Japanese Journal of Ornithology

Genetic Variability in the Mitochondrial Control Region of the Japanese Rock PtarmiganLagopus mutus japonicus

Yoshiyuki BABA, Yuzo FUJIMAKI, Ryoichi YOSHII, Hiroko KOIKE

2001 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 53-64,107
Published: May 31, 2001
Released on J-STAGE: September 28, 2007

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3838/jjo.50.53

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Fallen Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) feathers from bird habitats were used to extract DNA and produced a clear PCR band after the second PCR with grouse-specific primers. Comparison with chicken and quail revealed that the mitochondrial control regions of the Rock Ptarmigan and Hazel Grouse (Bonasa bonasia) can be divided into three domains: a more conserved segment of the central domain with the F, D, and C boxes and CSB-1, as well as more variable regions of the left and right domains. Only two haplotypes were found in the Japanese Rock Ptarmigan at the 441 by of the left domain: haplotype LM1 in 21 samples from 4 localities in the Hida mountains and haplotype LM2 in 1 sample from the Akaishi mountains. The same region was analyzed using 36 individuals of Hazel Grouse from Hokkaido, which exhibited 21 substitutions defining 21 haplotypes, indicating that the Japanese Rock Ptarmigan area has very low genetic variability. Palynological study indicated Pinus pumila zone, where is main habitat of the Japanes Rock Ptarmigan, would have been scaled down during the early hypsithermal interval. Such a natural environmental change might cause a bottleneck event to the Rock Ptarmigan population, resulting very low genetic variability.

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Effect of Body Size on the Resource Holding Potential of Male Varied Tits Parus varius

Noriyuki YAMAGUCHI, Katsura K. KAWANO

2001 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 65-70,108
Published: May 31, 2001
Released on J-STAGE: September 28, 2007

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3838/jjo.50.65

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Resource holding potential (RHP) of males seriously affects their fitness in many species. We examined (1) whether RHP, such as priority access to food and success in obtaining a breeding place, differs among males and (2) if so, what factors affect RHP in male Varied Tits. Based on the observation of aggressive interactions at an artificial feeder in winter, we recognized a dominance rank linearity among fourteen males examined. Tarsus length affected priority for access to food. However, it is not known how priority for access to food affects a Varied Tit's survival in field. In the breeding season, eight of 14 males did not use nest boxes in the study area. Breeding males had a higher proportion of dominant interactions in winter than non-breeding males. Non-breeding males tended to have shorter tarsi than breeding males, although the difference was not significant.These facts suggest that male RHP has an important effect on their possibility of breeding. Reproductive success of breeding males did not correlate with tarsus length. This suggests that male body size did not affect the breeding performance once egg laying began.

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Pair- and Flock-formation of Long-Tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus in a Coastal Area of Hiroshima Prefecture

Yoshio UENO, Hideki SATO

2001 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 71-84
Published: May 31, 2001
Released on J-STAGE: September 28, 2007

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3838/jjo.50.71

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We studied the pair- and flock-formation of Long-tailed Tits Aegithalos caudatus in a coastal area of Hiroshima Prefecture from 1988 to 1990. A total of 406 individuals, including 117 nestlings were individually identified. Membership and home ranges of winter flocks were rather stable. Pair formation usually occured in March, and 60% of breeding pairs were formed between birds from different winter flocks. Immigration and emigration frequently occurred during and after the breeding season. As a result of this, winter flocks were composed of adults that had been in the same winter flock during the previous winter, banded immigrants from other flocks within the study area, fledglings from nests within the study area, and unhanded immigrants including young. The immigrants accounted for nearly half of the total. Out of a total 19 observed nests, nine (47.3%) were attended by helpers, many of which were males that had failed to breed that year.

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The First Breeding Record of the Bush Warbler Cettia diphone on a Flooded Bed

Shoji HAMAO, Hajime MATSUBARA

2001 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 85-89
Published: May 31, 2001
Released on J-STAGE: September 28, 2007

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3838/jjo.50.85

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Erratum

2001 Volume 50 Issue 2 Pages 111
Published: 2001
Released on J-STAGE: September 11, 2008

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.3838/jjo.50.111

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