The barrier to water loss from the skin of birds and mammals is localized in the stratum corneum (SC), the outer layer of the epidermis. The SC consists of corneocytes, each surrounded by a protein envelope, and a lipid compartment, formed by an extracellular matrix of lipids and by lipids covalently bound to the protein envelope. In mammals, covalently bound lipids in the SC consist of omega-h...

A possible effect of long-term exposure to low-intensity electromagnetic radiation from mobile phone (GSM) base stations on the number of House Sparrows during the breeding season was studied in six residential districts in Belgium. We sampled 150 point locations within the 6 areas to examine small-scale geographic variation in the number of House Sparrow males and the strength of electromagnet...

The Eurasian tree sparrow (Passer montanus L.) known as both pest and predators; in the urban area, it is considered a because of its droppings, feathers, nests around house. Meanwhile, rural areas, pests predators their diets are small insects grains like grain rice field. This study aimed to determine daily consumption rate sparrows on grain; preferred food; identify adaptability; role areas....

What traits help organisms expand their ranges? Several behavioral and life history traits have been identified, but physiological and especially endocrinological factors have been minimally considered. Here, we asked whether steroid hormonal responses to stressors might be important. Previously, we found that corticosterone (CORT) responses to a standard restraint stressor were stronger at a r...

![Figure][1] House sparrows at a bird feeder. Photo credit: [Matt MacGillivray from Toronto, Canada, CC BY 2.0][2], via Wikimedia Commons. Pioneers face many challenges when venturing into new terrain: novel landscapes, unfamiliar foods and host of fresh infections for their immune

An Integrated Pest Management project in Nebraska is assisting fanners, particularly pork producers, in controlling damage caused by Norway rats, house mice, house sparrows, and starlings. A survey of pork producers to (1) determine the incidence of certain rodent and bird pests, (2) identify factors which contribute to pest damage and control, and (3) evaluate the project's impact, has been co...

s (Alphabetical) Kyle Adams Mentor: Aaron Schrey, BIOL Does variation in Toll-Like Receptor Genes Predict Invasion Status on House Sparrows The purpose of this study is to determine if variation in toll-like receptor (TLR) genes can predict the invasion status of house sparrows (Passer domesticus). House sparrows are extremely successful introduced species; once introduced they undergo great ra...

House sparrow nestlings are fed primarily on insects during the first 3 days of their life, and seeds become gradually more important afterwards. We tested whether developmental changes in size and functional capacity of the digestive tract in young house sparrows are genetically hard-wired and independent of diet, or can be modified by food type. Under laboratory conditions, we hand-fed young ...

All colonizing individuals have to settle in a novel, conspecific-free environment. The introduction process should be poorly compatible with a good rest. We compared the resting behaviour of radio-tagged house sparrows (Passer domesticus) experimentally translocated into new, conspecific-free areas (introduced individuals, n = 10), with that of translocated sparrows that settled in naturally e...