HBV) strains clustered into four genetic groups (A to D) with more than 8% divergence between the groups. This classification of strains in terms of genome sequence has since proven to be an important tool in the understanding of HBV epidemiology and evolution and has been expanded to include three more genotyp...

Waterfowl are vectors of nutrients, metals, and other pollutants (i.e. PCBs microorganisms) on wetlands water bodies, especially when bird population density is high, e.g., in nesting, roosting or breeding periods. This work reports the effects caused by increase pairs herons cormorants between 2010 2014 sediments an eutrophic Mediterranean wetland belonging to La Mancha Húmeda Biosphere Reserv...