[Specific immunity and polymorphism of breeding plumage in pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) males (Aves: passeriformes)].

The relationship between the type of melanin-based plumage coloration and the strength of experimentally induced immune response was studied using as an example a pied flycatcher population from the Moscow Region. The plumage of pied flycatcher males exhibits the full spectrum of transitions from contrasting black-and-white to cryptic brownish, the latter being very similar to the coloration of females. In spite of numerous studies, the nature of this polymorphism still remains vague. Unlike many other avian species with monocyclic breeding, a considerable fraction of pied flycatchers combines two energy-consuming productive processes, breeding and molt. During the main experimental treatment we activated the humoral immunity of free-living males in chick-rearing period by injection of nonpathogenic multigenic antigen (sheep red blood cells, SRBC) and estimated the strength of the immune responses after repeated captures in 6-8 days. In addition, after each capture we estimated the numbers of leucocytes (WBC), heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (H/L) and measured night time basal metabolic rates (BMR). Non-molting males of different color types showed the same immune responses. Among molting birds, the strength of the immune response was significantly higher in pale males (morphs 4-7 by Drost's scale) than in bright males with rich melanin-based coloration (morphs 2-3). This difference resulted from two opposite processes. During molting, pale males heightened the antibody titer after immunization, while bright males tended to reduce the strength of immune response. Possibly such an asymmetry in immunocompetence at the first stage of molt reflects the different life strategies of pied flycatcher males - conspicuous birds less commonly combine breeding with molt than cryptic ones.

[Estimation of heritability and repeatability of resting metabolic rate in birds, with free-living pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca (Aves: Passeriformes) as an example].

Estimates of a trait heritability and repeatability can get at an idea of its usefulness for being an individual characteristic and its ability to change under selection pressure. Heritability and repeatability of energetic parameters still poorly studied in birds. The most important physiological characteristic of homoiotherms is resting metabolic rate (RMR), which, in the absence of productive processes, does not exceed basal metabolic rate (BMR). We estimated BMR repeatability in free-living pied flycatchers in Moscow Region (55 degrees 44' N, 36 degrees 51' E; 1992-2008) and Tomsk (56 degrees 20' N, 84 degrees 56' E; 2008-2009) populations over intervals from 40 days to 3 years. In Moscow Region population, BMR repeatability amounted to tau = 0.34 +/- 0.10 (n=80) if measured over 1 year interval, tau = 0.60 +/- 0.15 (n=19) if measured over 2 years interval, and tau = 0.85 +/- 0.13 (n=6) if measured over 3 years interval providing that consecutive BMR measurements were done in the same period of reproductive season. In Tomsk population, BMR repeatability, measured over 1 year interval, amounted to tau = 0.49 +/- 0.11 (n=50). Repeatability is a measure of a trait constancy and sets the upper limit of its heritability. To estimate RMR heritability, cross-fostering experiments have been conducted in 2003-2005 with flycatchers of Moscow Region population. RMR of chicks positively correlated with BMR of their biological fathers, whereas such correlation in metabolic rates between chicks and their foster fathers was absent. The RMR heritability estimate turned out to be h2 = 0.43 +/- 0.17 (n=210). The obtained estimates of heritability and repeatability of fundamental energetic traits are rather high for physiological features. This suggests the existence of a potential for direct selection on BMR and evolutionary stable diversity of avian populations with regard to basal metabolic rate.

[Maintaining of the morphological specificity and genetic introgression in populations of the great tit Parus major and the Japanese tit P. minor in the middle Amur region].

The ranges of the great tit Parus major and the Japanese tit P. minor overlap in the middle Amur region, where hybridization of these two species occur. These species have contacted for nearly a century on the western slope of the Malyi Khingan Ridge (the central part of the sympatry zone), but the great tit has colonized territories to the east of the ridge only in the last two decades. The percentage of the P. minor's allele of intron 2 of the mioglobin gene has significantly increased from 8.9% in the west to 27.8% in the east in phenotypically major's populations. Thus, the percentage of foreign mtDNA in P. major populations did not change significantly from west (6.2%, n = 120) to east (3.2%, n = 61). Simultaneous use of two genetic markers (one nuclear and the other mitochondrial) supports our conclusion on strong introgression in the populations of both species, which nevertheless maintain their morphological specificity in the contact zone.

[Structural and functional aspects of variation of the breeding plumage ornamentation in the male Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca (Aves: passeriformes)].

Inter- and intraindividual variation of the breeding plumage ornamentation in male Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca from the Moscow province population (55 degrees 44' N 36 degrees 51' E) was studied using long-term data (1996-2005). Eumelanin prevailing colour type (CT) scored according to the seven-step Dorst scale (Dorst, 1936), age, and reproductive status during the current breeding season were analyzed as potential sources of variation of the white ornamentation on the forehead, the wings, and the tail in males. Male CT strongly varied, from almost black to cryptic brownish (2-7, average 4.4, N = 1403). On average CT became I1degree darker with age and tended to be stable after the age of two years. Initial and final CT strongly correlated (r = 0.76). Wing ornamentation and forehead patch (FP) were associated with both initial and final CT, whereas correlation between tail ornamentation and CT was observed only in aged males. Ornamentation was most variable in males with cryptic (pale) CT. Such males had, on average, less intense forehead and wing ornamentation than conspicuous males, compensating this difference by having more intense ornamentation next year. These data suggest the weakening of morphogenetic relations between prevailing colour and ornamentation in males with cryptic phenotype. The return rate (rate of conspicuous males returning to their previous nesting territory) was not related to the success of their previous breeding attempts. Among pale males, the return rate was higher in breeders than in non-breeders. The relation between FP shape and reproductive status was pronounced only in pale males. Among pale males, previous breeders and non-breeders displayed no difference in the degree of prevailing colour darkening next year. In conspicuous males, previous breeding led to the weakening of dorsal eumelanin pigmentation of the new plumage, which suggests the existence of tradeoffs between reproductive efforts and the development of rich eumelanin coloration. Among pale males, previous breeders displayed a higher rate of FP widening next year than previous non-breeders. Diffrerent patterns of relations between male ornamentation and reproductive experience suggest that the females can use plural clues to evaluate the quality of their potential mates.

[Rational method of surgical treatment in nephroptosis]. / Ratsional'nye metody khirurgicheskogo lecheniia pri nefroptoze.

The article is devoted to surgical treatment of patients with nephroptosis. New and rational methods of nephropexy are described such as subcapsular along the posterior surface of the lower pole, by paranephral fatty tissue of the lower pole and by the fatty tissue with conducting the muscle flap through it. The data concerned with the number and results of the operations performed are given, the differential approach to using the methods in question being formulated.

Immune challenge affects basal metabolic activity in wintering great tits.

The costs of exploiting an organism's immune function are expected to form the basis of many life-history trade-offs. However, there has been debate about whether such costs can be paid in energetic and nutritional terms. We addressed this question in a study of wintering, free-living, male great tits by injecting them with a novel, non-pathogenic antigen (sheep red blood cells) and measuring the changes in their basal metabolic rates and various condition indices subsequent to immune challenge. The experiment showed that activation of the immune system altered the metabolic activity and profile of immune cells in birds during the week subsequent to antigen injection: individuals mounting an immune response had nearly 9% higher basal metabolic rates, 8% lower plasma albumin levels and 37% higher heterophile-to-lymphocyte ratios (leucocytic stress indices) than sham-injected control birds. They also lost nearly 3% (0.5 g) of their body mass subsequent to the immune challenge. Individuals that mounted stronger antibody responses lost more mass during the immune challenge. These results suggest that energetic expenditures to immune response may have a non-trivial impact upon an individual's condition.