Reproductive ecology of two sympatric Tibetan snowfinch species at the edge of their altitudinal range: Response to more stressful environments

Lü, Xin; Ke, Dianhua; Zeng, Xianhai; Yu, Tong Lei

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2009.06.011

Cited by 39 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…This trend has also been reported in a number of sedentary and migratory bird species, such as House Sparrows (Passer domesticus; Johnston and Selander 1973), Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides; Bulgarella et al 2007), Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata; Gutiérrez-Pinto et al 2014) and some Andean passerine birds (Blackburn and Ruggiero 2001), but not in the Rufous-necked Snowfinch (Montifringilla ruficollis; Lu et al 2009). From a thermoregulatory viewpoint, increased body mass could be an adaptation to colder temperatures (Gardner et al 2009;Teplitsky and Millien 2014); the reduced surface area to volume ratio of larger-bodied individuals means that they lose proportionately less heat than smaller-bodied birds (Mayr 1956(Mayr , 1963Blackburn et al 1999).…”

Section: Geographic and Climatic Variation In Body Mass And Wing Lengthmentioning

confidence: 59%

The role of climate factors in geographic variation in body mass and wing length in a passerine bird

Sun

Song

et al. 2017

Avian Res

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Background: Geographic variation in body size is assumed to reflect adaptation to local environmental conditions. Although Bergmann's rule is usually sufficient to explain such variation in homeotherms, some exceptions have been documented. The relationship between altitude, latitude and body size, has been well documented for some vertebrate taxa during the past decades. However, relatively little information is available on the effects of climate variables on body size in birds. Methods:We collected the data of 267 adult Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) specimens sampled at 48 localities in China's mainland, and further investigated the relationships between two response variables, body mass and wing length, as well as a suit of explanatory variables, i.e. altitude, latitude, mean annual temperature (MAT), annual precipitation (PRC), annual sunshine hours (SUN), average annual wind speed (WS), air pressure (AP) and relative humidity (RH). Results:Our study showed that (1) although the sexes did not differ significantly in body mass, males had longer wings than females; (2) body mass and wing length were positively correlated with altitude but not with latitude; (3) body mass and wing length were negatively correlated with AP and RH, but not significantly correlated with WS. Body mass was positively correlated with SUN and inversely correlated with MAT. Wing length was not correlated with MAT in either sex, but was positively correlated with SUN and negatively correlated with PRC in male sparrows; (4) variation in body mass could be best explained by AP and SUN, whereas variation in wing length could be explained by RH and AP in both sexes. In addition, variation in male sparrows can be explained by SUN, WS and PRC but not in females. Conclusions:Two different proxies of body size, body mass and wing length, correlated with same geographic factors and different climate factors. These differences may reflect selection for heat conservation in the case of body mass, and for efficient flight in the case of wing length.

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Section: Geographic and Climatic Variation In Body Mass And Wing Lengthmentioning

confidence: 59%

The role of climate factors in geographic variation in body mass and wing length in a passerine bird

Sun

Song

et al. 2017

Avian Res

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“…2002; Himalayan Accentor Prunella fulvescens , Lu 2006; Tibetan Ground Tit Pseudopodoces humilis , Ke & Lu 2009; choughs Pyrrhocorax spp, Laiolo & Rolando 2001; White‐tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucura , Martin & Wiebe 2004), few have considered variation in these demographic parameters in relation to altitude (e.g. Lu et al. 2009, 2010), and we are unaware of any study that has considered variation along gradients that encompass most of an alpine species’ altitudinal range.…”

Section: Measures Of Habitat Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, such species typically show adaptations to high altitudes, which can be both intra‐ and inter‐specific. For example, Lu et al. (2009) found that snowfinches Montifringilla spp.…”

Section: Direct Altitudinal Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The altitudinal frontier in avian climate impact research

Chamberlain

Arlettaz

Caprio

et al. 2011

Ibis

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“…However, they depart in early spring, most likely as a result of competitive exclusion. It is the case for Montifringilla snowfinch assemblages inhabiting alpine meadows of the Tibet plateau, where two sizedistinct species (40 g and 30 g) nest sympatrically, while two additional overwintering congeners (31 g and 36 g) leave for other places to breed Lu et al 2009). Interspecific aggression and territoriality are commonly observed between size-similar sympatric congeners (with body mass ratios less than 1.5) such as Vermivora warblers (Martin and Martin 2001), Phoenicurus redstarts (Sedláček et al 2004) and Montifringilla snowfinches Lu et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, closely related species co-occurring in homogeneous environments should be phenotypically distinct to partition the limited resources to a substantial extent to which interspecific competition can be minimized (Schluter 2000). Despite the generally clear prediction, detail empirical studies about coexistence mechanisms of avian congeners in homogeneous environments are still rare Winding 1993, 1995a, b;Zeng and Lu 2009;Lu et al 2009), although evidence from Galápagos finches where beak size diverges in response to interspecific competition for seeds have provided considerable insight into this issue (Grant 1999;Grant and Grant 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Niche Segregation Between Two Alpine Rosefinches: to Coexist in Extreme Environments

Lü

Gong

2010

Evol Biol

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Alpine habitats are expected to support fewer, morphologically distinct congeners that diverge in niche more fully to facilitate stable coexistence. We tested this prediction with a granivorous avian guild consisting of only two Carpodacus members that bred in a Tibetan alpine zone at 4,200-4,600 m a.s.l. These two species, Streaked rosefinch C. rubicilloides weighing 40 g and Pink-rumped rosefinch C. eos 20 g, represent the extreme of body size of their genus. Both rosefinch species as the dominant members of local passerine breeders had similar breeding densities. They did not segregate in clutch initiation date, nesting altitude, habitat patches or nesting plant species, but in nesting plant height, with C. rubicilloides using those taller than the average of local bushes and C. eos using those lower than the average. No overlap in diet fed to nestlings between the two rosefinch species. C. rubicilloides with large and strong beaks primarily exploited the leguminous seeds, whereas C. eos mainly collected small seeds at ground level from a variety of plant species in accord with their smaller beaks. Interspecific aggression and territoriality were lack. The mechanisms underlying stable coexistence of the two rosefinch congeners should contribute to their success in the harsh abiotic environments.

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Reproductive ecology of two sympatric Tibetan snowfinch species at the edge of their altitudinal range: Response to more stressful environments

Cited by 39 publications

References 27 publications

The role of climate factors in geographic variation in body mass and wing length in a passerine bird

The role of climate factors in geographic variation in body mass and wing length in a passerine bird

The altitudinal frontier in avian climate impact research

Niche Segregation Between Two Alpine Rosefinches: to Coexist in Extreme Environments

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