Prior to this study the circumscription of the endangered black-eared miner (Manorina melanotis) and the common yellow-throated miner (Manorina ¯avigula) has been clouded by the existence of hybrid individuals. We examined the intra-and inter-speci®c phenotypic variation of the two taxa. All available museum specimens (n=138) and a sample of live individuals (n=83) were examined. Cluster analys...

Life history trade-offs are often hierarchical with decisions at one level affecting lower level trade-offs. We investigated trade-off structure in female side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana), which exhibit two evolved strategies: yellow-throated females are K-strategists and orange-throated are r-strategists. Corticosterone treatment was predicted to differentially organize these females' ...

This discussion paper is/has been under review for the journal Biogeosciences (BG). Please refer to the corresponding final paper in BG if available. Abstract Ocean acidification (OA) poses a severe threat to tropical coral reefs, yet much of what is know about these effects comes from individual corals and algae incubated in isolation under high pCO 2. Studies of similar effects on coral reef ...

—We provide details on the breeding biology of the Slate-throated Whitestart (Myioborus miniatus) from 126 nests found during seven breeding seasons, 2002–2008, at Yacambú National Park, Venezuela. Nesting activity peaked in late April and May. Only the female built the nest and incubated the eggs. Males rarely visited the nest during these stages. Mean clutch size (2.1 6 0.04 eggs, n 5 93) was...

The stopover behaviour of Black-throated Divers Gavia arctica and Red-throated stellata during autumn migration was observed in two sites Poland. Differences time-activity budget diving pattern were recorded from mid-October to mid-January 2004 2005. A total 1,516 minutes observation achieved. Birds spent their time (60.7%), followed by preening (14.8%), surface swimming (12.5%), other activiti...

We examined the selective consequences of variation in behaviour and endocrine physiology in two female throat-colour morphs of the lizard, Uta stansburiana in the wild. Female morphs differed in home-range distribution patterns and corticosterone levels in relation to the density and frequency of their female neighbours. Levels of plasma corticosterone of yellow-throated females increased with...

Maternal effects facilitate adaptation to changing environments because they alter individual offspring traits to match current conditions. We show that maternal effects can also resolve context-dependent, correlational selection on multiple offspring traits, promoting adaptation to more complex environments. In side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana), two alternative pathways of dorsal patter...

We tested the hypothesis that malarial parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus) of black-throated blue warblers (Dendroica caerulescens) provide sufficient geographical signal to track population movements between the warbler's breeding and wintering habitats in North America. Our results from 1083 warblers sampled across the species' breeding range indicate that parasite lineages are geographic...